5 Best HyperX Gaming Headsets

1. Top Pick: HyperX Cloud Orbit S

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

The Cloud Orbit S is the best and most premium headset in the current HyperX lineup, featuring an advanced 3D audio technology not seen in most other gaming headsets on the market. It’s a wired headset based on the similarly high-end Audeze Mobius, boasting planar magnetic drivers that are more normally found on audiophile headphones. It’s basically a cheaper, wired-only Mobius with a different boom mic and color scheme.

Design & Features

An over-ear headset with closed ear cups, the Cloud Orbit S is a well-designed gaming headset with a muted color scheme that makes for a more discreet look. It has memory foam earpads covered with artificial leather and includes a detachable boom mic. Its mostly plastic frame is sturdy and durable, but its build quality is slightly disappointing for such an expensive product, especially considering the excellent build qualities of other HyperX Cloud headsets (excluding the budget Stinger series).

In addition to the detachable boom mic, the Cloud Orbit S includes three different audio cables: a USB-A cable, a USB-C cable, and an analog cable terminating in a 3.5 mm plug. Both USB cables can be used for charging the headset. A soft pouch is also included. Unlike with the Cloud Alpha S and other wired headsets with virtual surround sound, both USB cables lack an integrated sound card. Instead, the Cloud Orbit S itself has a built-in digital signal processor (DSP).

Comfort is a mixed bag for the Cloud Orbit S. On one hand, it has soft and spacious earpads that don’t become too hot after just a couple of hours of continuous use. Additionally, its mostly plastic build makes it lighter, which is notable since planar magnetic headphones are usually heavier than dynamic headphones. But on the other hand, it has a tight clamp that can be uncomfortable for long gaming sessions, especially if you have a large head.

The Cloud Orbit S has the most complete control scheme among the headsets in this guide, but it can be confusing at first since all the controls are crammed into the left ear cup. It has a power button, a 3D button, a headset volume wheel, a mic volume wheel, and a mic mute switch, with the former four also assigned to other functions, which are not customizable on the HyperX Orbit desktop software.

The power button can be used to play or pause music while the 3D button is used for adjusting the 3D audio settings and for switching between analog and digital inputs. In addition to its main function, the headset volume wheel can be used for skipping tracks when listening to music and for disabling the USB charging. The mic volume wheel also has two additional functions: You can use it for cycling between EQ presets and for changing the USB audio mode, with the option to switch between 7.1 surround sound, two-channel, and Hi-Res audio modes.

Performance

Featuring Audeze planar magnetic drives and Waves Nx 3D audio technology, the Cloud Orbit S is one of the best-sounding gaming headsets. In its default sound profile, it has an extremely precise and deep bass, a balanced mid-range, and a clean treble. It’s good for all-around media consumption, including watching movies and listening to podcasts and music. You can switch between different EQ presets for a more tailored listening experience, but you can’t create your own preset using the Orbit desktop app.

With its 3D audio and head tracking feature, the Cloud Orbit S offers a truly immersive and realistic experience in certain games. It makes for better sound positioning, helping you locate enemies more easily in first-person shooters. Playing virtual reality games is also better with the headset. Using the Orbit desktop app, you can adjust many aspects of the 3D audio. Although its 3D audio doesn’t really add much in some games, the Cloud Orbit S is an all-around headset suitable for different kinds of games, with its good mic quality being especially beneficial for online multiplayer gaming.

The headset is compatible with PC, consoles, and mobile devices, but its full audio features are only supported on PC via USB connection. On PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, you’re limited to stereo mode no matter which audio cable is used. Despite its wired connectivity, the Cloud Orbit S still requires battery power to be functional and can’t be used as a completely passive headset. At 50 percent volume, it can run up to 10 hours per charge when using an analog connection.

Wrap-up

If you can spend more than $300 on a gaming headset, the Cloud Orbit S is one of the best options on the market. It’s an excellent headset with advanced 3D audio technology, multi-platform compatibility, a clear mic, and a comprehensive control scheme. Its build quality and comfort are also good, though not on par with other Cloud headsets. If you don’t care about the head tracking feature, you can check out the more affordable Cloud Orbit instead.

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2. Budget: HyperX Cloud Stinger

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Editor’s Rating: 3.6/5

One of the best budget gaming headsets, the Cloud Stinger is our recommended product if you have a more limited budget and can only spend around $50 for a HyperX headset. It’s better than the more entry-level Cloud Stinger Core, with better build materials. You can get it for just around $40-50, which makes it the only product under $100 in this guide.

Design & Features

The Cloud Stinger is a wired headset with an over-ear form factor and closed-back ear cups, similar to many other gaming headsets on the market. It has a non-detachable boom mic that can swivel upward and a similarly non-removable cable terminating in a 3.5 mm analog plug. Its build quality is decent for a budget headset, but it’s mostly made of plastic. It has a metal-reinforced headband and memory foam earpads, with the former making for a sturdier frame.

Although its tight fit can be uncomfortable for some people, the Cloud Stinger is generally comfortable to wear continuously for long gaming sessions. It’s considerably lighter than the Cloud Orbit S and has spacious ear cups that allow for a decent amount of breathability. You can use this headset for extended gaming sessions, with its swiveling ear cups making it less cumbersome to wear around your neck while taking a short break.

Compared to the Cloud Orbit S, the Cloud Stinger has a more limited control scheme, only including basic gaming controls. It has a volume slider on the right ear cup and a boom mic that can be swiveled upward to disable the mic. That’s it. While limited in functions, the on-cup control scheme is easy to use in the middle of a game, with the boom mic’s swivel-to-mute function being especially beneficial when playing online multiplayer games.

Performance

The Cloud Stinger is a decent-sounding headset with a bass-heavy sound signature, which is common among gaming headsets. It has a detailed but recessed mid-range and a decent treble that is not too sharp. Its soundstage is also wider than that of many other closed-back headsets, which is beneficial when playing first-person shooter games. In addition to its decent sound quality, the headset also has a great boom mic. The mic’s recording quality and noise reduction are both good, making it ideal for voice chat during online multiplayer gaming.

With its closed ear cups, the Cloud Stinger provides decent passive sound isolation. Its sound leakage is relatively low at moderate volume levels, while its noise isolation is good enough for simply gaming at home. It’s decent at reducing ambient chatter and can block a good amount of high-frequency noises, but it fares poorly against low-frequency noises.

Like other wired headsets with an analog connection, the Cloud Stinger is compatible with PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and any other device with a headphone port. Although it can be inconvenient in some situations, its wired connectivity removes any latency issues, which is important in gaming. Unlike the Cloud Orbit S, the headset is a completely passive headset and doesn’t require battery power to be fully functional.

Wrap-up

Despite its limited features, the Cloud Stinger is a good gaming headset that stands out as one of the best options under $50 regardless of brand. It’s comfortable to wear for long hours and has an easy-to-use control scheme for quick adjustments in the middle of a game. Its boom mic is great while its build quality and sound quality are decent for the price. HyperX also sells a variant with 7.1 virtual surround sound – the Cloud Stinger S – which sells for around $10 more, but its surround sound feature doesn’t really add much.

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3. Best Value: HyperX Cloud Alpha S

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Editor’s Rating: 4.1/5

If you want a HyperX headset that offers excellent value for the money, the two best options are the older Cloud II and the more recently released Cloud Alpha S. The popular Cloud II is more affordable and can be bought for around $80 or less. But if you can stretch your budget to around $100-130, the Cloud Alpha S is the better option, offering better long-term value. It’s better-built and more durable and includes additional controls, not to mention it has an improved driver design.

Design & Features

The Cloud Alpha S is a wired over-ear headset with a muted color scheme that makes it less flashy than other gaming headsets. Its build quality is excellent and slightly better than that of the more premium Cloud Orbit S, with its sturdy metal frame being the most notable part in its construction. It has closed ear cups made of high-quality plastic and includes a detachable cable, which adds to its durability. It comes with a removable boom mic that connects to the left ear cup and includes a windscreen.

Along with the detachable audio cable and boom mic, the headset includes a soft pouch (for protecting the headset against dust), a supplementary USB cable, and an extra pair of earpads. Unlike the default earpads, which are covered in leatherette, the extra earpads are coated in more breathable fabric. Both earpads are made of soft memory foam, similar to most other HyperX headsets.

Suitable for long gaming sessions, the Cloud Alpha S is very comfortable to wear, beating both the Cloud Orbit S and the Cloud Stinger in overall comfort. It’s lightweight, stays securely on your head, and doesn’t feel too tight, which is a plus if you have a large head. The default leatherette earpads are already comfortable, but if you want better breathability, you can swap them out for the fabric earpads.

The Cloud Alpha S has user-friendly on-cup and in-line controls, with the latter located on the USB cable that connects to the analog audio cable. The on-cup control is simply composed of two bass sliders that allow for independent bass adjustment. On the USB control box, you’ll find a virtual surround sound button, a mic mute switch, volume buttons, and game/chat balance buttons. The mic mute switch is located along the edge while the rest of the buttons are on the front panel.

Performance

While not the most detailed, the Cloud Alpha S is a good-sounding headset that will work well for different kinds of games, including racing games, action-adventure games, and RPGs. You can easily adjust the bass using the sliders on the ear cups, with three levels to choose from for each side. Sadly, the virtual surround sound feature doesn’t really add much. It’s not entirely bad, but the overall sound quality is better when simply using the headset in stereo mode.

The Cloud Alpha S also has great mic quality, which is perfect if you play a lot of online multiplayer games and actually talk with other players. The flexible boom mic has good recording quality and does a great job of separating your voice from background noise. You can adjust the mic volume and enable or disable mic sidetone on the HyperX NGenuity software, which has a nice user interface but falls short in customization options.

Regarding sound isolation, the Cloud Alpha S is a bit better than the Cloud Stinger. Its capability to block out ambient noise at different ranges is about the same, but its sound leakage is lower. Lower sound leakage is beneficial if you don’t want to disturb people around you with your game audio. If you use the headset as regular headphones (without the mic), the low sound leakage will allow you to increase the music volume for better noise isolation without worrying too much about disturbing people around you, especially in an office setting.

You can use the Cloud Alpha S on different gaming platforms. Using the 3.5 mm analog cable, you can directly connect it to PS4 and Xbox One controllers, a Nintendo Switch Lite, a regular Nintendo Switch in handheld mode, and other devices with a headphone port. On PC, you can use the analog cable only or connect it with the USB cable; the latter is the better option due to the added functionality of the integrated control box.

Wrap-up

Overall, the Cloud Alpha S is an all-around gaming headset that offers excellent value for the money, especially if you can get it for around $100. Its build quality is one of the best among gaming headsets regardless of price range while its mic quality is great. It’s comfortable to wear, with two types of earpads to choose from, and has good sound quality. Although it falls short in some aspects, it’s a great headset for gaming on both PC and consoles, with its analog and digital connection options allowing for easy compatibility.

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4. HyperX Cloud Revolver S

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Editor’s Rating: 3.9/5

The Cloud Revolver S is a wired headset with a distinct design that easily separates it from all the other products in this guide. It’s notable for having the best soundstage among Cloud headsets, which makes it especially suitable for first-person shooters and open-world games. It’s compatible with PC and consoles, offering both analog and digital connection options.

Design & Features

Featuring a dual headband, the Cloud Revolver S has a unique design that makes it more eye-catching than all the other headsets in this guide. It has a metal outer frame and an inner suspension strap with a self-adjusting mechanism. As with other HyperX headsets, it has large ear cups that will easily wrap around most ears. With or without its boom mic, it definitely looks like a gaming headset, even with its subdued color scheme. Its overall build quality is good, but not as good as that of the Cloud Alpha S, not to mention its non-detachable analog cable hurts its durability.

Unlike the Cloud Alpha S, the Cloud Revolver S is a mixed bag in overall comfort. On one hand, it has soft memory foam earpads with leatherette covers that feel nice on the skin. Its clamp is not too tight while its self-adjusting headband can easily accommodate large heads. But on the other hand, it’s less stable and feels heavier on the head – it’s actually the second-heaviest headset here, right after the Cloud Orbit S, which has planar magnetic drivers.

For controls, the Cloud Revolver S includes a detachable USB cable with a small control box, similar to the Cloud Alpha S and the Cloud II. The control box has a mic mute button, a virtual surround sound button, and separate dials for adjusting the headset volume and mic volume. A dedicated EQ button is also included, with three different EQ presets to choose from, not counting the default sound setting.

Performance

The Cloud Revolver S is a good-sounding headset with a balanced sound and a wide soundstage that is notable for a closed headset. As mentioned above, it has the best soundstage among HyperX Cloud headsets (the virtual soundstage of the Cloud Orbit S is another story). This allows for better sound positioning, making it easier to locate enemies in certain games. It also has a virtual surround sound feature, but it doesn’t really make for a jaw-dropping audio experience.

In other performance aspects, the Cloud Revolver S is mostly good. Its mic quality is great, especially regarding noise reduction. Its sound leakage is also relatively low, which is beneficial for the people around you. But its noise isolation is subpar: The headset reduces a good amount of high-frequency noises but struggles against background chatter and low-frequency noises.

With its default analog plug and supplementary USB cable, the Cloud Revolver S can connect with pretty much any gaming device currently out on the market. The USB cable is for gaming on PC and PS4 consoles. But with the analog cable, which has a 3.5 mm plug, you can connect to any device with a headphone port – including PS4 and Xbox One controllers, mobile devices, and Nintendo Switch consoles. The wired connectivity eliminates latency issues, which is important for gaming.

Wrap-up

Selling for around $150, the Cloud Revolver S is definitely worth the money, especially if you want a closed-back headset with a large soundstage. Its build quality, controls, and sound quality are good while its boom mic is great for both gaming and non-gaming use. While not as comfy as the Cloud Alpha S, it’s still good for long gaming sessions. Its analog connection allows for easy compatibility with different gaming devices while its USB cable adds more functions.

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5. HyperX Cloud Flight S

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Editor’s Rating: 4/5

Among the best HyperX gaming headsets mentioned here, the Cloud Flight S is the only one that uses wireless technology. It’s an over-ear headset for gaming on PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, featuring low-latency wireless connectivity and Qi wireless charging. It sells for about $160, which makes it the second-most expensive product on this list, right after the Cloud Orbit S.

Design & Features

The Cloud Flight S is a well-designed headset with a detachable boom mic and memory foam padding covered in artificial leather. Its mostly plastic build is good, with both the headband and the ear cups appearing sturdy. It comes with a USB wireless transmitter and a micro USB charging cable, but unlike some wireless headsets, it lacks an audio cable for wired mode.

Although its tight clamp can be uncomfortable for some people, the Cloud Flight S is generally comfortable to wear continuously for a few hours. It’s lightweight and has soft earpads that allow for a decent amount of breathability. The ear cups can rotate to a flat position, which makes the headset less cumbersome to wear around your neck while taking a short break.

Like other wireless headsets, the Cloud Flight S has on-cup controls. On the right ear cup, you’ll find a textured dial for adjusting the volume. The other ear cup has a power button, a virtual surround sound button, and four customizable buttons on the backplate. In their default settings, the four customizable buttons are set to mic mute, game/chat balance, and mic sidetone. You can change their functions on the HyperX NGenuity software, with media controls and mic volume being some of the options.

Performance

The overall performance of the Cloud Flight S is mostly good. Its sound quality in stereo mode is good while its mic quality is great, which is beneficial if you love to play online multiplayer games. Its 7.1 virtual surround sound feature is decent, but audio quality is still better in stereo mode. With the USB wireless transmitter, the headset allows for low-latency wireless connectivity. Wireless range is also good, with HyperX claiming up to 20 meters (around 65 feet).

At 50 percent volume, the Cloud Flight S can run up to 30 hours per charge, which is one of the best marks among wireless gaming headsets. This makes it suitable for gaming marathons and allows it to stay charged for an entire week if you only use it for gaming for a few hours per day. It also has an auto-off feature, which activates when no audio is playing for a certain amount of time, conserving power. You can charge the headset with either the included micro USB charging cable or a Qi wireless charging dock, which needs to be bought separately.

Unfortunately, the Cloud Flight S is limited to wireless mode, with no option to switch to wired mode when the battery is low or fully drained. As mentioned above, it doesn’t come with an audio cable, which is disappointing since its predecessor – the Cloud Flight – includes one. Moreover, the headset doesn’t work with Xbox One consoles, but it can connect to a docked Nintendo Switch.

Wrap-up

If you prefer a wireless headset, check out the Cloud Flight S. It’s one of the best wireless gaming headsets under $200. It has a comfortable over-ear design, a great mic, a very long battery life, and customizable on-cup controls. It supports Qi wireless charging and allows for low-latency wireless connectivity on PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. While not as well-built as the Cloud Alpha S and the Cloud Orbit S, its build quality is good, with its matte finish making for a more premium look.

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