Pros
Great sound high quality
Luxurious end
Thoughtful extras
Cons
Headphone twine doesn’t detach
Flimsy carry case
What is the Kingston HyperX Cloud II?
The Kingston HyperX Cloud II goals to supply all the pieces the typical gamer would need from a headset. It boasts large 53mm drivers, encompass sound processing, and a removable microphone. It works with the entire main gaming platforms, together with PC/Mac, cell, PS4 and Xbox One (with an adaptor). It even has a couple of luxurious touches, reminiscent of replaceable leatherette ear cushions, an airplane headphone adaptor and a carry case. And one of the best information? It prices solely £74.99. That’s particularly good when you think about how good the general sound high quality is, how nicely designed the assorted parts are, and the way comfy it’s to make use of for extended gaming periods. Sure, you don’t get wi-fi connectivity or lively noise cancellation, however these options are solely often out there on headsets at twice and even 3 times this value. The Kingston HyperX Cloud II focuses on what’s necessary and ditches all the pieces else. If you need an inexpensive, top quality gaming headset that works throughout a variety of units, the Kingston HyperX Cloud II ought to completely be prime of your listing.
Kingston HyperX Cloud II – Design
Gaming headsets generally are usually fairly gaudy, typically lined in flashing lights, vivid colors and ostentatious logos. The Kingston HyperX Cloud II, regardless of its over-the-top title, is definitely fairly reserved, particularly within the gun steel configuration of our evaluation unit (it’s additionally out there in purple). On the outside, the brushed steel end feels good, the black color scheme is muted, and the logos are comparatively refined. It’s not as trendy as a devoted transportable pair of headphones, however it’s not one thing you’d really feel too ashamed to wear down on the road. The inside of the headset is the place it actually shines, although. The ear cushioning is fabricated from reminiscence foam, whereas the default materials is leatherette, which is a luxurious end for a headset at this value. There’s additionally a set of velour ear cushions when you choose that end, which once more, is a rarity on most headsets. Another good contact is a removable microphone, though that does probably make it simple to lose. See additionally: Best Gaming Headset 2015
The Kingston HyperX Cloud II doesn’t supply in-line controls, however the USB sound card does. This unit is appropriate with PC and Mac, and processes the 7.1 digital encompass sound options of the headset. It additionally has a reasonably restricted quantity of controls on it for adjusting the quantity of the audio system and the microphone, in addition to enabling and disabling encompass sound. It’s a very sensible design option to put the entire controls on the USB sound card, slightly than the headset itself. Turtle Beach particularly appears hellbent on placing as many buttons on its headsets as attainable, which suggests there’s rather a lot to unintentionally press if you’re simply attempting to regulate the headset. Kingston’s headset has no such issues, and it’s far more user-friendly consequently. See additionally: Best Headphones 2015
On different gaming units, you ditch the USB controller and simply plug straight in utilizing the hooked up 3.5mm cable. On cell and pill you connect with the gadget itself, on PS4 you plug into the DualShock 4, and on Xbox One, you want the the Official Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter. Again, you’ll must tweak some system settings on the house consoles, however it’s a easy course of that’s lined within the headset’s guide. One factor that’s value noting is that encompass sound is simply out there when utilizing a PC or Mac. On each different gadget, solely stereo sound is accessible. The Kingston HyperX Cloud II bundle contains a variety of extras you often don’t discover on headsets at this value. There’s a carry case, an airline adaptor and replaceable velour ear cushions, when you fancy a change from the leatherette ones. Sure, the carry case is basically only a bag that doesn’t supply a lot safety for the headset in a packed bag, however it’s higher than nothing. See additionally: Xbox One vs PS4
Kingston HyperX Cloud II – Audio Quality
Although the Kingston HyperX Cloud II solely prices £75, you’d be exhausting pressed to discover a better-sounding wired headset at any value. The stereo sound is highly effective and detailed, with the 53mm drivers offering loads of punch within the low-end, whereas additionally being sprightly on the high-end. The headset is most suited to video video games, however it’s spectacular in motion pictures and music too. One of the important thing options of the headset is its 7.1-channel digital encompass sound, which is accessible on PC and Mac via the USB sound card. The sound card takes any multi-channel supply reminiscent of a sport or a film, and remixes it for the headset’s stereo audio system. The know-how seems to be Kingston’s personal, slightly than a big-name third social gathering answer, such because the DTS Headphone:X 7.1 that includes on Turtle Beach’s newest fashions just like the Turtle Beach Elite 800. However, Kingston’s model sounds simply nearly as good, offering an correct approximation of the place issues like bullets, footsteps and grenades are coming from. We personally didn’t use this function after our evaluation interval, preferring the readability and total high quality of the stereo output, however the choice is there in order for you it, and it’s nearly as good as some other encompass sound know-how in the marketplace. There’s sadly no lively noise cancellation on this headset, though the closed headphone design does imply that a variety of exterior noise is stored out. There is one concession to the traveller although, and that’s an in-flight headphone adaptor, which is extraordinarily uncommon to search out packaged with a gaming headset. See additionally: Upcoming Xbox One Games 2015
The main function lacking from the Kingston HyperX Cloud II is audio customisation. Turtle Beach does this rather well, providing a spread of genre-specific presets reminiscent of sport, film and music, and even particular sound mixes for sure video games. These are lacking from Kingston’s headset, however we didn’t notably miss them, because the default setting sounds so good. If you need to tweak issues, you’ll must do it from the system settings in no matter working system you’re utilizing. The microphone on the Kingston HyperX Cloud II is superb, with the sound card offering exterior noise cancellation and echo cancellation. The sound card additionally displays incoming chat quantity, and mechanically will increase it if the sport will get louder. Overall, the microphone isn’t high-quality sufficient for recording voiceovers in your YouTube uploads, however it’s nice for multiplayer gameplay. See additionally: Upcoming PS4 Games 2015
Should I purchase the Kingston HyperX Cloud II?
It’s tough to return away from the Kingston HyperX Cloud II with out feeling such as you’ve missed one thing: it provides a lot at such a pretty value level, it appears too good to be true. Audio high quality is great, it has all of the options most individuals would need from a gaming headset, and it really works with each main gaming platform on the market. What actually ideas it over the sting, although, are the small touches that elude most different headset producers. The leatherette reminiscence foam cushions are tender and opulent however they are often changed with velour fashions as nicely, whereas extras such because the carry case and airline adaptor are considerate and worthwhile, and barely discovered on gaming headsets at any value. Having the controls on the sound card slightly than the headset is one other welcome contact, whereas the wealth of microphone options make it wonderful for multiplayer communication.
If you have been to search for options although, we’d advocate the SteelSeries Siberia V3 and even the Plantronics Rig Surround.
Verdict
The Kingston HyperX Cloud II sounds nice, is full of options and has a great deal of nice extras, making it among the best gaming headsets out there at underneath £100.