The HyperX Cloud headphones are one of the leading wired gaming headphones, popular for their gorgeous design and sturdy build. Their performance is debatable, though. Some users don’t seem impressed by these headphones’ sound profile, especially the latest HyperX Cloud Alpha S. However, others seem reasonably satisfied. This leads to the question: “Should you avoid the HyperX Cloud headphones or buy them?”
The HyperX Cloud Alpha S headphones’ sound can be inconsistent due to their seal and fit quality. People who wear glasses may find them hard to set on their heads and ear. Yet, their ear cups are padded and soft, and the headband is flexible, providing a comfortable fit for different head sizes. You will also love the detachable mic on these headphones.
Unfortunately, all these good things seem not-so-impressive when the headsets fail to block the background noise. What’s the point of buying a quality headset when it can’t cancel out the outside conversations? For us, it may be best to avoid the HyperX Cloud headphones, particularly the newest Alpha model, for the 6 reasons mentioned in this post.
Quick Facts: Hyperx Cloud Alpha S Headphones
| Type | Closed-back, circumaural headphones |
| Connection | Wired |
| Frequency response | 13 Hz – 27KHz |
| Frequency response | 50Hz – 18kHz |
| Connection type | 3.5mm plug (4 poles) |
| Impedance | 62 Ω |
| Microphone | Bi-directional, noise-canceling |
| Weight | 321 g |
- Frequency response 13Hz – 27kHz.Headphones fit type:Over-Ear
- Custom-tuned HyperX 7.1 surround sound
- Bass adjustment sliders
- HyperX Dual chamber drivers
- Game and chat balance
- Signature HyperX comfort
- Durable aluminum frame
Reason 1: Poor Breathability
Breathability is a critical feature that many people prioritize when buying a headset. It defines how hot a headphone can get when used for a particular time. People who use their headsets for extended periods, such as during a workout or running, must consider the breathability factor.
Because our body temperature rises during these activities, a headphone must have sufficient airflow within its ear cups. Unfortunately, most HyperX Cloud headsets are closed-back, making them a poor choice for wearing during demanding activities.
Compared to on-ear headsets, the HyperX Cloud headphones are less breathable as they tightly seal your ears to block the airflow. The soft padding in their ear cups is also not breathable. Therefore, you can expect your ears to sweat more quickly and excessively. It can spoil your overall experience with these headsets.
The average temperature difference of the HyperX Cloud Alpha headphones is around 6.2 °C or 43.16°F. It means you must take frequent breaks when wearing these headsets to cool down your ears. Let’s be honest — who has time for that?
Reason 2: Mediocre Treble Accuracy
Another reason you should avoid the HyperX Cloud headphones is their average treble accuracy. The treble describes the frequency response of a headset in the high-range spectrum. It typically ranges between 2.5kHz to 20kHz. You may have noticed sharper sounds when listening to a song. These high tones, cymbals, hi-hats, and sibilance, all fall between this spectrum.
Measuring low-, mid-, and high-treble frequency responses is vital to estimate a headphone’s treble accuracy. When it comes to HyperX Cloud headphones, you will find them reasonable for neutral sound listening. They also have a well-balanced sound quality, but unfortunately, their low or mid-treble ranges cause dullness and hollowness in the audio.
The standard error of the HyperX Cloud Alpha’s treble reproduction is 5.1 dB, with -2.72 dB low-treble, -1.16 dB mid-treble, and -7.07 dB high-treble. Their mediocre treble accuracy affects the articulation of instruments and vocals in music, making them sound lisp-y.
Since the HyperX Cloud Alpha headphones are closed-back or over-ear, they don’t offer consistent sound performance. It usually differs depending on the nature of your seal. Typically, people with long hair may hear a different bass than someone with short hair due to the difference in seal and poor treble response.
Reason 3: Average Noise Cancellation
If a headset can’t cancel the background noise, what’s the point of wearing one? That’s another reason why you must avoid the HyperX Cloud headphones. Although marketed as noise-canceling headphones, the Cloud Alpha headphones isolate only negligible background noise. So, you will have vehicle horns and people’s conversations interfering with your music.
This poor noise isolation makes the HyperX Cloud Alpha a poor choice for offices. But this doesn’t mean they don’t block out bass sounds. They do, but it’s so minimal that you won’t notice it. However, they can effectively cancel high-frequency background sounds, such as fans, AC, room coolers, etc.
Fortunately, the HyperX Cloud Alpha headphones don’t leak much sound. So, you can comfortably increase the volume of your audio to ignore the annoying background noise. It won’t be a solid reason to avoid the HyperX Cloud headphones, but it is an essential factor to consider with so many better noise-canceling headsets available right now.
Reason 4: Bulky
Whether you’re a sportsperson or a student, you probably prefer a lightweight headset to carry everywhere you go. Such headphones are not only portable, but also appear more sophisticated on the head than bulky ones. Lightweight headsets are also more stable during walking, running, or working out. And the best part? They are also more breathable than closed-back heavy headphones.
Unfortunately, the HyperX Cloud Alpha headphones are relatively bulkier than other headsets in the same price range. That’s why they are unstable and cause sweating in the ears quicker. So, if you spend your day out, we suggest you avoid the HyperX Cloud headphones and go for something that feels and weighs lighter.
Reason 5: Wired-Only Headphones
HyperX Cloud Alpha headphones are wired-only, meaning you can’t use advanced wireless features like Bluetooth. Moreover, there is no support for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. They also lack the software for adding customizations. So, if you want to amp up your gaming experience, these headphones won’t fulfill your needs.
On the bright side, wired-only headphones don’t need batteries. This means you won’t have to worry about charging your headset for long journeys. However, yes, carrying the USB cable is an issue.
Reason 6: Not Ideal for Gaming
Although commercialized as gaming headphones, the HyperX Cloud Alpha headsets are not precisely the best gaming headphones out there. The reason is the same as we discussed — they fail to cancel background noises. This means you may hear the sound of engines or horns in intense gaming scenes. Yes, that’s unimpressive.
Another reason could be their poor breathability. No gaming session is shorter than an hour; most extend to 4 to 5 hours. When wearing these headphones for such periods, your ear will feel warm and sweaty in just a few hours. Moreover, they don’t have modern customization options or features that take gaming up a notch.
So, if you’re a gamer, that’s a valid reason to avoid the HyperX Cloud headphones. However, they are still not as bad if you have an isolated gaming setup.
Should You Avoid the HyperX Cloud Headphones?
We have listed the six best reasons to avoid the HyperX Cloud Headphones to help you decide on your next purchase. All the headsets in the Cloud series have an attractive design, sturdy build, and classy paint. The Cloud Alpha S headphones have been carrying the legacy of their predecessors reasonably well, so they aren’t a bad headset in any way.
However, they don’t seem like a good investment at the moment. It has inconsistent audio that feels different to every individual. If you have long hair or wear glasses, you will struggle to experience the original sound quality of these headsets. The microphone performs well, but only when not used with the mixer amp. The treble accuracy is also distorted, and the noise-canceling feature isn’t too remarkable either.
The cable that comes with the HyperX Cloud Alpha S is also quite long. While it makes adjusting the volume convenient, it isn’t something that most people prioritize when buying a headphone.
So, it is better to avoid the HyperX Cloud headphones if you want excellent noise-cancellation, treble accuracy, breathability, portability, and gaming features. Aside from that, these headsets aren’t too bad for the price tag. You can also try other options.
What Are the Best Alternatives to the HyperX Cloud Headphones?
HyperX Cloud headphones may not be ideal, but they are better than many options. Still, if you can’t ignore the reasons to avoid the HyperX Cloud headphones, here are two alternatives to try out:
- Logitech G Pro X Gaming Headset
- SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC
- Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017
Logitech G Pro X Gaming Headset
- Detachable microphone with noise reducer, compressor, limiter, and more
- Next-gen 7.1 object-based surround sound for positional, distance, and object awareness in-game
- Memory foam ear-pads with a choice of passive noise canceling leatherette or breathable velour
- Durable aluminum fork and steel headband
- 50mm drivers for clear sound and improved bass
The Logitech G Pro X works the same as HyperX Cloud Alpha S but has a slight upper hand over the latter. The Logitech has an improved in-line remote with easy controls. Its sound and recording quality are also more natural and well-balanced than the HyperX Cloud headphones.
Unlike HyperX Cloud, Logitech headphones have compatible software for customization options, such as a virtual 7.1 surround and graphic EQ. Both these features ensure better sound reproduction.
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC
- Best for PS4/PS5
- Bidirectional mic cancels out background noise for excellent voice clarity
- Adapter required for Xbox use
- Make immediate sound adjustments with the included ChatMix dial
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro is a wired gaming headphone like HyperX Cloud Alpha S with better features. It offers similar inconsistent treble and bass, but you can easily change the sound of your SteelSeries headphones. After all, they come with a companion app, a graphic EQ, and presets.
You will also get DTS 7.1 virtual surround support with the SteelSeries Arctis Pro. All in all, these headphones have better controls and channel mix features than the HyperX Cloud Alpha S.
Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017
- Great MixAmp controls
- Optimized for gaming with ASTRO Audio
- Swappable microphone
- ASTRO Command Center software allows you to tune every input and output parameter for your specific setup
If you’re a gamer, the Astro A40 TR Headset with MixAmp Pro 2017 is all you need. Compared to the HyperX Cloud Alpha S, the Astro A40 is a better gaming headphone with great MixAmp controls. It also has an improved microphone with impressive sound quality.
The Astro headset also offers better controls and customization options than its counterpart. You can also EQ your headphones inside companion software, a feature you won’t find in the HyperX Cloud Alpha S. That’s a valid reason to avoid the HyperX Cloud headphones and buy Astro A40 TR!
- HyperX Cloud Alpha S – PC Gaming Headset, 7.1 Surround Sound, Adjustable Bass, Dual Chamber Drivers, Chat Mixer, Breathable Leatherette, Memory Foam, and Noise Cancelling Microphone – Blue
- Frequency response 13Hz – 27kHz.Headphones fit type:Over-Ear
- Custom-tuned HyperX 7.1 surround sound
- Bass adjustment sliders
- HyperX Dual chamber drivers
- Game and chat balance
- Signature HyperX comfort
- Durable aluminum frame
- Logitech G PRO X Gaming Headset (2nd Generation) with Blue Voice, DTS Headphone 7.1 and 50 mm PRO-G Drivers, for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S,PS5,PS4, Nintendo Switch – Black
- Detachable microphone with noise reducer, compressor, limiter, and more
- Next-gen 7.1 object-based surround sound for positional, distance, and object awareness in-game
- Memory foam ear-pads with a choice of passive noise canceling leatherette or breathable velour
- Durable aluminum fork and steel headband
- 50mm drivers for clear sound and improved bass
- SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC Wired Gaming Headset – Black
- Best for PS4/PS5
- Bidirectional mic cancels out background noise for excellent voice clarity
- Adapter required for Xbox use
- Make immediate sound adjustments with the included ChatMix dial
- ASTRO Gaming A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro TR for PlayStation 4 (2017 Model)
- Great MixAmp controls
- Optimized for gaming with ASTRO Audio
- Swappable microphone
- ASTRO Command Center software allows you to tune every input and output parameter for your specific setup
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We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
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