Review-HyperX-Cloud-Revolver

     When Kingston released its first HyperX gaming headset they showed the world it is possible to build a quality gaming headset at a reasonable price. Since then they have come up with a few new models that improved on their original design and hardware specifications.
     The first thing you notice about the HyperX Cloud Revolver is the two metal bands that kind of float above the regular headband that sits on your head. See photo 1. All headsets are designed so that their headband will accommodate big and small heads. With ordinary over the head headsets, the larger your head the more pressure you feel from the band that is futher stretched to fit the size of your head. The HyperX Cloud Revolver has an active suspension system, see photo 1 again, which reduces the contact force between the headset and your head. If you have ever experienced discomfort from a headset after hours of gaming you will find this design very rewarding. The Cloud Revolver level of pressure against your ears can best be described as a soft touch.
     The comfort suspension system isn’t the only improvement that I found during testing. While listening to music, the new headset reproduces a richer more encapsulating sound that was stronger than the one reproduced by the HyperX Cloud II. I might not have noticed these improvements if I wasn’t constantly switching back and forth between the new HyperX Cloud Revolver and a Kingston’s HyperX Cloud II headset. For sound reproduction I stopped in the middle of a song to switch headsets. Not only was the HyperX Cloud Revolver reproduction more intense, the volume was also louder even though I didn’t change the volume on my smartphone.
     Comparing the difference in sound reproduction during gaming is more difficult since after the switch is made the action in the game is somewhat different than it was when the other headset was in use. However, while playing Grand Theft Auto the HyperX Cloud Revolver headset seemed to provide some auditory cues that can best be described as a directional sound that is louder in the appropriate ear. This momentary advance notice would cue me into what area of the screen needed my immediate attention.
     Just like past HyperX headsets the Cloud Revolver comes with a detachable microphone. This appendage is a major improvement over some past models because it incorporates noise cancelation technology. This will give you less background noise and better voice quality when you are using the HyperX Cloud Revolver for calls or gaming chats. The HyperX Cloud II that I was using for side by side testing also has a noise cancellation microphone and I didn’t notice any difference between clarity of sound or diminished background noise when comparing the quality of the noise cancelation technology of their microphones.

Reasons to Drool
     There were only two features that set this unit apart from the HyperX Cloud II. The first was how comfortable they are to wear for long periods of time and the second was their overall improvement in how well they reproduce game and music audio. These differences are rather subtle and I probably wouldn’t have noticed them if I wasn’t doing a side by side comparison between this unit and a HyperX Cloud II.

Not So Cool
     . The separate mute/volume control that Kingston built into a very long audio cable is not capable of delivering.7.1 surround sound. The surrond sound feature that does exist on the Cloud II has been deleted from the feature list when they created this unit. A significant improvement in this unit over the HyperX Cloud II could have been achieved if surround sound was included and actually directly built into the headset. Perhaps we will find it on the next iteration of these popular HyperX headsets. Photo shows the mute/volume switch that is built into the long extension cable that comes with the HyperX Cloud Revolver.