The HyperX Cloud Stinger is a lightweight, versatile headset that seeks to deliver that Cloud performance for a lower price.
Product on Review: HyperX Cloud Stinger
Manufacturer and Sponsor: HyperX
Street Price: UK: £49.99, US: $59.99
The HyperX Cloud series of headsets have been delivering some of the best quality gaming audio around at an affordable price. The Cloud Revolver developed upon the Cloud and Cloud II by delivering top quality, studio grade audio fidelity at a great price, despite people getting caught up over the fact that they ring like a bell if you whack yourself in the head.
The Cloud Stinger comes in as a more conventional gaming headset at £49.99/$59.99, and offers a more sleek, lightweight design over its predecessors. It features earcups that can rotate 90 degrees, 50mm drivers, soft memory foam padding, intuitive volume control and a swivel to mute microphone boom. As the Stinger is an analogue headset, it features a 4 pole 3.5mm plug that will ensure compatibility with all but your latest iPhone.
Overview by HyperX
HyperX Cloud Stinger™ is the ideal headset for gamers looking for lightweight comfort, superior sound quality and added convenience. At just 275 grams, it’s comfortable on your neck and its ear cups rotate in a 90-degree angle for a better fit. Its 50mm directional drivers position sound directly into the ear for audio precision and gaming-grade sound quality. For ultimate comfort in prolonged gaming sessions, it features high-quality HyperX signature memory foam.
Technical Specifications
Headset
Driver: Dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets
Type: Circumaural, Closed back
Frequency response: 18Hz-23,000Hz
Impedance: 30 ohm
Sound pressure level: 102 +- 3dBSPL/mW at 1kHz
T.H.D.: < 2%
Input power: Rated 30mW, Maximum 500mW
Weight: 275g
Cable length and type: Headset (1.3m) + Extension Y-cable(1.7m)
Connection: Headset – 3.5mm plug (4 pole) + extension cable – 3.5mm stereo and mic plugs
Microphone
Element: Electret condenser microphone
Polar pattern: Uni-directional, Noise-canceling
Frequency response: 50Hz~18,000Hz
Driver: Dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets
Type: Circumaural, Closed back
Frequency response: 18Hz-23,000Hz
Impedance: 30 ohm
Sound pressure level: 102 +- 3dBSPL/mW at 1kHz
T.H.D.: < 2%
Input power: Rated 30mW, Maximum 500mW
Weight: 275g
Cable length and type: Headset (1.3m) + Extension Y-cable(1.7m)
Connection: Headset – 3.5mm plug (4 pole) + extension cable – 3.5mm stereo and mic plugs
Microphone
Element: Electret condenser microphone
Polar pattern: Uni-directional, Noise-canceling
Frequency response: 50Hz~18,000Hz
Packaging & First Look
The packaging features a grungy gamer livery in red grey and black with a large image of the product on the front. At the top there is a games console esque red band listing the compatibility across various consoles. The written information is in various languages giving some information about its features.
The rear side details the primary features such as the 50mm drivers, steel slider, and the swivel mute microphone.
The packaging cuts back on the grandness of the Original Cloud and Cloud II, but still comes well padded in foam, and includes a welcome note and a guide.
Inside the accessories are only what is required, which is a 4pole splitter.
The Cloud Stinger is a sleek, lightweight headset at 275g and it has a slightly textured matte plastic finish which looks excellent.
Closer Look
The Stinger features memory foam on the headband which provides comfort for the head and neck. The microphone boom is unidirectional and noise cancelling.
The earcups are large for a full circumaural experience at 50x70mm, lined again with the memory foam.
The side shows off the HyperX logo set into the textured plastic in an attractive minimalistic design for a non-nonsense approach.
The adjustable slider is reinforced with a steel band for flexibility and reliability.
There is an intuitive volume slider on the base of the right side earcup.
The microphone boom automatically mutes when raised and is flexible to be positioned where needed.
Performance Testing
Setup, Design & ObservationsAs this is an analogue headset, there is no lighting, onboard processing (DSP), or any software to download. This makes for a quick installation to whichever device you want to use it with. Being just 30ohm impedance will ensure that it can be driven by mobile devices well without sounding quiet.
The construction is mostly good quality plastics that genuinely looks attractive with its matte textured finish. When you put on your head, the soft memory foam padding ensures comfort and the headphone grip strength is perfect. It is easy to adjust the size if you have a larger head, I found that they were fine at its smallest size, but releasing a single notch on the adjustable strap relieves the grip strength a touch, improving comfort.
The volume slider is easy to access and use, slide back to increase volume, slide forward to reduce volume. The cable is a supple, non-tangle kind which is hard-lined to the headset, it is long enough for mobile use, though if you need longer, the included extension/splitter will be ideal for use with a PC system.
Multimedia
As we are using a competent discrete soundcard we are likely going to get the best experience the Cloud Stinger can provide so your mileage may vary regarding the platform or source in regards to overall quality. We disable any audio enhancement for a neutral playback.
After listening through various familiar music tracks we found that the Cloud stinger has a provides a strong, but not overpowering bass, with precise middle and treble tones. From Rock, Folk and traditional music formats there is an ideal balance that presents a powerful and enjoyable listening experience. The frequency range is impressive, not sludging a single beat, yet presenting clear, enunciated high tones in bass heavy electronic music. The maximum volume is extremely loud, I couldn’t endure more than 40% on my setup, though sacrificing my hearing I discovered that the audio quality remains without distortion.
Gaming presented a similar affair of top quality sounding audio, with the background sounds and conversations in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided giving a fantastic atmosphere. The soundstage is relatively wide compared to many at this pricepoint, which is a bonus if you have a sound card that can provide you with virtual surround (or you can use Razer’s software for that).
Microphone
The microphone is clear, warm and reasonably loud. Though it sounds somewhat echoy (like you are sat in the toilet) without much noise cancelling. So beware of your environment for the sake of your friends. This simply means controlling the sensitivity (for me 80% was perfect, but will be different for others depending on their audio processing).
Conclusion
The Cloud Stinger continues the tradition of being a gimmick free, great sounding headset. This time in a sleeker, lighter package. The audio delivery by the 50mm drivers is as you would expect, good, providing deep brooding bass with clear mids and highs. Coupled with the decent, swivel muting microphone boom, this is a solid gaming headset.
It is difficult to find any real flaws with the Cloud Stinger, it nails pretty much anything anyone would want from a gaming headset. Sure, it doesn’t quite have the same fidelity of the Cloud Revolver, or quite the depth of the original Cloud headsets, but in that, I would suggest it sounds more controlled and presents the perfect balance for gaming with a strong bass and bright mid range and highs that cut through without any conflict, muddiness or distortion. I found them to be rather loud too, but considering its multi-purpose role that is suited to being jacked into a console controller, or a PC, this is to be expected. Cutting down on a remote by having a built-in volume and mute controls is something that many will appreciate also.
Priced at £49.99/$59.99 the HyperX Cloud Stinger is very competitive and sits alongside some fantastic headsets. Having recently reviewed the awesome Cougar Immersa, the Cloud Stinger has some good competition, and though the Cloud Stinger is a little pricer, it has a sleeker, more refined, minimalistic design. Either way, the HyperX team have another great headset that hit the mark perfectly.
HyperX have done it again with a sleek, lightweight headset that represents great value and performance.
Pros.
+ Great sounding audio
+ Attractive minimalistic design
+ Light and comfortable
+ Good build quality
+ Price
Cons.
– None
+ Great sounding audio
+ Attractive minimalistic design
+ Light and comfortable
+ Good build quality
+ Price
Cons.
– None
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