HyperX Cloud III (Wired) Review

Design and Comfort

The Cloud III is a closed-back, over-ear gaming headset built around an aluminum frame, memory foam pads wrapped in leatherette, and a detachable boom microphone. HyperX lists the weight at 308 g without the mic and 320 g with it. Reviewers describe the headset as light for a metal-framed design.

Comfort is the area where the sources agree most. SoundGuys scores it 8.5/10, RTINGS calls the headset very sturdy and comfortable, and Trusted Reviews describes it as incredibly comfortable. As with any sealed headset using leatherette pads, expect some warmth during long sessions.

Build quality gets more mixed marks. The structure mixes plastic with the aluminum frame, SoundGuys rates build 6.8/10, and RTINGS points out that the Cloud Alpha is better built partly because its cable detaches. The Cloud III's does not. There is also no carrying pouch, and the ear cups don't swivel flat, so this is a desk headset rather than a travel one.

Sound Quality

The Cloud III uses 53 mm angled dynamic drivers with a 64 Ω impedance and a 100 dB/mW sensitivity rating, according to HyperX. What the independent measurements show is less flattering than the spec sheet. RTINGS describes the mid-range as very neutral, if a little dark, but says the headset lacks rumbly, punchy bass and has a narrow closed-back soundstage. SoundGuys found a large deviation from its preference curve, a noticeable lack of sub-bass, and peaks and troughs in the treble that make hi-hats sound hissy.

Not every reviewer agrees. Tom's Hardware and PC Gamer call the bass excellent or great, and TechRadar praises the sound. Those are subjective impressions, though, and the two outlets that published measurements both found weak bass. Trusted Reviews and GameRevolution also say the bass falls short of the Cloud Alpha's.

In practice that points to a tuning that suits competitive games, where clear mids help with footsteps and voices, better than it suits music or cinematic titles. A Reddit summary site reports positive sentiment around positional audio in FPS games, but it also quotes a comment calling the sound thin with a harsh top end. The NGENUITY app offers a graphic EQ with presets and DTS Headphone:X, which can help with the bass. Be aware that the app is Windows-only, and EQ settings do not persist when you switch to the 3.5 mm cable.

Microphone and Latency

The detachable mic is a uni-directional electret design with noise cancelling and an LED mute indicator. This is where the Cloud III earns most of its praise. TechRadar's headline calls it the best mic on a gaming headset, and RTINGS says it outperforms the Cloud Alpha's. SoundGuys measured a fairly flat response, and 77% of the 2,316 readers who voted in its poll rated it 4 or 5 out of 5. There are caveats: PC Gamer found the recording volume low even with the mic turned up, and RTINGS says the older Cloud II handles background noise better.

There is no active noise cancelling here. Passive isolation is modest. SoundGuys scores it 3.8/10 and says the headset blocks conversation and quiet TV but not loud music, while RTINGS rates isolation as poor and notes it lets in engine rumble. In a quiet room that's fine, but it won't shut out a noisy household.

On latency, I found no measured figure. A wired connection has no wireless delay, though, and RTINGS notes that the Cloud II has somewhat lower latency over USB without giving a number.

Battery and Connectivity

There is no battery to worry about. That is the main practical advantage of a wired headset: it is always ready, and there is no pairing or dropout to deal with. The connection options are flexible. You get a 3.5 mm 4-pole CTIA plug for consoles and phones, plus a USB-C cable with a USB-A adapter for PC. USB audio is stereo, up to 24-bit and 96 kHz. The Amazon listing names PC, PS5, PS4 and Xbox Series X|S as compatible.

Controls are simple: a mic-mute button and a volume wheel on the ear cups. HyperX backs the headset with a two-year warranty. The main connectivity drawbacks are that the audio cable can't be swapped if it fails, and that the best software features only work on Windows over USB.

Who Should Buy the Cloud III

• Streamers and team-chat players who want a mic that reviewers rate highly without buying a separate one.
• Long-session gamers who put comfort ahead of sound quality.
• Multi-platform players who want one headset for PC and consoles without batteries or dongles.

If sound quality matters more to you, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 costs more but adds wireless freedom and a much longer battery life. Anyone who wants the more neutral tuning that RTINGS and Trusted Reviews describe should compare the HyperX Cloud Alpha. SoundGuys reported a street price near $69.99 at Amazon, though I could not confirm a live price, and a lower price would make the Cloud III a stronger value.

Final Verdict

The HyperX Cloud III is a comfortable, practical wired headset with a mic that reviewers consistently rate well. Its weaknesses are the thin bass and uneven treble that independent measurements show, modest isolation, and software that works only on Windows. At its $99.99 launch price it is a mixed bargain, and it looks better at a discount. Pick it for the comfort and the mic, and look elsewhere if you want bass or the most neutral sound.