In the race to cover every available body part that can game in their gear, HyperX continues to release a plethora of peripherals for gamers of all kinds. It’s not just headsets and mice anymore – a month ago the company released its very first gaming monitors (opens in new tab). At this rate, HyperX is going to start making prescription glasses or those questionably usable gaming cases (opens in new tab) I see esports players swearing.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is almost insignificant for how many other things HyperX has; legit good stuff like the Cloud Alpha wireless headset (opens in new tab) at. But the $50 price puts it in competition with headsets like the Razer Kraken X (opens in new tab)the SteelSeries Arctis 1 and 3, and, frankly, its own predecessor, the Cloud Stinger (which retails for about $30).
The Cloud Stinger 2 is almost identical in features to the first version of the headset. It’s a black, all-plastic headset with a fairly lightweight microphone. It has a frequency response from 10 Hz to 28 kHz, dynamic 50 mm drivers with neodymium magnets, a 3.5 mm headset jack and an included splitter. It’s the kind of $50 headset you pick up from Amazon or a store shelf because it’s there and will get the job done, but you may wish you had done a little more research.
The worst part about the Cloud Stinger 2 is the headphone design, which negates many of its strengths in audio quality. It’s a thin headset; the cheap plastic feel is normal in this price range – and probably not to worry if you’ve never owned a pair of headphones priced over $150 – but this headset has bigger issues. The rotating ear cups are meant to flatten it so you can put it in a bag, but they’re attached to the thinnest part of the headband and are so loose that I’m afraid they’ll break with the wrong move. They flutter back and forth when I take them off and make it difficult to grab them with one hand.
Nothing catastrophic has happened to me other than some clunky handling, and I’m concerned that the headbands could break or crack in a particularly violent fall or twist. The thought of spending the next few years with them seems more risky than it should be at this price.
HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 Specifications
Drivers: Dynamic, 50mm neodymium
Connectivity: 3.5mm wired
Style: over the ear
Frequency Response: 10Hz-28,000Hz
Functions: Bi-directional noise-cancelling microphone, audio rotary knob
Weight: 275g
Price: $50 (opens in new tab)
Otherwise the fit on this one is great. They’re sturdy enough to stay on my head as I move them and slide off easily if you’re holding a hamburger in one hand, for example. I’m also a glasses wearer and it never got uncomfortable after hours of use which I can’t always say the same for my usual pair of Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pros not far from the DT 900 Pro X (opens in new tab). It has leatherette pads that feel a bit flimsy and can wear out over time, but in this price range I’m not sure you’ll find much better.
The audio quality is impressive, especially if you have the included DTS Headphone X spatial audio codec on (a two-year code is included). It’s a bit gimmicky at first, but with music I liked how it raised the midrange and made a lot of instrumental music sound dynamic, or like it was being played on a stage. It’s probably not for everyone.
I didn’t notice the effect in games. In a game like Overwatch where audio is essential and mixed with that in mind, it sounds no different with the feature on or off. Elden Ring sounded bigger, but not noticeably different from normal stereo mode. The fact that you have to pay for DTS Headphone X after two years is also a bummer as without it the headphones are fairly neutral with highs coming through more than anything else. They’re fine for games, but might sound a bit boring for everything else.
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The microphone is about as useful as any other headset microphone in this price range. It sounds a little far out, but has enough brightness and volume to get through through game audio. The noise cancellation kept out my mechanical keyboard taps and mouse clicks, even while I was actively talking. The microphone boom swings up and automatically mutes, which is always a nice feature, and it’s small, so even when it’s in front of your face, it’s not a nuisance.
It’s a bit tragic that a solid audio package is kept in such a clunky frame. The Cloud Stinger 2 would be a competent headset and an excellent choice for a budget pick, but I can’t get over how fragile it looks and feels. There are older and cheaper headsets that are built with a thicker frame – the original Cloud Stinger, to name one.
The Stinger 2 may work for someone who treats their headset like a delicate flower, but for $50 you can get something that can’t be ruined after an accidental drop or twist. The Cloud Stinger 2, despite its strengths in the price range, is just too risky for me to recommend.
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