Until very not too long ago, the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless was our favorite wi-fi gaming headset, proper up till the magnificent Razer BlackShark V3 ate its lunch. It hasn’t taken HyperX lengthy to strike again, nevertheless, with the newly-announced HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless 2—full with a flowery RGB-lit base station with a number of media controls.
HyperX describes it as an “audio control hub” full with customisable RGB lighting, a smattering of programmable buttons for all of your macro wants, seamless machine switching capabilities, and a bloomin’ nice dial within the center. As an audio professional, I can let you know that is in all probability used to regulate the quantity. Probably.
The drivers have had a major improve, too, from the 50 mm models discovered within the OG Cloud Alpha Wireless to 53 mm, multi-layer composite fashions, which HyperX says are engineered to “reduce distortion to the lowest level.” Whether they will be capable of compete with the harmonic distortion-reducing driver plug on the again of the BlackShark’s models, although, stays to be seen.
The set additionally now helps simultaneous 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connections, so you may hold your cellphone linked whilst you sport so you do not miss an essential notification. Plus, microfibre earcups, a ten mm microphone capsule… it is a suite of spectacular upgrades all-round, with one notable exception—the battery life.
The massive, headline grabbing characteristic of the Cloud Alpha 1 Wireless (as I’m now calling it) was a large 300-hour battery life, however the Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless drops it all the way down to 250 hours. HyperX says that is nonetheless greater than 2x longer than “other industry gaming headsets”, which I suppose is true on common, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a downgrade over the earlier mannequin.
Following intently on the Cloud Alpha 2’s heels is the HyperX Cloud Flight 2, presumably a extra finances mannequin with lesser specs. Here you get replaceable earcup plates, customisable RGB lighting, 50 mm drivers, and 100-hour battery life over the two.4 GHz reference to the lighting turned off.
Turn that RGB up, although, and it drops all the way down to 23 hours, which is sort of the distinction. You’re actually, actually going to wish to look good to sacrifice that a lot battery life for the sake of a headset glow, however maybe streamers will not discover it an excessive amount of of a difficulty.
The massive query you are in all probability asking at this level is how a lot money you may need to spend to choose up both of those new headsets, and my reply is, we nonetheless do not know. The authentic Cloud Alpha Wireless retailed for $200, however may very well be typically discovered for a good bit decrease within the gross sales.
That base station included with the brand new mannequin, nevertheless, does not look significantly low-cost to me. I would not be shocked if this explicit headset crept in the direction of the $250 mark, however that is pure hypothesis on my half. Still, the brand new Alpha looks like a little bit of a big gamble on HyperX’s half, betting on decreased battery life in alternate for an RBG-laden doohickey, upgraded drivers, and doubtlessly a better value.
We shall see. Our best gaming headset guide is always ready to accept new contenders, but in my opinion, the BlackShark V3 Pro is going to be tough to beat.
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