HyperX Cloud Flight S review

There's no shortage of surround sound gaming headsets to choose from these days, and the differences between them can be dramatic. Most take the virtual surround sound approach rather than cramming five or more individual speakers into their earcups, relying instead on software-based algorithms that can vary wildly from headset to headset.

It's these algorithms that elevate the HyperX Cloud Flight S above the competition. When activated, its surround sound implementation is among the best I've experienced, delivering big, booming audio with clear positioning in 360-degree space. Any PC gamer looking for a high-quality surround sound solution will find a lot to like in the Cloud Flight S.

Design

Design

• Sleek and subdued design suits both work and play
• Durable frame feels appropriately premium
• Memory foam ear cushions keep long gaming sessions comfortable

• Read more about the Cloud Flight S's design

  Rather than draw attention to itself with bright colours or sharp angles, the Cloud Flight S embodies the subdued aesthetic common to many HyperX products. Its smooth curves and all-black finish blend easily into just about any environment, whether you're at home, at work or gaming on the go.

  Where the Cloud Flight S diverges from previous HyperX headsets is in its general build quality. It immediately feels more premium than many of its forebears, with a hardier frame and less exposed metal. There's a nice weight to it, too: it's not as light as compact headsets like the HyperX Cloud Stinger or Razer Kraken X USB, but it's not as heavy as bigger sets like the Razer Kraken Ultimate, either.

  The premium touch extends to the earcups as well. Each features a memory foam cushion encased in a leatherette cover, a comfortable combination that remained so throughout hours-long work and gaming sessions. The cushions are a little firmer than I prefer and lack the malleability of those on the Razer Kraken Ultimate.

  They don't form as tight a seal around the ears, either, which could be a positive or a negative depending on your perspective. This lets you hear more ambient noise, in case someone is calling your name or something urgent is happening in your proximity. At the same time, it means unwanted background noise is more likely to seep in, potentially disrupting your immersion.

  As a bonus, the earcups themselves can rotate 90 degrees so you can rest them flat around your neck when not in use. I've found this considerably more comfortable than the standard side-on approach, which tends to choke my neck or get in the way when moving my head around.

Performance

Performance

• 7.1 surround sound is big and boisterous
• Sublime audio quality in-game and out
• Solid 30-hour battery life

• Read more about the Cloud Flight S's performance

  The Cloud Flight S tells two very different stories through its audio performance. As a pure plug-and-play headset on either PC or PS4, it delivers decent but unremarkable sound, with PS4 audio suffering from volume mixing issues that leave a lot of sounds coming through too quiet. If this were all the Cloud Flight S had to offer, it would be a hard headset to recommend.

  Fortunately, the narrative on PC changes dramatically once you boot up the HyperX Ngenuity app and enable 7.1 surround sound. The boost to audio quality is staggering, sharpening every sound and amplifying every impact to create an auditory experience that strikes with physical force. For as massive as the sound gets, it never collapses into raw noise, as the surround sound algorithms maintain a clear distinction between separate tracks, channels and audio sources.

  The difference this makes in-game is tremendous. In Destiny 2, for instance, the crack of a hand cannon sounds keener and more brutal than ever. Blasts of energy singe the air with added ferocity, while the screeches of oncoming enemies invite a new level of panic into the action.

  Audio quality is just as impressive in less bombastic games, too. Sneaking around in The Evil Within 2, I was able to precisely pick out the unholy moans and shambling footsteps of nearby monsters, adjusting my route accordingly to avoid a fatal confrontation. When conflict was unavoidable, the rich, enveloping sound of the Cloud Flight S made every encounter all the more harrowing.

  Games aren't the only beneficiaries of the Cloud Flight S's powerhouse sound. Listening to music is equally exhilarating, with everything from the breakneck blast beats of Parkway Drive to the melodic beauty of Christina Rotondo sounding rich, expansive and impeccably clear. These are just regular stereo tracks, but the surround sound algorithms still manage to add a fullness that wasn't there before.

  In addition to its audio chops, the Cloud Flight S delivers strong wireless performance over its 2.4GHz connection to its accompanying USB dongle. HyperX claims its range is up to 20 metres, and while I don't have an unobstructed 20m runway to test that claim against, I was able to roam completely around my home without any disconnections even with multiple walls between me and my PC.

  That said, I did experience a few connectivity issues not related to range during my testing. On a handful of occasions, the audio would suddenly drop out for a few seconds before fading back in. These disruptions were relatively infrequent, but occurred often enough to be worth noting.

  The last key component of any wireless headset's performance is battery life, and the Cloud Flight S is no slouch here. 30 hours is the back-of-the-box promise, and that's right in line with my experience throughout the testing period. While 30 hours isn't quite as impressive as the 100-hour runtime of headsets like the Sennheiser GSP 370, it's still a good chunk of gaming time in between recharges.

  When it does come time to juice the battery backup, you can simply drop the Cloud Flight S onto a Qi wireless charging pad instead of messing around with cables and power adaptors. You don't need an extra dock or mount, either, as it can stand freely on the flat outside surface of its earcups. Just bear in mind that the Cloud Flight S doesn't come with its own Qi charging pad, so you'll need to purchase one separately if you don't already have one.

Features

Features

• Volume wheel is firm and precise
• Customisable on-earcup controls are neat
• HyperX Ngenuity app is light on features but does the job

• Read more about the Cloud Flight S's features

  On both the hardware and software front, the Cloud Flight S has plenty of handy features that complement its excellent audio performance.

  Starting with the physical headset itself, you've got the crucial volume wheel on the underside of the right earcup. The wheel offers more resistance than many others I've tested, and this made it easier for me to dial in the precise volume I was after.

  Over on the bottom of the left earcup, there's a power button, a button for toggling 7.1 surround sound, a charging port and the microphone jack. Slotting into that jack is a removable, flexible microphone with an LED that lights up when you're muted. I always appreciate this particular feature, as it makes it easy to check your mic status at a glance instead of having to look for an in-game icon.

  Where the Cloud Flight S gets more interesting is on the surface of its left earcup. Four circular depressions act as programmable touch buttons, performing any of a variety of functions you assign through the HyperX Ngenuity app. You could set them to media controls like pause and skip for when you're listening to music, or you could use them to quickly adjust the game/chat audio balance for when you're gaming online.

  Handy as these buttons are, they proved a little inconsistent in registering my presses. In the midst of a hectic multiplayer match, any inconsistency can be fatal, so I would be wary about relying on the touch controls for critical adjustments.

  Underneath all that hardware lies the HyperX Ngenuity app, which it's worth noting is still in beta. Compared to similar apps from Razer or Turtle Beach, it's relatively barebones, providing basic volume and audio mix settings as well as the ability to toggle microphone monitoring and 7.1 surround sound. There's also an "auto-optimise" toggle designed to improve audio quality when playing any of the following games: Apex Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, PUBG, CS:GO, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare or Overwatch.

Verdict

Verdict

How we score our reviews

• A fantastic 7.1 surround sound headset for PC gamers
• Premium quality does come at a premium price, though

Should you buy it?

I can safely say that the HyperX Cloud Flight S is one of the best-sounding 7.1 headsets I've tested. With surround sound active and the volume pumped, everything sounds bigger and beefier, all at no perceptible cost to audio clarity.

If you're after a top-tier surround sound gaming headset, the HyperX Cloud Flight S is good enough to justify its admittedly hefty price tag.

Pricing and availability

Price

RRP $299

Where to buy

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Amazon

Specifications

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