HyperX Cloud Alpha Wi-fi Gaming Headset
MSRP $199.00
“The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wi-fi is the perfect headset for PC avid gamers, no query.”
Professionals
- Unimaginable sound high quality
- 300 hours of battery life
- All-day consolation
- Inflexible design
- DTS:X spatial audio help
Cons
- No Bluetooth
- Slightly costly
The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wi-fi is a pipedream headset. It has the identical glorious sound high quality because the Cloud Alpha — which is among the many greatest gaming headsets — in addition to just a few small enhancements to consolation. Critically, it has 300 hours of battery life, which is an exponential leap for the world of gaming headsets.
I knew I’d love the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi from the second I unboxed it, and after utilizing it completely, that impression hasn’t modified. That is the headset I’d suggest to most PC avid gamers, regardless of some minor points on the subject of utilizing it away out of your desk.
Design
In case you’ve seen the Cloud Alpha headset, the wi-fi model ought to be very acquainted. It seems an identical, minus just a few small modifications for consolation (extra on that beneath). It’s a gamer’s headset, little doubt, however it’s not as in your face as Razer’s Kraken V3 because of the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi’ lack of RGB and slimmer general construct.
The headscarf has a very good quantity of play, I’m not nervous about it sporting out, and the earcups have deep, impartial adjustment. The locked braces for the earcups imply you possibly can’t fold them in for touring, however you in all probability gained’t take the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi exterior your own home anyway.
Across the headset, you’ll discover a clean quantity wheel on the fitting, in addition to an influence button, a mic mute button, a 3.5mm connection, and a USB-C connection on the left. There’s additionally a small LED indicator that can inform you when the headset is on, in addition to when you’ve gotten the mic muted (though, you possibly can’t see the indicator with the headset on like you possibly can with the Corsair Virtuoso Wi-fi XT).
You possibly can hook the headset up with a wire if you wish to join it to a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Sequence X. The wi-fi USB dongle is unique to PC. That’s all good, however I actually miss Bluetooth on the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi. It’s possible you’ll not wish to take this headset out for listening to music, however utilizing it for cloud gaming with a pill or gaming in your telephone simply isn’t potential with a string of dongles.
Battery life
The Cloud Alpha Wi-fi is able to 300 hours of battery life on a single cost, which is insane. Most gaming headsets are within the double digits, with cans just like the Logitech G533 needing a cost after 15 hours. It’s a large accomplishment.
I can’t work out how HyperX is doing it, although. The shortage of RGB definitely helps, as does the automated energy characteristic that shuts the headset down after 20 minutes of inactivity. I went days with the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi whereas nonetheless being met with “battery stage is at 100%” at any time when I turned them on.
I used to be ready to make use of the headset for 2 weeks with out getting beneath half battery.
It’s exhausting to inform if 300 hours is definitely what the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi can obtain, however frankly, I don’t care. What I care about is that I used to be ready to make use of the headset for 2 weeks with out getting beneath half battery, and that’s critically spectacular. The one drawback right here is that it’s a must to cost the headset so sometimes that it doesn’t really feel like routine.
Sound high quality
The Cloud Alpha Wi-fi sounds unbelievable. It makes use of the identical 50mm drivers contained in the wired model, which encompasses a two-chamber design. Basically, the drivers isolate the highs, mids, and bass into totally different chambers, which give the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi an open sound that by no means looks like frequencies are preventing one another.
I took the headset for a spin in a bunch of current video games I’ve been enjoying — Future 2, Elden Ring, and Darkest Dungeon — and so they all sounded glorious. Throughout them, I all the time most well-liked the DTS:X spatial audio to be on. The headset is satisfactory with out it, however it feels such as you’re not getting the audio expertise you possibly can be.
One other fixed was heavy bass. The bass is tuned excessive, giving gunshots in Future 2 a pleasant kick, but additionally booming a bit of too heavy with the deep tones of the narrator in Darkest Dungeon. The bass doesn’t drown out different frequencies because of the design of the motive force, however it’s nonetheless a heavy lean. Fortunately, you possibly can counteract that with EQ.
The Cloud Alpha Wi-fi sounds unbelievable.
Though the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi is a gaming headset, I can’t ignore motion pictures and music. DTS Headphone:X spatial audio is nice for motion pictures, with has a way more refined impact than Home windows Sonic. The positioning and depth are nice, with out the unusual reverb-y impact that comes with poor spatial audio.
Music is a distinct matter. You shouldn’t usually use DTS:X when listening to music, however it generally sounds a lot better with the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi. Low-intensity preparations, like PJ Morton’s Prepared sound improbable with DTS:X on, a lot better than with it off. However, dense preparations just like the scorching Toxin from Vildhjarta sound horrible with DTS:X on. I discovered myself flipping it on and off relying on what I used to be listening to, generally in the identical tune.
Software program
HyperX’s Ngenuity software program is stable, if unimpressive. For the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi, you possibly can activate DTS:X spatial audio, modify microphone and quantity ranges, and activate the EQ. You possibly can create your individual presets with the 10-band EQ, too, permitting you to dial in sounds for particular video games.
That’s about it. You possibly can modify when the headset powers off mechanically and switch off the voice prompts, however Ngenuity is barebones. That’s not a giant difficulty, although. The Cloud Alpha Wi-fi is a barebones headset, and Ngenuity simply exposes just a few easy however vital settings.
Consolation
The HyperX Cloud Alpha is a supremely comfy gaming headset. The wi-fi model has just a few minor modifications, however they collectively make for an much more comfy expertise.
You’ll discover the variations within the earcups and headband. The Cloud Alpha Wi-fi makes use of a softer reminiscence foam in comparison with the wired model, which makes the inflexible body really feel extra forgiving. The softer earcups additionally result in higher sound isolation, with the earlier model feeling like there was a layer of air between your ears and the headset.
The Cloud Alpha Wi-fi is my new favourite gaming headset.
Frankly, HyperX didn’t must make any of those modifications, and I nonetheless would have sung the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi’ praises. With them, the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi will get the sound isolation of a headset just like the SteelSeries Arctis Professional with out huge foam earcups.
It’s a very good factor the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi has 300 hours of battery life since you would possibly truly put on them for that lengthy.
Our take
The Cloud Alpha Wi-fi is my new favourite gaming headset. The Cloud Alphas had been already the cream of the crop, and this model improves that design whereas overcharging wi-fi connectivity with 300 hours of battery life.
Are there any options?
Sure, however not any that steadiness consolation, sound high quality, and battery life in fairly the identical approach. For battery life, specifically, the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi is in a league of its personal.
- $150 Steelseries Arctis 7 — Nice sound high quality and $50 cheaper, although not fairly as comfy and with a lot worse battery life.
- $150 HyperX Cloud II Wi-fi — HyperX’s personal Cloud II Wi-fi is $50 cheaper at record value and as a lot as $100 cheaper used, whereas nonetheless providing comparable consolation and sound high quality. It tops out at 30 hours of battery life, although.
How lengthy will it final?
HyperX sells alternative ear cushions, cables, and microphones, so the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi might final you 10 years or much more. HyperX has primarily re-released variations of this design for years, and so they all the time maintain up. That speaks to the longevity of the Cloud Alpha Wi-fi.
Must you purchase it?
Sure, no query. Until you want RGB or the flowery trimmings of extra premium headsets, the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wi-fi is the perfect wi-fi gaming headset you should purchase.
Editors’ Selection
