HyperX Cloud 2 Vs Alpha – Which is the better option?

If you are a gamer than a great headset is a must for you. We all know that wired headsets are better than wireless headsets because of no lag time in wired ones. We have bought to you the battle between the best gaming headsets in the market – HyperX Cloud 2 Vs Alpha. Both the headsets are gamer’s favorite but there are some differences that sets them apart.

We have mentioned all the differences and similarities in this unbiased article so that you can make a clear decision as to which headset will be your next gaming buddy.

Specifications	HyperX Cloud 2	HyperX Cloud Alpha
Dimensions	8.4″ X 5.9″ X 4.0″	7.3″ X 6.0″ X 3.2″
Weight	0.7 lbs	0.7 lbs
Headphone Type	Over-ear	Over-ear
Clamping Force	1 lb	0.9 lbs
Enclosure	Closed-back	Closed-back
Wired / Wireless	Wired	Wired, detachable
Transducer	Dynamic	Dynamic
Noise Cancellation	No	No
Microphone	Yes, detachable	Yes, detachable
Inline Controls	Yes, mic and volume	Yes, mic and volume
Carrying Case	Pouch	Pouch
Extra Features	external USB Sound Card, extra ear pads	7.1 surround sound, comfortable ear pads

Design

The HyperX Cloud 2 and Cloud Alpha are both gaming headsets produced by HyperX, a subsidiary of Kingston Technology Corporation. While they share many similarities, there are some key differences in their design and features that set them apart.

First, let’s take a look at the HyperX Cloud 2. It has a classic design, with a closed-back over-ear cup that covers the entire ear for a comfortable fit. The ear cups are padded with memory foam and covered in a breathable leatherette material.

The headband is also padded and adjustable, making it easy to find a comfortable fit. The microphone is detachable, allowing users to use the headset as a standard pair of headphones when not gaming.

The Cloud Alpha, on the other hand, has a more modern design, with an closed-back over-ear cup. The ear cups are also padded with memory foam and covered in a leatherette material. The headband is also padded and adjustable, but it has an additional aluminum frame that adds durability and rigidity to the headset. The microphone is also detachable, like the Cloud 2.

Moreover, as the Alpha is like an upgrade over the Cloud 2, the metal forks which hold the earcups are slightly changed. The metal forks on the Cloud 2 were simple and minimalistic but the Alpha has some cuts in it, and the cuts helped make the Alpha lose some weight.

Also, the stitched logo on the top of the headphone was every gamer’s favorite but unfortunately, HyperX has removed it in the Alpha model. Our team loves the stitched logo on Cloud 2. The weight of both the headphones are similar at 0.7 lbs and the clamping force on the Cloud 2 is 1 lb whereas on the Alpha it is 0.9 lbs, but that doesn’t make much difference.

The design on both headphones is superb and by the looks, it feels that these headphones were designed only for gaming. The colors pop out of the headphone and the black color with red linings makes the headphones prettier than others in the market.

Comfort

Comfort is an important factor when it comes to gaming headsets, as it can greatly affects the overall gaming experience. Both the HyperX Cloud 2 and Cloud Alpha are designed with comfort in mind, but they have some differences in how they achieve them.

The HyperX Cloud 2 has a closed-back over-ear design that covers the entire ear, providing a comfortable fit for long gaming sessions. The ear cups are padded with memory foam, which conforms to the shape of the user’s ears, providing a good seal and reducing external noise.

The leatherette covering the ear cups is also breathable, which helps to reduce heat and sweat build-up. The headband is also padded and adjustable, making it easy to find a comfortable fit.

Now, the HyperX Cloud 2 might be good but comparing comfort with the Cloud Alpha, the latter is great in terms of comfort. The headband size is increased so that users with a big head size can easily wear them and the adjustment forks have also been increased.

So, if we combine the headband size of the Alpha with the incredible soft ear pad material and the memory foam, the Alpha is not easy to beat in terms of comfort in the entire gaming headset industry. And therefore, it is a clear winner in terms of comfort.

Sound Quality

The HyperX Cloud 2 features a classic driver architecture to produce a well-balanced sound with a solid combination of bass, mids, and highs. The headset offers good positional audio for gaming and the audio is clean and precise.

The Cloud 2’s extensive frequency response range of 15Hz to 25kHz guarantees that all audio details are recorded. The 53mm driver of the headset also offers strong and immersive audio, making it perfect for listening to music, watching movies, and playing games.

The Cloud Alpha, on the other hand, makes use of a dual-chamber driver that is patented by HyperX. This technology allows the headset to give a more accurate and immersive audio experience by separating the bass from the mid and high frequencies. For gaming, the dual chamber drivers are intended to deliver audio that is crisper and more precise.

You will receive more precise and detailed music with the Cloud Alpha since it has a broader frequency response range than Cloud 2 (13Hz to 27kHz). The 50mm driver in the Cloud Alpha also offers strong and immersive audio, making it perfect for listening to music, watching movies, and playing games.

Playing games on both headsets was a great experience, and when you suddenly upgrade from normal headsets to gaming headsets you’ll notice that the games you are playing will come out to be more lively. You can hear crisp sounds of the environment around you and certainly, if your environment is quiet you’ll feel like you are in the game.

Esports games are a must-play with these headphones as you can easily distinguish where your enemy is approaching you and this is an added advantage. You’ll be better ready for the fight. Now, the Alpha has an advantage over the Cloud 2, it supports 7.1 surround sound without any need for external amplifiers. This difference makes the Alpha a winner in the sound quality section.

Remember there is no noise-cancellation in both headphones. Though HyperX has built these headsets for gaming purposes providing some amount of noise cancellation would have been amazing and made it an all-rounder. But, both headphones cover your ear all around so that some amount of noise can be blocked.

Microphone Quality

Both the HyperX Cloud 2 and the HyperX Cloud Alpha have microphones that look and feel the same. There is no difference in design and both microphones can be easily detached from the headphones. You won’t need the mic for all your gaming sessions and in that case, you can easily detach and keep them.

The microphone is an aspect of gaming if you are an Esports player or if your multiplayer games. Communication is the key in all those games and therefore you should buy a headphone with microphones included. The microphone quality is a bit different in both headsets.

The microphone on the Cloud 2 is an uni-directional microphone that doesn’t includes any kind of noise-canceling features. The microphone also has some issues when you play multiplayer games as the mic sensitivity by default is very high and so the other person can easily listen to your breath. You have to lower the mic sensitivity. Inline microphone controls are included with the Cloud 2.

The microphone of the Cloud Alpha is also an uni-directional noise-canceling microphone that is designed to reduce background noise and provide clear communication. It is located on the left ear cup and has a flexible design, making it easy to adjust its position. The microphone on the Cloud Alpha is also equipped with an inline volume control that allows you to adjust the microphone volume to your liking.

So, in terms of microphone, the Cloud Alpha turns out to be the winner as it supports noise-cancellation and the mic is also a good option if you are thinking of an external microphone because, with an external microphone, the Cloud Alpha does an amazing performance.

Extra Features

Both headsets come with a detachable microphone which is very convenient when traveling and the microphone will be safe if kept detached. Both headsets also come with an extra pouch.

The pouch of the Cloud 2 is decent but the pouch included with the Cloud Alpha has a better finish and better material. I liked this upgrade with the Cloud Alpha as it feels more premium.

The Cloud Alpha also features a detachable cable. This is also a very useful upgrade as the cable will no longer be needed to roll around the headphone as in the case with Cloud 2.

The Cloud 2 also has some extra features over the Cloud Alpha, the former has a USB sound card included on purchase. This sound card supports 7.1 surround sound but with the Alpha you have 7.1 surround already included with no extra external sound card. Also, the Cloud 2 comes with 2 extra ear pads that are a bit stiffer than the original.

For me, the Alpha comes with better features. Now, this section can be different for everyone because everyone has their own likeness. You can go with Cloud 2.

Verdict – HyperX Cloud 2 Vs Alpha

Features	HyperX Cloud 2	HyperX Cloud Alpha
Design	✅	❌
Comfort	❌	✅
Sound Quality	❌	✅
Microphone Quality	❌	✅
Extra Features	❌	✅
Price	Check Price	Check Price

The Cloud Alpha turns out to be the winner of the two. It has a better sound better microphone and better features. It is up to you to choose your own. We have listed all the differences and similarities between the two headsets.

Frequently Asked Questions