"For its price, the HyperX Cloud delivers an excellent audio performance, especially in first-person shooter games"
I've been on a lookout for a good gaming headset for quite some time now but as we all know, in the affordable price range, there are very few options available in the market. As the gaming industry has found a growing audience in India over the last few years, there are several gamers like me who cannot afford to buy SteelSeries and Acer Predator headsets but want quality audio experience while gaming. This is where the HyperX Cloud steps into the picture.
The HyperX Cloud headset's new variant, meant specifically for the Sony PS4, has been launched in India and I have been testing the headset over the last few weeks to figure out if it is the perfect fit for me. I am not about to give you a TL;DR so please read on to find out if this headset should be your next purchase or not.
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Starting off with the design, the HyperX Cloud for PS4 comes with a rather standard design with a utilitarian approach. The ear cups are kept in place with two metal extensions (coloured blue following PlayStation's iconic colour scheme), which feel rigid and sturdy.
To be honest, there could have been more adjustment levels offered with these metal bands, but for me, the existing ones worked just fine. The over-the-head band comes with a foam padding on the inside that has been made using a soft material, and despite using the headset for long gaming sessions, I never had to think twice before continuing with YouTube surfing or binge-watching The Good Place because the headphones fit perfectly and do not feel cumbersome at all. To stay true to the colour scheme, the stitching on the top of the leather-like material used for the headband is also blue (royal blue to be specific). There's a customary HyperX branding on the top of the band, for those of you who like the attention to details.
As I mentioned earlier, I loved the fact that the HyperX Cloud headset is so comfortable to wear. However, comfort comes secondary to most users as the audio quality is vital when it comes to the gaming experience. To check the headset out, I started out by playing a few games on the PS4 as the headset is designed for the Sony console. Playing Apex Legends on the PS4, I could hear the game sounds, including explosions, player movements, and firing, crystal clear around me and the whole experience felt quite immersive. The cups cover the ears efficiently and manage to isolate ambient sounds very well. This is why I was not bothered by the frenetic typing sounds that are usually quite audible in the office.
As it was clear very early on that the HyperX Cloud delivers when it comes to gaming, I used the headset while watching movies, some TV shows, random YouTube browsing etc, and the 53mm drivers never let me down.
The only point that needs to be made clear here is that this headset cannot replace regular headphones that are meant specifically for music consumption. This is just to make sure that you don't have unrealistic expectations from this gaming headset. But again, when I was listening to Riders on the storm by The Doors, I did not feel like switching from the HyperX Cloud and that says a lot about the music quality offered by the closed-back headset.
The HyperX Cloud for PS4 headset comes with, as mentioned before, 53mm headphone driver units and measures 94.99x149.86x194.81mm. The headset weighs around 323.18 grams and the cord length is 1.3 metres. The signal-to-noise ratio offered by the closed back headset is 95dB. Total harmonic distortion stands at less than 2 percent. The frequency response sits between 15–25,000Hz.
In sum, the HyperX Cloud for PlayStation 4 is a compelling gaming headset, especially considering the price range. To be honest, this headset works well not just for gaming on the PS4, but any device that you might want to play on. Although the HyperX Cloud does not feature RGB lighting or any flashy component that will draw attention, it just gets the work done. The ear cups are extremely comfortable on the ears and the closed back headset ensures that you get an immersive experience while gaming.
If you can afford to spend a little extra, you can also go for HyperX Cloud II headset, which isn't meant for the PS4 specifically, but brings along 7.1 surround sound to the table. Having said that, if you own a PS4, it definitely makes sense to buy a headset meant specifically for the console.
Photos by Raj Rout