HyperX Cloud II - Gaming Headset, 7.1 Surround Sound, Memory Foam Ear Pads, Durable Aluminum Frame, Detachable Microphone, Works with PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One – Red

TL;DR Review: My previous headset broke, so I chose this one after reading/watching reviews. Comfort and durability are excellent, so far. The mic is good enough for calls and gaming. Initially, I was not impressed with the sound of the headphones (sounded like a low bitrate MP3), but then I realized I needed to plug the headset into my motherboard's USB ports rather than the front panel ports. I am now very happy with this headset and would recommend it to anyone looking for a reasonably-priced, comfortable gaming headset. (Owned for 5 months as of 2/27/16)Full Review:I purchased these to replace my Plantronics Gamecom 780 headset. The Gamecom headset had a 100% plastic headband which snapped one month after the warranty period ended. Apologies in advance, but I sometimes will compare the Cloud II to the Gamecom 780 in this review because its my only point of reference, and I felt like the Gamecom was an excellent headset prior to breakage. Overall, the Cloud II's have been a worthy replacement, and even an upgrade in many respects, but there are some areas where the Gamecom was better.After looking at YouTube, WireCutter, and Amazon reviews, I settled on the HyperX Cloud II gaming headset. Almost everyone raved about their durability, comfort, and sound. I know a headphone + stand mic combo can provide a better overall experience, but I didn't feel like spending the ~$200 on that combo just yet.Fit & FinishAfter they arrived, my initial impression of this headset was that it was very high quality. The fake leather on the earcups and the headband is nice and soft, and the stitching on the headband looks good and provides a nice red accent. The red brushed metal on the exposed parts of the frame is also a nice touch. The microphone detaches and reattaches very easily, although I do prefer a flip-up microphone like on the Gamecom 780. However, that's just a preference and shouldn't have any bearing on this review. As for fit, I have a larger head (I'm 6'2", 215 lbs, and probably have a 7-3/8" hat size) and these fit very comfortably. I've worn them for hours while gaming and never felt like the clamping pressure was too hard. Also, they don't make my head/ears sweat or anything like that. The pads on the earcups provide a comfortable seal around my ears that blocks out a lot of noise, which can be a pro and a con sometimes.DurabilityAfter 5 months of daily use... so far, so good. I recently purchased a hook so I can hang these up rather than just setting them on my desk or on the floor, so hopefully that increases the Cloud II's longevity, but I still don't feel like these will break as easily as the Gamecom 780's. Unless they get stepped on by an elephant or run over by my truck, I don't think the headband on the Cloud II's will be snapping after 13 months like the Gamecoms. The drivers in the headphones are still going strong, and the mic still sounds good. I will update if anything changes.Headphone Sound QualityHonestly, the headphones didn't blow me away at first. There was a noticeable difference from the Gamecom 780's in this regard. I felt like the sound on the 780's was awesome for their ~$60 price tag, but the Cloud II's just didn't sound as good. It was like listening to 320 kbps vs. 128 kbps MP3. There was a "graininess" (my terminology, sorry) to all sound - gaming, movies, and calls - that was especially noticeable at low volume. After a couple months, it was annoying me so much that I was about ready to buy a good pair of headphones and separate mic. Then I had an epiphany. I always plug my headset (780 or the Clouds) into my front USB ports (Fractal Define R4 case) because sometimes I like to unplug them and listen to movies/podcasts through my speakers. I had tried both the USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports with the Cloud II's, and the sound was the same on both. One day, I realized I had never plugged them directly into my motherboard's USB ports (Gigabyte Z170X-UD5). As soon as I did, I noticed an immediate difference in the sound quality. The "graininess" went away and I'm now very happy with the sound quality. I now run a USB extension cable from the back of my computer so I can still easily unplug the headset as needed, and the USB extension doesn't add any of the noise/bit-rate issues I was experiencing before.Virtual 7.1 Surround QualityI'm really not impressed by the virtual surround performance of the Cloud II's. I felt like the Gamecom 780's had a great virtual surround, or at least better than the Cloud II's. With the Gamecom, I could easily tell when/where an enemy was approaching me in FPS games. With the Cloud II's, I can hear an enemy approaching, but it's a lot tougher to tell where they're coming from. I don't think it's enough of a disappointment to lose a star though, since I can try other virtual surround software (Razer) and bypass the "built-in" virtual surround of the Cloud II's.Microphone QualityThe microphone is great for voice chat during games (Discord ftw) and Hangouts calls, but I would get a separate microphone if I was doing anything more than that. I don't stream to YouTube or Twitch. I don't record podcasts. I only use it to talk with my friends. They've all told me that it sounds clear and noise-free. If and when I do decide to do more, I'll pick up a Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica ATR-2100 which I know will have a much more professional and richer sound quality at a reasonable price, but I'm not to that point yet. For a ~$99 headset, the microphone is pretty good.ConclusionI would definitely recommend this headset to anyone looking for something that has great quality and is reasonably priced. I'd also recommend plugging it into your motherboard vs. the front panel USB ports to avoid any sound issues. The fit and finish are pretty nice, and it definitely feels more durable than my previous headset. The sound quality is great, but the 7.1 virtual surround experience is not very dependable. The microphone is good for gaming and voice calls, but look for a standalone mic if you're doing anything more than that. It's a great headset that does its job admirably, and I don't think you'll find better value for the price.

### Advantages:1. **Excellent sound quality**:- Equipped with a 53mm driver unit, it provides clear sound effects and strong bass, suitable for games and music.- Virtual 7.1 surround sound enhances the sense of space in the game, especially in FPS games.2. **High comfort**:- Memory foam ear pads and adjustable headband design, comfortable to wear for a long time.- The earmuffs have good sound insulation and reduce external interference.3. **High durability**:- Adopting an aluminum alloy frame, the structure is sturdy and suitable for long-term use.- Removable microphone and cable design for easy maintenance and replacement.4. **Clear microphone**:- The noise-canceling microphone makes calls clear, suitable for team communication and voice chat.5. **Wide compatibility**:- Supports multiple platforms such as PC, PS4, Xbox One, etc., with wide applicability.### Disadvantages:1. **Limited virtual 7.1 surround sound**:- The virtual surround sound is still not as good as high-end headphones, and the sound quality is a bit flat.2. **Simple wired control**:- The wired control only supports volume adjustment and microphone switch, and the functions are relatively basic.3. **High price**:- For users with limited budgets, the price may be high.#Summary:The Hurricane 2 headset performs well in sound quality, comfort and durability, especially for gamers. Although the virtual 7.1 surround sound and wired control functions are slightly insufficient, it is still a cost-effective gaming headset overall.

Pros:- The most comfortable headset I've tried over the last 5 years- Light but well built- Great background/ambient noise cancellation- Extra long cord which gives more than enough cable to play with if you have a long run for cable MGMT (could be seen as a con but pretty simple to use a velcro cable strap to make it more manageable)- Speaker/MIC volume controls are easy to find without looking and can be clipped to your clothing to make it easier.- Impressive audio quality with great 7.1 3D surround (hasn't failed me in FPS type games)- Option to completely remove MIC by unplugging it is very convenient if you aren't using it and don't want it hanging to the side in your peripheral vision.Cons:Honestly I don't have anything I would truly consider a con with this headset. The couple of things that come to mind would be considered more room for improvement or redesign.- At times I find that the mute switch on the side of the main control panel can be difficult to toggle because of its size and lack of protrusion from the slot the slider is in. If the surface had slightly better design for grip or was a button/switch instead I think that would make it easier- If there are issues stemming from the USB section of the headset cord, the section that would still allow you to plug into the standard 3.5" jack is to short to do without an extension.Overall Review:So I tend to overlook the process of leaving reviews after I purchase new products and have enough time using them to leave a proper review. I just happened to be browsing through the headsets and read through some of the reviews on the HyperX Cloud II and felt that I needed to leave a detailed and proper review for this headset.Let me start by stating that my profession is in the IT industry and I have thorough knowledge when it comes to computers and electronics. I've been with the same company for 6 years now and have owned/tried close to 2 dozen different headsets. This headset is hands down the most comfortable headset I have tried to date. The individuals on here that left a review saying they weren't are not wearing them correctly or didn't adjust them properly. They are the only headset that I have been able to wear all day, 5 days a week without hurting my ears or where the top rests on your head. That being said the leather ear pieces are by far much more comfortable than the other set which is some kind of velvet material.I'm currently wearing my first headset which I bought over 3 years ago now and have had no issues. I bought a second set in gunmetal grey to leave at work which I have been using for about 2 years now.I don't baby them by any means, but anyone who treats their possessions with care should have no issues with the audio card failures mentioned in other reviews that I saw. I've dropped mine on the floor (which is concrete) a few times and have never really put any thought into much else aside from ensuring I store them properly when I'm done.The complaints and negative reviews left regarding the sound is bogus. That being said this headset is a gaming headset, not a headset specifically designed for listening to music like Beats or Bose which those individuals need to remember when they purchase them. The sound surpassed my initial expectations and the 7.1 surround works very well, but that will also depend on the audio program/driver you use with them on the PC. I suggest that you don't use what Windows offers natively. As for the MIC and any comments regarding it being to quite, I'll just come out and bluntly state that they are an idiot. There is a MIC volume control on the control board of the headset to adjust, integrated mic input settings within windows you adjust, as well as MIC input settings that are stand alone within most programs you use with it as well. As I stated in the Pros above the background/ambient noise cancellation is pretty decent as well. Only time I've seen it picking up background noise is if I have the MIC sensitivity turned up.When it comes to all the reviews that pertain to individuals that were attempting to use these with a console gaming system like a PS4, they are all null and void if you have no intention to try using these on a console as well. This headset was not designed for use on a console, even though it might still be compatible. Console systems from playstation and xbox have and always will function better with wireless based hardware or hardware made by them.On one last note, regarding all the negative reviews I see due to the fact that someone received a faulty /flawed unit or something was messed up with their shipping, that should not have any direct relevance with a review. The one exception to that would be after you engage customer support to have the faulty unit replaced. 99% of the time you will get great support and expedited shipping with no extra cost so don't jump the gun just cause you get peeved and for those of you reading through reviews, take any of them based on this topic with a grain of salt.