Yesterday, HyperX has introduced a new gaming headset called hyperx Cloud Flight. This model is based on an ergonomic design and uses closed-type headphones for better noise isolation. The microphone is removable so can be easily hidden under a soft rubber cap which also protects it from damage. A surprise was the ability to connect this device not only to the Xbox One but also via a USB 3.0 Type-A port. Today we were able to test it on our console and already have some evidence of this.
HyperX Cloud Flight Gaming Headset
The headset looks very stylish, not only thanks to the metal element which runs along with the headband, but also because of its matte black color with red accents. The earpads are covered by memory foam filled with soft leather covering that perfect molds around your ears for better comfort during long play sessions without hassle or fatigue your ears.
Solid Suspension System
On each side, there is a suspension system solid enough so you can easily adjust the size of the headband for comfortable wear even if you wear glasses or sunglasses on your face. The band itself has an internal steel structure that guarantees the strength and durability of this headset.
Large Earpads
The earpads are large enough to cover the entire ear, with special attention paid to gamers who use glasses because they are not too close to the facial area.
User-Friendly Design
The design of this headset is very interesting not only due to its elegant appearance but also because it has many ports which make it possible to customize its usage according to your needs.
On the left side, you will find the microphone port, USB port (for power), 3.5mm audio port, and volume control buttons. All these functions can be configured at any time through the Windows Sound settings once you connect this device via USB cable or 3.5mm Jack cable, so no need to shut down the console beforehand as it happens with other wireless headsets.
The right side is equipped with a necessary button to turn on or off the microphone, as well as another one that allows you to listen to your surroundings without having to remove the headset.
Best Comfortability
The Cloud Flight is very comfortable both for its ergonomic design, and also thanks to specific materials used in its manufacture. The combination of memory foam earpads and a headband filled with leather provides comfort even during long periods of use, without compromising noise isolation because this model comes with closed-type headphones. Particular attention has been paid by HyperX not only to gamers who wear glasses but also to those who often play online since this model has a set of buttons on each cup that allow you easily mute your microphone and adjust the volume level without having to rely on the in-game audio settings.
Customizable Microphone & Quality Sound
The microphone is removable and can be hidden easily under a rubber cap to protect it from damage when not used. This model also comes with a sound card that provides virtual 7.1 surround sound for all games compatible with this type of audio technology including the latest versions of DirectX 11 and 12. The headset has 50mm drivers, so you can enjoy deep bass sounds, clear high tones, and mids without distortion even at high volume levels. We tested the sound quality by playing several games such as Mass Effect: Andromeda, Resident Evil VII Biohazard, and Assassin’s Creed: Origins.
So we were able to confirm that there is great power in the low frequencies both in terms of volume and depth, but if we push this to the limit the sound becomes distorted. The high tones are well defined and provide good accuracy in terms of spatial positioning, but if you push it too hard, there is a certain amount of distortion that can be perceived. Finally, the mids are very good both for games as well as for music, with any type of compositions ranging from classical to rock.
Some Drawbacks
HyperX Cloud Flight has only one main disadvantage which is the fact that it doesn’t use Bluetooth technology or any other wireless connection method, so you have to rely on cables no matter how you connect it to your console. This may be an inconvenience because even though the cable includes a microphone jack and 3.5mm port for headphones so it can also be used with other devices such as your smartphone, it may be necessary to use different cables for each device. Let’s not forget that this is a wired headset and you do not need batteries or recharges in order to work, but the downside is that if the wire breaks in one place, you have no choice but to purchase another headset because in practice there would be almost impossible to repair it in any way.
Our Rating
Despite the small minus we mention above, we give an overall grade of 9/10 to HyperX Cloud Flight simply due to its excellent build quality and durability plus great sound quality both when playing games and listening to music.
PROS:
- Great battery life.
- Comfortable for long periods of time.
- Great sound quality.
- Relatively long battery life.
- Comfortable to wear for extended periods.
CONS:
- Higher latency than wired headsets.
- A little bit expensive.
- Some sibilance in high-pitched vocals.
- No wired option.
Manufacturing History
The HyperX Cloud Flight is the latest in the line of wireless gaming headsets from popular manufacturer Kingston. Released alongside the smaller Cloud MIX, these are both the first two new gaming headsets released by Kington since they acquired headset developer Luxonic.
The Cloud Flight, like most new HyperX products, takes design cues from its parent company with a mostly black color scheme and textured plastic on most surfaces. While not nearly as flashy as other HyperX models, it still manages to look attractive enough while maintaining its purpose of being a gaming headset instead of an everyday headphone.
With that said, I found the Cloud Flight to be pretty comfortable and easy to adjust for long periods of time. The padding on both the headband and ear cups is thick, which gave me no problem wearing these for 8+ hour play sessions without any discomfort. Unfortunately, I will say that they were not as good as the comfort offered by the Cloud MIX.
Conclusion
HyperX claims a battery life of 30 hours with their new Cloud Flight wireless headset, but I’m going to have to disagree with them here. Don’t get me wrong, the battery life I experienced was very good ranging from around 20-25 hours, but it could never live up to 30 even after a liberal cycle of charging and discharging over 5 times.
I honestly feel like HyperX overestimated the power efficiency of the Lofelt drivers while making this assumption (which is not necessarily bad), but it’s still something to keep in mind. It should be noted that battery life will depend on several factors such as whether or not you’re using 7.1 surround sound, listening to music, watching movies, etc.
While I found the overall battery life to be impressive, I can say with confidence that other brands like Sony and Plantronics offer slightly better battery capabilities than HyperX here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is HyperX Cloud Flight still good?
HyperX Cloud Flight is a wireless gaming headset by Kingston Technology. Being a budget model in the HyperX series, it naturally inherited many of its features from other products in the lineup, such as using an over-the-ear design with large leatherette ear cups. It is advertised to have 14 hours of battery life which seems to be getting closer and closer to reality according to reviews after its release back in mid-2017.
Is HyperX Cloud Flight audio quality good?
As the first wireless gaming headset released by HyperX, Cloud Flight is definitely worth looking forward to. With its impressive battery life (30 hours), natural-sounding microphone, and comfortable design, it offers a competitive edge in games and entertainment over other wired or wireless headsets on the market.
In order to understand if Cloud Flight’s overall audio quality can live up to our expectations, we chose five songs from different genres for testing: Fall Asleep by TomyDeCraprio, Monstercat 013 – Awakening by Aero Chord & Draper, Bluebird by 50 Cent, Believe Me by Drake ft. Lil Wayne and Device – Steady 1234 by Skrillex & Team EZY. We also chose two popular eSports games, CS: GO and PUBG, to test Cloud Flight’s immersion in-game.
When using Cloud Flight, we were surprised by its audio quality for a wireless gaming headset. The lack of wires makes it feel more open and spacious. With excellent handling of the mid to high range, Cloud Flight performs better than most wired headsets in games and music. At low frequencies, it tends to display a soft bass with unclear definition which is not ideal for electronic genres but works well enough for other types of music. The microphone also delivers clear voice capture at short distances while being flexible enough that you can adjust the positioning if you have to go further from your mouth when playing alone. In addition, background noise-canceling technology provides good noise
Does HyperX Cloud Flight have Bluetooth?
HyperX Cloud Flight is not Bluetooth enabled.
What are the dimensions of the HyperX Cloud Flight’s ear cups?
Ear Cups (Depth x Height x Width): 2.7×5.5×2.4 in (68x140x62mm)
Does HyperX Cloud Flight have a built-in microphone?
Yes, it has a detachable microphone on its left ear cup for in-game chat and online team speaks. You can easily adjust the positions of its mic to capture your voice only when you speak into it while minimizing external noise that comes into contact with it during gameplay or streaming sessions. Additionally, you can also mute its mic by simply rotating it upwards on its left ear cup.
What is the frequency response of HyperX Cloud Flight?
The HyperX Cloud Flight speaker drivers deliver an immersive gaming experience with a frequency response that extends beyond human hearing, which allows you to detect every footstep, gunshot, and callout in the game. With its advanced 50mm driver units, HyperX Cloud Flight provides a wider audio range than standard headsets, so it can be used not only for playing games but listening to music or watching movies. It also offers reduced distortion across high-range sound so gamers are more aware of what’s happening around them, allowing them to react faster while enjoying the PC/console sounds without distraction.
How much does Hyper X Cloud Flight weigh?
HyperX Cloud Flight weighs 300g (Headset only).
Does the HyperX Cloud Flight headset support virtual 7.1 surround sound?
No, HyperX Cloud Flight is not virtual surround sound enabled. It’s got stereo drivers that allow you to hear all the foot traffic and environmental cues around your play space with immersive game sounds that come into contact with it during gameplay or streaming sessions.
Can I adjust the volume without leaving the game?
Yes, you can adjust the volume level using the Volume button on the inline remote of its control box or through the PC’s settings without leaving your game running in the background. Note: The inline remote can be used up to 10 meters away from its synched host device / PC.
Does the HyperX Cloud Flight have surround sound?
No, the Cloud Flight doesn’t have surround sound. This is because it uses a stereo USB connection for voice audio and 3.5mm jacks for the game/mic audio connection to your PS4™ or Xbox One controller. We chose this configuration to keep latency low and keep players immersed in their games.
Does the HyperX Cloud Flight have noise cancellation?
Yes, it has active noise cancellation which cancels out any environmental noise, making your communications clearer when you play online with teammates or talk with your friends on Skype/Discord/Mumble, etc… The built-in mic is hidden away until you rotate it up towards your mouth to ensure that background noises are minimized as much as possible. And the best part? This feature works with the USB audio sound card off, unlike some other headsets that require you to turn on noise cancellation whenever you plug them in.
What is HyperX Cloud Flight made of?
The headset shell is made of a solid block of aircraft-grade aluminum, which means it’s both super durable and lightweight at the same time! The ear cups are wrapped in memory foam with leatherette padding for maximum comfort during long gaming sessions…which is perfect since this headset can last up to 30 hours off one charge…that’s right, 30 whole hours without having to recharge! It’s also compatible with PS4™ Pro and PS4™ Slim controllers with 3.5mm jack output ports.
How do I charge the HyperX Cloud Flight battery?
The headset comes with a USB 2.0 to the micro-USB charging cable that will fully charge your headset in less than 3 hours! The best part is that even when you’re charging it up, you can still use the headset as normal…in other words, no need to worry about missing out on the action while you wait for your batteries to charge 😛 You can also play with friends online and use Skype/Discord/Mumble etc..while simultaneously charging the HyperX Cloud Flight. To ensure maximum portability, we opted not to include an AC wall adapter so you’ll have one less thing to carry around.
How do I turn on the HyperX Cloud Flight?
With the USB audio sound card off, simply rotate up the built-in hidden mic towards your mouth to turn on the headset. That’s it! As soon as you do that, all internal sounds will be muted while background noises are minimized for crystal clear communications. Alternatively, if you’re using it wirelessly (via Bluetooth), just push and hold the power button until you hear a double beep sound to activate/deactivate noise cancellation.
What is the difference between wired and wireless modes?
Wired mode is achieved by connecting both of your headset’s 3.5mm plugs into your controller’s output port(s) at the same time. In this configuration, simply turning on your microphone with its built-in switch will activate the mic and let you communicate with friends online. Wireless mode is achieved by plugging in a USB audio sound card into your PS4™ or Xbox One controller, turning it on, and then activating either noise cancellation or stereo sound through the sound card’s buttons/software.
In this configuration, simply push up your built-in mic towards your mouth when you want to turn on/off noise cancellation…and also rotate the mic away from your mouth when you want to mute yourself during a voice chat session 🙂
How do I re-pair my headset if I’ve already paired it with my previous device?
It’s easy! Just push and hold any button for 5 seconds until you hear a beep sound.
If you’ve previously paired your device with a different one and now you want to pair it again to a new device, follow these steps:
1) Press and hold the power button of the headset for about 15 seconds. The LED indicator will flash orange quickly while searching for Bluetooth devices. After it stops, try pairing your headset again to the device by following the instructions that came with your original device.
