Product: HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
Type: Gaming Headset (Wireless)
Price: $299.00 AUD
Availability: Out Now
Link: hyperx.com/products/hyperx-cloud-alpha-wireless

The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless offers up a somewhat incredible 300-hours of battery life, which meant that right out of the box, even after testing for several days, we didn’t need to plug this in for charging. There’s clearly some sort of sorcery going on underneath the cups. Either that or this is the world’s first nuclear-powered headset and HyperX simply forgot to put that bit of information on the product sheet.

Battery life and how much use you can get from a gaming headset without charge is one of the key features to look for in a new pair of over-the-ear gaming cans, and on that front we’re used to seeing most wireless headset battery life sit comfortably in the 20-30 hour range. Bumping that up to 300-hours is a massive leap, even for HyperX, and the result is a gaming headset several steps ahead of the competition in this regard.

So then, the question then becomes one of whether or not this means concessions had to be made in order to have a gaming headset that can chug along for weeks. The answer to that is no, as the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless also features some truly impressive audio - which is in-line with what we’ve been seeing from the hardware maker over the years. That said, when you pair great audio with a long-lasting battery, it does bring some of the headset’s notable drawbacks to the fore.

Tech Talk

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HyperX touts that this is “the first gaming headset with over 300 hours of battery life”, which is certainly true based on seeing first-hand how slowly the battery % winds down. But beyond this impressive and commendable feature lies HyperX’s 50mm sized dual chamber driver system tuned to deliver balanced audio with clear frequency separation. Translation, these are great for simply listening to music or any sort of hi-fidelity recording.

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We’re used to seeing most wireless headset battery life sit comfortably in the 20-30 hour range. Bumping that up to 300-hours is a massive leap, even for HyperX, and the result is a gaming headset several steps ahead of the competition in this regard.

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With warm bass, detailed mids and highs, and nothing in the way of hard or overly crisp flourishes or muffled low-end, there’s something to be said for the sound you get from the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless.

Headphone:

• Drivers: Dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets
  
• Frequency response: 15 Hz – 21 kHz
  
• Surround: DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio
  
• Microphone Pattern: Bi-directional, Noise-cancelling
  
• Wireless Type: 2.4 GHz
  
• Battery Life: Up to 300 hours
  
• Headset controls: Volume, Mic mute
  
• Weight: 322 grams

Add in DTS Headphone:X and this carries over to most gaming, with the software-based technology being one of the best virtual surround offerings available. The overall frequency response here has been expanded too, into near HD-audio territory, with some sub-bass definition you can hear in certain musical pieces. Testing a gaming headset’s music capabilities isn’t strange, as music is often the indicator as to how it handles straight up stereo sound. It’s also here where you can tell if there’s any special attention given to boosting the low-end or upping the snappy highs - two things that can improve the gaming experience. But also two things that can be achieved through virtual surround and other EQ tinkering.

All in all with a nice balanced sound that is definitely worthy of the price-range in which the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless sits, you begin to wonder why HyperX limited the overall versatility of the headset when it comes to supported devices. As a wireless offering you’re limited to the wireless dongle and a Windows-based PC or PlayStation console. No mobile device support, no Xbox, or even Bluetooth - which is something of a shame as the long-lasting battery means these could have been “the one”. That headset you use and take on-the-go.

Design and Comfort

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In terms of look and feel the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless certainly fits into the established HyperX aesthetic of black and red, this time with a high-quality aluminium frame taking on the red highlights in addition to the underlying headband. Comfort is a strong suit here for sure, with memory foam that also takes into account those that game with glasses, and an overall weight that is relatively light and balanced for extended sessions. With 300-hours of battery life it’s great to report that you can wear the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless headset for several hours without any noticeable fatigue or unwanted pressure.

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With warm bass, detailed mids and highs, and nothing in the way of hard or overly crisp flourishes or muffled low-end, there’s something to be said for the sound you get from the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless.

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Although you’ve got a high-quality build, it would have been nice to see HyperX make some changes to the overall design to make it stand out a bit more - that is amongst the many existing HyperX Cloud and Alpha branded headsets. There’s a minimal approach taken here, and not that much in the way of additional flourishes or features. You’ve got a volume dial, a mute button, and a detachable microphone. Some direct control over chat/game balance would have been nice to see.

Sounds Like

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With or without DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless gaming headset comes alive when gaming, bringing to the fore background music, bombastic sound effects, and little details that can often be missed when you game on speakers. Or with a lesser headset.

On PC the addition of DTS surround is definite plus, and something that works wonderfully with the games we tested. From the environmental audio and haunting soundtrack of Metro Exodus and the upbeat kinetic action (and music) of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. When paired with a PlayStation 5 you’ve also got the benefit of Sony’s Tempest 3D Audio which definitely adds depth and dimension to first-party titles like Horizon Forbidden West and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

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With or without DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless gaming headset comes alive when gaming, bringing to the fore background music, bombastic sound effects, and little details that can often be missed when you game on speakers.

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But in testing the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless on PC, one pretty major issue did crop up. Well, obstacle really. The pretty terrible HyperX NGenuity software, a native Windows app (meaning you gotta grab it from the Microsoft Store) that is woefully undercooked in terms of features, and prone to throw out weird messages. Compared to the competition it’s several steps behind because it doesn’t offer any real control over the audio experience. You can toggle DTS, clumsily tweak some EQ, and that’s about it. Here’s hoping HyperX is in the process of improving the app side of the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless experience, because it’s one area that holds it back from true greatness.

Outside of the aforementioned drawbacks and the lack of device versatility, the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is pretty exceptional. Thanks to its 300-hour plus battery life and great out-of-the-box sound, you’ve got this is an easy choice for PC and PlayStation gaming.