The HyperX Cloud Revolver features next-gen 50mm drivers that are angled to provide a wide soundstage and precise studio grade audio.
Product on Review: HyperX Cloud Revolver
Manufacturer and Sponsor: HyperX
Street Price: UK: £99.99, US: $119.99
The HyperX team have been working hard to deliver a next-gen premium headset that can better the Cloud. This in one sense is a very difficult task and is something many other brands have been working to do also. A litter earlier this year, word got out that HyperX were working on a ground-up designed headset named the ‘Cloud Revolver’. Though clearly different to the Cloud in aesthetics, HyperX wanted to create a studio-grade gaming headset with a wide soundstage that can give a higher level of detail for gaming.
So to do this, they have used next-gen directional 50mm drivers to give that open sounding audio they were looking for. Other features include a blackened steel frame for durability, use of premium memory foam and leatherette for comfort as well as the expected details such as a detachable noise reducing microphone, braided cables, 4 pole jack for cross platform compatibility.
Overview by HyperX
HyperX Cloud Revolver™ has a wider audio range that creates depth and width for improved audio precision. Get the competitive edge by hearing your opponents’ location more accurately, even when they’re further away. Re-engineered audio profiles create a larger sound stage that’s ideal for FPS and open environment gameplay and for a concert hall-like experience when listening to music. Next-generation 50mm drivers direct sound into the ear for precise audio positioning, making HyperX Cloud Revolver the only headset you need for both PC and console gaming.
Technical Specifications
Headphone:
Driver: Dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets
Type: Circumaural, Closed back
Frequency response: 12Hz–28,000 Hz
Impedance: 30 Ohm
Sound pressure level: 104.5dBSPL/mW at 1kHz
T.H.D.: < 2%
Input power: Rated 30mW, Maximum 500mW
Weight: 360g
Weight with mic: 376g
Cable length and type: Headset (1m) + Audio Control Box (2m)
Connection: Headset – 3.5mm plug (4 pole) + Audio Control Box – 3.5mm stereo and mic plugs
Microphone:
Element: Electret condenser microphone
Polar pattern: Uni-directional, Noise-cancelling
Frequency response: 50Hz-18,000 Hz
Sensitivity: -40dBV (0dB=1V/Pa,1kHz)
Driver: Dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets
Type: Circumaural, Closed back
Frequency response: 12Hz–28,000 Hz
Impedance: 30 Ohm
Sound pressure level: 104.5dBSPL/mW at 1kHz
T.H.D.: < 2%
Input power: Rated 30mW, Maximum 500mW
Weight: 360g
Weight with mic: 376g
Cable length and type: Headset (1m) + Audio Control Box (2m)
Connection: Headset – 3.5mm plug (4 pole) + Audio Control Box – 3.5mm stereo and mic plugs
Microphone:
Element: Electret condenser microphone
Polar pattern: Uni-directional, Noise-cancelling
Frequency response: 50Hz-18,000 Hz
Sensitivity: -40dBV (0dB=1V/Pa,1kHz)
Packaging & First Look
The HyperX Cloud Revolver comes in high quality packaging using a red and black decor. There is a red band at the top of the box (reminiscent of what is used to identify Xbox ONE products using a green band at the top) that clearly displays its compatibility. Next to the image is some information about the key features in various languages.
The reverse side points out some finer details of the product, towards the bottom there is a little icon indicating that this headset has a 2 year warranty.
Once you remove the exterior sleeve, you are left with an attractive box with a red band around the centre.
Opened up, we are greeted with our first glimpse of the Cloud Revolver headset as well as its in line remote.
All the cables are braided and are supple, so tangles shouldn’t be a problem.
The noise reducing microphone is detachable and flexible.
Closer Look
The Cloud Revolver shares some similarities with the Cloud headset, those being, it is semi-modular in design with a 1m length of cable attached with a native 4pole jack for versatility with current games consoles, mobiles and tablets. The revolver uses a suspension headband design and has large earcups.
The headband is soft and features attractive red stitching to prevent wear at the seam.
The earcups are very large and spacious and are lined with soft memory foam, its unlikely anyone will have a problem fitting the Cloud Revolver over their ears. On the right side you can see a plastic runner for the suspension design, holding the headband in place.
The earcups are a closed back design but feature vents to enable a better bass reflex.
Around the earcup, there are rubber bumpers to ensure a quiet, ‘clak’ free swivel motion.
The top of the headband has the HyperX logo pressed into it.
At the base of the left side we find the port for the detachable microphone.
The completed headset looks very sleek and attractive, with the stylised red HyperX logo and dial design that is complemented by the red stitching. Simple yet attractive.
Performance Testing
Setup, Design & Observations
The Cloud Revolver will plug into your analogue audio out, either via a mobile device or game controller using the 4 pole jack or using the included splitter for use with your PC system. It comes in weighing 376g, which is around average but by no means lightweight in regards to gaming headsets.
On wearing the Cloud Revolver, the soft memory foam earpads worked wonders, and the earcup is cavernous, creating good isolation from external noises. The clamp strength of metal band is light but is noticeable due to an uneven pressure caused by a limitation in the swivel of the earcup, the top side of the earcup could do a bit more travel to sit a little more evenly as it seems too \_/ shaped. Despite this, the headset was cool and comfortable for long periods.
The inline remote functions as one would expect with a volume dial, and a large thumb switch for muting the microphone. the braided cable feels high quality.
Multimedia
Listening to various music tracks I am familiar with, the Cloud Revolver gave stunning precision, with crisp highs, solid mids and a tight bass in perfect balance. The most staggering realisation of the Cloud Revolver, is in its wide soundstage, seperation and accuracy, punching well above its price tag and into the realms of studio monitors. Cranking up the Revolver to its highest volume, it certainly gets pretty loud, and still sounds flawless.
The wide soundstage and precise audio detail plants you firmly inside the game, footsteps and ambient effects feel like they are around you, yet even in the thick of action you can hear each subtle detail. (I hear there is a virtual surround version to come… can’t wait) Even in DOTA2, the rain weather effect sounded so good, like I was standing in the rain.
Microphone
The detachable microphone is flexible and is long enough to reach just in front of your mouth. It could have a bit of a better pickup range as I found it needed to be placed just below my mouth and angled up for optimal volume (otherwise sounded a little quiet). It naturally does a fantastic job at reducing background noises, barely picking up typing, clicking noises. In conversation (Disord and Skype), voice quality was said to sound deep, warm and detailed.
Conclusion
HyperX have dabbled in the gaming audio category for a while now and the release of the first Cloud headset was a no brainer, it effectively took what was already offered by Qpad and made it cheaper. They then offered an alternative with a USB v7.1 soundcard (Cloud II) as well as improved versatility with a hardlined 4 pole cable. Since then, we have had the chance to look at many other gaming headsets, including the fantastic Sennheiser Game ZERO and the Creative BlasterX H5, but the Cloud headset remained a firm favourite because most headsets will not yield that much more in terms of value or performance; the Cloud Revolver is one of few headsets that do do just that.
Designed from the ground up by HyperX, the Cloud Revolver clearly has the intention to cause a storm in the gaming audio industry and that is something they have achieved. Ultra premium gaming headsets have existed for quite some time and while some are genuinely good, the price tag would often mean the average gamer would need to sell their spleen to afford one. Then, considering their audio quality to cost, it often feels like an unreasonable trade off that is padded with over-designed aesthetics. The HyperX Cloud Revolver addresses this by proving you can get accurate, studio grade audio in a reasonably priced gaming headset.
To give a real idea of the audio prowess of the Cloud Revolver, the best contender we looked at recently was the Creative BlasterX H5 (also priced at £99/$120). Comfort wise, the BlasterX edges the Cloud Revolver out a little, from there on the Revolver takes each of the strengths of the BlasterX H5 and remixes them with a very wide, natural sounding soundstage that allows your ears to comprehend a higher level of detail. Music creators, Pro users and audio enthusiasts rejoice.
The gaming headset market has various stages where there are some excellent headsets battling it out in a sea of pretenders trying to convince gamers that their words mean something and are the worthy choice. HyperX undoubtedly did their research while creating the Cloud Revolver because their words DO mean something, there is no ‘marketing’ talk, no false promises. The Revolver solidifies the future of gaming audio expectations that few are living up to (fewer still at an affordable price). Gaming headsets are no longer just gaming headsets, they are part of the human interaction with all kinds of multimedia and platforms. As we edge into the era of VR, headsets like the Cloud Revolver will become important for high fidelity audio that has a believable and naturally wide soundstage rather than headsets that just inject noise into your brain.
The Cloud Revolver isn’t entirely perfect, for example, I am not entirely convinced it needed to be a suspension style headset, and it could be partially the reason for its 376g weight. Its earcups could do with having more movement so that it fits better for comfort. The microphone too could have a slightly improved pickup. These points are merely oversights at best and we feel it is worth noting areas where it could do with minor improvements.
As it stands, the Cloud Revolver offers staggering performance in regards to audio balance, accuracy, detail, soundstage and value. Prepare to be impressed.
The HyperX team have smashed the entire gaming audio category to bits with this headset.
Pros.
+ Balanced Studio grade audio
+ Attractive Aesthetics
+ Comfortable
+ Good build quality
+ Wide soundstage
+ Price
Cons.
– None
+ Balanced Studio grade audio
+ Attractive Aesthetics
+ Comfortable
+ Good build quality
+ Wide soundstage
+ Price
Cons.
– None
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