The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless offers a remarkable promise and delivers on it. A wireless gaming headset featuring 300 hours of battery life was something unheard of when HyperX unveiled the Cloud Alpha Wireless at CES 2022.
The Cloud Alpha Wireless is fantastic since its battery lasts countless hours. Even more impressive is that the battery life is just one of several noteworthy features. The fit is good, the sound quality is outstanding, and the wireless communication is seamless.
Since its release several years ago, the HyperX Cloud Alpha has consistently been one of the cheapest wired workhorses in the gaming headset market. However, the typical gaming headset has much improved since 2017; wireless headsets now offer software, and features, while wired headsets are better made and sound far better.
Additionally, they work with HyperX’s Ngenuity software, which has capabilities for customization like a visual EQ and presets particular to this model.
A highly durable wireless gaming headset is the Cloud Alpha Wireless. Despite having a significant portion of its frame composed of metal, it weighs just 337g. The memory foam ear pads and headband cushion are comfortable since they are wrapped in plush leatherette. It’s comfy since balancing the headband’s clamping power and cushion thickness are excellent.
What you will see here!
Design
The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless resembles the HyperX Cloud Alpha. The Cloud Alpha Wireless sports a stunning black and red chassis, similar to its wired predecessor. It has a padded steel headband, substantial foam earcups, a detachable microphone, and tasteful stitching to tie it all together. The peripheral looks excellent, but the red and black “gamer” color scheme feels antiquated.
The gadget is also easy to operate. A concave power button, a convex mic mute button, a USB-C charging port, and a 3.5 mm audio port for the microphone are all located on the left earcup. Located on the right earcup is a volume dial. The volume dial is easy to operate with a rapid motion thanks to its ridged surface, and neither side feels overly limited.
To connect the Cloud Alpha Wireless to a PC, PS4, or PS5, you’ll need a USB-A dongle. Although it doesn’t quite have the same level of innovation as a USB-C dongle, it still works.
Build Quality
The build quality of the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is excellent. They have an extensible headband with red stitching and a strong aluminum frame. They also feature a mike you can take off for a more relaxed appearance. Although a cable connection is not supported, they offer USB-C input for charging the headphones. They seem solid and shouldn’t sustain too much harm from accidental drops.
Sound Profile
Compared to its default sound, the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless sound profile, while utilizing the ‘Balanced’ EQ is the flattest and has a somewhat v-shaped shape. Sibilants are bright and have a little extra bass to give thud, rumble, and boom to mixes. Lead instruments and dialogue are audible, present, and accurate.
These headphones can use a graphic EQ and presets via their associated software, unlike most other HyperX devices. A kind of comparison of the frequency responses of the presets may be shown. You can use the visual EQ or presets to assist you in customizing their sound profile to your preferences.
Comfort
The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is as cozy to wear for extended periods as its wired predecessor. It has an interior steel headband with subtle notches. Because of this, finding a fit and recreating it after handing the headset over to someone else is simple. Even if you wear spectacles, the foam earcups still form a comfortable seal around your ears without pressing down too hard.
It would have been intriguing to see HyperX update a five-year-old design, maybe with an elastic headband or, at the very least, numbered notches. However, the concept was successful both in 2017 and now.
However, because they can trap heat, if you wear them for extended gaming marathons, you could notice that your ears start to grow warm. They also only come with one piece of leatherette cushioning, unlike the HyperX Cloud Alpha S.
Controls
The controls on the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless are inadequate. They lack call and music control systems because they are built for gaming and are also very basic and not remarkably adaptable. The power on/off button may be on the left ear cup. There is also a mute mic button, which is distinguishable from the power button since it is slightly elevated.
When the mic is muted, the LED light turns red, and you can hear a chime when you unmute it. You can toggle on and off mic detection, which allows you to hear your voice, by pressing and holding this button for three seconds.
On the right ear cup is an endless volume wheel with varied chimes to indicate the minimum and maximum volume. Overall, various chimes alert you when particular commands have been registered. The accompanying software also features voice prompts that you can enable or disable.
You must use the companion software to access the DTS:X and EQ preset adjustments since they are not immediately accessible on the headphones. Additionally, there is no audio cue to inform you that you have chosen these options.
Performance
Furthermore, but not far more than that, the Cloud Alpha’s sound profile makes it one of the most incredible gaming headsets.
This is due to the HyperX Cloud Alpha’s innovative dual-chamber driver, which provides superior audio with less compression. In essence, the new driver’s increased complexity allows the woofer to have its place and the mid-tones to jump off the closed rear of the headset. Fortunately, the HyperX Cloud Alpha outperforms many competitors in fuller mid-tones and powerful bass.
The Cloud Alpha Wireless offers rich, lively sound across several media and game genres thanks to its strong 50mm speakers and an extensive sampling rate (15 Hz to 21 kHz; compare the 20 Hz to 20 kHz responses that most gaming headsets give).
The Cloud Alpha Wireless handles music much better than most gaming headsets. The results were terrific across the board. The headset offered a precise and immediate soundscape, just like in video games. Theoretically, this headset may take the place of your regular headphones for listening to music, but in reality, it lacks a few functions that would enable that.
Features
The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless headset succeeds in both design and audio quality, but a few minor drawbacks were found challenging to ignore. First of all, only computers and PlayStation consoles are compatible with it. There isn’t a simple way to link it to iPhones, Xboxes, TVs, or other audio-producing devices. The Cloud Alpha Wireless’s list of compatible devices is relatively small compared to other headsets in the price bracket that frequently contain Bluetooth or at least a headphone port.
The HyperX Ngenuity Software has never been completely reliable and doesn’t play nice with the Cloud Alpha Wireless. The software is out-of-date if you download it directly from HyperX’s website; downloading through the Microsoft Store is time-consuming. While setting up new profiles is tricky and imprecise, frequently trying to change or create equalization profiles has no impact.
Ngenuity feels decidedly dated compared to the user-friendly, extensive software alternatives from Logitech, Corsair, Razer, and SteelSeries, though HyperX may work out some of these shortcomings with time.
Battery
The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless headset has excellent battery life. The manufacturer claims that they can run continuously for 300 hours. They are a good option if you don’t want to worry about constantly charging their battery because they measured over 340 hours, which is more than 14 days long. Additionally, they have a short recharge time and can fully recharge their battery in under four hours.
The accompanying app for these headphones has an auto-off timer. Additionally, you can see the number of hours and percentage of battery life left.
Portability
While not particularly portable, the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is typical of gaming headphones. They cannot be folded or laid flat to lessen their environmental impact. Additionally, they do not come with a carrying case to keep them safe while you are on the go.
Is HyperX Cloud Alpha still good?
The HyperX Cloud Alpha headset is fantastic cable headphones for phone calls. Their boom microphone records well, and your speech is audibly clear, full-bodied, and detailed. Even in noisy surroundings, the mic remarkably isolates your voice from background noise, preventing voice drowning.
Is the HyperX cloud Alpha Wireless headset compatible with Xbox?
The headset utilizes a USB-C wireless dongle, enables wired connections over 3.5mm and USB, and can connect to Xbox consoles and mobile devices in one way or the other.
What company owns HyperX?
In February 2021, Kingston Technology traded HyperX to HP Inc. for $425 million. Memory and storage are not included in the deal; only computer accessories with the HyperX name are. The processing and disk products, which Kingston has rebranded as Kingston FURY, are still its property.
Conclusion
The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless headset is expensive, but it works hard to justify that cost. Even without the outstanding sound quality and comfortable fit, the item would be recommended because of its long battery life. The device’s defective software cannot be ignored, but it isn’t a sufficient excuse to stay away from it.
Consider the SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ in the same price range if you want a better connection or the Logitech G Pro X Wireless if audio quality is your primary priority. Aside from that, the Cloud Alpha Wireless is among the better headsets you can get, especially considering how much time you’ll save between charges.
