HyperX Cloud Stinger Headset Review

Introduction

Today we have for you a HyperX Cloud Stinger gaming headset. This is the same headset used by professional gaming teams, Luminosity, Natus Vincere, teamliquid, and SK Gaming. The headset is an improved version of the HyperX Cloud line up of headsets. It has the same great sound and comfort of the previous gen, but a new, matte-black and uni-body design with swivel-to-mute boom/microphone and swivel over the ear pads that allow for convenient storage and transport. The headset can be purchased from all your major tech supply stores, and is 49.99$ as of the time of this review.

Read on to find out how the new Cloud Stinger performs against the competition. We will rock out, game out, and go out in this headset to test it in all environments and will let you decide if its worth the cost!

A little history

Back in 2002 Kingston launched a patented high-performance memory modules named HyperX. Ten years later they celebrated 25 years of unprecedented memory business, popularity and sales. Same year, 2012, they launch HyperX branded Windows-to-GO usb drive, and SSD drives. Next year in 2013, the drop the 1TB Predator 3.0, world’s largest capacity USB 3.0 Flash drive. One year later the FURY modules for entry-level overclockers drops on the market, and allows for the beginners to feel the benefit of overclockable memory.
Kingston’s HyperX Cloud Stinger was released for the commercial use in August of 2016, allowing all the gamers who used the original Kingston HyperX Cloud, and Cloud Revolver, to grab this 49.99$ headset and experience true performance at a margin of the price.

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HyperX Logo

In the box

The headset comes in a regular cardboard box with a red-on-black cover denoting the usual spec sheet and the headset from every angle. The interior box is black with black foam padding for the Cloud Stinger and the extra wire for splitting the 3.5mm into a 3.5mm x2. The splitter also acts as an extension allowing for another 1.7m of wire length, totaling at 3m if you use both. The headset’s wire is under the flap, and the foam covers the surrounding areas and the headset, providing a snug and secure protection. Let’s move on to the specifications.

Specifications

Headset

Driver: Dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets
Type: Over-the-ear, Closed back
Frequency response: 18Hz-23,000Hz
Impedance: 30 Ω
Sound pressure level: 102 ± 3dBSPL/mW at 1kHz
T.H.D.: less than 2%
Input power: Rated 30mW, Maximum 500mW
Weight: 275g
Cable length and type: Headset (1.3m) + Extension Y-cable(1.7m)
Connection: Headset – 3.5mm plug (4 pole) + extension cable – 3.5mm stereo and mic plugs

Microphone

Element: Electret condenser microphone
Polar pattern: Uni-directional, Noise-canceling
Frequency response: 50Hz~18,000Hz
Sensitivity: -40 dBV (0dB=1V/Pa,1kHz)

Closer look

As you can tell by the Specifications above, this headset, although on the cheaper side, is anything but cheap. It’s made of material that gives it a premium finish and feel. The leather covered cups provide an experience of fully immersive experience. The Dynamic 50mm drivers have clear highs, and deep lows. The bass isn’t as powerful as some other headsets, but that’s not a bad thing, since bass isn’t as important in gaming, which this headset is meant for.
Now that we have all of the basics out of the way, let us take a closer look at the new and improved Cloud Stinger. During our testing we paired this headset with 2 different types of sound “enhancing” peripherals, the Mix-Amp from our Astro A40’s, and Razer Synapse. We chose these two because they are both readily available for your average consumer, and are easy to set up with the Cloud Stinger, allowing for an unprecedented quality in digital surround.

The Astro A40’s mix amp has two knobs, and 3 buttons on the face. The two knobs are your volume knob, and the balance control which allows for the game-to-voice volume settings.The important button in our test was the Dolby on/off button, which enabled the Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound. This setting, paired with the Cloud Stinger, allows for unprecedented control over directional sound, in-game motion and step detection and a total immersion into a video game.

The Razer Synapse was chosen for this test because it is the cheaper alternative to purchasing a soundcard.. Razer Synapse allows you to configure “Surround Sound” based on your environment.

Aside from the testing, we took the time to wear this headset, which allowed us to check how comfortable the ear cups were, how the swivel-to-mute mic works and how reliable the headset is altogether. Since size is relative, and having a head as big as mine, I can vouch that this was not an issue throughout my gaming for long periods of time. I used this headset on an XboxOne with the Xbox Elite Controller which comes with a 3.5mm input directly on the controller. I also tried it on the PS4, my PC, and my Sager Laptop. All of those sounded great. While playing Destiny on Xbox, Horizon on PS4, or Tom Clancy Rainbow Six Siege on PC, I suffered no headaches, or ear-pains, and since this headset imitates noise cancelling, I could feel truly immersed in the game of my choosing.

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Pros

Comfort is key, and this headset is firm yet soft
Sound of your highs and lows will allow you to pin point your enemies and feel the true sounds of any movie and song
Size of the band means that even big-headed folks like myself will have no issue with long use of the Cloud Stinger
Steel band guarantees that this headset will survive even the most emotionally driven gamers
Price is both a pro and a con; pro in the sense that for $49.99 (at the time of the article) this is the best bang for your buck
Two-Year Warranty that is given with this headset (as per the Kingston website) provides a worry free experience even for the most frugal buyer

Cons

Swivel-to-Mute seems like a good idea, but there seems to be a design flaw of sorts, where if this breaks, you either don’t have a mic, or can’t mute it.

Conclusion

This headset brings in the best of the best for the fraction of the price. With the support of a 3rd party software or hardware, you can get the best of both worlds: quality sound, and a price tag that won’t make your wallet wince. If you are interested in picking up a gaming headset without the premium price point, Cloud Stinger provides the comfort of even the highest priced headsets with fully over the ear pieces.

The final judgement is that with the price tag of $49.99 you are getting one of the best sounds you can expect. This of course comes with flaws, like the swivel-to-mute, which if used on a daily basis, can result in a headset without the ability to mute, or without a mic.