HyperX has been making gaming accessories for over a decade (and well before that if you count stuff like RAM and SSDs), but somehow in all that time, the company has never made an open-back gaming headset. But that changes today with the $150 Cloud Alpha Air, which comes with plush foam earpads and a Bass Tube designed to preserve that low-end thump.
One of the issues for open-back headphones is that when compared to closed-backed rivals, there’s often a bit of bass loss due their more airy soundstage. However, on the Cloud Alpha Air, HyperX wanted to deliver the same low-end response you get from closed-back cans to help gamers more easily pick up on sound effects like footsteps and explosions. And during my short hands-on time with the Cloud Alpha Air so far, they certainly deliver.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
HyperX’s cans produce a really satisfying and controlled deep rumble that gave me a newfound appreciation for Nintendo’s Wii Shop Channel theme without overpowering the mids and highs. And in games, its bass response highlighted low tones in shooters, though I don’t know if it’s enough to really give anyone a significant competitive advantage over similarly priced rivals. The Cloud Air Alpha also have an impedance of 34 ohms, which is relatively low, though I noticed that when I connected them to my PC via 3.5mm audio cable, overall volume was a tiny bit subdued, so discerning audiophiles may want to opt for HyperX’s included USB adapter or rely on their own DAC. And just like you’d expect, you can tweak the Cloud Alpha Air’s EQ and sound profile inside HyperX’s free NGENUITY app.
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