Kingston HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset - Hardware Review

Near the end of last year I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Kingston HyperX Cloud gaming headset which was Kingston's first foray into the area. Needless to say I was utterly floored by the quality and to this day it is one of my go-to headsets for nearly any console in my house.

To put it plainly, I loved the headset. When Kingston released some pressers on the HyperX Cloud II I immediately began to froth at the mouth in my haste to get my hands on one as I loved the previous edition, plus Kingston threw in some upgrades. This could only mean that the Cloud II was bigger, better, and badder and when my HyperX Cloud II arrived the other day, it was all I could do to contain my excitement; want to hear more? Read on for my review of the Kingston HyperX Cloud II gaming headset.

I mentioned in my review of the original Cloud (found here: http://www.chalgyr.com/2014/10/kingston-hyperx-cloud-gaming-headset.html) that the overall presentation of the headset in its packaging was amazing. With the Cloud II it is no different, only better. Tightly packed in shipping foam with all of the necessary accessories expertly packaged, the Cloud II just feels rich coming out of the box. My particular unit is gunmetal and is stunning; pulling it out of the box was a divine affair and as I was digging through the rest of the cables I found it, the 7.1 surround adapter with inline controls.

I was stoked; Kingston has included this little 3.5mm-to-USB adapter which provides 7.1 surround sound and let me tell you this, it is absolutely amazing. Gaming with this headset is a blast, watching movies with this headset is incredible, and music sounds absolutely sublime. In every possible way, Kingston has take the core Cloud headset and improved it in every single way while keeping the overall look the same, though the Cloud II just feels like a far expensive (and durable) headset.

Since I am a bit of a bass fanatic I tend to get excited that a headset is capable of providing a decent low frequency note and the Cloud II headset seems to excel at it. Admittedly though it does not get as deep as the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Anniversary Edition, but it comes close. Very close. The bass reproduction is not the only thing that received a major overhaul as the mid and high notes absolutely purr; I have yet to hear a single note, watch a single movie, or play a single game that pushes the Cloud II beyond its intended limits. Everything I throw at it, the headset faithfully provides some of the best audio I have heard out of a passive noise-canceling headset.

I absolutely love the Kingston HyperX Cloud II headset; it is in every single way, a superior headset to the already spectacular Cloud headset. A higher and wider range of audio, a cleaner microphone, and the inclusion of 7.1 surround is like the icing on the cake. With these updates the Kingston HyperX Cloud II headset is a must have for any PC gamer (or any PlayStation 4 gamer looking for a stellar headset) and at its price point you will not find any better.

Review by Robert