Darragh Murphy. This bottom button turns 7.1 capabilities on and off, and unfortunately that button is not programmable for whatever reason. In every case, the soundscape was robust and nuanced, from the impassioned pleas of Lara Croft's friends, to the shots fired from Ashe's shotgun, to the clanks of armor at a medieval blacksmith. It’s the first free-standing Qi-charging wireless gaming headset, giving you the convenience of both wireless charging and 2.4GHz wireless audio connectivity. Mic monitoring? These days, the $150 to $200 wireless tier is crowded with plenty of excellent contenders, including Corsair’s Virtuoso RGB and Logitech’s G533. Given HyperX made a name off undercutting the competition, it’s a shame the Cloud Flight couldn’t find a similar niche. While it did a fantastic job of blocking out background noise, the mic also overemphasized consonants, and gave my voice an unpleasant buzz. “The surround isn’t up to par with the excellent stereo balance found in the drivers. The HyperX Cloud Flight S Qi Wireless Charging Headset is perfect for PS4 gamers and a viable option for PC gamers. Most of the differences stem from sound quality, how it implements wireless, whether or not it has 7.1 or WavesNx technology and things of the like. Crisp, white logos. After using it herself, my co-worker agreed with my assessment, explaining that the headset was comfortable to wear and easy to adjust. There was a problem. HyperX’s sophomore wireless effort is much improved, but still doesn’t really stand out like its wired models. The HyperX Cloud Flight S Qi Wireless Charging Headset is perfect for PS4 gamers and a viable option for PC gamers. Note: This review is part of our roundup of best gaming headsets.. Go there for details on competing products and how we tested them. It’s clean and precise, but lacks the width and the warmth of the Cloud Alpha. HyperX Cloud Flight S - Wireless Gaming Headset, 7.1 Surround Sound, 30 Hour Battery Life, Qi Wireless Charging, Detachable Microphone with LED Mute Indicator, Compatible with PC … It's well-placed, and easy to find without looking. Tags Cloud Fight S, HyperX, HyperX Cloud Flight S. Over the years gaming headsets have remained largely stagnate. PCWorld |. And it was enough! For the HyperX Cloud Flight S, the results are immediate and impressive - with an overall sound that can be described as balanced and warm without feeling overly harsh or weighted in any direction. As I wrote about the original Cloud Flight in 2018: “HyperX’s trademark comfort is mostly intact. HyperX Cloud Flight S is available now for $160. Tags Cloud Fight S, HyperX, HyperX Cloud Flight S. Over the years gaming headsets have remained largely stagnate. But otherwise, the soundscape is close and intimate, with a smart balance between instruments and vocals. For the HyperX Cloud Flight S, the results are immediate and impressive - with an overall sound that can be described as balanced and warm without feeling overly harsh or weighted in any direction. Last updated: Apr 13, 2020. Remove a wire, change the color scheme, and the Cloud Flight S looks slick and modern. The Cloud Flight S still feels a tad expensive to me though. The HyperX Cloud Flight S is great for gaming. The A50 base station was so intuitive, so effortless, so convenient. The new HyperX Cloud Flight S comes closest to copying Astro though. Most games are developed with stereo sound, and 7.1 surround sound doesn't do them any particular favors. HyperX Cloud Flight Wireless It's not offensively bad, but for the price you can get much better headsets from other brands. The HyperX Cloud Flight S are the upgraded version of the HyperX Cloud Flight.They're similar to their predecessor but have a sleeker and more premium-feeling design. In the same price range, my absolute favorite headset is the SteelSeries Arctis 7 ($150), especially since that headset also features a 3.5 mm headphone jack. HyperX has swapped out the aforementioned mute button on the left ear for four buttons this time around. It's almost all black plastic, with an adjustable, notched headband and a white "HX" logo on either ear cup. HyperX Cloud Flight S Wireless 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset. It’s finicky, and positioning the Cloud Flight S on the charging pad isn’t as painless as you might expect. HyperX Cloud Flight Wireless It's not offensively bad, but for the price you can get much better headsets from other brands. The HyperX Cloud Flight S is the first gaming headset in HyperX’s stable with Qi wireless charging. It only connects by syncing to its wireless USB dongle, and it’s compatible with PC, PS4, or a docked Nintendo Switch. HyperX Cloud Flight S review Get your money's worth By Christian Guyton 22 April 2020. Unfortunately, HyperX is very late to the game when it comes to building out a software suite, which means I have a clear idea what I want—and Ngenuity doesn’t do much of anything at the moment. Its latest, the HyperX Cloud Flight S doesn’t have the flashy the flashy 3D audio of the Cloud Orbit S, or nearly market-breaking value of the Cloud Alpha, but it’s got a lot going for it.. I hardly recognized the Cloud Flight S when I pulled it out of the box. The headset offers wireless connectivity, a hefty 30-hour battery life, and more. And on said earcups? The Cloud Flight S is the newest in HyperX’s line of wireless gaming headsets. Check. This would have been a huge feather in the Cloud Flight S's cap, particularly since it's perfectly good for everyday music and media, too. But hey, more buttons couldn’t hurt, right? It's a useful feature, since you can charge the headset whenever it's not in use without creating a mess of wires. HyperX Cloud Flight S review Get your money's worth By Christian Guyton 22 April 2020. Going into detail and finding out if they are worth the upgrade from the old flight's. Alas, four years and an A50 redesign later, nobody’s been so bold. One of the biggest differentiators between the HyperX Cloud Flight S and Alpha S is price: the Cloud Flight S is more expensive than the Alpha model. © It remains comfortable throughout multi-hour sessions. The HyperX Cloud Flight S sound signature differs from the previous model in … At least then you’d have a reason to give Qi charging a try. It’s the first free-standing Qi-charging wireless gaming headset, giving you the convenience of both wireless charging and 2.4GHz wireless audio connectivity. Taking flight When Astro integrated charging into the A50 base station in 2016, I figured it was only a matter of time before other headsets followed. But if your primary systems are PC and PS4, the Cloud Flight S is a handy accessory, particularly if you've got a reliable wireless charging base. The more things change… Given the name, I expected the Cloud Flight S to be essentially the same headset I reviewed in 2018, but with Qi capabilities—and to a certain extent, that’s the case.. HyperX tweaked more than I expected though. HyperX’s software also fails to elevate the so-so microphone. HyperX Cloud Flight S review unit was provided by HyperX. As the first and only wireless model in the HyperX line of gaming headsets, the USD $159.99 Cloud Flight sits perched right at the top of the company's product line. Check. But what's more interesting are the four circular indentations that dot the left ear cup like directions on a compass rose. I get it. It charges via USB. HyperX has refreshed their first wireless gaming headset with the new Cloud Flight S.Like the Pulsefire Dart (its review here), Qi wireless charging is added with virtual surround sound support.. Unboxing. HyperX has also banked on a software-free experience with the Cloud Flight—getting the headset running is as simple as plugging in a dongle and turning on the Flight itself. NY 10036. As I said, HyperX changed more than I expected. The onboard controls received an upgrade as well. Chat mix? HyperX Cloud Flight S features wireless charging but it's the smart design choices that makes this wireless headset a step above its peers. The Cloud Flight S is still very plastic. Check. The HyperX Cloud Flight S is a closed-back, wireless gaming headset that retails for $159. That said, the core of the Cloud Flight S remains unchanged. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, They're a bit more comfortable, despite being marginally heavier and tighter on the head, and they now feature four programmable buttons on the left ear cup which can be mapped to a wide variety of controls. Buy HyperX Cloud Flight S - Wireless Gaming Headset, 7.1 Surround Sound, 30 Hour Battery Life, Qi Wireless Charging, Detachable Microphone with LED Mute Indicator, Compatible with PC & PS4: Headsets - Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases Original review 3/19/2020: I’ve used this HyperX Cloud Flight S for a few days now for PC and PS4 Pro gaming, and all I can say is how incredible this product is. The HyperX Cloud Flight S ($160) is another solid entry in HyperX's ever-expanding lineup of audio peripherals. The HyperX CloudX Flight for Xbox One turned me into a wireless convert. I made the Cloud Flight S my regular workday headphones during my review, and I was in no hurry to switch back to my regular Logitech G533s. The Cloud Flight S is the newest in HyperX’s line of wireless gaming headsets. After using the HyperX Cloud Flight for a few years, I was thinking of upgrading and saw HyperX announced the Cloud Flight S. These have been a great upgrade, especially love the wireless charging feature. The bottom still defaults to mute, but you can now adjust the levels of the chat and game channels with the left- and right-hand buttons, and the top turns sidetone (mic monitoring) on and off. HyperX Cloud Flight S review. Whereas the earlier model featured striated ear cups, red highlights and loose wires in the headband, the Cloud Flight S is a much more low-key, elegant device. Although wireless headsets have a reputation for dying in the middle of gameplay, low sound quality, and in general being finicky they have come far in the last few years. Microsoft approved the final product. PCWorld helps you navigate the PC ecosystem to find the products you want and the advice you need to get the job done. The first HyperX headset to really nail built-in controls—I was pretty damn pleased with that first Cloud Flight. The all-in-one best sound system for PS4 gamers. Sidetone is a good start, but a noise gate would help cut down on background chatter, to say nothing of the effects Logitech includes with the G Pro X. Like a lot of other HyperX gear, the Cloud Flight S runs on the HyperX NGenuity software. I ran the Cloud Flight S through a variety of games on the PC and PS4, including Overwatch, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and World of Warcraft. New York, The software is still in beta at the moment—and in fact, the Cloud Flight S only works with the version of Ngenuity on the Windows 10 Store—but EQ seems like a fundamental feature you’d want in one of these companion utilities. I just wish there were a better solution than Qi charging. by Grant Gaines on February 24th, 2020. This software is profoundly OK, combining a bare-bones interface with a number of useful features. I applauded the original Cloud Flight for its passive noise isolation, with the closed-back design blocking out a surprising amount of ambient noise. Wireless charging is not nearly as seamless as it should be, the microphone leaves a lot to be desired, and the headset isn't compatible with all that many systems. Best Cyber Monday iPad deals 2020: Save on Apple iPad, iPad Pro and more, MacBook Air M1 for $899 is the best Cyber Monday MacBook deal, Best Cyber Monday Roku deals: Roku sticks, TVs and more. It remains comfortable throughout multi-hour sessions. The outer cardboard sleeve sports the same white and red color scheme, which is the standard from HyperX … Headset itself is lightweight. The review has been updated. HyperX Cloud Flight S Wireless 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset – Still The Best? These are small changes, barely worth noting in isolation—and yet it’s amazing how such small changes affect the overall look and feel when taken together. The Cloud Flight headset lives up to the company’s reputation as it comes with amazing audio quality and world-class comfort. HyperX Cloud Flight S Wireless 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset. Probably not, given you’re presumably charging the Cloud Flight S overnight. They ditched the LEDs on the earcups (I always kept them off anyway), the exposed red wire is now hidden within the frame, and overall they just look more muted. That hasn’t changed. Past Cloud models have been more comfortable, but not much—which is saying something, given that the Cloud Flight has to incorporate the weight of the wireless receiver and battery too.”. She liked the placement of the volume controls in particular. HyperX's revised Cloud Flight offers an impressive sound experience alongside great comfort, stellar battery life and unique features such as wireless charging and … The HyperX Cloud Flight S ($160) is another solid entry in HyperX's ever-expanding lineup of audio peripherals. Update 11/21/2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1. All four face buttons are programmable, another change from the original—though you’ll need to leave HyperX’s Ngenuity software running for it to remember your settings. With that extra money, you’re afforded a more versatile headset, because the Alpha S is PC-oriented , but the Cloud Flight S is more versatile. This model comes equipped with Qi wireless charging — a first for gaming headsets — as well as excellent wireless performance, good sound quality and clever ear-cup controls. But that was one of the only aspects that stood out at the time. The left ear cup is where most of the special features live, including a detachable, flexible mic, a power button, a 7.1 surround sound button and a micro-USB charging port. Games (and movies and music) sound fine on the Cloud Flight S, but it’s definitely not HyperX’s high-water mark. This does the job but wait for a sale, if you must pick it up. HyperX Cloud Flight S Headset Review. HyperX has long been one of the biggest names in gaming accessories, and that extends to the company’s gaming headsets. Hell, I don’t really know why HyperX even sells the old model. HyperX’s latest gaming headset, the Cloud Flight S, stands out with its Qi wireless charging and remappable buttons. HyperX’s Cloud Flight S is a comfortable headset that is easy to use and sounds great. Shares ... well-constructed headset with great features overshadowed by a somewhat pointless USP, the Cloud Flight S from HyperX isn’t the cheapest headset around, but you do get your money’s worth. Developed Specifically for Xbox One. HyperX sent a sample unit for the purpose of this review. Given HyperX made a name off undercutting the competition, it’s a shame the Cloud Flight couldn’t find a similar niche. They ditched the LEDs on the earcups (I always kept them off anyway), the exposed red wire is now hidden within the frame, and overall they just look more muted. The wireless charging itself didn't take too long; I got about 20% power in an hour, although the ear cup was quite hot afterward. It’s as if they ran down my laundry list of complaints with the original Cloud Flight and checked them off one-by-one. What is the HyperX Cloud Flight? Clamping force is a bit tight, maybe because it is new. by Grant Gaines on February 24th, 2020. Most of the differences stem from sound quality, how it implements wireless, whether or not it has 7.1 or WavesNx technology and things of the like. Playing games like Dauntless and Halo: … Definitely was worth the money! Read our, Learn more about PCWorld's Digital Editions, HyperX added sidetone and chat mix capabilities. New programmable buttons and a refined look elevate the Cloud Flight S over its predecessor, but the industry's continued love affair with slow and finicky Qi charging is baffling. If you ever plugged the Cloud Flight into your phone or Xbox controller that might be an issue, but I’m strictly on PC myself and the lack of 3.5mm doesn’t bother me at all. And it’s so damn slow. This does the job but wait for a sale, if you must pick it up. The newest headset from HyperX is here, and it’s the HyperX Cloud Flight S, a wireless headset designed for PC and PS4 players. Taking flight While rigid, unnumbered notches aren't my favorite way to adjust a headset, I quickly found a good fit, and didn't have to mess around with the sizing again until I handed the device to a co-worker.