Adding more features doesn’t automatically make a headset higher quality. Case in point, HyperX’s Cloud Alpha S is a PC-focused version of the very popular Cloud Alpha
gaming headset which adds a few very welcome features, including 7.1 surround sound, per-can bass control switches, and a digital-to-audio controller with some quick audio mixing options. These enhancements will run you a little extra – $129 for the Cloud Alpha S versus $99 for the standard Alpha – but theoretically add some significant quality-of-life improvements for PC players, so it makes sense that HyperX would charge a little extra.
Sounds like a sure thing, right?
Well, not exactly. The Cloud Alpha S delivers the same strong, clear sound as the Cloud Alpha, making it a strong choice for a sub-$150 headset. But many of its new features – the stuff that’s meant to justify its higher price – don’t feel like the revelation you’d expect from a “more expensive Cloud Alpha.”
Design and Feature
The Cloud Alpha S is very much a riff on the Cloud Alpha, which means its fundamental structure and design are very similar in more ways than not. It has the same sturdy aluminum frame, though its an icy blue on the S. The faux leather covering on the top-band and stitching along the sides are also blue this time. Its mildly noise-cancelling ear cups are, again, made from the plush memory foam found in many HyperX headsets, which are very comfortable over long gameplay, movie, and listening sessions.
HyperX claims the leatherette in the Cloud Alpha S is “more breathable” than the original Alpha; I can’t really attest to that, but I will say that your ears still sweat a bit in a warm room. (I don’t hold against that against the designers, but let’s just say that HyperX has not solved the big-headphone-equals-hot-head conundrum.)
The detachable mic is also a holdover from the original Cloud Alpha. The wired boom mic has active noise-cancelling to keep shallow breaths and other outside noise out of other players’ ears. The mic is clear, but nothing to write home about, though I will I say it took less time than usual for me to position it than with many others I’ve used.
Across the board I’d say the similarities between the two headsets are undoubtedly a good thing. The Cloud Alpha is an incredibly comfortable and clear-sounding piece of audio gear, and the Cloud Alpha S follows suit.
HyperX’s 50mm drivers return, providing clear and solid sound across its range. The Cloud Alpha S retains the Cloud Alpha’s “dual-chamber” driver design, which allows the headset to keep bass from booming so loud it muddies other sounds. The Cloud Alpha S expands upon that system by adding a switch on each can that allows you to physically expand or restrict the amount of room the bass driver has to create sound. Across the board, mids and highs come in nice and clear, and having that added bit of control for the bass makes it easy to make spot changes to your sound as you switch from a bass-heavy shooter to something with a softer aural profile.
The biggest additions, feature-wise, all revolve around the Cloud Alpha S’ new mixer/remote. The USB-to-3.5mm controller allows you to switch on the headset’s 7.1 simulated surround sound, as well as toggle a couple of quick-and-dirty audio mixes to boost voice chat or game audio. (Also, as you might expect, it has volume controls and a mic mute button). The controller is detachable, and the headset works on consoles when you connect them directly using a 3.5mm jack, but the USB controller is what enables most of the new features, and why HyperX recommends the Cloud Alpha S specifically for PC.
Switching the surround sound on and off quickly shows that it can make a sizable difference in how games and other audio sounds, but only to a point. There is a loose suggestion that you are surrounded by sound, but it is a far cry from the positional audio found in higher-end headsets, such as HyperX’s own Cloud Orbit S.
Likewise, the game and chat mix buttons fall flat. They are no replacement for going into a game’s settings and changing its audio levels yourself. They can, however, be a useful emergency adjustment when you don’t have time to fix things mid-match.
Gaming
In general, the Cloud Alpha S is a solid headset for playing games, until you expect too much from it. Audio comes in clean and clear across lows, mids, and highs. I will say that in games with lots of explosions, like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, I found the base felt a bit muted, even with the bass switches fully open. The sound was nuanced and well-textured – you can hear the difference between a bullet whizzing past and pinging against a metal surface – but it didn’t have the oomph I wanted from a bass-forward soundscape.
As I mentioned above, the Cloud Alpha S’ surround sound has very clear limitations, especially when it comes to games. More often than not, you will not be able to point to which of the seven “speakers” a sound came from. This becomes a problem in multiplayer games where positional audio is important. You can tell left from right and vaguely ahead versus behind, but not always so quickly that you’ll turn and draw a weapon on instinct alone.
When playing games where audio was a quality-of-life feature, rather than a gameplay concern, I was far more pleased. In a game like The Outer Worlds, you can hear conversations going on around you as you walk by, and everything comes through crystal clear. The general sound quality is very high, especially at this price point.
This is realistically in line with other simulated surround sound products in sub-$200 headsets, but the fact that HyperX decided to design a new headset around this feature, and charge extra for it, led me to look for something more. Clearly, I didn’t find it.
Purchasing Guide
The HyperX Cloud Alpha S is available now for $129.99 at the HyperX store and at major retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy.
