7.9
Score

Pros

  • Good Build, similar to the HyperX Cloud II Wireless
  • Neutral and Clear Sound Staging that works well for games
  • 20 Hours of Battery Life is pretty neat and USB-C for the win
  • All Black finish of this headphone is nice
  • Price-to-Value is unbeatable

Cons

  • The Microphone could be better

 

Among the gaming community, HyperX is a brand that’s known for its consistent quality and performance in the market. We have checked out a bunch of peripherals from them for a while now and this time around we are reviewing their audio gear, the HyperX Cloud Core Wireless and if you are planning to venture into the wireless life, this just very well be your first Wireless Headset.

HyperX Cloud Core Wireless Review

Look and Feel

1/4

 

The HyperX Cloud Core Wireless shares the same design, well, similar design to the HyperX Cloud II Wireless in many ways. There are some subtle differences, to tell both the headphones apart, although HyperX makes the same design as the Cloud II Wireless for the Core Wireless. For starters, the headband has a nice pleather finish which can’t be replaced or swapped in case of a wear and tear. The Cloud Core Wireless has a clean black finish which I do prefer more over the red stitching seen with the Cloud II Wireless.

The joints on the headphones are also a bit different, with the Cloud Core featuring a plastic clip reinforcement. Otherwise, everything in terms of looks the HyperX Cloud Core Wireless is identical. Interestingly, it still touts the Kingston logo inside of the headphones, although the brand is now a HP Owned brand. Pretty much the same case as the HyperX Keyboard we reviewed. I genuinely like the colour scheme and design which is a lot more bespoke and doesn’t have a flashy look as other gaming peripherals in this segment.

In terms of feel, you are getting the best of what HyperX has to offer – with solid build, reliable quality one can expect from a HyperX product. The microphone is detachable, and another difference is that you will notice it doesn’t have the mute indicator on it like the Cloud II Wireless. So, if you really want to be certain that it’s muted, it’s better that you just unplug the microphone attachment entirely. A good design choice.

Specification

In terms of specification, the HyperX Cloud Core Wireless doesn’t stray away from its brethren, the HyperX Cloud II Wireless. What’s under the hood is pretty much the same:

  • 53mm Neodymium Drivers
  • Connects via 2.4GHz Connection
  • USB-C Charging and battery life up to 20 hours
  • DTS Headphone: X Spatial Audio

Software

Unlike the HyperX Cloud II Wireless, the Cloud Core Wireless does not work with NGENUITY for any kind of control, whatsoever. Although, it is the only headphones among the two to support DTS Headphones: X out of the box. You do not have to pay for the service as it is a certified product. Just head over to the Microsoft Store and download the Sound Unbound App for it to activate the feature. Unfortunately, there isn’t any EQ controls which I do wish it had.

Audio Experience

Now, personally I have been using the HyperX Cloud II Wireless for almost a year now and it has been the gaming headphone that I solely rely on for all my gaming and online classes even. So, I know the sound profile like it’s at the back of my head – good staging, nice close-to-neutral profile, and not too much of a heavy base. The HyperX Cloud Core Wireless is no different. It has the exact same staging, close to neutral profile and no heavy bass present.

Pretty much every part of the driver’s performance is as good as the II Wireless. As impressive it is, it gets confusing – we will explain later. Try to drive any Trap EDM music, it sure does have the ability to suppress the bass and emphasize on the left and right audio staging accordingly. In games, it does exactly what it does, like giving an idea under what proximity the enemy is located.

Other than the driver, the experience with the HyperX Cloud Core Wireless is a wee bit different. The adjustable band is a wee bit loose. So, it isn’t as rigid as you think it would be. I personally liked the clamping force as it doesn’t dig into your head or give you discomfort over a prolong duration. The earcups are pleather, and over the long duration it does get toasty but comfort wise, it’s definitely one of the best gaming headsets I have used so far.

The 20-hour battery life is plenty enough for me to switch from my PC to PS5 and play some multiplayer games with my friends or even just having a good pair of headphones to immerse myself as the game gets intense.

Mic Quality

The microphone has the same kind of quality as the HyperX Cloud II Wireless. It has a bit of a noise reduction going on, which makes the voice feel like it’s in a narrow space. Personally, the microphone quality is a hit and miss, and if you do use applications like Discord to call – then make sure to use the in-app controls to get the microphone right. If you want to hear a sample, check out below.

Conclusion

In the earlier part of the review, I mentioned about a confusion. Let us address that right now. The HyperX Cloud Core Wireless does everything the HyperX Cloud II Wireless does and sounds pretty much the same. Which begs the question why pick the Cloud II Wireless over the Cloud Core Wireless. At the time of writing this review, the HyperX Cloud Core Wireless is going for $60 (The MYR is supposed to be RM 479) whereas the II Wireless is at $100+ (In Malaysia, you can find it for RM 500-600, SRP at RM899).

So, with just a hair of a difference in price point, you aren’t missing much really. The HyperX Cloud Core Wireless is just as much a good wireless headset as the II Wireless. The only reason to pick the latter would be: the better granular build quality and design choices. I do wish the microphone was a bit better, in both cases.