With a market so full of brands and models of gaming headphones, we may find it difficult to choose good, pretty and cheap ones that will accompany us during our hours in front of video games.
Today we have brought to analyze the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core 7.1, some gaming headphones quite balanced for what they offer us for less than 60 euros, situated in a mid-range.
The well-known HyperX brand is nothing more than the specific gaming division of Kingston Technology, the world's largest independent RAM manufacturer. This guarantees us an initial quality worth taking into account, since these headphones have been designed exclusively for enjoying video games.
Who do we recommend these headphones for?
Although the main purpose of HyperX brand headphones is focused on the world of video games, we must not forget that we are going to use them for multiple purposes like listening to music, watching movies or talking with some VoIP application like Skype or Discord, for example.
After analyzing them for a few days, I have to say that indeed stands out in the experience when playing to video games thanks to the 7.1 (digital) sound that it offers us. Thus being able to have a surround sound experience 360º that will allow a good immersion.
In short, these are perfectly valid headphones for playing on our PC or console.
Design and comfort
We find the standard design of the headband headphones. Quite light as a positive point Due to the quality of the plastic, but also because of its downside, the product becomes somewhat flimsy, although they have tried to solve this with a metal pin that runs through the entire internal structure of the headphones.
As usual, it has a longitudinal regulator of the position of the earmuffs to adapt them to our head. Pads are quite large with oval design, are designed to cover our ears completely, thus eliminating possible pressure discomfort.
It incorporates a unidirectional, foldable and adjustable microphone, next to a small wheel that controls the volume of the headphones, which is independent of the device where we have it connected.
What's in the box?
In the box we find:
- Headphones 7.1 headband with integrated microphone.
- Manual of instructions.
- Analog to digital audio output adapter.
We have a fairly basic packaging, no frills, straight to the product, which leads us to think that they have avoided costs to try to be more competitive in price, according to the technical characteristics they offer us.
Sound
To get the most out of the audio quality of the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core, we must download the official software, focused on improving the 7.1 immersive experience. We can use them with the 3.5mm jack analog output which will always give us a less residual sound than with the digital to USB converter that it incorporates, although the latter improves the 360º experience.
The sounds it reproduces are quite clear in the mids. The Highs and lows are not particularly remarkable, although they reflect a good overall feeling. It achieves a feeling of encapsulation unlike its rival, the Logitech G432.
Due to the large size of the pads, the ear is completely covered, thus achieving a quite good passive soundproofing.
Where the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core scores points is when it comes to gaming. Thanks to the encapsulation and surround sound, it becomes much easier to detect the sources of sound, being in war games where it stands out the most. In short, they achieve a fairly high and enjoyable immersion.
Microphone
Here is the point where these headphones are weakest And while it is true that the encapsulation was a positive point in the speakers, it is not here. In addition, the sensitivity is quite low, so if we speak in a low voice there will be some frequencies that they will not pick up. The sound they produce is not entirely clear and does not represent the expected quality compared to the auditory one.
It should be noted that the microphone is unidirectional, isolating the residual sound that does not come from the main focus. It also allows us to turn off the sound when we shoot it down in a vertical position, which is quite comfortable to use.
Software
Like other major brands, HyperX has a exclusive software (download here) for your headphones with which we can control various functions. Although, in the case of this model of headphones, it only has one main function, that of activate 7.1 surround sound enhancement, since the other two options are to raise and lower the volume of the speakers and the microphone.
In other higher-end models of the brand, you can equalize the sound or even change the color of the RGB LED, for example.
Connections
There are two main connections:
- 3.5mm jack plated with a thin layer of gold, which improves conductivity and prevents metal oxidation with a cable length of 2.5 meters. More than enough to move around freely while connected to the PC or console.
- Mini Jack to USB 2.1 adapter. Required for HyperX software to recognize the headset and enable sound enhancement.
| HyperX Cloud Stinger Core 7.1 | |
| Controller | Dynamic, 40mm with neodymium magnets |
| Guy | Circumaural, closed back |
| Frequency response |
20 Hz to 20,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 16 Ω |
| Sound pressure level |
103dBSPL/mW at 1kHz |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) |
≤ 2% |
| Weight | 240g |
| Cable length |
2.5 m |
| Connection type |
3.5mm plug (4 pole) |
| Microphone | |
| Element |
Electret condenser microphone |
| Polar pattern |
Unidirectional, noise cancelling |
| Frequency response |
50 Hz-18 kHz |
| Sensitivity |
-40dBV (1V/Pa at 1kHz) |
| USB adapter | |
| Weight |
12g |
| Cable length |
0.15 m |