In the race to cover every part of the body capable of gaming with its own gear, HyperX is releasing a series of peripherals for gamers of all kinds. In addition to headsets and mice, the company also released its first gaming monitor (opens in new tab) a month ago. At this rate, HyperX is likely to start making eyeglasses with glasses and gaming sleeves (opens in new tab) that esports players love to wear.

The HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is almost inconsequential compared to the genuine, excellent products HyperX has been putting out, such as the wireless Cloud Alpha headset (opens in new tab). However, the cheap $50 price tag puts it in competition with headsets such as the Razer Kraken X (opens in new tab), the SteelSeries Arctis 1 and 3, and, frankly, its own predecessor, the Cloud Stinger (which sells for about $30).

The Cloud Stinger 2 has much the same functionality as the first version of the headset. It is a black all-plastic headset with a fairly lightweight microphone. It has a frequency response of 10Hz-28kHz, a dynamic 50mm driver with a neodymium magnet, a 3.5mm headset jack, and an included splitter. $50 headset on Amazon and retail shelves, and it works there, but you might wish you had done a little more research. You might wish you had.

The worst part of the Cloud Stinger 2 is the headphone design, which nullifies many of its advantages in sound quality. It is a flimsy headset. The cheap plastic feel is normal for this price range and probably not a concern if you have never owned headphones over $150, but there are bigger problems with this headset. The swivel earcups, which are meant to lay flat and allow you to put them in a bag, are attached to the thinnest part of the headband and are so loose that I fear they might break with the wrong movement. Every time I take it off, it flaps back and forth, making it difficult to grab with one hand.

Nothing fatal has ever happened to it, but I worry that clumsy handling will cause the headband to snap or crack, especially if it is dropped or twisted too hard. Considering that I will be spending the next few years with it, at this price it seems like more risk than necessary.

Otherwise, these fit great. They slip off easily when I eat a hamburger with one hand. I wear glasses and they were never uncomfortable, even after hours of use. This is also true of the Bayer Dynamic DT 990 Pros, which I use all the time, but they are not far behind the DT 900 Pro X (opens in new tab). It feels a bit thinner and has a leatherette pad that can wear or tear over time, but at this price point, I'm not sure you can find much better.

Audio quality is impressive, especially if you have the included DTS Headphone X spatial audio codec turned on (2-year code included). A bit gimmicky at first, but with music, I liked the emphasis on the midrange, making many instrumental performances sound dynamic or as if they were being played on stage. It may not be for everyone.

The effect in games was not noticeable to me; in games like Overwatch, where audio is essential and mixed with that in mind, turning this feature on and off does not change the sound. Elden Ring sounded louder, but not noticeably different from normal stereo mode; it's also a shame that I'll have to buy DTS Headphone X two years from now, because I'm sure I'll be able to get it in the future. It's fine for gaming, but might sound a bit boring in other applications.

The microphone is about as usable as any other headset mic in this price range. It sounds a little far away, but has enough clarity and volume to get the game audio through. The noise canceling feature means that even while actively talking, the sounds of tapping on the mechanical keyboard and clicking on the mouse are not audible. The microphone arm swivels upward and automatically mutes, which is always a nice feature, and its small size makes it unobtrusive even when in front of the face.

It's a bit tragic that such a robust audio package is housed in such a crude frame; the Cloud Stinger 2 is a capable headset and a great budget choice, but it can't match the fragility of the look and feel. There are older, cheaper headsets made with thicker frames, such as the original Cloud Stinger.

The Stinger 2 may work for those who treat their headsets like delicate flowers, but for $50 you get something that might not be ruined by accidentally dropping or twisting it. the Cloud Stinger 2, despite its price point's advantages, is a good choice for those who want a headset that is not only comfortable to wear, but also has the feel of a headset. is too risky to recommend.