Affordable comfort — HyperX Cloud Stinger review

Kingston has made a name for itself in the gaming world through extremely comfortable headphones that make up the HyperX series. The HyperX Cloud Stinger acts as an affordable introductory version to get you hooked, and it works. At only $50, these are some very comfortable headphones. While I do have a few complaints, the price point and comfort make these perfect for those in the market for an affordable headset.

Now, if you are looking for something all purpose to use out in public, I don’t’ recommend these. As expected for cheaper product, they do have a rather cheap, plastic look to them. The microphone also isn’t detachable or hidden, making it rather ugly. For their intended purpose, gaming, they work well. While they may not win any beauty pageants, they get the job done at an affordable price.

While the headphones may be plastic, they don’t feel fragile at all. At 275 grams, the HyperX Cloud Stinger feels like it can take a bit of abuse without shattering like glass. As usual, the famous Kingston comfort is present. The earcups are lined with memory foam for maximum comfort and the padding on the headband feels fine. It’s also nice that the earcups that the earcups have 90 degree swivel capabilities for comfort and storage. This is one of those headsets that I can throw on for a long gaming session and end up forgetting I’m wearing it. For the price point, its in a class of its own when it comes to comfort.

The HyperX Cloud Stinger comes with the attached 4.5 foot cable that leads to the 3.5mm plug, as well as a 3.5 foot extension that has two 3.5mm for use on computers with separate headphone and microphone jacks. With the 3.5mm plug, the HyperX Cloud Stinger works on just about everything; including the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch and Mobile. I also appreciate that they went with 50mm drivers instead of the normal 40mm that you would find in this price range. The extra kick is noticeable.

The true test, of course, is to see how well it actually works. Headphones that sound terrible is a no-go no matter how comfortable they may be. Thankfully, These sound alright. At $50 you aren’t going to get an ear-shattering experience but it works well enough. I used the headphones on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS4 and it worked fine with each. In Destiny 2 on PC, the gunfire sounded loud and clear while the explosions and super abilities were appropriately meaty. The sound of Kiryu smashing his fist into faces were powerful in Yakuza 0 on PlayStation 4, while the more ambient tones of Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch came through wonderfully. While some may claim that this being a stereo headset won’t give you full audio awareness, I didn’t find this to be that case. Sound design in games is so good now that these stereo headphones sound great and give me a good idea where every enemy is in the game I’m playing. It’s also worth mentioning that the extension cable was great for the Switch. The extra length allowed me to used it docked and sit comfortably in my chair while my other headphones don’t reach.

One odd complaint I have is with the volume adjuster on the headset. It’s found right under the right earcup and it just doesn’t adjust the volume very well at all. It makes such minor differences that there is pretty much full volume and mute. This isn’t a deal breaker, but I did find it odd.

At the $50 price point, it is going to be real tough to find a headset that beats out the HyperX Cloud Stinger. The audio is excellent and no other headset at this price point can even hope to rival it in terms of comfort. If you are looking for a budget pair of headphones, look no further.

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