HyperX and their headsets are possibly one of the most common gaming headsets on the planet. From casual gamers all the way up to professional players, everyone seems to enjoy HyperX Headsets. So, HyperX decided to give their fans a treat with the Cloud Alpha S Blackout. And this thing is drop-dead gorgeous. A premium headset for those looking for a premium experience, this headset does it all. Quite literally. But before we can delve further into that, let’s take a look at the technical specifications of the product.
Specifications
USB Audio Control Mixer |
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|---|---|
| Weight | 57g |
| Cable length | 2m |
Headphone |
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| Driver | Custom dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets |
| Type | Circumaural, Closed back |
| Frequency response | 13Hz – 27kHz |
| Impedance | 65 Ω |
| Sound pressure level | 99dBSPL/mW at 1kHz |
| T.H.D. | ≤ 1% |
| Weight | 310g |
| Weight with mic | 321g |
| Cable length | 1m |
| Connection type | 3.5mm plug (4 pole) |
Microphone |
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| Element | Electret condenser microphone |
| Polar pattern | Bi-directional, Noise-cancelling |
| Frequency response | 50Hz – 18kHz |
| Sensitivity | -38dBV (0dB=1V/Pa at 1kHz) |
Look and Feel
As stated above, the HyperX Cloud Alpha S Blackout is breathtakingly beautiful. It’s low profile dark colour scheme is something that HyperX should definitely offer going forward because it has become one of my favourite looks for headphones. Even the HyperX logo on these are etched in a darker grey which only makes them visible if you look closely. And I love it. It comes out of the box with a pair of chunky and soft leather ear pads. These cushions are quite comfortable as I never had any pain even with my glasses on for over 12 hours. However, some people did have issues with the frame of their glasses being pressed too much so keep that in mind. But, that can be an easy fix as the Cloud Alpha S also comes with a pair of Cloth ear pads for those who might be prone to sweating or need something softer or even if they’re looking for a slightly different soundscape. Speaking of soundscapes, the back of each side has a Bass Adjustment Slider if you want to increase the amount of Bass on the fly(which you probably will and I’ll talk about later). The headband has a comfortable leather cushion throughout and the top seems to be a stitched leather material that keeps the frame in place.
The aluminium build feels solid and the overall product feels like it can take on a lot of wear and tear. It comes with a braided cable that ends with a 3.5mm jack that can then be inserted into the USB sound card (also braided cables) that comes with the product. This could possibly the best headphones HyperX have made yet in terms of build quality and looks and will definitely get people talking about it if you’re a streamer. It also comes with a carry bag which is great in case you want to take to a friend’s place for some co-op or LAN gaming.
I’d also like to mention how good the packaging of this product is because the unboxing experience is very satisfying and really helps you feel like you now own a premium product.
Performance
Onto the performance of these headphones. My time with these headphones has been a positive one. Even though I personally prefer open-back headphones, these are really good for those who like closed-back ones. The sound is somewhat warmer and not very bassy which is where the Bass Boost Slider comes in. Which in my case, didn’t help much even when I had it on the highest setting. I had to change my EQ settings on my PC to get what I felt was the punchy bass it was missing. It also has 7.1 surround which like most premium gaming headphones isn’t physical but virtually done. I used both 7.1 and the regular quite a bit and at the end, it just boils down to personal preference. In some cases, I prefer using the 7.1 surround sound while in others I prefered the regular mode.
The detachable mic that comes with this also worked great and will do great even if you want to stream using them with a few tweaks. Discord and in-game chat was never an issue with this mic and thanks to the multipurpose audio jack and USB sound card, this pair of headphones can easily be used on your PC, PS4, Xbox or even your Nintendo Switch.
However, my biggest gripe with this headset was the lack of software. At this price point, you expect a bit more because of the premium price you’re paying for it. It’s competitor, the Logitech G Pro and Pro X both come with software that allows you to change the way both the headphones and the mic sound. That is something that HyperX should definitely work on because it allows for so much more flexibility with this product, allowing you to customize it precisely to your needs.
The Verdict
The HyperX Cloud Alpha S Blackout is available on Amazon for Rs 11,000. It is very clearly a pair of premium headset. And while it offers an amazing no-frills experience out of the box, I feel it is slightly disappointing that it does not offer any software for customization which it’s a competitor at a similar price point does.
