HyperX Cloud Stinger Gaming Headset - Hardware Review

Near on two years ago Kingston took a risk and released the HyperX Cloud lineup and it paid off in a big way. Providing some of the best headsets money can buy, Kingston has firmly cemented itself as a premiere, yet affordable, peripherals manufacturer. Two years after the initial release we have the HyperX Stinger headset, an affordable entry-level headset for budget-minded gamers who are looking for excellence without having to shovel over piles of hard-earned money. The Stinger is without a doubt the best headset you can buy under $100 USD.

I cannot speak well enough of the Stinger; it is compatible with all of your modern consoles (as long as you have a 3.5MM adapter), including mobile devices and computers. Given the light weight of the Stinger you can transport it with you, wear it for hours, and quickly and easily mute the microphone without having to hunt around for an inline volume control or search the cups for a mute switch.

Instead simply place the microphone in the vertical position and poof, muted. It is so incredibly handy that I do not know why every headset manufacturer with a non-detachable microphone does not do this. I admit though, that I was concerned when I first heard of this feature because I routinely set the mic to the vertical position to take a drink or a bite of something, only to forget that it is up there and go about my business. Fortunately I had the presence of mind to remember that vertical meant mute.

Never mind the crystal clear microphone with the brilliant mute function, because that is not where the Stinger really sings. That would be in the audio. Incredibly deep lows, crystal clear highs, verbose mids ... every single facet of the Stinger headset oozes quality and over-engineering. Whether it was listening to music on the tablet, an audio book on my phone, explosions and gunfire via the Xbox One or PlayStation 4, or the rich sounds of society in any number of city-builders on my PC, the Stingers faithfully reproduced every nuanced sound bit in near perfect quality.

So the microphone is awesome, the sound is near perfect and far superior to anything on the market in the same price range, but how does it look and feel? The Stinger headset is lightweight, breathable, comfortable, and durable. Belying its weight, the hard matte plastic-encased expandable band is actually an incredibly rigid and durable steel frame. The cups are the same matte plastic and are incredibly lightweight and the cord is a fabric-wrapped affair and it comes with an addapter to split the single 3.5mm jack into separate input / output 3.5mm jacks. It really can connect to everything that you need it to.

All of that, for about $50 USD.

The Kingston HyperX Stinger is the uncontested champion of affordability meeting quality. Performing better than rival headsets that cost as much as $100 USD (sample pool from PDP, Turtle Beach, SteelSeries), the Stinger provides deeper lows, clearer highs, and more robust mids which, when combined with the integrated microphone and incredibly comfortable build, complete a package that should be offered in the $100-$125 USD range.

Hardware Information

Xbox One
Wii U
Provided by Publisher

Article by Robert
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