Price upon review

199.99

Best prices today: HyperX Cloud Mix 2

The HyperX Cloud Mix 2 has deep appeal for me because it’s the kind of headset I can use anywhere anytime. Why? Because despite its on-ear controls, Active Noise Cancellation and premium sound, it is both compact and light, and the headphones’ aesthetics look good in any environment.

The Mix 2 is also extremely comfortable and has excellent connectivity. Gamers looking for deep functionality like a dedicated boom mic and game chat mixer wheel won’t find it here, but for portability and versatility, this headset really can’t be beat. If you’re a casual gamer and need something to match your busy lifestyle, this headset will fit like a glove.

HyperX Cloud Mix 2 design and build

If ever there was a versatile gaming headset suitable for almost any type of listening, this is it. There are no obvious gaming features that stand out in the Mix 2’s design, no RGB lighting or boom microphone. Instead, these cans display discreet black-on-black logos and an on-ear microphone that sits flush with the outer edge of the earcup.

The headset’s construction is flexible and durable. It has a strong metal frame, rotatable cups and an adjustable headband. The soft leatherette covers are just the right thickness to prevent overheating, and the upper cushioning keeps the comfort level high.

The Cloud Mix 2 is a small size, measuring just 8 inches from top to bottom. The earcups are also small, measuring just 3.5 inches at their longest point. This compactness allows it to be packed into a slim hard case that takes up only a fraction of a backpack. A tip though: You will want it covered when not in use to prevent cutting the exposed wires near the yoke.

As well as being so versatile, the Mix 2 serves up just as much comfort. The black leatherette ear cups are just the right thickness to prevent your ears from getting warm.

The Mix 2 also absolutely nails it, with just the right grip. You can actually wear this headset for many hours without getting the uncomfortable feeling that some bulky headsets give you. So if you’re looking to work through long playlists or stick around for long gaming marathons, you can!

HyperX Cloud Mix 2 compatibility, connectivity, controls

Cloud Mix 2 has good cross-platform connectivity. It connects to PC, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck and mobile devices, so it can be your only headset if you don’t own an Xbox.

Connectivity consists of 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with low latency, or you can use Bluetooth. Everything you need is packed into the headset’s case — a dongle for Wi-Fi and a USB-C to USB-A cable for charging and a USB extension adapter. In addition, a 3.5 mm cable allows you to connect an old-fashioned analog cable.

The Cloud Mix 2’s controls are evenly distributed between the left and right ear cups. On the left are the power button, the mute button, a USB-C port and the 3.5 mm jack.

On the right are the volume wheel, the ANC button and a multifunction button. The latter allows you to control your media or answer and end phone calls at a second’s notice. I found the controls to be quite easy once I mastered the various press combinations that activated things like hybrid listening mode or media controls like play, pause or skip tracks.

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Special mention goes to the volume wheel, which had a tight friction that makes micro-adjustments very easy. This allowed me to get the perfect volume setting every time.

HyperX Cloud Mix 2 performance

The Cloud Mix 2 may have pint-sized ear cups, but it packs a big sonic presence. In my tests, I was blown away by the power of the game music and effects such as rings, pings, pops and ringtones beamed into my ears

The sound sounded just the right distance, neither too far nor close. The sound quality was also very refined. There was a distinct absence of the kind of distortion I sometimes hear when switching from Wi-Fi mode to Bluetooth mode. To be sure, this headset sounded clear and crisp and played all types of media.

I listened carefully to how the frequencies played out, and in default mode the Cloud Mix 2 was strongest over the mid and treble frequencies.

It dropped bass admirably too, though lower notes played second fiddle to higher notes. It suited me to a tee, and accentuated my go-to games that were full of mid to high notes. For example, the hectic bustle of music and realistic swipes and slashes of swords and staves in Black Myth: Wukong made the action much more frantic.

The music was just as nice. Instrumentals in the treble zone hovered over the rest of the sound while vocals occupied more of a middle ground, sounding natural and untrained. That said, the sound from the microphone was less impressive. It had a veiled quality at times, which a dedicated boom microphone might have avoided.

The ANC worked well at keeping out noise as well, but it blocked out sources further away better than those close by. It muffled the low whine of a leaf blower outside my house, but not the knocking of my coffee cup against my table.

Dominic Bayley / IDG

In addition to ANC, the headset has a hybrid listening mode, which allowed me to hear ambient sounds like family members talking.

This worked well for the most part, although I found the headset’s algorithm needed a second to drop the sound source in the earcup closest to the direction the sound was coming from. This meant that I lost a bit of the first part of what was said to me.

What I loved most about the Cloud Mix 2 was its portability. It’s much smaller and more portable than other headphone-style headsets like the Razer Barracuda Pro, making it easier to carry and easier to pack away. Consequently, it became a permanent part of my journeys between work and home, where I used it for games, music and/or podcasts.

To be sure, passengers on my morning bus would never have suspected that I had just finished a session with Black Myth: Wukong and was now working my way through my playlist — it really was that discreet.

Battery life is also excellent. HyperX says you can expect about 110 hours of playtime between charges. I didn’t drain the battery in my gaming testing, but it was still going strong after 27 hours of intermittent use, which is a promising result.

HyperX Cloud Mix 2 software

I made settings changes in Cloud Mix 2 in the Ngenuity software app. I was pleased to see that the app found my headset first and that it had five ready-made presets that covered most of my audio requirements. I was also able to adjust the main volume and microphone volume and toggle control of ANC on or off.

The app also gave me the option to create or export my own profiles, but when I tried to do this there didn’t seem to be an equalizer to adjust frequencies.

I’m not sure why that was…if Cloud Mix 2 just doesn’t support this feature, or if the app required an additional update. However, its absence limited my customization options with the Cloud Mix 2.

Should you buy the HyperX Cloud Mix 2?

With its clear and refined sound, excellent controls and a whole host of connectivity options, the HyperX Cloud Mix 2 is a great headset for causal gamers.

If you need a mixer wheel and a boom microphone for your playing, this headset is not for you. But if you just want loads of comfort and control in a headset that’s so headphone-like that you can use it anywhere at any time, look no further – the Cloud Mix 2 is ideal.