hyperx cloud stinger gaming headset. Kingston Technology HyperX Cloud Stinger Gaming Headset Review

Kingston Technology continues to actively expand the lineup its gaming headsets under the HyperX brand. Now there are already seven of them - they differ in design, wearing features and other capabilities, but at the same time they should all sound pretty good. At least all the models of HyperX gaming headsets that we tested turned out to have different, but always clear sound with well-developed lows and well-detailed mids and highs for a device of this class.

Today another new HyperX product arrived in our laboratory. One of the main differences between the HyperX Cloud Stinger and other gaming headsets from this manufacturer is that it is very lightweight. It is about thirty percent lighter than the top-end HyperX Cloud Revolver headset, which is quite a lot. To be fair, it should be said that the HyperX Cloud Drone headset, which was released not so long ago, weighs even less, but for the HyperX Cloud Stinger, the manufacturer’s priority is not so much the weight in grams itself, but the level of comfort. Kingston's website claims the device offers "exceptional usability." Well, let's check it out.

⇡ Specifications

* average price according to Yandex.Market at the time of writing.

In the table technical characteristics For comparison, data is provided for the older model, HyperX Revolver, which we tested in the spring. Judging by the values ​​​​presented in the table, the emitters of these headphones are similar only in type and size, but their characteristics are different. The new product is based on directional 50-mm speakers with neodymium magnets, which have a very good frequency range for their class. The impedance of the HyperX Stinger is exactly the same as the older model - 30 Ohms. Unlike the speakers, the microphones for the headsets appear to be the same. The only difference between them is their design features, which we will definitely talk about a little later. The HyperX Stinger model does not have a control panel or USB connectivity. But the controls themselves are still there - we will also talk about them in more detail when we get acquainted with the design of the headset.

The headset comes in a small box made of thick cardboard with a colorful dust jacket, made in the black and red colors familiar to any gamer. It is securely packed in thick layers of dense foam material and is unlikely to be afraid of any external influences, no matter what happens during transportation.

Inside, along with the headset, we found only an extension cord and short printed instructions for working with the device. No additional accessories such as a case are supplied.

⇡ Appearance

Like the rest of the line, the HyperX Cloud Stinger gaming headset comes in a single color: it has a black plastic case with red branding on the earcups. Almost the entire body is made matte, but under the C-shaped fastenings the designers could not resist and still made varnished inserts. The only consolation is the fact that they are practically invisible there, which means that fingerprints will also not be visible. But the plastic protective strips had to be literally torn out from there. Apparently, at the manufacturing plant they are glued onto the cups even before final assembly is carried out.

In general, the design of the new product, although minimalistic, is quite memorable. This is partly due to the rough, rough - in a good way - texture of the plastic, and partly due to the chopped edges of the headband. The look turns out to be moderately brutal - after all, this is a game model, as it should be. The inside of the headband has a soft insert filled with shape memory material. The outside of this insert is lined with very soft faux leather that is pleasant to the touch. The only design highlight is the embossed emblem on the outside of the headband.

The headband has a sliding design - it is based on a curved steel plate with a plastic rail, which has numerous teeth for fixation in intermediate positions. This is a classic, worked on for years on headphones. different manufacturers mechanism. It works accurately - no complaints.

The cups of the HyperX Cloud Stinger are oval-shaped; in general, their design is not particularly remarkable. Except that the chopped shapes add a little more severity to the device. As mentioned above, the cups are attached to the headband using C-shaped holders, allowing them to deflect approximately 10° relative to the horizontal axis of rotation and rotate more than 90° relative to the vertical axis. The latter circumstance allows you not only to easily transport the device in a backpack or bag, but also to wear it around your neck during breaks between battles.

At the bottom of the right ear cup there is a volume control slider. Its movement is discrete, with barely noticeable steps, while it itself is large enough to be easily felt in any circumstances. On the left earcup, in the same place, there is a cable traditionally attached, which in the HyperX Cloud Stinger is made non-removable. In addition, the microphone is also located on the same cup - also non-removable.

In this case, the lack of a microphone jack is an advantage rather than a disadvantage. Kingston has implemented a rather interesting mechanism for turning it on: when raised, the microphone is turned off, but as soon as you turn it, it automatically turns on. The click indicating the state switch occurs approximately when the microphone is rotated 45°. Compared to the buttons on the remote control, this process of controlling the microphone power significantly saves time in the game. It only remains to add that the microphone leg is flexible - the same as most similar designs.

The headset's ear pads can be easily replaced, although there are no special fastenings such as magnetic locks or Velcro. They are made of proprietary soft material with shape memory, are quite thick and covered on the outside with the same artificial leather as the headband. The ear pads completely cover the ear, which has the most positive effect on noise insulation and wearing comfort.

The audio cable of the headset is short - 1.3 m - and non-removable. In this form, the headset can be connected to any mobile device. To work with a PC or game consoles, you should use a 1.7 m extension cord. With this connection option, the sound source must have a separate 3.5 mm input and output for stereo sound. If we talk about the quality of the cable itself, then we can safely give it an “A”. The cable is quite durable in appearance, pleasant to the touch and, most importantly, very soft. During the entire testing period, it never got tangled or tied in a knot, although we honestly tried to bring it to this state. Unless there is not enough fabric braiding.

⇡ Impressions from working with the headset

Despite the fact that the headset fits tightly on your head, you can wear it for several hours in a row without noticing any discomfort. It’s possible that your ears might get a little hot under the ear pads, but there’s nothing you can do about it - this is a very reasonable price to pay for the fact that the shape memory material exactly repeats all the structural features of your skull, as well as for excellent noise insulation. Once you put the headset on your head, all external sounds disappear almost completely. Only very loud conversations, screams and low frequencies are heard as a distant echo. At the same time, the sound from the headphones almost does not penetrate outside - thanks to the closed design.

The tight fit of the headset is determined not only by the material of the ear pads, but also by the design of the headband. It does not put pressure on the head at all, but does not move even with sharp nods, turns or any other movements. Well, you can adjust it to any head size. In this regard, the headset is suitable even for a child, especially since it is really very light.

Having tried other headsets in the HyperX Cloud series, the HyperX Cloud Stinger also expects great sound. And for good reason, although the new product is quite different from the HyperX Cloud Revolver headset tested not so long ago. HyperX Cloud Stinger transmits low and mid frequencies most expressively: they are colored very brightly and voluminously. The highs sound a little suppressed, which was not felt in the top model. However, for games or movies this is not a very noticeable drawback. Spatial sound, expressive bass and clear reproduction make any game alive and real - which is what people expect from a good gaming headset.

If you are not an esthete in music and do not consider it important for your peace of mind to be immersed in new sounds every day while listening to the same classical music compositions, then the HyperX Cloud Stinger will give you no less pleasure when listening to music. Electronic music, many rock compositions and, of course, any dance tracks will sound best. The instrumentals and vocals are worse. Jazz compositions turn out to be overly heavy, overloaded with bass, which makes them a little unnatural. However, no one promised that the HyperX Cloud Stinger headset is a universal tool. We honestly hope they buy it for gaming.

Separately, let's say a few words about the operation of the microphone. It works (a few words!). Seriously, our applause goes out to those who came up with such a simple and at the same time effective scheme for working with a microphone. It's really very convenient! No need to look for any buttons on the control panel or cups, no need to think about whether the microphone is really turned off - with the HyperX Cloud Stinger everything is much simpler. One movement of the index finger up - the microphone is raised and, accordingly, turned off. A downward movement brings it back into place and turns it on. It is simply impossible to make a mistake in this case, since the microphone should be visible when turned on, since it is located right in front of you, and a characteristic click can be heard when transitioning from one state to another. Each movement takes no more than one second. All! As for the quality of the microphone, there is nothing special about it. Apparently, this headset uses the same model as other devices in the HyperX Cloud Stinger line. The main thing is that the quality of the recorded sound is quite high, and it copes quite well with small external noise.

⇡ conclusions

After testing the HyperX Cloud Revolver headset, it seemed to us that there was nothing more to surprise an avid gamer. But it turned out that this was not the case. Moreover, the engineers from Kingston Technology managed to implement their innovations in far from the most expensive device, because the cost of the HyperX Cloud Stinger is less than five thousand rubles, which is more than two times less than the price of the most expensive model. Yes, this headset can hardly be called universal, although many will probably find it quite suitable for everyday listening to music. But games and movies turn into fun with it. Moreover, the pleasure can last quite a long time - the headset puts almost no pressure on the head and does not cause any particular inconvenience.

In short, the main advantages of the HyperX Cloud Stinger are as follows:

• interesting design;
• small weight;
• activation of the microphone by turning;
• durable soft cable;
• comfort at work;
• excellent sound insulation;
• almost ideal sound picture for games and films;
• relatively low cost.

The existing shortcomings can hardly be called significant:

• poor set of supplies;
• non-removable audio cable without braid.

In general, the "cloud stinger" is worth the money. The quality of the materials from which the headset is made, and the workmanship itself, is excellent, so the device should last quite a long time. Inexpensive, high quality, sounds good, comfortable - what more could you want from a gaming headset?

Despite the fact that the HyperX Cloud gaming headset appeared on the market relatively recently, it has managed to become a benchmark in its price category. Each of its new modifications gives users excellent sound, high-quality case materials and excellent ergonomics. This is exactly the situation with the model Kingston HyperX Cloud Stinger. The device is equipped with 50 mm heads with neodymium magnets, which allow you to reproduce frequencies in the range from 18 to 23,000 Hz.

Equipment

The gadget's packaging is spartanly simple - in the box with the headphones you will find only documentation and a 1.7-meter extension adapter for connecting the headset to a computer or laptop. The cord, like the adapter, is not braided and is quite soft, so it is advisable not to subject it to mechanical stress or kinks.

To some, this configuration may seem like a minus of the model. But, the absence additional elements allowed the manufacturer to reduce the cost of the device without compromising quality. Design

The appearance of the headphones is radically different from the rest of the HyperX Cloud series. The manufacturer tried to give the device the smoothest possible shape. In addition, the body uses a minimum of metal. It is mainly made of soft-touch plastic. True, the base of the headboard is steel, but it is also hidden under plastic, so it looks like a single whole with the bowls.

On the inside of the headboard there is a pad made of soft material and covered with leatherette. Thanks to it, strong pressure from the body on the head is eliminated. The headboard smoothly transitions into the bowls. Like the rest of the body, they are also made of plastic.

A special feature of the Cloud Stinger is that not only the bowls in the arms rotate, but the arms of each bowl themselves can rotate 90 degrees around the axis of the headboard. This is made specifically for those who like to wear headphones around their necks. In this position, the bowls turn their ear pads towards the body and do not cause discomfort.

As in other models, the height of the bowls, i.e. The length of the headboard can be adjusted over a wide range. Thanks to this, the headset is convenient to use for both small gamers and people with large heads. Along the contour of the bowls on the inside there are soft ear pads made of memory effect material and covered with elastic leatherette.

A microphone is attached to the back of the left earcup. Unlike other HyperX Cloud models, it is not removable, but it can be lifted up and fixed parallel to the headboard. Therefore, it will not interfere with those who do not use a microphone.

The microphone boom is quite wide and flexible, capable of maintaining a given shape. There is a switch built into the boom hinge. If you lower the microphone below the specified position, it turns on, and if you raise it, it turns off. The volume control is located on the left earcup - a very practical solution.

The headboard and bowls feature HyperX logos. Moreover, on the bowls they are bright red. This color is not found anywhere else in the design of the gadget.

Thanks to the plastic case, the headphones are very light. In addition, despite the radically redesigned design, the manufacturer managed to maintain the excellent ergonomics characteristic of the entire Cloud series. Therefore, they fit perfectly to the ears and do not cause discomfort even after prolonged use.

In general, the assembly, as always, is of high quality, so the headset does not feel like a cheap device.

Sound

The sound is the main advantage of this model. I am especially pleased with the quality of detail. Listening to music with these headphones, you are sure to discover new details even in well-known tracks. In general, the sound is very rich, low and high frequencies are well processed. The middle is slightly “overwhelmed”, but this can easily be eliminated with an equalizer. After a little adjustment, the sound becomes ideal, especially for this price category - balanced and clear.

Playing games with such sound is a pleasure, as the presence effect makes you completely immerse yourself in the virtual world. It’s no less pleasant to listen to music or watch movies, which is rare for a gaming headset.

The sound insulation here is not ideal, but quite good, so there are no complaints. The quality of the microphone is somewhat inferior to older models. It allows you to comfortably communicate on Skype or give commands during games. But for professional use, for example, recording a video blog is not suitable.

The HyperX Cloud Stinger gaming headset allows users to get maximum sound quality with minimal investment. In addition, the model attracts with its original modern design and ergonomics. Of course, the kit does not include a preamplifier and a case, but considering the cost, this cannot be called a disadvantage.

For many e-sportsmen and simply demanding players, 2014 was a truly turning point, forever dividing the computer industry into “before” and “after.” It was then that Kingston first introduced a promising gaming headset to the general public, thereby laying the foundation for a fairly popular line of high-quality peripherals for gamers today. Since that time, the manufacturer's lineup has been supplemented with more than one interesting product. However, despite bold experiments, several very important parameters have always remained unchanged - this high quality and reliability of manufactured goods.

In this review, we will get acquainted with a new and highly anticipated gaming headset by many users. HyperXCloudStinger, which just went on sale. According to the developers, it is the ideal choice for those players who want a device that is lightweight, has excellent sound quality and is exceptionally easy to use. We, in turn, own experience We will check the veracity of these words and, as usual, will share with you all the details of the tests being carried out.

Specification

Packaging and equipment

The HyperX Cloud Stinger gaming headset has a bright and quite original packaging.

It consists of a flexible dust jacket with a beautiful corporate design and good information content, as well as a small case made of thick cardboard.

Inside there is a convenient hard foam organizer that reliably protects the headphones during transportation.

The package includes a Y-extension cable, a quick start guide, and a welcome card from the HyperX Team.

Appearance and quality of construction

HyperX Cloud Stinger headphones have a stylish, moderately minimalistic, but not too strict appearance. This is what high-quality tools look like, with all the marketing embellishments stripped away in favor of practicality and reliability. And the manufacturer does not need to flirt with the design preferences of users, because sound quality and ergonomics are valued above all else.

The main construction material of the headset is high-quality matte plastic with a slightly rough texture. In some places it is successfully diluted with glossy details, which only further emphasizes the ascetic style of the device. In addition to good wear resistance, this material tolerates exposure to dust, sweat or greasy hands, leaving a minimum of traces of human activity.

The rather massive headband of the HyperX Cloud Stinger headphones is decorated with a stylish logo. The part adjacent to the head is covered with an oblong, slightly convex insert made of dense leatherette, under which there is a soft filler in the form of branded foam.

Additionally, the structure is reinforced with a metal plate. Its presence instills a feeling of confidence, and also increases the already very decent level of rigidity. Due to this, the headset is very reluctant to bend, especially when the coverage increases.

The two large ear cups have a classic shape, comfortable sizes and a good degree of freedom, allowing you to choose the perfect fit. Their distinctive feature is a built-in mechanism with an impressive rotation angle: 90° horizontally and about 30° vertically.

The front side of the cups is decorated with a colored logo, while the inside is covered with sound-permeable fabric, which reliably protects the speakers from dust and sweat.

The ear pads have a removable mount and are made of high-quality leatherette. Inside is the previously mentioned memory foam. This ensures soft, but at the same time very tight contact, and also almost completely eliminates the entry of external noise.

The HyperX Cloud Stinger gaming headset is powered by dual 50mm neodymium-firing neodymium-firing drivers. They are capable of transmitting a sound stream directly to the user’s ear, which ensures a realistic and very high-quality transmission of the gaming environment.

You can adjust the sound volume using a small slider located at the bottom of the right earcup. It is completely made of metal, which gives you the right to count on long term services.

In turn, the useful space of the left earphone is given over to the needs of a non-removable power cable 1.3 m long with a 3.5 mm connector, which, if desired, can be extended using the included Y-shaped adapter 1.7 m long.

A rotating microphone on a flexible rod is also attached here. Its unidirectional electret condenser pickup supports noise canceling function. You can quickly turn off the microphone by folding it vertically towards your head.

There are no complaints about the build quality and rigidity of the HyperX Cloud Stinger case. Everything is assembled at the highest level, which you would expect to see in devices of this class. There are absolutely no backlashes or gaps, and the plastic used perfectly resists pressure and twisting attempts.

Operating experience and sound quality

HyperX Cloud Stinger gaming headphones are distinguished by their well-thought-out ergonomics. Still, the experience of engineers and the direct participation of professional cybersportsmen in the development process make themselves felt.

The main feature of the headset is its very light weight (275 g), which is practically not felt after a whole day of active use. The ear pads are large and completely cover the ears. Paired with proprietary padding, a swivel cup mechanism and a tight headband, they provide excellent fit and sound insulation. At the same time, high-quality leatherette is in close contact with the body, does not rub and does not leave behind unpleasant tactile sensations.

Advantages:

• stylish design;
• excellent build quality and structural rigidity;
• thoughtful ergonomics and light weight;
• cups with 90° rotation angle;
• directional 50mm speakers with neodymium magnets;
• signature memory foam at the base of the ear pads and headband;
• reliable metal volume control;
• excellent sound insulation;
• swivel microphone with quick mute function;
• complete Y-shaped extension.

Peculiarity:

• lack of any software.

We express our gratitude to the company Kingston for the gaming headset provided for testing.

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A universal headset - such that you can play with friends, watch movies, and listen to music - is already a problem. Depending on the task, almost opposite parameters of speakers and sound characteristics are required. And when it comes to a smart headset for a reasonable price, then it’s just right to grab your head with both hands: so that hitting the wall won’t hurt so much.

Nevertheless, interesting options no, no, yes, they slip into the market. And today we have one of them in our hands.

HyperX Cloud Stinger

We have already reviewed the “regular” Stingers. At the time of release, it was the most affordable headset in the HyperX line, and with a unique design. Yes, the design has practically no power elements made of metal, and matte black plastic bears little resemblance to exquisite veneer with multi-layer varnish, but the main thing, the main thing is functionality. In the “basic” Core edition, the ratio of capabilities and price is taken to the limit.

Strong as a Kalashnikov assault rifle

The Core version differs from the regular edition in its color accents: instead of the classic red, it is paired with a rich blue tint. With peripherals from PS4 it looks like native. It works, by the way, too. It also works well with Xbox: there is both voice communication and sound. The control panel can adjust the volume and mute the microphone, is located on the wire, is protected from accidental operations - everything is done wisely.

Comfortable as possible

Noise insulation was not affected: the ear cups are pressed against the skull with moderate force, and the material of the ear pads absorbs sound waves well. At reasonable volume levels, you won't be able to hear those around you, and they won't be able to hear you. Content comes first.

The command is given to everyone

Music and games

In single-player games, you don’t have to touch anything at all; special effects and character speech sound balanced and clear. In multiplayer, most likely, you will want to use an equalizer to adjust the frequency balance to suit the conditions that are comfortable for you, so that you can hear enemies a mile away, communicate without problems, and not be distracted by unnecessary sounds. The stereo effect is quite pronounced, you can navigate “by ear”, the main thing is habit and practice. There are no problems with movies or games. Music... Well, hardly anyone will listen to Tchaikovsky with such headphones, but the speakers can handle guitar cuts, drum cuts and angry vocals without any problems. Rap and hip-hop are fashionable these days (once again), thanks to the abundance low frequencies, sound just right: loud, bold, with a characteristic atmosphere.

Equipment and characteristics

Headset

What, where, how much

The start of sales has already passed, the headset is available in the Russian Federation exclusively on the DNS network. The price is the most affordable, 3500 rubles. In Ukraine, HyperX Cloud Stinger Core can be found in the stores rozetka.com.ua and 3ona51.com, you will have to pay 1200 hryvnia.

The launch by Kingston of a line of gaming headsets under the HyperX brand can be called one of the exemplary examples of how it is necessary to enter new markets for a manufacturer. Developed in partnership with QPAD, the HyperX Cloud series has received many accolades from both gaming journalists and end consumers. Do not forget that different variations of Cloud are also the basic weapon for professional e-sportsmen from Na’Vi, SK Gaming, Team Liquid, Titan, Luminosity Gaming and other multi-gaming organizations.

Inspired by success, the American vendor soon presented the updated Cloud II and Cloud Core to the public, and a year later announced the first completely independent development in this direction - the Cloud Revolver headset. Thus, fans of the brand were given a choice of a total of four models in the price range from 65 to 120 dollars. For those who have a more modest budget, but continue to search high quality sound in games, today we will talk about a new product that has received the status of the most affordable solution in the series.

HyperX Cloud Stinger, like Revolver, is the embodiment of the design thoughts of the engineering team from Kingston Technology. When developing the new product, the needs of the gaming community were brought to the fore, as evidenced by the visual design elements, ergonomics and sound features of the device.

As for the technical characteristics, after reading the table it becomes obvious that the filling differs from that used in Cloud Core/Cloud/Cloud II. We still have a pair of neodymium magnets in front of us, but their diameter is now 50 mm instead of 53 mm. The frequency range of the headphones is from 18 to 23,000 Hz, and the impedance has been reduced from 60 to 30 ohms. The price has also changed. The retail price at the start of Cloud Stinger sales is stated at $50 (or 1399 UAH), while basic version Cloud Core can now be found in online stores for approximately $65. In monetary terms, the difference is small, but for some this may be the deciding factor when choosing between two models.

Packaging and equipment

Despite its budget, Cloud Stinger comes in a solid box made of colored cardboard. At the top you can see a mark indicating that the headset is compatible with all current platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Wii U, as well as mobile devices. On the back of the box are painted key features and in comparison with most competitors.

Inside there is another box made of thick cardboard, designed for reliable protection devices during transportation. The amount of sealing material is so large that you don’t have to worry about the safety of the contents, even if delivery is carried out by regular postal service.

The delivery set is minimal and consists of a 1.7 meter extension cord, which also serves as an adapter from a 4-pin mini-jack to two separate 3.5 mm plugs, quick guide instruction manual and a paper booklet telling about other HyperX brand devices.

Appearance and ergonomics

The appearance combines design elements of the classic Cloud Core and the massive Cloud Revolver. The headset retained its small dimensions, but at the same time aggressive notes were added to its design, which should emphasize its belonging to the gaming series. The decision to leave the microphone non-removable seems somewhat controversial, which significantly limits the scope of the new product. It’s quite difficult to imagine a person walking down the street listening to music through the Cloud Stinger, although of course the Razer BlackShark is still far from being shocking.

One of the features of the review hero is the earcups that rotate 90 degrees. This makes the headset shape more versatile and provides more comfort during extended use. The ear pads completely cover the ear, and devoting 4-5 hours of continuous gameplay to your favorite game will not be difficult.

The cups themselves are now plastic, like the rest of the body, with the exception of the metal arc passing through the headband.

The second interesting point is the sound volume control located on the right earcup. After a short period of adaptation, the hand automatically reaches for it and the process of use itself seems completely natural. We can only hope that such a control unit will avoid problems with possible failure, which are typical for similar remote controls located directly on the cable connecting to the PC.

If we talk about the cable, it comes out of the left cup and is covered with a rubber braid.

The complete ear pads are made in the shape of ovals and use black artificial leather as the finishing material. Their internal diameter is approximately 65x42 millimeters. The quality of sound insulation can be described as average.

On the inside of the headband there is a polyurethane foam lining with an anatomical memory effect. Its thickness is slightly greater, and its structure is somewhat softer than that of Cloud Core, thanks to which the headphones sit more comfortably on the owner’s head and do not create excessive pressure. On the reverse side you can see the familiar logo trademark HyperX.

For additional adjustment, each earcup of the headset can be moved back by 12 fixed divisions.

Third distinctive feature Cloud Stinger is associated with in a simple way turning the microphone on and off, and she also explains the reasons for its monolithic design. In order to mute the microphone, you just need to lift it up, which you automatically do when removing the headset from your head. The option is interesting, although those players who have been using it for a long time voice services TeamSpeak, Ventrilo and the like will most likely remain faithful to the hotkeys that were previously binned.

The microphone base is movable and also equipped with anatomical memory. Here you can easily set the bend or angle of inclination that will be most convenient for the owner.

It's disappointing that there is no foam pad at the very end of the microphone, which can result in wind sounds from the window or other extraneous noise leaking into the air.

Overall, the quality of materials and build quality of the Cloud Stinger leaves a positive impression, especially considering the low price of $50. The overall design does not seem flimsy, there are no creaks or gaps, everything fits well and is secured, the plastic is matte and does not attract fingerprints. The device is pleasant to hold and use.

Sound quality and user experience

At the beginning of the material, I mentioned that in Cloud Stinger the North American manufacturer tried in every possible way to strengthen the gaming component of its product. This is reflected both in ergonomics and in the specifics of sound. But first things first. Let's start with ease of use. Playing Cloud Stinger for many hours is really very convenient, because with a weight of only 275 grams and thanks to the movable cups, the headset is practically not felt on your head. If you are part of a team or clan, you can be sure that by the end of the training session you will not have a feeling of discomfort or excessive pressure in the ears.

As for the sound, it looks like the developers from Kingston Technology decided to repeat the same technique that SteelSeries engineers used in the 5Hv2 and the first generations of Siberia headsets. It lies in the fact that the frequency response is noticeably dominated by mid and high frequencies and the lows are practically absent. The positive side is that in gaming applications the user can benefit from it. You begin to clearly hear not only the movements of opponents, but such micro-sounds as switching the optical sight of an enemy sniper in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or the sound of spell casting in Dota 2. The downside of such settings is that Cloud Stinger is not the best for listening to music , especially if the track has a lot of bass. It is also worth noting that Cloud Stingers are unpretentious to the sound source and for their full operation the capabilities of the built-in Realtek ALC887 or higher audio codec are quite sufficient.

The quality of the microphone can be rated four. Your interlocutors will easily recognize your voice in the game’s voice chat or in separate communication programs. In this case, it would be advisable to set the microphone response threshold to minimize the capture of third-party noise during a conversation.

conclusions

Kingston has expanded its headset lineup with another model with clear gaming positioning and a low price. Cloud Stinger is well suited for any type of gaming battles, where the user receives high level comfort and can easily track any movements of enemies and other important sounds of game mechanics. The headset debuted several interesting innovations, such as an audio control located on the right earcup and automatic shutdown microphone when raising the latter to a vertical position. Time will tell whether they will take root, but my first impressions of use were very positive.

The main problem for the Cloud Stinger lies not in the device itself, but in its closest competitor from the same Kingston - HyperX Cloud Core. The difference in price at the start of sales between the two models will be minimal, while Cloud Core is a more balanced solution and is well suited not only for games, but also for listening to music or watching movies. The choice of the future owner will depend on whether he wants to get more comfort and additional “chips” that the Cloud Stinger will provide him, or whether versatility is important to him and then the balance is in the balance, even taking into account more high price, will lean towards Cloud Core.