MEGATech Reviews: Kingston HyperX Cloud Revolver Pro Gaming Headset

Third time’s the charm? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it? What if the first two times around were already pretty charming? Technically speaking, the HyperX Cloud Revolver Pro Gaming Headset by Kingston Technology is and isn’t the third entry in their Cloud line of gaming headsets. It’s got the “Cloud” name in there, but there must be a reason why they’re not calling it a Cloud III or a Cloud 3. For starters, the design is strikingly different, but does that mean it’s necessarily better?

Continuing the HyperX Headset Tradition

When Kingston came out with the first-generation HyperX Cloud Headset a couple of years ago, a lot people thought they were crazy. What business does a memory company have getting into audio gear? And then, we were amazed by the quality of the QPAD co-developed headset. The following year, the HyperX Cloud II demonstrated that the first version was no fluke, improving on it in just about every way.

The Cloud Revolver aims to capitalize on this rising trend, but it is also an entirely different beast. You still get that high quality build, cloth-wrapped cable, and luscious memory foam, but the ear cups look entirely different. They’ve gone from the standard convex to a much more aggressive “indented” design that’s almost like you’re looking inside of a fan or bullet chamber. It’s certainly a lot more distinct and screams out with a lot more personality.

Curiously, HyperX has decided to abandon the USB connectivity (and 7.1 surround sound) of the Cloud II to revert back to the analog 3.5mm connection of the first Cloud. There’s an extension cable (with an inline control) that terminates in a split 3.5mm connection: one for the headphones, one for the microphone. I disagree with this decision and would have preferred if they stuck with the USB inline audio box instead.

The Cloud Revolver Is So Metal

Possibly the even more notable difference from previous Cloud headsets is the switch to a suspension sytle design with a metal frame. This replaces the usual configuration where either side of the headset can extend to suit the size of your noggin. This represents both a positive and a negative, depending on your perspective.

It makes for a particularly striking appearance and you don’t have to worry about your hair getting caught in the extending metal arms. It also makes for a more of a perfect fit every time without having to make any sort of manual adjustment. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that the suspended space between the headband and the outer metal frame might make travel a little more difficult. More importantly, though, this metal frame is not padded. At all. As a result, any time you touch it or tap it while wearing the headset, that metal reverb will shake through your ears and into your skull. It’s like hitting a tuning fork. Even tapping the plastic ear cups, where the HyperX logo is located, results in this metal pinging.

So Comfortable, But So Sweaty

Despite downsizing from the 53mm drivers of the Cloud II to next-generation 50mm drivers, the HyperX Cloud Revolver actually has ear cups that measure just a smidge bigger in size. You still get that super comfortable foam that’s oh-so-comfortable to wear, but at least for my part, this slight increase in size means my ears are almost completely enveloped inside of the ear cup rather than resting on the foam.

That’s actually more comfortable for me and it’s easier for me to wear this headset for prolonged periods of time, whether that’s watching a movie or playing Killer Instinct. That’s all good, except that this headset clearly does not boast any sort of open air design. The problem, then, is that I start to suffer from sweaty ear syndrome far more quickly than if I were allowed to breathe.

The positive trade-off is that you get much more immersed in whatever it is you are watching, playing or listening to. This is further enhanced by improvements Kingston HyperX has made to the tech behind those ear cups.

The Audio Quality You’ve Come to Expect

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The sound quality on the Cloud Revolver is as great as always. Kingston says that they have re-engineered the audio profiles to create a larger sound stage. This is best suited for a concert-like listening experience and for more expansive gameplay, as might be the case with first-person shooters or epic action-adventure games. The bass hits hard without drowning out everything else, making for a clean and balanced listening experience.

You might remember the detachable microphone on the first two Cloud headsets. It came with the fuzzy end to cut out wind noise. That’s been replaced in the Cloud Revolver with a more unified and ultimately better-looking design. The fuzzy is gone, but the noise cancellation is still there. Embedded above are a couple of audio samples I recorded using the Cloud Revolver. I’d say it’s perfectly suitable for in-game chat or Skype. It’s even good enough for some of you podcasters out there.

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There is a lot to like about this headset. The audio truly is top notch all around, the larger ear cups are remarkably comfortable, and the suspension style steel frame design makes for a perfect fit every time. You never feel like your head has been thrown into a vice. The detachable microphone looks a lot better and sounds great too.

The question arises as a value proposition. The Kingston HyperX Cloud Revolver is listed at $119.99 online, which is a pretty great price for a premium gaming headset of this type. The problem is that the Cloud II can now be now be found for about $85 and it comes with USB-powered 7.1 surround sound. You also dodge the issue with vibrating metal rattling through your skull.

For my money, I’d say that’s worth the $35 savings. The announced but not yet released HyperX Cloud Revolver S with USB and 7.1 surround sound, on the other hand…