Our Verdict
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are decent for neutral listening. They have a somewhat balanced sound profile, even though the bass is slightly overemphasized and the treble is uneven. For closed-back headphones, they also do an adequate job of creating an open soundstage. However, their inconsistent fit means that you might not get the same audio experience each time you use these headphones and not everyone will hear the same thing.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are poor for commuting. They don't block out almost any low sounds like bus or plane engines. While they're fairly comfortable, you might find their lack of portability frustrating, especially if you're moving from one mode of transport to the next. Since they're bulky, they need to be stored in a bag. However, they don't come with any carrying case. Their boom microphone also isn't detachable so you can't make them look more casual.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are inadequate for sports and fitness. While they have a small degree of flexibility, they're bulky and aren't meant to fold up, making them hard to transport. They also don't fit very tightly on your head and can fall off with moderate movement. Despite their fairly comfortable design, they'll still trap some heat around your ears.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are disappointing for office use. While they're fairly comfortable for long listening sessions, their noise isolation performance is disappointing and you'll be able to hear a lot of what's going on around you. If you turn up the volume to compensate for this background noise, these headphones can also leak sound so your colleagues might hear your audio.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are wired-only and can't be used wirelessly.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are decent for wired gaming. They're fairly comfortable for long periods and their negligible amount of lag is great. The microphone is impressive too and your teammates will be able to hear you clearly, even in louder environments like gaming tournaments. On the downside, as they don't have a tight fit, they can produce sound inconsistently, particularly in the bass and treble, and even on the same person.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are decent for phone calls. Their boom microphone is impressive and you'll have no problem being understood by whoever is on the other end, even if you're talking in loud environments like a cafe or office. On the downside, these headphones don't reduce much background noise around you, so if you're taking calls on a bus, you'll still hear a large amount of noise.
Changelog
- Updated Dec 08, 2022: We've added a comparison between HyperX Cloud Stinger and the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 in the Compared To Others box.
- Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Jun 11, 2020: We corrected a mistake with the microphone recording.
- Updated Feb 05, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
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Compared To Other Headphones
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are wired entry-level gaming headphones. They feel comfortable enough to wear for longer gaming sessions and their boom microphone performs impressively, even in loud environments. Thanks to their wired design, they're compatible with PCs and both the PS4 and Xbox One. On the downside, compared to other gaming headphones, they don't feel as well-built. They also lack any sound customization and their controls are extremely simple. Fortunately, their successor, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2, have a more tactile control scheme, as well as a slightly more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer.
If you're looking for more gaming headsets, check out our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best Xbox One headsets, and the best PS4 headsets.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha are slightly better gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Stinger. The Alpha feel noticeably better built and durable, on top of being more comfortable during long gaming sessions. Both microphones sound very similar, though the Stinger scores better in our tests. The Alpha have a better-balanced sound profile, leak a lot less audio, and have a detachable mic and audio cable, which can easily be replaced if damaged.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are slightly better gaming headphones than the Astro A10 Gen 2. While both headphones are comfortable, the HyperX have a significantly better boom mic performance, and they're able to reproduce low-bass with more thump and rumble. On the other hand, the Astro have a better build quality.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger is a better gaming headset than the Turtle Beach Recon 70. The HyperX are noticeably better built even if they are made of plastic. Their sound profile is also better balanced and packs a bit more sub-bass. The HyperX's microphone offers better recording quality. However, the Turtle Beach have a slightly more neutral mid-range.
The Logitech G430 and HyperX Cloud Stinger are similarly performing gaming headphones, and each have their strength. The Logitech G430 have a nice companion app that lets you EQ the sound to your liking and enable surround sound. On the other hand, the Stinger are slightly better-built, and their microphone recording quality is better and more suited for online games.
Test Results
Unlike more gamer-centric designs such as the RUNMUS RGB K1 Gaming Headset, the HyperX Cloud Stinger has a less flashy and more understated look thanks to its all-black plastic design and subtle red accents. Still, it isn't fully casual-looking as the mic can't be removed like the SteelSeries Arctis 1.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are comfortable headphones. Their ear cups are spacious enough for most users. The padding is also comfortable, although it isn't as soft or plush as other gaming headphones we've reviewed so far. They're lightweight and not too tight on the head, which is nice if you're in a multi-hour gaming session.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger have poor, limited controls. The slider under the right ear cup is the only control and it allows you to adjust for volume. However, it doesn't have any discrete points for keeping a consistent volume setting. If you want to disable the microphone, you can move it into an upright position. If you're looking for more intuitive controls from your gaming headset, check out the Corsair HS35.
Similar to other HyperX headphones such as the HyperX Cloud Revolver and the HyperX Cloud2/Cloud II, these headphones create a seal around your ears that can trap heat. If you exercise while wearing them, you might find that your ears become warm quickly. Since they're also closed-back over-ear headphones, they'll limit airflow and will be less breathable overall. However, if you're using these headphones for gaming, their breathability shouldn't be too much of a problem.
These headphones aren't very portable. Even though they have some flexibility, their bulky and rigid design can be hard to take with you on-the-go as they can't be folded. If you don't want to wear them around your neck when not in use, you'll have to put them in a bag. A smaller alternative is the JBL Quantum 100, as it features a detachable microphone, which eliminates a potential snagging hazard.
These headphones have a decent build. Although their plastic frame feels a little cheap, the headband is reinforced with a thin metal, making them more flexible. The ear cups also feel fairly well-made but the hinges feel weak. On the downside, the cable isn't replaceable. If you want something that feels more durable, check out the Corsair HS50, the HyperX Cloud Core, or the Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are reasonably stable. They aren't intended for sports or fitness use, though. Their fit isn't very tight and they could slide off your head if you're working out while wearing them. However, even in more casual uses, the non-detachable cable could snag on something or become entangled.
Their sound profile is a bit bass-heavy. Fans of EDM and hip-hop will enjoy the added rumble, thump, and kick to their sounds. The treble can be a bit uneven, which could be a problem if you like listening to jazz. However, depending on how these headphones fit, you may get an inconsistent sound from the bass and treble range each time you use them.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger have a sub-standard frequency response consistency, particularly in the bass and treble range. Depending on the shape of your head, if you wear glasses, and how the headphones are positioned on your head, you might hear audio differently each time you use them.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger's bass accuracy performance is decent. It's overemphasized across the range and while fans of thump and rumble may appreciate it, the mix can also sound muddy and boomy. As the bass delivery by these headphones also varies significantly across users, your experience may vary.
Update 01/21/20: It was brought to our attention that there was an error with our previous graph. The photos have been fixed and the review now reflects these changes.
These headphones have good mid-range accuracy performance. Although there's a dip in the low-mid that'll thin out some lead instruments and vocals, the rest of the range is fairly even. A small overemphasis in the high mid will bring out a touch more intensity to your mixes, but it shouldn't be too overwhelming.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger's treble accuracy performance is decent. There's a dip between the low and mid-treble that can reduce the detail and presence of lead instruments. Sibilants such as cymbals will also sound a bit dark. The more uneven, underemphasized high-treble in comparison will make mixes dull. However, as their treble delivery varies noticeably across users, your experience may vary.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger's peaks and dips performance is alright. There's a peak in the high bass that muddies the mix while the following deep dip in the low-mid further reduces and thins out lead instruments and vocals. Another peak starting in the high-mid continuing into low-treble can make sounds in these ranges harsh and honky. However, as this peak dips between the low-treble and mid-treble, sibilants lose their brightness and become lispy.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger's imaging is superb. The group delay response is fairly low and falls below the audibility threshold, which should result in a tight bass and a transparent treble production. Our unit's L/R drivers are also well-matched in amplitude, frequency, and phase so there are no gaps in the stereo image. Objects like voices or footsteps are accurately placed. However, these results are only valid for our unit and yours may perform differently.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger's passive soundstage isn't bad. They don't sound as open or spacious as open-back headphones but their soundstage is still wider than that of other closed-back headphones.
These headphones don't have any virtual soundstage features. If you're looking for similar gaming headphones with a virtual soundstage feature, check out the HyperX Cloud Stinger S.
The weighted harmonic distortion performance is great. The frequencies fall within good limits, which should result in clear and pure audio reproduction.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger's results are only valid for these settings.
However, we were unable to determine the firmware version. If you own these headphones and know where to find it, let us know in the discussion section below.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger has disappointing noise isolation. They don't reduce almost any noise in the bass range, which means that you'll hear all the rumble and thump of vehicle engines. While they do a slightly better job with mid-range noise like speech, it still might not be enough for those who like to work in places like cafes. However, if you're working near an A/C unit, you'll be able to block out a good amount of its high-pitched whine.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger's leakage performance isn't bad, but they leak more than the Razer BlackShark V2 X. Most of the leakage is concentrated in the mid-range, which is also where lead instruments and vocals lay. If you like to crank up the volume, people may be able to hear some of it, even in a louder setting such as an office or cafe.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger has a boom microphone.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger's boom mic has great recording quality. Your voice should be heard clearly and understandably to whoever is on the other end, but it might slightly lack brilliance and airiness. For an even better performing boom microphone, check out the Cooler Master MH630.
The boom mic has excellent noise handling. Even in loud environments like a gaming tournament or train station, this headset will be able to capture your voice.
These wired headphones don't have a battery and instead use passive playback.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger don't have a companion app. If you're looking for an affordable gaming headset that offers app support, check out the Logitech G432.
These are wired headphones that don't offer a Bluetooth connection. If Bluetooth is one of your main requirements for gaming headsets, try the SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless or the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Wireless.
These headphones are wired-only. If you're searching for a wireless gaming headset, the HyperX Cloud Flight S is a good place to start. You can also check out our recommendations for the best wireless gaming headsets.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger have a 1/8" TRRS audio cable so that you can listen to audio and still shot-call with your teammates when you plug it into your PC, or your PS4 and Xbox One controllers. These headphones also come with an extension Y-cable that'll give you an additional 5.5 ft of room.
These headphones are compatible with the Xbox One only when plugged into the controller's audio jack. You'll be able to receive audio and use your microphone.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger don't have a dock. If you're looking for a gaming headset with a dock and a wired connection, the SteelSeries Arctis 7 2019 Edition Wireless is worth considering.
