HyperX has recently released the new Cloud Alpha S gaming headset. Based upon the now 2-year-old Cloud Alpha, it adds some useful features, such as virtual surround sound support and bass adjustment sliders. Does it worth the slight increase in price?
Unboxing
Instead of the signature red from previous HyperX Cloud headsets, the packaging is chosen to match the Cloud Alpha S’s blue color scheme. You can find photos of the headset on both the front and back of the box. Several features are mentioned in different languages, including the dual chamber drivers and 7.1 surround sound.
The headset is certified by Discord and TeamSpeak, which are popular voice chat software for gaming in the market.
The side of the box contains a list of the content inside the box.
To support the 7.1 surround sound, the Cloud Alpha S comes with a USB audio mixer/dongle. You also get the usual quick start guide and HyperX support/Thank you cards. A carrying pouch is included in the box, in case you need to take the headset outside. There is an additional pair of swappable fabric earpads, if you do not like the default leatherette one.
HyperX Cloud Alpha S Gaming Headset
The Cloud Alpha S shares a similar design as the Cloud Alpha and the original Cloud series, with non-swivel, closed back ear cups. The frame of the headset is made out of aluminum, and the exposed portion is painted in blue. The HyperX logo is shown on the side of each ear cups. Extra sliders beneath the ear cups can be found, which are used to control the amount of bass produced by the headset.
Tiny pores are located on top of the ear cups,possibly to allow certain amount of air inside the drivers, depending on the bass adjustment sliders.
The ear cups of the Cloud Alpha S cannot be swiveled. The ear pad cushion, which uses HyperX’s proprietary memory foam, is thick and soft enough to support long gaming sessions. The drivers inside are angled slightly to prevent scratching your ears.
According to HyperX, the leatherette (synthetic leather) ear pads are 8 times more breathable than those on the Cloud Alpha. If you require more ventilation, they can be easily swapped with the included fabric ear pads.
The metal headband provides up to 10 distinct steps of adjustments on each side. There is gel cushion on top to better support the headset on your head.
The top of the headband is covered with leatherette with an embossed HyperX logo and blue stitching along the sides.
Unlike the Cloud Alpha, the Cloud Alpha S has a USB audio mixer, which houses all the media controls of the headset and the necessary hardware to support virtual 7.1 surround sound.
On the USB dongle, a big circle button, labelled as 7.1, turns on/off the virtual surround sound feature. The +/- buttons adjust the volume of the headset, while the other two top buttons change the balance between game audio level and voice chat audio level. A mute button is located on the side to silence the microphone and activate mic monitoring.
You will connect the headset first to the USB dongle via the 3.5 mm headphone jack, then plug the USB Type-A connector into the computer.
The noise-cancelling condenser microphone is detachable via a 3.5 mm audio jack, and comes with a circle pop filter. The arm of the mic is flexible and can be bent to move closer/further to your mouth.
Review
Design
The Cloud Alpha S’s aluminum frame and molded plastic ear cups feel sturdy and solidly built. The weight of the headset is normal at around 321 grams, including the removable microphone. The large-sized ear cups and thick ear pad cushion make wearing the headset very comfortable, even for a prolonged gaming session.
On the USB audio mixer is a great combination of useful buttons. You can easily adjust the volume of the headset and mute the microphone. The new addition of the game/chat audio balance buttons is nice, if you want to better hear voice chat without the need to exit an ongoing game.
Features
The Cloud Alpha S is able to adjust the amount of bass it produces through the blue sliders on each ear cup. There are a total of three adjustment levels. Fully opening the ports will output the most bass, and vice versa. In my experience, the sliders do work and the differences in bass level are noticeable. I personally recommend keep the sliders in the middle or fully open them, when listening to music and playing games. There is too little bass with the sliders in the closed position, which feels a bit tinny and weird.
The 7.1 virtual surround sound of the Cloud Alpha S is custom-tuned by HyperX. The 3D audio effects are enjoyable and immersive. Directional sound can be pinpointed with great accuracy in supported movies and games. Compared to the Cloud Orbit S (its review here), the Cloud Alpha S lacks some details and depth, but it is a way cheaper headset.
The Cloud Alpha S does not require any software pre-installed in the computer to operate. HyperX provides two separate firmware updates for the headset, with different EQ profiles. One has emphasized in bass-heavy environments, like gunshots in FPS games. The other one is designed to be more neutral for music.
Sound Quality
Two reputable dual-chamber 50 mm neodymium drivers are equipped on the Cloud Alpha S. Lower frequencies sound is separated in a different chamber, which should help limit distortion. The audio produced by the headset is warm with satisfying bass. The mids and highs are clear and have a sharp distinction from the bass.
In both stereo and virtual surround sound mode, the Cloud Alpha S is a joy to wear in games. Footsteps and gunshots are loud and can be located with relatively ease. However, it is not as surprising as the Cloud Orbit S with more details in the audio cues, that may give you competitive advantages.
Microphone Quality
The detachable noise-cancelling microphone performs solidly for game chats and occasional voice-over. Surrounding noises, like keyboard clicks, are decently suppressed. The audio quality is clean, but the default gain/input volume is a bit too low with the USB mixer. The real-time mic monitoring/sidetone feature is excellent and works really well.
You can listen and compare to the various microphone samples here, from the gaming headsets we tested previously.
Conclusion
The HyperX Cloud Alpha S is an overall reasonable upgrade over the existing Cloud Alpha, with a series of new features. The dual-chamber drivers provide excellent sound quality, and the custom-tuned 7.1 virtual surround sound is immersive and accurate. HyperX offers quite a large degree of customizable options, such as the different firmware updates for EQ profiles and the bass adjustment sliders.
The Cloud Alpha S is priced at $129.99 USD (MSRP), which is $30 USD more than the Cloud Alpha. The build quality of the headset is great with a 2-year warranty. You get the support for the 7.1 virtual surround sound, an additional pair of fabric ear pads and the ability to adjust the bass via sliders. It may not be a revolutionary step for current Cloud Alpha owners, if you do not think those extra features are necessary. But for other users who want a remarkable gaming headset, the Cloud Alpha S will definitely worth your consideration.
You can purchase the headset from your local/online resellers or the links below from Amazon.
Thanks HyperX for providing us the headset for review. (Review Sample)
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