HyperX Cloud Core Headphones Review

The Cloud Core are nearly identical in style to the HyperX Cloud II. The design is simple and polished, but this model has black hinges instead of red ones. They look like high-end gaming headphones without being too flashy. Their microphone is also detachable, which makes them more outdoor-friendly than most gaming headsets.

The Core are very comfortable, like the HyperX Cloud Alpha and HyperX Cloud II. The cups are big and well-padded, too. The headband is also quite comfortable and distributes the weight of the headset effectively. Some may find them a bit tight on the head, which can get fatiguing after long gaming sessions. Overall, they are still one of the most comfortable gaming headphones we’ve reviewed so far.

This HyperX headset doesn’t have any controls, unlike the Cloud II.

Like most closed-back gaming headphones, these aren’t the most breathable. They trap a bit of heat inside the cups and won’t be suitable for intense workouts. They create a decent seal around your ears and will obstruct airflow. Some may feel a difference in temperature during very long gaming marathons, but this shouldn’t be an issue for most when casually gaming.

Like the rest of the HyperX Cloud lineup, the Core are not very portable. Their cups don’t rotate or swivel to lay flat for them to take less space. On the upside, they aren’t as bulky as some other gaming headphones.

These headphones don’t come with a case or pouch.

The HyperX Cloud Core have a very similar build quality to the rest of the Cloud lineup. Their cups feel dense and should survive accidental drops without too much damage. The headband and hinges are made out of a metal frame, which is sturdy yet flexible. However, the shiny back plates with the HyperX logo could get scratched up over time, and the exposed audio cable linking the ear cups is a potential weak point.

The HyperX Cloud Core are tight enough to be stable and comfortable for gaming, but they won’t be an ideal option for physical activity. They sway a lot with head movement and will slip off your head quite easily when running. The cable is also not detachable, so it might yank the headphones off if it gets stuck or hooked on something.

• Hyper X Cloud Core headphones
• Detachable microphone
• PC splitter cable
• Manuals

Like the Cloud II and Cloud Alpha, the Cloud Core have sub-par frequency response consistency. The bass is fairly consistent, but some people with glasses or lots of hair can experience a significant loss in bass with a break in the seal. The other human test subjects had decently consistent bass delivery. In the treble range, the delivery is decently consistent, with a few small variations around 4-5kHz, which won’t be too noticeable.

The bass performance of the Cloud Core is very good. LFE (low-frequency extension) is down to 15Hz, which is very good. This and their accurate low-bass indicate that they will be able to create an adequate amount of thump and rumble. The response gets slightly elevated in the mid and high-bass, but only by about 2dB, which unfortunately adds a bit of boominess to the mix.

Also, their bass delivery varies significantly across users, and is sensitive to the quality of the fit, seal, and whether you wear glasses. The response here represents the average bass response and your experience may vary.

The Cloud Core have an amazing mid-range performance. The response throughout the range is virtually flawless and well-balanced. The response is flat, but there is a slight underemphasis which won’t be very noticeable for most. This results in an accurate reproduction of vocals and lead instruments.

The HyperX Cloud Core have an okay treble range. The response is similar to that of the Cloud II, but slightly better. The big dip right after 4kHz will have a negative effect on the detail and presence of vocals and leads, but it won't be as bad as it looks since it's pretty narrow. There’s also a big jump around 9-10kHz, which results in sibilants (S and T sounds) sounding overly sharp and piercing, especially on already bright tracks. However, not everyone experiences the treble frequencies the same way, so your experience may vary.

The imaging of the Cloud Core is okay. Their weighted group delay is 0.24, which is within a very good limit. The GD graph also shows that the entire group delay response is below our audibility threshold, suggesting a tight bass and a transparent treble reproduction. Unfortunately, our unit showed a small mismatch in amplitude, frequency, and phase, which is important for the accurate placement and localization of objects and instruments (voices, footsteps) in the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our unit and yours may perform differently.

The soundstage of the Cloud Core is sub-par. The PRTF graph shows a decent amount of pinna interaction, which is also accurate. This results in a soundstage that sounds large and accurate, but their closed-back design and the fact that there is no 10kHz notch present will make it sound unnatural and positioned inside the listener’s head as opposed to in front.

The isolation performance is sub-par. Since they are over-ears and don't have ANC (active noise cancelling), they don't isolate in the bass range. This means they will let in all the rumble of airplane and bus engines and won’t be great for commuting. In the mid-range, which is important for blocking out ambient speech, they achieved 10dB of isolation, which is okay. In the treble range, occupied by sharp S and T sounds and the sound of A/C systems, they achieved 32dB of isolation, which is very good.

The HyperX Cloud Core have a passable leakage performance. The significant portion of their leakage is between 300Hz and 7kHz, which is a relatively broad range. On the upside, the overall level of the leakage is not too high, making the sound leaking out of these headphones quiet and thin sounding. At 100dB SPL and at 1 foot away, the leakage averages 40db and peaks at 50dB.

The boom mic has an excellent recording quality. The LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 97dB, which is very good. The HFE of 9.7kHz is also very good, resulting in a speech that has good presence and detail, making it very clear and easy to understand. The speech recorded or transmitted with this mic will sound full, detailed, and natural.

The boom microphone has very good noise handling. In our SpNR test, it achieved a speech-to-noise ratio of 36dB, which is outstanding. It indicates that this mic will be to isolate speech from noise even in the noisiest and demanding environments.

These headphones are passive and don’t have a battery.

They don’t have a companion app that offers controls and customization options.

These headphones are not Bluetooth compatible. For a similar headset with Bluetooth compatibility, check out the HyperX Cloud Mix. Thanks to their wired connection, they have minimal latency, which is great for watching video content or playing games.

The Cloud Core have a 1/8” TRRS analog connection that is compatible with pretty much every platform. They are quite versatile as they offer audio and microphone support on all consoles and PC. However, on PCs, you'll have to use the Y-splitter to use both the mic and headphone ports.

These headphones do not have a dock. For a gaming headset with a dock, check out the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless or the Astro A50.