I find it funny that this year is the 20th Anniversary of the HyperX brand while it’s also the 10th Anniversary of my association with the brand. 10 years ago, at the first PAX Australia expo, I remember interviewing the International Branding Officer for a YouTube video (Another site, another time) and due to me carrying around a beaten up old generic headset, I was given my first HyperX headset: A HyperX Cloud Maverick. From there I have reviewed more of the HyperX brand, leading up to one of their latest releases: HyperX Cloud Stinger 2.
Product Name: Cloud Stinger 2
Product Type: Gaming Headset
Manufacturer: HyperX
Compatible With: PC
Available: Now
Price: USD $39.99/AUD $89
Technical Specifics
With a new design and 2 years of DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio, the Cloud Stinger 2 keeps the fundamentals of the Cloud Stinger and refines it. Still weighing in at under 300g, the Cloud Stinger 2 is lightweight, but also still packs a hefty audio punch. Get a wide frequency response so you will not miss important audio cues that give your opponents away. It also does not skimp on comfort, with soft memory foam and premium leatherette designed for all-day gaming. Gamers will appreciate HyperX’s passion for its craft, which shows up in quality-of-life features like rotating earcups that make it easy to take a break, or the swivel-to-mute microphone that makes muting your mic simple and obvious. Its swivel-to-mute mic and volume controls are located on the headset, grouping all your most important audio functions right on your head for easy access. The passively noise-canceling microphone is flexible, so you can precisely position it to give you clear communication with your team.
Headphone Specifications
- Driver: Dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets
- Form Factor: Over ear, circumaural, closed back
- Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 28 kHz
- Sensitivity: -40.5 dBV (1 V/Pa at 1 kHz)
- T.H.D: ≤ 2%
- Frame Type: Plastic
- Ear Cushions: Memory foam and premium leatherette
Microphone Specification
- Element: Electret condenser microphone
- Polar Pattern: Bi-directional, Noise-cancelling
- Sensitivity: -40.5 dBV (1 V/Pa at 1 kHz)
Connections and Features
- Audio Controls: Onboard audio controls
Physical Specifications
- Weight: 0.60lb
- Cable Length (imperial) and type: headset cable (2.0mm), PC PC splitter cable (3.5mm)
That HyperX Quality.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is a very solid headset. If there is one thing that is pretty much standard with all HyperX headsets is the fact that they are a very solid unit, able to take knocks and bumps from at least 6 feet (aka my height) and keep on ticking as if nothing happened. The adjustable side slides are extremely durable and have a decent extension rate for those of us with large egos… I mean, heads. As always, the ear cushions are top quality and are durable enough to last for many hours of gaming before any irritation would set in (As it would with any other brand using large cushions).
When it comes to the audio quality, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 are straightforward headset sound. There are no fancy tricks here, so when you face one direction in the game you’ll be hearing everything around you. Music comes in loud and clear, and thanks to the controller on the side of the headset, you can adjust the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2‘s volume to what you want it to be on the fly, though there is no separation between game audio and chat audio like other brands are doing these days.
Basic, and that’s ok.
To be honest, there isn’t too much that I could fault the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 with… Though if I had to say something, it would be the microphone. I’m not too sure what it is about the in-built microphones in headsets, but they seem to have some sort of weird distance sound to them no matter how close you have the physical microphone to your mouth. This was something that not only others notice when I was testing it on Discord during World of Warcraft raid night, but also when my housemate borrowed the unit so we could communicate during some late-night Warzone sessions. I know this comes from being someone who uses a stand-alone microphone for streaming/communication, but it is really hard to get the same quality something like a Blue Yeti or a JBL Quantum Stream mic with anything that is attached to a headset.
The other small issue I have with the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is again a personal issue. After spending so much time with the JBL Quantum 600 and JBL Quantum 810 wireless headsets, I forgot how limited having a cable attached to the headset is when it comes to moving around my house. The number of times I almost ripped my head off with the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 or had it fall from my head… I actually lost count. I know that there is a wireless version of Cloud II headsets which are more high-end, but yeah, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is resilient after being dropped so many times and the jerking from my head.
High-level Entry Headset for Gamers.
HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 are pretty much what you would expect from the HyperX brand, a high-level audio experience at a consumer-friendly price. But that being said, you do get what you pay for with them. While I highly enjoy the level of quality I’ve come to expect from HyperX products with the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2, I believe that this is just a basic standard that all headsets should, and do, have across all their brands. HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is a basic headset with basic features, and that is good enough for those who need something quality but don’t have the money set aside for something with more features and fewer wires.
Review Disclosure Statement: HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 Gaming Headset was provided to us by HyperX for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please go review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy for more info.
Summary
HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is a great headset for entry-level gamers. The overall design is solid and durable, with the audio quality being up to the usual high standards that HyperX is known for. However, for people who are used to more high-end and wireless options for their gaming headsets, this won’t appeal to you. But if you’re a gamer on a budget, then these will do perfectly fine for your gaming needs.
Pros
- Durable and able to take some punishment
- Best ear cushions in the business
- High-quality audio
Cons
- Lacks features beyond audio level adjustment
- Average microphone quality
- Needs wireless option
Overall
4
