HyperX Cloud II: Testing, Comfort and Sound Quality
Just like all the headphones I tested and reviewed, I put the headphone on a thick object, like books or a hard box so that the clamping force would be lessened. Out of the box, clamping force may be strong depending on the size of your head. So to help reduce that force, better put/wear them on somewhere else first.
The USB DAC of the HyperX Cloud II doesn’t need an additional software or driver to work. Simply connect the headset and connect the USB DAC on a USB port. Your computer should detect it as HyperX 7.1 Audio. Go to Control Panel then Sound and just set the Cloud II as your default. After that hit the Properties button and go to Advanced tab. Make sure you select the highest quality which is 16-bit/48KHz. Yes, I know it’s not the best DAC/AMP out there, and I really can’t complain since there are sacrifices that had to be made, to make this gaming headset functional and affordable at the same time.
When it comes to comfort, I think the HyperX Cloud II has surpassed the level of comfort that the first Cloud has to offer. I mean, it’s just very comfortable to wear. It hugs my head very nice and softly. The headband just feels comfortable on my head and the ear pads around my ears feels soft and smooth. I just want to repeat, in order to lessen the clamping force of the headband, I put some books in between to stretch and loosen the headband.
The sound quality or the sound signature of the HyperX Cloud II is very much the same with the first Cloud (you can read it here). It’s not really a surprise since it’s basically the same headphone. It has a warm and punchy bass that is good for gaming and for watching movies. It’s not too boomy either and doesn’t over power the mids and high section. Gun shots and explosions sound great with the Cloud II. It made my gaming experience more immersive and engaging. Special sound effects, roaring, the sound of thunder and rumbling are well delivered. The sound that it produces is not muffled or muddy, it’s very clear and audible. Sibilance is nowhere to be found in the Cloud II as well.
When I press the 7.1 button on the USB DAC controller, the sound instantly changed, giving it an effect that sounds like you are in a hall. It’s not a true 7.1 surround since there is only one driver per ear cup, unlike compared to other more expensive gaming headsets with several drivers on each ear cup. The 7.1 surround sound effect is a welcomed feature, but I don’t use this feature regularly. There are times or scenarios in a game that I want the game to sound as natural as possible. Well, that’s just me.
When it comes to listening with your favorite songs, the HyperX Cloud II is also capable of delivering good music. But that actually depends on the listener. I’ll be honest with you, I still prefer to use audiophile headphones, like the B&W P7 or the Audio Technica ATH-M50x for my audio session. The Cloud II is great for gaming and watching movies, but I don’t think its good enough to take on and compete with headphones that are geared towards audiophiles.
During my test with its noise cancelling microphone, it was able to capture my voice very well, loud and clear. However, as I started typing, the Cloud II was able to capture the clicking sound of the Feenix Autore. The mic was also able to capture the conversation from the background, about 5 to 10 feet away inside my room. The conversation were not loud enough as I playback the recording, but it was still audible enough when I turn the volume up. My advice is to turn down the volume (sensitivity) of the mic if you do not want to capture everything. Also you might want to properly position the mic, not too far from your mouth and not to near either.
