HyperX’s Cloud Mix 2 Brings ANC to a Celebrated Brand

HyperX is leading the charge with their affordable gaming headsets, marrying low prices with high-end specs and more than capable gaming headsets. With their newest product, the Cloud Mix 2, HyperX has slightly pivoted away from gaming to focus on delivering exceptional audio for hours at a time, unfortunately raising the price tag in the process.

Although gamers may be slightly disappointed at the spotlight being moved to ANC and creating a better listening experience, especially after the recent release of the fantastic-sounding Cloud III, but audiophiles who want something that will also work well enough with their gaming setup of choice may find the HyperX Cloud Mix 2 to be perfect. After a few weeks of testing, the verdict is in, though it may push users towards opposing opinions.

• Cloud Mix 2 Headset
• USB-C Charging Cord
• 3.5mm Cord
• USB-C Wireless Dongle
• USB-C Extender

At first glance, the HyperX Cloud Mix 2 looks like any other pair of wireless headphones, given its black, minimalist design. A glossy HyperX logo gives the headset its only flair on each earcup. The brand name is also found at the top of the headband, which is wrapped in a durable, yet soft leatherette material. Both the headband and the earcups are also equipped with memory foam padding, which makes the headset rest pretty comfortable, for a while.

The Cloud Mix 2 isn’t the lightest pair of headphones on the market, and after an hour or two, they did feel a bit tight on my head. People with glasses would probably be uncomfortable sooner. That being said, the adjustable headband is suitable for people with large heads, which is quite rare across both headsets and headphones. This was a bit surprising, because the headset seems a bit small, but the flexibility was great.

One downside to the fit was the size of the earcups, which were somewhat small. This is remedied by having the drivers deeply inset and by the earcups being very easy to rotate. All of this further helps the fit, too, except for when you’re leaning back in your gaming chair or trying to lay on the couch.

The earcups also have removable covers, though one side only shows off the non-removable battery. The other side offers storage space for the wireless dongle. This dongle is very oddly shaped, and feels like it’s going to snap every time it’s removed from devices or even the HyperX case it comes in. The extender is hardly better, though at least it feels sturdy.

The buttons on the side are as you would expect: power, function, noise-cancellation, mic mute, and volume. For the Cloud Mix 2, the function button serves to connect the headphones to devices, as well as control content remotely with a number of functions such as answering calls or pausing music. Every button is easily navigable, though the lack of tactility on the wheel isn’t great; there’s no texture on the wheel itself, nor is there any tactile feedback when spinning it.

Despite a few issues, the Cloud Mix 2 is a comfortable and surprisingly nuanced pair of headphones. Users who often struggle to find headphones that fit should consider the Cloud Mix 2 purely based on its design alone. Others, though, can appreciate the softly padded comfort of the headset while digging deeper into the specifics.

HyperX has a single app for their audio devices, making it easy to add another to the mix. Unfortunately, the Cloud Mix 2 isn’t very customizable, and the NGENUITY desktop app isn’t very helpful to users new to the device.

The mobile app is much better, providing descriptions for each audio preset, of which there are five: music, bass, gaming, voice, and chill. While these presets can’t be adjusted, you don’t really need to mess with them anyway. All of them vary widely, and the difference in audio performance is noticeable when you switch between each mode. It would’ve been nice for audiophiles to be able to fine-tune their settings, but with the presets available, enhancing my audio was a cinch.

The mobile app also has a tab that shows the function button controls, which are also in the instructions, albeit a bit scattered. For example, double-pressing the function button allows you to skip a track, while a triple press will let you go back to the previous track. That’s great news for people like me who spend the first week with a device constantly pulling up the instruction manual. While these functions don’t work for every browser-based streaming service, with a notable exclusion being iHeart Radio, on Youtube and Spotify the controls worked just fine.

Those function inputs are instantaneous, too. Despite the awkwardly-shaped USB dongle, or perhaps because of it, the connection between devices over wireless is extremely strong and reliable. Even when connected to bluetooth, I never had any issues until I wandered out of range. The range is pretty good, at 20m, but thick walls and other electronics, such as fridges or microwaves, caused some disruption at about 15m away. That’s still a fantastic range though, especially for anyone in an apartment.

At this price point, it is frustrating to not have simultaneous audio available, especially considering the fact that SteelSeries and Razer both offer headsets with this functionality for less. Yet the headphones can at least connect to two devices at once, which is ideal, since the only way to change the audio presets while gaming on Switch is through the mobile app.

In the end though, connecting the headphones to different devices was incredibly easy; the headset is essentially plug-and-play when using the dongle. Bluetooth is similarly simple, and you can switch between the two connection modes with two button presses. Despite the software not being the most useful tool in the world, moving from the PC to the Switch was a breeze, even with Nintendo’s often finicky connection process.

HyperX has established itself as a gaming accessory powerhouse, but the Cloud Mix 2 isn’t a gaming headset. Regardless, the headphones do come with one of HyperX’s embedded microphones, which utilize AI noise reduction to deliver voices clearly. In practice, however, the mic is far from comparable to a boom mic. Chatting on Discord sounded more like talking on the phone, and while my voice was clear, there was a lot of white noise attached and a marked lack of crispness.

For those who love to chat with randoms in-game, or those who want to be able to take a call on the fly or hop into an impromptu virtual meeting, the built-in mic will be more than suitable with its ease of use. On the other hand, don’t depend on the headset for any kind of recording, though most people who want to record their voice or stream should just go with a stand-alone mic.

As mentioned earlier, audio quality is where the Cloud Mix 2 really shines. Sounds are balanced extremely well through the 40mm drivers, particularly once you choose the correct preset for your activity. While active noise cancellation is usually what everyone wants to see, the transparency mode is quickly gaining popularity among commuters, students, and those who work in offices. HyperX does a great job with their transparent mode, upping the volume slightly while capturing outside noise at a decent enough volume that you can hear what’s going on around you, but won’t have your music covered up by background sounds. Even slight sounds, such as rustling paper, make it through, seamlessly blending into the background of whatever you’re listening to.

As far as ANC goes, HyperX has followed the crowd and delivered an experience that won’t surprise anyone. They do use what they call a hybrid ANC system, and that may be why there is a less noticeable pressure when it’s active.

One of the biggest draws of this headset is its battery life. The maximum is 110 hours, but ANC promises to cut that in half. However, even with a 53-hour battery, it’s hard to imagine running out of juice at an inopportune time. If the headphones do die unexpectedly, the charge time is only three hours total. Alternatively, you can always play in wired mode, using the charging cord or, if you’re on Switch or another compatible device, the 3.5mm cord.

The addition of the 3.5mm cord is yet another boon to audiophiles, as they can easily integrate the Cloud Mix 2 into their setups to listen to playbacks or for mic monitoring during streams. With that extra touch, HyperX piles unique functionality on top of their superior audio quality.

There’s no doubt that HyperX’s Cloud Mix 2 is a fantastic pair of headphones. Offering compatibility with PC, mobile, and Switch devices, as well as super easy connectivity, the Cloud Mix 2 continues a long trend of quality audio devices from HyperX. At the same time, the price tag of $200 is a tough pill to swallow, and it’s even tougher trying to figure out why it is so expensive. Sure, there is the ANC and transparent audio, plus a variety of different audio presets, but there are also a number of missing features that other $200 headphones include.

The Cloud Mix 2 does cater to a small niche of gamers and audiophiles, particularly those with a larger than average head and those who need a versatile pair of headphones for both their existing audio setups and their voice chat needs. Despite this, I think most people would be better off with HyperX’s Cloud Alpha gaming headset, which is the same price, but has way better voice chat capabilities and plush earcups that make up for a lack of ANC. At the same time, HyperX’s Cloud 2 Core gaming headset is half as much, but with bigger, 53mm drivers, along with a noise-cancelling mic and decent passive noise cancellation through the earcups.

At the end of the day, while the Cloud Mix 2 headphones are certainly capable of delivering excellent audio quality and serve a niche community, the price is just too high for what it offers. Some users will be clamoring for their own pair of Cloud Mix 2 headphones, while others will be waiting for the next set to arrive on the scene.

If the HyperX Cloud Mix 2 doesn’t seem like your cup of tea, here are some alternative options that might work out better for you: