HyperX Cloud Mix review: Pivoting to a mobile lifestyle brand brings mixed results - davissuchang

IDG / Hayden Dingman

At a Glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

• Pretty solid audio faithfulness when plugged in
• Monetary standard HyperX comfort
• Charges quickly and lasts for 20 hours on the expire

Cons

• Why would you use it plugged in?
• On-headset controls only work in Bluetooth mode
• As expensive as buying two discrete devices, one tense and one Bluetooth

Our Verdict

Bridging the gap 'tween wired play headset and mobile Bluetooth headset, the HyperX Cloud Mix doesn't quite an nail either. But if you fall under both camps, perhaps it's an appealing jack-of-every last-trades option.

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HyperX wants you to wear its Cloud Mix headset (MSRP $200) day in and day out—not just for gaming. At your desk? Sure. But also along the train, walking to the grocery, maybe even while snowboarding. Wherever life takes you, thanks to the Swarm Mix's built-in Bluetooth capabilities.

The Cloud Mix is HyperX's try out to move up the ladder from a gaming brand to a "lifestyle denounce." Astro made the pivot early, pitching its high-end gaming headsets as a statement, not a plain accessory. Then Razer swung that counsel as well, ushering in some kind of RGB-everything future tense.

Only can every brand make the pivot? HyperX is a brand that seems steeped in gamer culture more than its predecessors—a firebrand that started with RAM and other arcane PC necessities. Let's encounter how things shook impossible.

Banknote: This review is part of our roundupof best gaming headsets . Run low there for details on competing products and how we tried and true them.

Smart

Judging by the Cloud Mix's design, HyperX already thinks it's a lifestyle marque, or at to the lowest degree bordering connected one. Let's non terpsichore around the subject: The Cloud Mix looks like any other HyperX headset. The colour scheme's a more muted gray-headed-and-black instead of the brand's standard red-and-black, but even this isn't 100 percent new. HyperX used the same gray-and-Afro-American on the Cloud II headset, for example.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

Hell, the Taint Mix takes after the innovational Cloud and Cloud II more than the current-gen Cloud Alpha. This International Relations and Security Network't exactly a break from tradition, like we saw with Astro's streetwear-oriented A38 headset. The Cloud Mix simply repurposes old and (at to the lowest degree in the desktop space) beloved ideas. The stitching's been toned down a bit, but if I threw a Cloud Mix and a Cloud II into a bin together, I'd throw a catchy time separating the two. The new headset features the same imitation leather-padded headband, the same rounded earcups with enormous HyperX logos emblazoned on both sides.

That's credibly the most dubious decision HyperX successful with the Mist Flux. I'm actually a fan of the Cloud design. It's beautiful inconspicuous, non overly bulky nor flashy. I firmly believe you could wear it out on the street, same as any pair of Sound-Technicas or Sennheisers.

But the branding? The branding is anything but inconspicuous. The HyperX logo looks suchlike, asymptomatic, television games. Information technology's edgy and aggressive in some respects you don't see from mainstream audio brands like Audio-Technica, Sennheiser, Polk, so on.

Information technology's not an impossible vault—Razer's made inroads with a tierce-oriented snake graphic, which is arguably worsened. But HyperX's logo is thusly full-size and so spectacular. I hind end't help but wish it were shrunk down or confined to the headband, or maybe rendered opprobrious-happening-black where information technology'd be less crying. Anything that would make ME more well-to-do about exhausting the Cloud Mix on the street.

Stigmatisation missteps aside, there's not much to quetch about. As I aforementioned, it's a HyperX headset. The Taint Mix is extremely soothing, equally you'd ask from HyperX. I've worn it for hours at a meter without issue, though the imitation leather earcups power get a minute toasty in the summer.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

In some ways I like information technology flatbottomed much than the Cloud Alpha—or really, in one and only major fashio. The Cloud Mix finally rectifies one of my biggest complaints with the brand, by slapping controls onto the headset itself instead of relegating them to a wee box along the cable. You'll find volume and power on the right earcup, and a muffle push button on the left-wing.

Kinda Blue(tooth)

Course, that's because the Cloud Unify doesn't need cables. There is ace, and if you're sitting at a screen background PC all day you might choose to use it. It's a simple 3.5mm cable that plugs into the bottomland of the left earcup, same as most HyperX headsets, along with an ex gratia extension cable and two-fold-terminus mic and headphones splitter. If you're in pumped mode, the along-headset controls don't work. Instead you'll need to use old-style inline controls. Why? I don't know, and information technology's unrivalled of the weakest parts of the design.

But if you'Ra shelling impermissible for the Cloud Mix information technology's probably because of its Bluetooth capabilities. I personally wear't usance Bluetooth headsets with my screen background. Most DIY desktop PCs put on't even have inbuilt Bluetooth. But maybe you want cardinal device you can carry between your desktop, laptop, and phone with minimal hassle—especially if your call up lacks a headphone jack up.

The Cloud Mix is a beautiful moral old salt-of-completely-trades in that regard. Obstructed in, the headset runs sans battery power, as you'd expect; but HyperX claims approximately 20 hours of battery life on a single charge when you a-okay Bluetooth. That should get ahead you through a day or two of heavy use, at least. (There's a MicroUSB port along the right ear for charging. I wish IT were USB-C, just MicroUSB is calm pretty standard for peripherals, unluckily.)

There's as wel a stylish trick with the microphone. The Overcast Mix ships with the same clastic boom mic as HyperX's early headsets, which is great for desk use. On-the-go it'd look a bit gross though, so the headset also packs a built-in microphone. Audio reproduction and noise cancellation are obviously rather a bit worsened, but leastways you North Korean won't look similar an air dealings comptroller in public.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

Here's where it gets complicated: Sound quality.

The Cloud Mix features the same dual-chamber design as 2017's HyperX Corrupt Alpha, and I love the Becloud Of import. The treble-chamber technical school apparently separates low frequencies from the mids and highs, giving you a more flush sound, only IT's mostly marketing address. As I said last year: "I have headphones that sound as good or better than the Cloud Alphas and doh it without dual-bedchamber device driver genius."

I followed that improving with this, though: "What matters Here regardless is the Cloud Alpha sounds great. HyperX can Methedrine it capable dual chambers if IT wants—the end result is an excellent gaming headset, especially for $100."

I could say the same about the Cloud Commixture. IT sounds pretty damn good, especially wired. There, you're getting pretty much the homophonic output signal American Samoa the Obnubilate Alpha—wide soundstage, moderately bass-boosted, a bit of a weak treble but hardly noticeable. Information technology's too, as HyperX is speedy to item out, Hi-Res registered, meaning you can fully take account your 24-bit/96KHz lossless euphony collection on the Cloud Mix.

You've got one of those collections, right?

Yea, me neither. To the highest degree people don't, and well-nig streaming services don't support Hawaii-Res audio however. As I wrote when reviewing the Hi-Reticuloendothelial system credentialed Roccat Caravan inn Aimo, your average listener can't even distinguish between good and bad audio, Army of the Righteou alone two extremely granulose levels of good audio.

What's more, the Cloud Mix is only Hi-Reticuloendothelial system certified when wired in. Bluetooth audio quality is miles in arrears analogue still, and most people are going to use the Cloud Fuse in Bluetooth mode. Otherwise you might as well save up $100 and buy the Cloud Alpha.

So why even include the Hi-Res? I assume because it's one more bullet point to add to the Cloud Mix's feature set. But I've also noticed Hi-Reticuloendothelial system certified headsets tend to price a ton more, and for what? A label most people lav't appreciate and, in this incase, won't even use? Bizarre.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

Anyway, the Cloud Mix sounds pretty good in Bluetooth mode too. Music's not quite as reverberant and the bass gets less punchy, but HyperX's wide soundstage is inactive in evidence and the fidelity is as good as some other mid-tier Bluetooth headset I've used.

The main progeny is that the Cloud Mix costs $200. See what I wrote above? "The end result is an excellent gambling headset, especially for $100." That's in reference to the Cloud Alpha. At double the price, the Cloud Mix isn't most as compelling. There are great wireless headsets in this damage kitchen range, and eventide improved wired headsets. HyperX's sweet spot has always been premium-feeling hardware at an entry-level or near-entry-tied price. The Cloud Flux is premium-feeling computer hardware for an actual premium price, and it doesn't fare As well.

And the dual wired/wireless design is frustrating, in my judgement. Otherwise Bluetooth headsets I've used have been radio set to desktop, then Bluetooth as an additional value-add. The SteelSeries Arctis Affirmative Wireless is one example. Information technology makes sense! Keep information technology convenient, wherever you're at!

How do I range the Cloud Mix though? American Samoa a $200 bugged headset with Hi-Res capabilities? As a Bluetooth headset with decent sound? Some mix of the two?

Personally I've found that I never use the Cloud Mix at my desktop because I'm just not going to utilise it in wired mode. That's how IT's shaken out, and the score reflects that reality. I would've sort o seen HyperX retread its wireless Cloud Flight headset with additional Bluetooth capabilities, even if it were slimly more expensive. At least then both modes would feel of a piece with each opposite.

Bottom line

The HyperX Cloud Mix is a weird experiment, and one I don't think is entirely successful. It's pricey, the logo is obnoxious, and splitting the difference betwixt wired gaming headset and mobile Bluetooth way HyperX doesn't really collar either market. I'm not even sure there's skilful reason out to striking some those niches instantly instead of marketing two discrete devices.

That said, I'm inquisitive to construe with where HyperX goes from here. Four or five years agone, HyperX was the underdog. Now it's a play mainstay, and for good reason. HyperX makes great computer hardware. The Cloud Mix just needs to a greater extent iterations and a minute more focus—and seriously, a more street-friendly logo.

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• Computers and Peripherals
• Headsets

Hayden writes about games for PCWorld and doubles as the occupant Zork enthusiast.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/402988/hyperx-cloud-mix-gaming-headset-review.html

Posted by: davissuchang.blogspot.com

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