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When it comes to gaming headsets, choosing the right one isn’t as easy as just grabbing the least or most expensive option. Instead, choosing the right gaming headset requires you to look at various priorities like sound, comfort, noise canceling, and price. As one of the best-known names in the gaming accessory space, HyperX has set out to make quality products at prices that rival the biggest names like Razer or Logitech.
Two of these great products are the HyperX Cloud II and the HyperX Cloud Revolver 7.1, each of which brings something different to the table. Whether it’s advanced surround sound or an advanced audio control box, both of these headsets warrant a close look whether this is your first or latest gaming headset.
Let’s take a closer look at these two HyperX staples and see which one is right for you.
HyperX Cloud II vs. Cloud Revolver: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Cloud II | Cloud Revolver 7.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | February 2015 | December 2020 |
| Price (MSRP) | $99.99 | $149.99 |
| Detachable Microphone? | Yes | Yes |
| Noise Canceling | Microphone only | Microphone only |
| Adjustable Headband? | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 53mm | 50mm |
| Weight | 11.2 ounces | 12.64 ounces |
| Ear Cushion Material | Memory foam and premium leatherette | Memory foam and premium leatherette |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz-23kHz | 10Hz-23kHz |
| Cord Length | 3.3 feet | 6.6 feet |
| Connection | 3.5mm, USB | 3.5mm, USB |
- 15-25kKhz Frequency Response
- Designed for comfort
- Supreme audio quality
- 7.1 virtual surround sound
- Passive noise cancellation
- [Wide, studio-grade sound stage]: allowes you to hear sounds from further away more accurately - perfect for FPS and open environment settings.Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals or the headset is not worn properly in your ears, you may not obtain the correct sound qualities or call performance. Change the earbud tips to ones that fit more snugly in your ear
- [HyperX 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound]: Get the most out of your gaming experience with surround sound that’s precise with distance and depth.
- [Advanced USB Audio Control Box]: The sound card boosts your audio and enhances noise cancellation. Dedicated buttons toggle surround sound, mic mute and adjust mic and headphone output levels.
- [50mm directional drivers]: Directional drivers are positioned parallel to the ears and deliver crisp, precise audio with enhanced bass.
- [Dense, higher-quality signature HyperX memory foam]: Provides long-lasting Cloud comfort to keep you focused during your intense gaming marathons.
HyperX Cloud II vs. Cloud Revolver: What’s the Difference?
Comfort
As is the case with all HyperX headsets, comfort is top of mind as the company knows and expects headsets to be worn for hours on end. This is why they match their signature memory foam with a premium leatherette that provides you with comfort for hours on end. The leather feels cool on your head which helps reduce potential overheating and the adjustable strap over your head ensures you can find the perfect fit.
With the memory foam and leatherette, the Cloud II only weighs in at 11.2 ounces which puts it firmly in the middle of the pack as far as headset weight. The Cloud II also clamps really well to your head which allows for a really secure fit. You can move, shake, and even dance without the headphones shifting around at all.
As the more expensive pair of the two HyperX headsets being compared, you might expect the Cloud Revolver 7.1 headset to be the more comfortable. Fortunately, those are the right expectations, and for its higher price tag, you do indeed get a little more comfort with the signature HyperX memory foam and leatherette.
The good news is that there is more leatherette material here than in the less expensive HyperX Cloud II headphones, and that’s part of the reason for increased comfort. The other reason is the steel frame that runs over the head of the Revolver prevents wobble and stays in place as long as you need it. At 12.64 ounces, it’s slightly heavier so that’s a consideration if weight is a huge factor, but it doesn’t lead to any more fatigue than with the Cloud II and feels more solid quality-wise overall.
Sound Quality
Cloud II
If there is any aspect of a gaming headset that can be universally agreed on as important, it’s sound/audio. The ability to hear approaching enemies or clearly hear your teammate’s voices is a definite make-it-or-break-it for big-name gaming headsets. With the HyperX Cloud II, you have some solid features right out of the box to help with sound. First and foremost is the addition of HyperX 7.1 Surround Sound which immerses you right into your game and allows a focus on sounds that can give you a competitive edge.
Also benefiting from the HyperX Cloud II are the specially-tuned 53mm drivers, which, on paper, should be pretty strong. Fortunately, their performance matches their promise, and as they sit parallel to your ear, they really do provide an immersive experience. Bass is notable but not too heavy while the mids and highs are balanced. This is exactly what you want to discover so one sound isn’t overpowering another. If there is one downside to the Cloud II, it’s that the 7.1 functionality of the Cloud II begins to show its age after a while as it’s not as powerful as more recent HyperX headsets.
Cloud Revolver
Speaking of more recent headsets, the story with the HyperX Cloud Revolver and its 50mm directional drivers is not too far apart from the Cloud II. Like the latter, the former also includes a 7.1 surround sound and HyperX wants it hyped up so much for the Revolver headset, it’s actually part of the official headset name on their website (HyperX Cloud Revolver 7.1). In practice, you are definitely going to find a more immersive sound with the Revolver over the Cloud II thanks to software enhancements.
Those software enhancements do offer buyers of the HyperX Cloud Revolver an entirely new experience if they haven’t tried a HyperX headset in a few years. This is even more true for someone who has never tried a surround sound headset as it’s a real change to finally hear sounds from all around you.
Finally, the Cloud Revolver bass, highs, lows, and mids all provide slightly more balance than the HyperX Cloud II and that’s likely a result of the age of the Cloud II hardware.
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Mic Quality
With the HyperX Cloud II, one immediate focus of the overall hardware of the headset is its detachable microphone. It’s a detachable mic that is built around flexibility and offers a foam windscreen over where you’ll be talking. As this is the second generation of the HyperX Cloud II, the company was mindful enough to include a noise-canceling feature within the microphone and, for the most part, it works well.
Anyone playing a game with you shouldn’t be subject to too much background noise provided you are not in the middle of a heavy metal concert. This said, the microphone and its noise-cancellation are not quite class-leading and it’s another sign the Cloud II is starting to show its age.
In the case of the HyperX Cloud Revolver, you get a sturdier microphone that’s made of more rigid material and while that means it lacks the flexibility of the Cloud II, there is widespread agreement it sounds clearer. Neither mic is going to blow away noise-canceling purists but the performance on the Revolver is definitely better.
With the release of the Cloud Revolver 7.1, HyperX made the switch from a bi-directional microphone to a unidirectional which does help with filtering out more ambient noise. Add in some additional software help for canceling out background noise and the Cloud Revolver is the definite winner in this category.
Control Box
One of the best aspects of HyperX gaming headset ownership is support for various audio control boxes. In the case of the HyperX Cloud II, you receive a USB advanced audio control box complete with five buttons overall. This includes two buttons on the left for output volume and two buttons on the right-hand side for input volume control.
The middle button activates the 7.1 virtual surround sound functionality of the headset which is nice to have as a shortcut. While the buttons are not remappable through software, the control box is a strong extra piece of hardware that is not often found at this price point.
Switching to the HyperX Cloud Revolver, you find a similar USB advanced audio control box and while HyperX can do something about the long name, it’s more functional on the Cloud Revolver. There is a similar dedicated button for activating the 7.1 virtual surround sound but also a button dedicated to muting the microphone as well as controls for adjusting both the microphone and headphone output levels. With a little clip on the backside, you can clip the control box to a shirt so it’s readily accessible in the game and you don’t have to take your eyes off the screen to locate and use it.
Compatibility
Featuring a 3.3-foot braided nylon cable, compatibility for the HyperX Cloud II is focused on its 3.5mm connection and any device compatible with that connection type. This includes gaming systems like the Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation controllers as well as PCs, so rest assured there is a pretty broad spectrum of compatibility. However, you can get creative and plug the USB-A connection from the audio control box into a device and plug the 3.5mm connection through the control box to add additional hardware compatibility for systems that exclusively use USB like a PlayStation 4 or some PCs.
The story isn’t too dissimilar for the Cloud Revolver which also uses both a 3.5mm connection and a six-foot long braided nylon cable and USB connection. The USB connection is dedicated more to PCs and PlayStation 4 hardware but it’s also worth noting that 7.1 virtual surround sound in the case of both headsets is only compatible with PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4 through USB. Stereo compatibility happens with the 3.5mm connection and Xbox hardware, mobile devices, as well as virtual reality equipment.
HyperX Cloud II vs. Cloud Revolver: 6 Must-Know Facts
- Both the HyperX Cloud II and Cloud Revolver offer 7.1 virtual surround sound which was developed in-house by HyperX after the company moved away from Dolby surround sound.
- The HyperX Cloud Revolver is the slightly heavier headset at 12.64 ounces versus the Cloud II and its 11.2 ounces.
- There are USB advanced audio control boxes available for both the Cloud II and Revolver but the Revolver offers more functionality.
- Neither headset offers any type of remapping or equalizers through the HyperX NGENUITY software.
- Compatibility is pretty close between the two headsets as far as what type of devices are supported through a 3.5mm or USB connection.
- The Cloud Revolver is certified by TeamSpeak and Discord which is a strong recommendation in favor of it over the Cloud II.
- 15-25kKhz Frequency Response
- Designed for comfort
- Supreme audio quality
- 7.1 virtual surround sound
- Passive noise cancellation
- [Wide, studio-grade sound stage]: allowes you to hear sounds from further away more accurately - perfect for FPS and open environment settings.Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals or the headset is not worn properly in your ears, you may not obtain the correct sound qualities or call performance. Change the earbud tips to ones that fit more snugly in your ear
- [HyperX 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound]: Get the most out of your gaming experience with surround sound that’s precise with distance and depth.
- [Advanced USB Audio Control Box]: The sound card boosts your audio and enhances noise cancellation. Dedicated buttons toggle surround sound, mic mute and adjust mic and headphone output levels.
- [50mm directional drivers]: Directional drivers are positioned parallel to the ears and deliver crisp, precise audio with enhanced bass.
- [Dense, higher-quality signature HyperX memory foam]: Provides long-lasting Cloud comfort to keep you focused during your intense gaming marathons.
HyperX Cloud II vs. Cloud Revolver: Which One is Better?
At the end of the day, it’s easy to look at both of these headsets and wonder which one is better as there are many similarities.
Where the HyperX Cloud Revolver really stands out is that its noise-canceling microphone offers better reduction of ambient sound plus its advanced audio control box includes a wider array of control options.
Last but not least is the Revolver’s virtual surround sound which is more complete across highs, lows, and mids, even with its smaller drivers and, when combined with its other benefits, results in the Cloud Revolver being the better headset for most people.
