There is a lot to like about the new HyperX Cloud III gaming headset, though just by looking at it, one would wonder why. It looks a lot like its predecessor, it isn’t wireless or Bluetooth, it doesn’t have any RGB, and even though it comes with a USB dongle, it doesn’t offer much in the way of sound management tools.
What I like about the $159.00 HyperX Cloud III is how ridiculously focused it is on being a serious gamer’s headset—no faff here. It’s impressively comfortable for all-day wear, it uses a wired connection for reliability and zero latency, and it sounds expansive yet very detailed, which is great for pinpointing targets.
The Cloud III doesn’t do anything new but refines everything about the Cloud II that came before it. HyperX hasn’t rocked the boat, and that works very well in favor of one of the most iconic gaming headsets of our time.
HyperX Cloud III Gaming Headset Review
Just by looking at it, you might easily dismiss the Cloud III for the Cloud II. HyperX hasn’t changed the design too much, possibly because it worked so well for a lot of people.
Both headsets utilize an over-ear design with plush pleather ear cushions and a well-padded headband. They are both available in black/grey or the signature HyperX Black/Red colorway, and neither headset supports swivel on the ear cups.
They both use a non-detachable 3.5mm cable, which means they can literally work with any computer, console, or device that has that output. They both have a detachable boom microphone (thank God), and the same 53mm drivers, but HyperX has rejigged the tuning on the Cloud III for tighter bass response and less fatiguing highs.
However, there are some notable differences between the two headsets. For starters, gone is the stylish stitching on the headband, which does make the Cloud III look somewhat less premium. Additionally, the Cloud III now has controls for volume and mic mute on the headset, whereas the Cloud II had them on the USB dongle. Small change but significant.
The Cloud III is still as comfortable as ever to wear for very long periods; something pro eSports gamers need. The clamping force is a little tight, but if you stretch out the headband for a few days, it should be fine. The headband also has sliding adjustment with notches to help you easily remember how you set it.
Overall, the Cloud III is incredibly well-built and should last years and years without issue. I’m not a huge fan of the non-detachable 3.5mm cable, but the setting is solid and should withstand tugs. I also really like that the USB dongle is now USB Type-C with a bundled USB Type-A adapter.
Performance and Microphone
The Cloud III is outfitted with the same 53mm driver as its predecessor, but HyperX has made some adjustments to the tuning. What you get now is incredibly detailed highs and a very tight bass line that never, ever distorts or becomes muddy. I was honestly shocked when I first put these on just after reviewing the much more expensive JBL Quantum 910.
The Cloud III sounded so much brighter and sharper, making everything sound a lot more lively. I did notice that the bass was much more restrained than on the Cloud II. So if you are looking for booming bass that’s on all the time, look elsewhere. The Cloud III feels a lot more precise and controlled than a lot of other gaming headsets.
What I also like is how expansive the sound feels with these new Clouds, which works well with DTS Headphone:X(you get a lifetime license with this headphone). This is one of the best virtual surround implementations for headphones in a sea of custom manufacturer , as it doesn’t add unnecessary reverb and hollowness to the audio. As I experienced with the Quantum 910, DTS sounded a lot better than JBL’s 360 Spatial sound virtualization.
What all this boils down to is that when you put the Cloud III’s on to game, you will hear every detail with perfect positional accuracy. Like most everyone, I’m grinding the hell out of Diablo IV, and with the Clouds, I can hear every unsettling pebble drop, demon cry, and exploding corpse. I could easily tell from which area of the screen sounds were originating from, even in the midst of blowing up mobs in glorious showers of blood and sparks.
Listening to music was pleasant too, thanks to the impressive separation that lets you clearly hear different instruments and frequencies. As I said, the bass has been restrained, so bass heads might think twice; however, that’s not to say there isn’t any, no sir. The Cloud III sounds a lot closer to my Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X’s with a flatter sound signature that delivers crisp, clean bass that can rumble when necessary but not all the time.
To be fair though, the Cloud’s EQ can be adjusted if you install the HyperX NGENUITY app for Windows PCs. It’s pretty simple with a toggle for DTS Headphone X and another for EQ. There are a few presets, but you can create your own too. Bear in mind the headset has no onboard memory, so it won’t save your preset to be used on another device.
When it comes to the microphone, the Cloud III doesn’t do anything extraordinary—it’s passable with clear pickup of my voice and surprisingly good background noise suppression. I recorded a test for you, and it was done in the early evening with a loud TV in the background as well as my kids chattering away, but you don’t hear any of that.
In a quieter setup, the microphone is pretty damn good actually, and I liked the tonality and warmth in my voice. It certainly didn’t have the same compression artifacts as when the mic was trying to remove all the competing background noise. One thing missing is any sort of side tone, but since the Cloud III doesn’t have much noise sealing, you’ll easily be able to hear yourself through the ear cups.
One complaint I have is that the Clouds have relatively bad passive noise isolation. This allows for too much ambient sound to disrupt my listening pleasure. It’s certainly not a deal breaker; at least not as much as being continually tethered to my device.
Verdict
As you can see, the HyperX Cloud III is a safe, reliable, comfortable, and durable headset that will work great for most gamers. And aside from the poor noise isolation from the ear cups that lets in more ambient sound than I’d like, there’s almost nothing to complain about.
For my money, though, I would seriously wait for the Cloud III Wireless edition as I can’t stand wired headsets any more. I’d happily pay an extra $50 for the privilege. That said, for $160, it’s hard to think of a better sounding, better feeling gaming headset than the HyperX Cloud III.
HyperX Australia provided the Cloud III to PowerUp for the purpose of this review
