With the Cloud Mix Buds, HyperX is making a first foray into wireless gaming earbuds, which is a welcome addition to the Nintendo Switch, for example. The result is impressive, the Cloud Mix Buds have a lot to offer on paper, but do they do what they promise for the price of 160 euros (RRP)? Unfortunately not.
Box & Accessories: In the small, stable cardboard box – unfortunately some parts inside are still made of plastic – there are several different components in addition to the obligatory Quick Start Guide. On the one hand the two earbuds, on the other hand the USB dongle for the 2.4 GHz connection. You also get a charging cable (USB-A to USB-C), a charging case, an extension adapter with two USB-C ports and silicone attachments for the earbods in three different sizes. It’s definitely reasonable for the price.
Processing: The processing of the Cloud Mix Buds leaves a good, stable impression. They are built properly and there is no reason to complain. The design is kept in a simple black, the HyperX logo can be seen on the sides, but it doesn’t draw much attention.
The charging case is manageable in size and you can safely store the earbuds in it without taking up too much space. A silicone cover is attached to the outside so that the good piece does not slip on smooth surfaces or accidentally slip out of your hands. There is a USB-C port on the underside, which you can conveniently use to plug in the USB-C dongle for transport. On the back there is a button with several functions and when you put the earbuds in the case, they charge (if the case itself is charged).
Wearing comfort: How well the earbuds can be worn is of course always an individual question. With the normal silicone attachments, they sit quite well and securely in my ears. I don’t have the impression that they would fall out when sitting normally or, for example, when gaming on the train. For sports activities, however, I might not necessarily rely on it 100 percent. Aside from the normal size, there is a smaller and a larger version, in case you should have problems.
This is an aspect that is difficult to assess in advance. If in doubt, you just have to try it. Once they’re in your ears, they do so comfortably over time. I had no problems with them even during longer sessions.
Features & Performance: The Cloud Mix Buds offer you two connection options. Once via Bluetooth and once via the USB-C dongle via a 2.4 GHz connection. Connections are possible to PC, mobile devices, the Nintendo Switch as well as PlayStation 5 and PS4.
Unfortunately, the connection setup causes problems here and there. On the one hand, because the connection occasionally – for whatever reason – seemed unstable. Sometimes one of the earbuds also refuses to work even though it is charged. In other words, be sure to install the latest update, which will improve the situation.
Apart from that, the touch control sometimes causes frustration. In theory, single, double or triple taps let you play and pause music, go to the next or previous track. The problem is the unreliability of the touch controls. Sometimes it reacts too sensitively, sometimes unreliably or not at all. There’s never a consistent feel for touch control, which makes for more of an annoyance than a comfortable control.
If you have the earbuds connected and play, it sounds quite good after all. Sure, quality headphones are always a better choice, but the Cloud Mix Buds perform well for their standards. This applies to different game genres as well as to music. The collision of swords, shots or footsteps are easy to spot. However, when it comes to music, you have clear playback without background noise, even at higher volumes, and the balance is good. As I said: Nothing for the audiophiles among you, but the earbuds always deliver a solid to good performance.
A microphone is also integrated, the performance of which can also be described as solid for calls or voice chats in multiplayer. In view of the fact that the microphone is close to your ear, you should of course not speak too quietly and there could also be occasional problems with background noise. But this is also known from other earbuds. A longer press of the touch control mutes or activates the microphone, the same result can be achieved via the pairing button.
As far as runtime is concerned, you can get between six and ten hours on one charge. Between 15 and 20 more hours are possible with the charging case, but that also depends largely on how the volume is set and what type of connection you have chosen.
Software: To make settings, you need to download the Ngenuity app for iOS and Android. Here you can then select different equalizer profiles and thus focus more on certain sound aspects. DTS:X is also possible, but only with a connection to the PC. Occasionally, the app didn’t register when the ear buds were connected, and some settings were simply not retained.
You can buy the HyperX Cloud Mix Buds from e.g Amazon.de and directly at HyperX.
HyperX Cloud Mix Buds – Conclusion
There is a lot of potential in the HyperX Cloud Mix Buds, but the company cannot fully develop it in the first attempt. But you should stay tuned, because in general the Cloud Mix Buds are a good option, especially since you have two connection options available here. The sound is good too, so if you absolutely need some earbuds because you travel a lot, after an update that irons out the worst, these might be a good choice. For comfortable gaming in front of the PC or on the console, I would rather use a normal headset, and even the best earbuds will probably not change that in the future.
HyperX Cloud Mix Buds – Pros and Cons
Per:
- good sound
- Two connection options
- USB dongle with USB-C
- Good running time
Cons:
- Occasional connection problems
- Touch controls not always precise
- Software has a few quirks
Manufacturer: HyperX – Compatible with: PC, Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 – release: 19.7.2022 – Price (RRP): €44.99 (pc)
