HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless - The best gaming headset for console gamers?

For those looking for an entry-level gaming headset with great console compatibility, the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 is an appealing option. Since this is an official Xbox-licensed headset, you can connect to an Xbox without issues. It also works well with PC, PlayStation, Switch, Mac, and mobile devices. I’ve spent some time gaming with the HyperX CloudX Flight 2, and in this review, I’ll let you know who should buy the HyperX CloudX Flight 2.

What’s it like to use the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless?

The HyperX Cloud Flight 2 has a solid-feeling plastic build with a metal headband. The sides of the headset feature RGB lighting and removable earcup plates. The metal headband is still visible even when the headset is adjusted to its smallest size. This makes the headset look more premium than the price would suggest. The headband has loud, clicky stepped adjustment sliders, and the headset has a leatherette headrest and earpads.

While the leatherette cushions provide comfort, the headset can feel a bit sticky if you are using it in a hot environment. Despite a somewhat hefty weight of 335 grams, I don’t find that the headset presses on the top of my head in an uncomfortable way. I can comfortably wear the headset for up to 4 hours before I have to take it off for a breather, with the biggest limitation being heat buildup in the leatherette earpads.

As for physical controls, you get a decent amount of buttons and a scroll wheel. The headset has a mic-mute button, a power button, and a multifunction button. The scroll wheel also doubles as a button that lets you toggle between adjusting chat and game volume. These onboard controls make it easy to adjust audio without digging through controls on the console.

Should you use the NGENUITY app for the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless

The HyperX NGENUITY unlocks additional features and customization options for the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless. For one, it enables you to use HyperX’s spatial audio technology, which turns a 2.0 stereo signal into a virtual surround sound experience. NGENUITY also lets you create a custom EQ to adjust the sound of the headset. There are no EQ presets, so you’ll have to create one yourself. The great thing is that you can choose between simple and advanced EQ settings. The simple EQ has 5 bands, while choosing the Advanced option gives you a full 10-band parametric EQ.

To adjust the headset microphone, the app has three microphone presets: High boost, Mid boost, and Low boost. You can also use microphone features such as noise canceling, compression, and a limiter.

In addition to sound settings, the NGENUITY app lets you adjust the RGB color and brightness, as well as the automatic shut-off time. My RGB settings didn’t carry over when I powered the headset down and switched to Bluetooth. So if you prefer them off, you’ll have to connect them to NGENUITY for the changes to take effect.

Another thing I liked about the app is that you don’t get bombarded with pop-ups during the setup process.

How do you connect the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless?

You can connect the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless to your devices via either the 2.4 GHz dongle or Bluetooth 5.3. When using Bluetooth, the headset supports SBC and AAC codecs.

For console support, the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless can be connected to the Xbox Series X and S, and has an official Xbox license. Other consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, are also supported. In addition to console gaming, I found I can connect the headset to my mobile phone and gaming PC with no issue.

Unfortunately, there are no wired connection options on the HyperX Cloud Flight 2. So, if you do run out of battery, you’ll need to find a charger to keep playing.

How long does the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless’s battery last?

HyperX claims that the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless battery life is up to 100 hours over 2.4 GHz wireless, and up to 150 hours over Bluetooth with RGB off. With RGB turned on, those claims drop down to 20 hours on 2.4 GHz and 23 hours on Bluetooth. The battery life is more than enough if you don’t have the RGB turned on constantly. Unless you plan to use the CloudX Flight 2 nonstop, you should get over a week’s worth of battery life with heavy use.

How well does the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless attenuate noise?

The HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless doesn’t have Active Noise Cancellation, which I wish were becoming standard on gaming headsets. You still get passive noise isolation, which isn’t too bad. According to our testing data, the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless attenuates treble frequencies more than the mid and bass frequencies, which is typical for headsets with passive isolation. Higher-pitched sounds, such as the screeching of train tracks, are dulled. Without ANC, low-frequency rumble still passes through the headset. While the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 does block out more noise than open back gaming headsets, it’s still best suited to quieter indoor use.

How does the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless sound?

I find that the sound of the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless is ideal for casual gamers, especially for action/adventure games rather than competitive shooters. This type of sound profile fits the gaming console market that this headset is targeting.

Reviewer’s notes

Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.

Objective Measurements

When looking at our measured frequency response of the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless, we can see that it follows the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve pretty well, with a few minor deviations. Our target curve was designed with music listening in mind, not gaming, so we’re not looking for an exact match here, but it can help show what you can expect the headset to sound like.

In the sub-bass, there is a bump below 30 Hz, though these frequencies are barely audible for most people. Just above that, there is a slight dip around 55 Hz that tends to reduce rumble, followed by a slight boost in bass frequencies around 8 0Hz. In the treble, there’s an underemphasis at 3.5 kHz, which can make vocals sound a little farther away than expected. A slight overemphasis in the 7.5 kHz region increases the strength of sibilant sounds such as cymbals and other high-pitched metal instruments.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

MDAQS is used to evaluate sound quality when listening to music, not gaming, so take these results with a grain of salt. That said, the overall MDAQS score of 2.6 is a bit lower than that of most gaming headsets we’ve tested. The low Timbre score isn’t too concerning, as MDAQS is developed more for an audience that leans towards general music listening. The good results in Distortion and Immersiveness imply that the performance of the drivers in the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless is up to par.

How good is the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless’s microphone?

The microphone on the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 sounds more than acceptable, with speech that is intelligible, though occasionally slightly muffled. The boom microphone excels at background noise rejection, to the point that any background noise is pretty much eliminated. It’s one of the best microphones to use if you’re in a noisy environment. Also, if you’re out and about, you don’t have to keep the boom mic connected, as the headset also has a built-in microphone.

Below, you can listen to our standardized microphone samples of the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless boom microphone in a variety of simulated conditions.

HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless microphone demo (Office conditions):

HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless microphone demo (Reverberant space):

HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless microphone demo (Street environment):

HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless microphone demo (Windy environment):

Should you buy the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless?

The HyperX CloudX Flight 2 Wireless is great for casual gamers on consoles. The headset is tuned well for action/adventure games, which fit the console demographic. The official Xbox license ensures full compatibility with the Xbox consoles. At its starting price of $139, you might be able to find value elsewhere if the Xbox certification and RGB aren’t requirements for you. On the other hand, the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 is frequently on sale for around $99, and at that price, it’s an easy recommendation for those seeking a console gaming headset.