HyperX Releases Enhanced Cloud II Gaming Headset

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HyperX®, a division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the launch of HyperX Cloud II headset. Shipping now, HyperX Cloud II features a newly designed USB sound card audio control box featuring 7.1 virtual surround sound, in addition to the great features and benefits of the previous award-winning HyperX Cloud headset. Fully designed by HyperX sound engineers, the LED backlit audio control box delivers hardware-based (no drivers needed) 7.1 virtual surround sound with independent audio and microphone volume control. Gamers can easily toggle on 7.1 virtual Surround Sound with a push of a button to emulate having seven positional speakers for enhanced gaming. HyperX Cloud II is USB-powered for PC and Mac to amplify audio and voice, as well as 3.5mm stereo compatible for PS4 and Xbox One.
 
Specs look good but why call it Cloud?
I avoid cloud based products.
Good way to turn people away imo.
 
Maybe it's so comfortable it's like having two soft clouds on your ears? :)

Speaking of which, how was the first Cloud for comfort?
 
They are comfortable, a bit heavy, closed ear headsets. Leather type material finish ear pieces have practically no noise leakage and get warm after a while, velour ear pieces do have leakage but breath more. Solid construction with aluminium headband.

Same headset as the QPAD essentially with cosmetic changes. Very little distortion, larger than average 53mm drivers for gaming headphones delivers richer sound and big base. Tradeoff is a bit of range, which for gaming is less important.

If you can pickup the original Cloud headset at sale price they are a real bargain!
 
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Trying to decide between this and the Cloud 1. Cloud 2 has better surround but the Cloud 1 is a damn good deal..

Correct me if I am wrong but the two are the same aside from: Cloud 1 has two pin jacks, Cloud 2 has one four pin jack. The colours/ cables and the Cloud 2 has the USB DAC. Anything else?
 
Trying to decide between this and the Cloud 1. Cloud 2 has better surround but the Cloud 1 is a damn good deal..

Correct me if I am wrong but the two are the same aside from: Cloud 1 has two pin jacks, Cloud 2 has one four pin jack. The colours/ cables and the Cloud 2 has the USB DAC. Anything else?

The USB dongle is the big difference. If you have an amp or 600 ohms headset jack then you don't need the dongle. I use this headset and from my testing it really benefits from a powered jack, which most budget brand motherboards with onboard sound do not have and the sound comes out really flat. Which is probably why Kingston now sells them with the USB dongle.

For those who may not know needing more power for better sound is a Good thing. These are absolutely great headsets for the price.
 
^ Yeah, I have a Soundblaster Z in my main PC. I doubt a cheap (seems to be a modified Dynamode Sound7, which is £3 retail) USB DAC will sound better.

Unfortunately the price has just gone up 10%, soon as I get the alert I'll jump on it.
 
^ Yeah, I have a Soundblaster Z in my main PC. I doubt a cheap (seems to be a modified Dynamode Sound7, which is £3 retail) USB DAC will sound better.

Unfortunately the price has just gone up 10%, soon as I get the alert I'll jump on it.

I have an Asus soundcard with built in amplifier and I couldn't really tell a difference between it and the USB, but that is just my opinion. I think the USB amp included works quite well and makes this an especially great headset if you ever intend to use this outside of a desktop PC setting (i use mine for my laptop and console gaming).

Overall, best headset I've used in the price bracket by far, and for me they are competitive with (and often better) than even similarly priced headphones. The fact that the mic is detachable makes these some of my favorite cans overall. I find myself drawn to them more than my sennheisers lately (PC 360) and I think that says a lot.

Also, I have never actually turned on the surround mode. I find stereo gives better positioning in literally every case I've tested in the past with a variety of headphones, I don't see why these would be any different. I just use the USB as a volume controller.
 
Just brought a pair of Cloud 2's (the gun metal looks good). I'll see how the USB sound card fares, if it sucks I'll swap them for the Cloud 1's.

I have an Asus soundcard with built in amplifier and I couldn't really tell a difference between it and the USB, but that is just my opinion. I think the USB amp included works quite well and makes this an especially great headset if you ever intend to use this outside of a desktop PC setting (i use mine for my laptop and console gaming).

Overall, best headset I've used in the price bracket by far, and for me they are competitive with (and often better) than even similarly priced headphones. The fact that the mic is detachable makes these some of my favorite cans overall. I find myself drawn to them more than my sennheisers lately (PC 360) and I think that says a lot.

Also, I have never actually turned on the surround mode. I find stereo gives better positioning in literally every case I've tested in the past with a variety of headphones, I don't see why these would be any different. I just use the USB as a volume controller.

I own a pair of PC 320's (which are actually the same drivers as the 360's), which do sound great, but I get why they're not always preferable, open headphones have zero sound isolation (and a fixed mic). These are for the office and travelling as I'm hoping they're more comfortable than wearing IEM's for extended duration. If the Could's have the same imaging quality as the Sennheiser's I'll be very impressed.
 
I have the cloud 1. They are awesome. That's it....

Yeah, I get what you mean. I just got them (the 2s'), and I'm listening to them in the office now. It's an open-plan office, the noise isolation is really impressive. The sound quality seems good, but this isn't really a place for critical listening.
 
It's been about a week and here are my thoughts. They're are REALLY good. At first I thought they were a little bright, then I heard what the 53mm drivers can do (they no issue with [clear] bass). Mid's a pretty decent (female vocal's still sound create).

Again, the noise isolation is great (although my ears do fell a little warm at times). I got on the train on the first day of them summer holidays, when there was load of excited kids on board. I could still head them wearing a pair of Beats IEM's, I put the on Cloud's and the little s**ts disappeared! :D

I have mixed thoughts about the USB DAC, it works well. There is a clicking in the left/ right ear, similar to vinyl 'click' when the sample loops. It's only there if you look for it. For music the Sound Blaster Z does sound better (sound quality and imaging/ definition). I do use the USB DAC for watching movies, so I can control the volume without pressing multiple buttons. The volume does jump in massive increments (off, quiet, loud, really loud). It does the job.

The 7.1 is a gimmick, it's great when you're watching Sons of Anarchy and bikes drive off, but that's it really. It does boost the midrange (so it's better to hear footsteps in games), but I found the 3D positioning confusing (the sound is really scattered).

I would replace them with the Could 1's, but I like the convenience of only have one jack. Hopefully 4pin headphone connectors become common place in laptops in the near future. If they would add a remote to the headphone cable, or better yet make the cable removable. These would be perfect.
 
It's been about a week and here are my thoughts. They're are REALLY good. At first I thought they were a little bright, then I heard what the 53mm drivers can do (they no issue with [clear] bass). Mid's a pretty decent (female vocal's still sound create).

Again, the noise isolation is great (although my ears do fell a little warm at times). I got on the train on the first day of them summer holidays, when there was load of excited kids on board. I could still head them wearing a pair of Beats IEM's, I put the on Cloud's and the little s**ts disappeared! :D

I have mixed thoughts about the USB DAC, it works well. There is a clicking in the left/ right ear, similar to vinyl 'click' when the sample loops. It's only there if you look for it. For music the Sound Blaster Z does sound better (sound quality and imaging/ definition). I do use the USB DAC for watching movies, so I can control the volume without pressing multiple buttons. The volume does jump in massive increments (off, quiet, loud, really loud). It does the job.

The 7.1 is a gimmick, it's great when you're watching Sons of Anarchy and bikes drive off, but that's it really. It does boost the midrange (so it's better to hear footsteps in games), but I found the 3D positioning confusing (the sound is really scattered).

I would replace them with the Could 1's, but I like the convenience of only have one jack. Hopefully 4pin headphone connectors become common place in laptops in the near future. If they would add a remote to the headphone cable, or better yet make the cable removable. These would be perfect.

Edit: 5th August, Haven't used the USB DAC since I left the previous feedback, I miss that advanced settings such as volume levelling and an equaliser too much.
 
Just curious...any thoughts on the Cloud 2's microphone compared to the original? The v1 mic seems to get negative reviews, but I don't think it's that bad.
 
Couple buddies and myself have the Cloud 1s and never had issues with the mics and I think they sound nice and crisp. I didn't check the Cloud 2s to compare if there is a difference.

I honestly don't know what the issue is/was about.
 
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