HyperX Cloud Alpha S Review: Worth spending Rs.11,000? Yes!

I bet you are well aware of Kingston’s gaming accessories focused brand HyperX. If you ask hardcore games to suggest a brand to get high-end gaming accessories, the name HyperX will be there. It has a huge portfolio, apart from its parent company’s. The list contains gaming headsets, earphones, keyboards, mice, and so on.

From the gaming headset collection, I got the HyperX Cloud Alpha S Blackout Edition for review. It’s currently available on Amazon India at Rs.11,000. It is one of the most promising gaming headsets with premium features.

Specifications :-

• 50mm dual chamber audio driver
• Custom-tuned HyperX 7.1 surround sound
• Bass adjustment sliders
• HyperX Dual Chamber Drivers
• Game and chat balance
• Signature HyperX comfort
• Durable aluminum frame
• Advanced audio control mixer
• Detachable noise cancellation mike and braided cable

In the Box :-

• 1x HyperX Cloud Alpha S Blackout Edition
• 1x AUX Cable
• 1x detachable noise-cancellation microphone
• 1x USB game & chat audio balancer
• 1x pouch
• 2x cushions

Design & Build :-

The huge fan base makes HyperX more responsible and the company respects that, this product is not an exception. I have no complaint in this section, both in terms of design and build quality. The outer body is made up of plastic, however, it’s tough enough.

Among the visible parts, only the adjustable slider has a metal build and the aluminium frame. It’s obvious, use of metal in the outer body can make the headphone more durable, but, that will add more weight too and who will prefer a heavyweight gadget over his/her head for a long time span?

In this part, I also have to mention about comfort. In the description, the company claims that it added the Signature HyperX comfort to the Cloud Alpha S. I would say, it’s 100% true. The large soft cushions cap the ears very easily and don’t let the hardware generated audio output go outside. The headband also has the same quality of cushions for additional pleasure.

The three attachments include detachable noise-cancellation microphone, USB game & chat audio balancer, and the AUX cable are made by great hands, not compromising anywhere.

The two ports for the microphone and AUX cable are placed under the left ear-cup. While assembling all these, my suggestion is to keep an eye on the microphone’s placement as for it, the side matters. Otherwise, the port or the mike can be damaged. Alongside these two ports, there are bass adjustable sliders in both the ear cups, which actually works.

My only concern is the two wires coming out from the headband and goes into the earcups. A notable part of the two wires is open. In normal cases it’s fine, but while carrying it you need to be careful. I totally agreed that the connections are strong, however, a warning is needed.

Audio Quality :-

Here comes the main attraction as an audio product, isn’t it? HyperX has assigned 50mm dual-chamber audio drivers, on both sides. The games & chat audio balancer cum audio mixer is also there to support. And how I can forget to mention the 7.1 surround sound. These are not all, the bass adjustment sliders also contribute. Surprised? You should.

I’m splitting this section into two parts – for media like music, movies, etc, and games so that you can understand my experience easily.

To be honest, the HyperX Cloud Alpha S is not designed to use while consuming media, and you also know that. Despite that, I tested out this headphone for it, because there are so many people like me who prefer listening to tracks and watch web series equally as gaming. It’s natural the company didn’t tune the headset for music, even then, my experience is similar to my expectation. Thanks to the 7.1 Surround sound, the large audio drivers, and bass adjustments sliders. While testing I get the vocals a bit cracked sometimes, but that is ignorable as while gaming it’s not there.

Here the main, gaming audio part begins. A special thanks to the 7.1 Surround sound that helps me to track the foot-steps around me efficiently in the gaming world. If you are worried about latency, then I ensure, you wouldn’t find any.

I tried out some of the well-known eSports, mainly Cyberpunk 2077 and The Medium with the Cloud Alpha 5. The whole experience can’t be described, how amazing and smooth it was.

Coming out from the two parts, the bass adjustable sliders works amazingly. The difference while keeping the shutter open and close is clearly identifiable. You need to open both the sliders to get the max bass, and close to reduce that. I already discussed the 7.1 Surround sound multiple times.

Microphone :-

In team games, you need to interact with your teammates continuously to maintain the strategy, get live updates of each one’s activity, and more. So, the microphone of your headset needs to be good, just like this Cloud Alpha S has. It also features noise cancellation, the utmost it can provide to improve your gameplay experience. You can bend the mike as per your needs, take it away from your mouth or let it be there, whatever and where ever you want, no problem.

Suppose you are a solo king, so, no teammates, no talk, and the mike is annoying to you. Nothing to worry about as it’s completely detachable from the main body.

The game & chat audio balancer cum mixer :-

The HyperX Cloud Alpha S is made for PC gaming. That’s probably the reason the company ignores wireless connectivity. You need to connect the headset through the AUX cable or via the USB audio mixer cum controller. Believe me, you will miss the actual quality if you keep the mixer in the showcase.

To set it up, plug the USB in your PC, put one end of the AUX cable into the mixer. That’s all. The reason I’m insisting you is you can enable the 7.1 Surround sound through it only. Though, the HyperX NGENUITY software is there, for me, the button is handier.

Besides enabling the 7.1 Surround sound, the mixer has buttons to manage the volume, no matter its normal media sound, game sound, or chat sound. In addition, it allows to turn on or off the mike as well.

I would say, the mixer plays a vital role in this gaming headset. Not only because it allows you to enable or disable the Surround sound feature and can manage the audio output, but also it makes the management handier to me.

Pros & Cons :-

Verdict :-

To conclude, the HyperX Cloud Alpha S is still a heavyweight competitor to the gaming headsets coming to the market these days at around Rs.10,000 or even above. It’s well fit for gaming as well as streaming.

HyperX, as always, focused on its main moto i.e. to build an uncompromised PC gaming headset and for me, it achieves a high rank.

Buy Link: https://amzn.to/3jm5xiN