Wireless gaming headsets have slowly become more popular over the past half-decade, with HyperX being one of the companies that has led the charge to make the product segment accessible to more people. The company entered the wireless gaming headset market with its HyperX Cloud Flight back in 2018 and since then the company has slowly expanded its lineup of wireless gaming headsets to include models across several price brackets. From its top-end Cloud Flight S to the entry-level Cloud Stinger Core Wireless, HyperX has tried making wireless gaming audio an affordable option to all. Its latest entry in the market, the HyperX Cloud Core Wireless, sits around the middle of its continuously growing roster.
The HyperX Cloud Core comes with the headset itself, the detachable microphone, the USB dongle for wireless connectivity, a USB Type-C cable for charging, and a quick start guide.
Design and Construction
The HyperX Cloud Core Wireless features the same form factor as its wired counterpart, with the classic ear cups and headband that the company has been using since its first HyperX Cloud headset. The entirety of the headset comes in black, except for the red HyperX logo on the ear cups.
Just like its wired counterpart, the headband is supported by an aluminum frame that’s covered in a stretched faux leather on top and padded faux leather on the bottom. The padding on the headband is firm and comfortable while the headband itself is sturdy but still flexible.
The ends of the headband terminate into plastic covers where the wire connecting the two ear cups come out from. The ear cups are held by a y-shaped aluminum frame that can be extended by a few centimeters on each side. However, the height adjustments of the ear cups could have been made slightly longer as they fell a bit short of letting the ear pads sit properly on my ears. The frame of the ear cups also don’t swivel left or right, although that’s been the case with previous HyperX headsets that use this design.
The ear cups are made of a thick plastic, with the HyperX logo printed on them. There are also cutouts on the top of the ear cups as well as the groove around the logo, which I assume is to allow air into the cup to improve the sound of the drivers. Like the headband, the ear cups have faux leather padding and the drivers are protected with soft fabric.
The materials and construction of the Cloud Core Wireless make it light and comfortable to wear even after long hours. As previously mentioned, the padding used in both the headband and the ear pads is firm but comfortable while the clamping force of the headband isn’t too fatiguing, although your mileage may vary.
Features and Performance
All of the controls and ports of the Cloud Core Wireless are found on the left ear cup, including the power and mic mute buttons, the LED indicator, the volume scroll wheel, the detachable microphone port, and the USB Type-C port. The detachable microphone of the Cloud Core still utilizes a 2.5mm audio connector and the microphone itself comes with a foam cover to help reduce wind noise.
The microphone of the Cloud Core Wireless is more than decent enough for gaming and calls. The quality is clear while the built-in noise canceling is able to block most background sounds without causing any noticeable distortion.
HyperX has equipped the Cloud Core Wireless with 53mm drivers that the company says has a frequency response of 10 Hz – 21 kHz. The sound signature of the Cloud Core Wireless is pretty balanced, with slightly elevated lows and highs. The lows are adequately punchy yet smooth while the highs are crisp and far from fatiguing. The midrange is where the Cloud Core Wireless performs best though, with impressive clarity and detail that helps vocals and instruments push through excellently.
Both the soundstage and imaging of the headset are also decent enough, with clear instrument separation and a fair amount of depth in spite of the headset’s closed back design. Overall, the sound quality of the Cloud Core Wireless is pretty impressive for a headset in this price range.
Currently, the Cloud Core Wireless doesn’t work with the company’s NGenuity Software, so there isn’t a way to check the headset’s battery life or customize its settings through Windows or Mac. While this isn’t really a deal breaker as the headset is able to function perfectly well without it, it’s still worth noting. Additionally, if you’re on Windows, you can download the DTS Sound Unbound from the Microsoft app store to activate the headset’s DTS: Headphone:X spatial audio.
HyperX has rated the Cloud Core Wireless with up to 20 hours of battery life. Even with regular use, I only needed to charge the Cloud Core Wireless once every couple of days. Charging the headset only takes a little over two hours so there really isn’t much downtime as you can plug in and charge the Cloud Core Wireless whenever you sleep or take a break and it’ll probably be fully charged by the time you pick it up again.
Conclusion
The Cloud Core Wireless is a pretty good choice for a more affordable wireless gaming headset, with a price tag of around $99 (PHP 5,000). It features HyperX’s tried and tested design that’s sturdy, reliable, and comfortable. It performs impressively well for its price, both in its sound and microphone quality. The long battery life and the quick charging also make the transition from wired to wireless pretty comfortable. The Cloud Core Wireless is definitely a great addition to the company’s lineup of gaming headsets and is a formidable contender in this price bracket. Those looking to finally switch to a wireless gaming headset should definitely consider the HyperX Cloud Core Wireless.