Despite some connectivity issues, this wireless model remains a safe bet thanks to its comfort and remarkable autonomy.
HyperX’s Cloud Alpha has quickly established itself as one of the benchmark headsets for gamers. Last year, the brand finally released the Cloud Alpha Wireless, the wireless version of the essential red and black headset; is this model worth it? Here is our verdict after several months in the company of the beast.
On leaving the box, we immediately notice that the device is strictly identical to its wired elder. Fans of the brand are therefore not in danger of losing their bearings. We find the same soft, flexible, but nevertheless robust aluminum chassis, with its two scarlet side arches.
Some may regret the presence of two cables with a braided finish that protrude from the two earpieces. But in use, they are short enough not to get in the way and are very quickly forgotten.
In terms of accessories, the package also contains a charging cable (USB Type-A to USB Type-C) and the essential windscreen that covers the microphone. The bare minimum, in short. We regret the absence of a storage pouch, which will force you to improvise to protect the device when traveling. Too bad, but not prohibitive either.
Comfort
Once the Cloud Alpha Wireless was on our head, we had the pleasure of finding the same sensations as with the wired version that accompanied us for many years – minus the cable. And that’s great news, because you might as well say it right away: in terms of comfort, this model has nothing to envy to some much more expensive competitors.
First observation: it remains quite light, or in any case in the average of its category with 336 grams on the scale (or 300 grams without the microphone). Surprisingly, the integration of the wireless module has therefore not caused any weight gain compared to the wired version, which is very appreciable.
But what makes these headphones so pleasant is the excellent quality of the pads – both in the headband and in the ear cups. Thanks to generous padding with a perfectly calibrated density, it thrones on the skull without ever getting in the way. It always manages to be forgotten, even during particularly long gaming sessions.
In addition, as with its predecessor, the ear cups are particularly well ventilated. Even during last summer’s heat wave, our ears and temples always stayed cool. A real advantage over other models that tend to make some users sweat. The Cloud still lives up to its name!
Audio
The Cloud Alpha Wireless honors the reputation of its lineage by offering quality audio performance, particularly in-game. As with its wired predecessor, this model is particularly good at bringing out all the audio elements essential to gameplay. From the voices of your teammates to gunshots, footsteps and other sound effects, everything is rendered with great precision. Very useful for getting your bearings by ear, especially in high intensity competitive games.
On the other hand, compared to the wired version, the very neutral rendering seemed to us to lack a little character and precision. This is especially felt when enjoying our favorite songs or the grandiose soundtracks of certain games. To fill this gap, it is imperative to go through the equalizer included in the NGENUITY owner assistant.
We also regret the absence of the dedicated surround chip found for example on the Cloud II. To overcome these pitfalls, HyperX has chosen to go through a firmware update. The concern is that after installing it, we noticed a significant increase in latency… On our side, we therefore quickly decided to do without the in-game assistant and to use a different headset for listening to music. Damage.
Microphone
Overall, there’s not much to fault the mic on this Cloud Alpha Wireless. Well planted on its flexible and detachable pole, it offers a very honorable and always intelligible voice capture according to our gaming partners.
It is possible to deactivate it thanks to a physical button located on the left atrium. This also has the effect of lighting up a clearly visible red diode at the end of the pole. Very useful for dizzy people who tend to speak in a vacuum after a mute temporary !
connectors
However, there are a few major downsides to the connectivity. To begin with, there is the regrettable absence of Bluetooth protocol. The only way to use it is through the USB transceiver that comes in the box. Not ideal for those who lack grip.
But the biggest problem in terms of connectivity is signal stability. During the first days of use, our teammates sometimes reported strange cuts to us, as if the internet connection was suffering from major slowdowns. At first we thought it was a faulty model, but in the end it wasn’t; the problem seems to come from the dongle, which is apparently quite susceptible to interference.
Indeed, when certain objects are located directly on the line between the dongle and the headset, the signal tends to act up. We have encountered this problem with our smartphone, our NAS, and even sometimes with a pair of large scissors or a simple glass of water. To use it in good conditions, we therefore decided to systematically clear our desk during each game session. But in the end, we ended up positioning the dongle on another USB port to avoid this rather restrictive routine. .
Surprisingly, this issue only affects the mic; the audio transmission, on the other hand, was never interrupted, even in the next room through a load-bearing wall. It is therefore probably a special case that depends on a precise layout of the office, but it will have to be taken into account at the time of purchase.
Autonomy
We must also mention the number one asset of this helmet, namely its absolutely phenomenal lifespan. It is announced at 300 hours. Quite honestly, we did not bother to test whether the exact autonomy of the machine corresponded rigorously to this claim. But beyond the figures, it is clear that the promise is kept. This Cloud Alpha Wireless lasts so long that you almost forget that you have to recharge it. That is to say, we were downright startled when we discovered the low battery indicator for the first time!
In real-world use, even the most intensive users will be able to enjoy it for several weeks before the battery goes flat. And for ordinary mortals, it will last well over a month without the slightest problem. Downright stunning.
Sustainability
The other good point of this helmet is its durability. After several months of use, all the pads are still perfectly intact, without the slightest sign of peeling of the imitation leather. Same observation for the padding of the headband, which did not collapse at all. There is barely a little play at the side fixings, but nothing that prevents the device from staying in place. In other words, the gear seems durable provided you take care of it.
Price
The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is available from Boulanger for €199.99.
