HyperX gaming headsets are some of the best types of gaming headsets on the market, and with so many options, finding one that’s right for you can be difficult. As a result, I’ve put together this HyperX Cloud Alpha vs Cloud 2 comparison.
This post will assist you in making the right headset choice for your PC, Xbox, and PS4 gaming.
These are one of the most reliable headsets on the market, from the moment you take it out of the box to the moment you hurl it across the room when your squadmates mess up for the thousandth time.
If the cables or microphone are damaged, they may be removed from the headset and replaced for a small fee rather than repairing the whole device.
After adjusting the band, you’ll find that it creates a perfect seal against your head, which is critical for two reasons:
If your headset has a strong seal, it won’t slip around as you move or fall down your head when sweat accumulates.
A good seal is important for isolation if you want to block out noise from your surroundings.
If you’re a gamer or work at home in a noisy setting, it’s a given that you’ll want solid isolation, but earpads this deep and soft are an unfortunate rarity.
I wish more headphones followed this lead because it would benefit ears of all sizes tremendously.
A remote with a microphone mute switch and a volume wheel is located about a third of the way down the included cable.
When switching between programs, it’s highly convenient to alter your master volume without having to change your computer’s settings.
HyperX Cloud Alpha
Key Highlights
- Durable aluminum frame
- Detachable braided cable
- HyperX Dual Chamber Drivers
Cloud 2
Key Highlights
- 7.1 virtual surround sound
- Memory foam ear cushions
- noise-cancelling microphone
HyperX Cloud Alpha Vs Cloud 2: Specs Comparison
| Specs | HyperX Cloud Alpha | HyperX Cloud 2 |
| Driver | Custom dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets | Dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets |
| Type | Circumaural, closed back | Circumaural, closed back |
| Frequency response | 13Hz–27,000Hz | 18Hz-23,000Hz |
| Impedance | 65 Ω | 30 Ω |
| Sound pressure level | 98dBSPL/mW at 1kHz | 102 ± 3dBSPL/mW at 1kHz |
| T.H.D. | < 1% | < 2% |
| Weight | 298g | 275g |
| Cable length and type | PC extension cable + detachable headset cable (1.3m) (2m) | Headset (1.3m) + Extension Y-cable(1.7m) |
| Connection | 3.5mm connector (4 pole) detachable headset cable + 3.5mm stereo and mic plugs on PC extension cable | 3.5mm connector (4 pole) headset + 3.5mm stereo and mic plugs extension cord |
| Mic Element | Electret condenser microphone | Electret condenser microphone |
| Mic Polar pattern | Noise-cancelling | Uni-directional, Noise-canceling |
| Mic Frequency response | 50Hz-18,000Hz | 50Hz-18,000Hz |
| Mic Sensitivity | -43dBV (0dB=1V/Pa,1kHz) | -40 dBV (0dB=1V/Pa,1kHz) |
HyperX Cloud Alpha vs. Cloud 2 – Sound Quality
When it comes to sound quality, the HyperX Cloud Alpha is one of the best choices. With an Xbox One Controller, I tested this gaming headset, and it performed admirably.
The sound was crisp and clean, and the bass was adequate but not overpowering.
The microphone is a little shaky, but it’s otherwise well-suited to the needs of voice chat.
If you have a deep voice, you might notice that it makes you sound a little different when using voice apps like Discord. The overwhelming majority of people, however, would not have the same issues that I did.
It’s worth noting that it emphasizes notes that aid comprehension.
What you’re saying is correct, but the set of fundamental notes is slightly underemphasized.
This is to avoid the overly-boomy sound microphones can make when you get too close to them.
Any headset will struggle to match the accurate audio reproduction. With its amplified bass response, the latter offers a more conventional gaming headset sound signature.
It doesn’t blow things entirely out of proportion as bass notes are rendered almost twice as loud as all other frequencies.
The headset also has good high- and low-frequency detail, and the in-game directional noises were acceptable. The headset is also very comfortable around the head and does not press too hard on the face.
The sound was still noisy, and the headset became more comfortable as you used it. The HyperX Cloud Alpha is compatible with Xbox, PS4, and PS4 Pro gaming consoles, as well as your personal computer.
Though I believe the directional noises are adequate for most users, I think they’re slightly off.
HyperX Cloud Alpha Vs. Cloud 2 – Sound Drivers
The stuff behind you, on your right, left, middle, and in front of you all sound the same to me, and it’s difficult to tell where the sound is coming from.
The HyperX Cloud 2, on the other hand, is compatible with gaming PCs, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 4 Pro.
Cloud II has 7.1 virtual surround sound, which enhances game immersion.
Cloud II also has a soft foam that fits nicely on the head and does not cause headaches when used for long periods.
The sound quality was excellent, and when compared to the HyperX Cloud Alpha, I believe the HyperX Cloud 2’s directional sound was much superior.
Cloud 2 improves immersion and eliminates all external noise.
Both headsets have 50mm, drivers, with a frequency response of 13Hz to 27,000Hz and 18Hz to 23,000Hz.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha has a 65-ohm impedance, while the HyperX Cloud 2 has a 30-ohm impedance.
Both headphones provide powerful sound in general.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha has a lower quality directional sound than the HyperX Cloud 2, which has a higher quality directional sound.
HyperX Cloud Alpha Vs. Cloud 2 – Comparison of Designs
The HyperX Cloud Alpha is one of the most premium-looking headsets I’ve tried from HyperX in design.
It appears to be an improvement and addition to Cloud 2’s designs.
Moreover, it includes red perforated aluminum forks to hold the ear cups in place. The outer ear cups of the headset are often made of polished metal.
When you’re not gaming or playing multiplayer games, you can easily remove the mic, thanks to the design.
It also includes a 3.5mm cable, which is helpful if you want to use the headset when traveling.
The headset is packaged in a soft protective pouch that helps to keep it secure. The inability to lay the cups flat while storing them seemed like a con to me.
The HyperX Cloud II is also very stylish, and for the money, it’s one of the best designs available.
The headset has a leatherette-coated band, and the ear cups are also connected by metal cups, allowing you to change the height of the headset by about an inch.
The exteriors are sporty and elegant, and the ear cups even swivel back and forth.
The mic is 6 inches adjustable, has a wide foam tip, and is made of a flexible coil. If you want to use the mic for travel or solo gaming, it’s detachable.
You also get a USB dongle that lets you monitor the volume in chats and games and quickly switch between surround sound and microphone muting.
Comparison of HyperX Cloud Alpha and HyperX Cloud II Mics
The HyperX Cloud Alpha is well-suited to in-game and streaming voice chat requirements.
Using the mic over some voice clients, I found that the HyperX Cloud Alpha makes you sound different.
It de-emphasizes the number of fundamental notes while slightly stressing notes.
The HyperX Cloud II, on the other hand, comes with a crystal-clear and well-made microphone.
The mic’s sound quality is adequate, if not excellent, and whether you have a deep voice or not, anyone on the other side of the stream can hear you.
When using the headset for PC gaming, I found that the sound card disables the Windows mic volume control.
When sound quality is compared, it can be divided into two categories.
There are two scenarios: one in which no sound card is used, and the other in which the same 7.1 sound card is used.
Let me explain the new sound that has gotten the most attention. I believe you should crank up the volume and listen to the noise in a quiet setting.
I use an extreme approach because I want to compare. The amount in the lower right corner has been increased to 100%.
Each volume click continues to search for the current sound of the end sound. The result is that both headphones work well, but the Alpha outperforms the Cloud 2.
Out of reluctance, since the music and game performance are inaudible.
The two headsets can be separated without using a sound card by closing their eyes and plugging the 3.5mm interface directly into the host chassis.
Cloud 2 has several flaws that are readily apparent. The sound’s most distinguishing characteristic is its thinness and sharpness.
HyperX Cloud Alpha Vs. Cloud 2 – Gaming Performance
The most obvious first sense of hearing, the most prominent feature of FPS games, is that gunshots are more direct.
And some people prefer this famous, unaltered sharp gunshot, which he believes will allow him to grasp the sound’s distance and source more sensitively.
However, I prefer the Alpha gunfire’s moisturizing and retouching, as it is fuller and more flattering.
The two headphones sound almost identical at intermediate frequencies, but Alpha crushes Cloud 2 at low frequencies.
Alpha has a tonne of low frequencies, so it’s not fake because it’s complete.
Alpha is, after all, a dual-tone cavity that transforms bass that is introduced to the player separately. Without a 7.1 sound card, Alpha is the winner.
The first is that 7.1 channels are overly heavy, and you will become tired after a long time playing.
The second issue is that 7.1 channels can impact your ability to judge the distance between you and the enemy.
I can reasonably and objectively tell you there is no difference between Cloud 2 and Alpha after countless plugs and pulls and decisions on gunshots, door openings, and footsteps in the same scene.
In PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, the distance between footsteps in either direction, or the sound of a bomb, or the sound of a door opening, makes little or no difference, or you don’t notice the difference.
You have to look for something new, like the fact that Alpha’s parsing might be able to win despite having so little talent and that it’s more psychological.
Finally, consider the case in which the Cloud 2 has a 7.1 sound card instead of the 3.5mm Alpha inline.
HyperX Cloud Alpha Vs. Cloud 2 – Mic Quality
The first thing that can be calculated is that in the absence of a sound card, the amplitude of the Alpha decreases, most likely due to the 65-ohm Impedance.
But, contrary to what the Internet claims, no sound can be heard.
Alpha’s output is still excellent without a sound card, and the three-frequency analysis is very consistent.
Overall, these two microphones provide excellent sound quality to all users, but they lack the strength of a dedicated/standalone microphone.
For your streams, I suggest the HyperX Cloud II or a solid standalone mic if you’re more concerned about the quality of your audio.
Performance in-game comparison
We can’t compare the HyperX Cloud Alpha and Cloud 2 without mentioning how they do in the real world.
For games like Gears of War4, Overwatch, Destiny 2, Gloomhaven, and GreedFall, the HyperX Cloud Alpha provided incredible sound quality.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha remains a fantastic choice for gamers, from showcasing the lows of any punch and blast to the subtle rustling of tree branches to hear enemies approaching, punchy gun sounds, and provide awesome atmospheric action.
The lower quality of the multi-directional sound that I received from the headset was the one thing I didn’t like, as I stated earlier.
All of the games we checked the HyperX Cloud II on had crisp sound, but I immediately found that it lacked a low end. Even using Surround Sound 7.1 didn’t seem to make much of a difference, as I had hoped.
Although the dongle has volume and surrounds sound settings, you don’t have as much control over the headset’s output as we did with the HyperX Cloud Alpha.
While the HyperX Cloud II’s mic does a decent job of recognizing your voice even when it’s moving away from your ears, it collects very little background noise, which isn’t ideal if you want to stream with it.
HyperX Cloud Alpha Vs. Cloud 2 – Elegance
The Cloud II is often chastised for not being suitable for large heads. Since I had to wear mine completely extended, I know this from personal experience.
With the Alpha, this is no longer a problem. The headband has been widened, and HyperX has lengthened the change forks.
I now have an additional three clicks of room. It will also fit well for smaller heads.
When you add in the latest incredibly comfortable earpad material and the same excellent memory foam that HyperX uses in all of their headphones, the Alpha is a complete comfort winner.
For years, the Cloud II was the most comfortable gaming headset, but the Alpha is somehow better.
HyperX Cloud Alpha Vs. Cloud 2 – Development
These two headphones have very similar styles.
The Cloud Alpha has the same overall form as the Cloud II, but the metal forks have been broken into chunks.
The top of the headband’s logo is no longer stitched into the fabric. The ear cups are a little less oval than in the previous edition.
Everything is a matter of opinion. However, I prefer the Cloud II’s overall appearance.
I miss the stitching on the headband, and while the holes in the forks help with weight (and comfort), I’m not sure they do anything for me.
Because of some of the Cloud II’s small data, it wins by a razor-thin margin…but that’s just my view!
HyperX Cloud Alpha Vs. Cloud 2 – Addons
Depending on what you’re looking for in a headset, this one can differ from person to person.
A carrying bag is included with both headsets. Both microphones are detachable.
The Cloud Alpha comes with a detachable cable and a more luxurious wallet.
A USB sound card and an additional pair of velour ear pads with the slightly stiffer foam round out the Cloud II’s features.
The sound card will now be handy to you. It has a solid simulated 7.1 surround sound system.
However, with the introduction of Dolby Atmos/Windows Sonic, I no longer use that on my PC. However, the extra earpads are an excellent addition.
They don’t seem to be as comfortable to me.
So, thanks to the Alpha’s detachable cable and more excellent pack, I’m going with it.
The Cloud II’s other features, on the other hand, maybe just what you’re looking for.
Final Thoughts – HyperX Cloud Alpha Vs. Cloud 2
The HyperX Cloud Alpha is an upgraded version of the HyperX Cloud 2, which explains why it has more control than Cloud II.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha is compatible with nearly all gaming devices, which Cloud 2 does not.
More customization and sound profiles are available on the HyperX Cloud Alpha, which is not available on Cloud 2.
So, barring the accuracy of the HyperX Cloud 2’s multidirectional tone, I believe the HyperX Cloud Alpha wins this HyperX Cloud Alpha vs. Cloud 2 comparison on all counts.
Let us know your views about the HyperX Cloud Alpha Vs. Cloud 2 comparison in the comment section.
Check our recent content on headphones, earphones, soundbars and speakers.