Our Verdict
Okay for mixed usage. They have a decent audio reproduction, and their style is more outdoor-friendly than most gaming headphones. However, even if you can use them with your phone when you’re on the go, they won’t be great for commuting since they barely isolate ambient noise. Their bulky over-ear design won’t be great for sports. They can be used in an office if you don’t listen at very high volumes, but won’t be ideal for moving around. Even if they are wired and don’t have any latency, their short cable won’t be great for watching TV. On the upside, they are decent gaming headphones but lack a control scheme like most gaming headphones have.
- Well-built and comfortable design.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Great microphone for online gaming.
- Poor noise isolation.
- No controls or customization options.
- Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
Good for neutral listening. The HyperX Cloud Core have a deep and punchy bass and a nearly flawless mid-range, but their treble is fairly uneven, resulting in slight lack of detail and overly sharp S and T sounds. Additionally, their bass is prone to inconsistencies and is also slightly boomy. Overall, these headphones will be fairly versatile for all music genres and will satisfy most gamers as well.
Mediocre for commuting. Their fit doesn’t isolate against ambient noise, especially not the low-end rumble of bus and plane engines. Their design is also bulky and won’t be the most portable. On the upside, you won’t have to worry about a battery life, but you won’t have the practicality of wireless headphones.
Sub-par for sports. Over-ears won’t be great for sports as they trap heat inside the ear cups and will make you sweat more than usual. Additionally, they aren’t very portable due to their bulky design and they have a short cable, so working out these headphones won't be ideal for most people.
Okay for the office. The HyperX Cloud Core don’t offer the freedom of a wireless design and their fit doesn’t isolate very well against ambient chatter too, which won’t be ideal in a crowded office. Also, you can’t play your audio content at high volumes, as they are a bit leaky and you may disturb surrounding colleagues. On the upside, you don’t have to manage a battery life and they’ll be comfortable to wear for hours without feeling ear fatigue.
This wired gaming headset can't be used wirelessly.
Suitable for gaming. These gaming headphones are for people who want a very straightforward headset. They don’t have any controls or customizable options with a software. They are compatible with every console and PCs and will offer both audio and mic support on everything. They’ll be comfortable for long gaming sessions and their microphone is great for online communication.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 10, 2022: We've added the HyperX Cloud Core (7.1) as a variant of these headphones to 'Difference Between Variants'.
- Updated Mar 26, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The HyperX Cloud Core come in one color variant: 'Black'. However, keep in mind that there's an upgraded variant of this model called the HyperX Cloud Core (7.1), which supports 7.1 surround sound. We haven't tested this model, though.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The HyperX Cloud Core are very straightforward gaming headphones that set themselves apart by their great build quality, comfort, and great-sounding microphone. However, this model doesn’t have any controls, which some may feel is necessary for gaming headphones.
If you’re looking for something more customizable or wireless, take a look at our suggestions for the best gaming headsets and the best wireless gaming headsets. See also our recommendations for the best gaming headsets under $100.
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II are better gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Core since they have controls. These two headphones are practically the same, but the Cloud II have an in-line remote that gives you access to a mic mute, volume control, and channel mixing, while the Core model is simple and will be good for people who don't care much for controls.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are better performing gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Core thanks to their controls and slightly better sound quality. However, the Cloud Core definitely feels more solid and more comfortable than the Stinger. If you think a mic-mute switch and volume controls are a necessity, go with the Stinger. If not, then the more straightforward Cloud Core may be a better option for your gaming needs.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha are slightly better gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Core thanks to their controls. You can control the volume and mute your microphone easily on the Alpha, which you can't do with the Core. Other than that, the two headsets are practically identical, but the Alpha have a slightly less uneven treble range. Both models are very versatile and are suitable for all platforms.
The Corsair HS50 are better sounding gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Core. They have volume controls and a mic-mute switch which the HyperX is lacking. Their sound quality is also more accurate, especially in the treble range. On the other hand, the HyperX are more comfortable and have a better sounding microphone for online gaming.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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