HyperX Cloud Stinger vs Cloud Stinger S vs Cloud Stinger Core
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Cloud Stinger Lineup Overview
Headphone Audio Quality
Microphone Audio Quality
Comfort and Build Quality
Verdict
HyperX has a ton of headsets in their Stinger lineup. I bought three of them to compare, but I’m also going to give a brief overview of the entire lineup.
Cloud Stinger Lineup Overview
There are two main headsets in the Stinger lineup: the Cloud Stinger and Cloud Stinger Core. The rest of the headsets are some sort of variation of those two.
Variations include models with either a splitter or USB connection, 7.1 surround sound support, wired vs wireless, and models branded specifically for Xbox or Playstation.
The Cloud Stinger has faux leather on the headband and earcups, while the Stinger Core’s material is much rougher. The Stinger also has superior headphone audio quality. More on that later.
Moving onto the 3 devices I bought: the Cloud Stinger, Cloud Stinger S, and Cloud Stinger Core (7.1).
Cloud Stinger
This is the base Cloud Stinger model. It has a non-detachable mic that can be muted by rotating it up. It has a non-detachable 3.5mm audio cable and it comes with a splitter to connect to desktop PCs. There is a headphone volume slider on the bottom of the right earcup.
I bought my Cloud Stinger for $50. Here is an Amazon link to see its current pricing.
Cloud Stinger S
The Cloud Stinger S is a variant of the Cloud Stinger. The headset itself looks, feels, and sounds exactly the same as the base model, but instead of a splitter it comes with a USB adapter. This allows it to connect to HyperX NGENUITY where you can change the microphone volume and apply a 7.1 virtual surround sound effect. The adapter does negatively impact the mic quality however as I’ll demonstrate.
I bought my Cloud Stinger S for $40. Here is an Amazon link to see its current pricing.
Cloud Stinger Core (7.1)
The Cloud Stinger Core is quite different than the Cloud Stinger. The Stinger Core has harder padding and less clear sound than the Cloud Stinger. The Volume dial is also on the bottom of the left earcup. The mic and audio cable cannot be detached.
The 7.1 variant that I got has a USB adapter that connects to NEGENIUTY and that again lets you adjust the mic volume and apply the 7.1 virtual surround sound effect. The mic still mutes by sliding it to the vertical position.
I bought my Cloud Stinger Core for $50. Here is an Amazon link to see its current pricing.
Headphone Audio Quality
Cloud Stinger. Need for Speed Payback.
Cloud Stinger S. Call of Duty Warzone.
Cloud Stinger Core. Resident Evil 3.
For budget headsets, the Cloud Stinger and Cloud Stinger S have passable audio quality. The sound isn’t incredibly detailed, but you can hear all the most important sounds in FPS games.
These don’t have as strong bass as HyperX’s more expensive models like the Cloud II, and the top end sounds far more suppressed. In a way that’s good because high pitched sounds like NOS and thrusters never become piercing on the Stinger or Stinger S.
The Cloud Stinger Core sounds muffled overall. It sounds like being outside of a club rather than in one. Like the Stinger and Stinger S it doesn’t have any issues with piercing highs, but nothing stands out at all on the Stinger Core. Games are still playable, but I’ve gotten better audio quality out of $10 earbuds from the gas station. At least the Stinger Core is more durable than those.
Surround Sound
In the HyperX NGENUNITY software on PC you can enable surround sound on the Cloud Stinger S and Cloud Stinger Core (7.1). As I’ve mentioned in other comparison videos, the effect doesn’t enhance the sound in any useful way, but it makes everything sound farther away, adds reverb, and drops the bass.
In Need for Speed, you trade the sound of the car engine for the rushing wind instead. It’s an interesting effect if you like that sort of thing. I don’t use it though, and it doesn’t help in FPS games.
Microphone Audio Quality
Testing the mic on the Cloud Stinger Core.
Of the Cloud Stinger, Cloud Stinger S, and Cloud Stinger Core (7.1), the Cloud Stinger has the best mic audio quality. It’s not amazing, and it does sound a bit nasally, but it’s very useable. All 3 mics suffer from plosives easily and the Stinger’s mic is very quiet.
Just like several other headsets I’ve tested with a USB connection, the Cloud Stinger S and Cloud Stinger Core (7.1) sound much more compressed and distant. I again suspect this is because of the USB converter compressing the microphone audio. They’re not that much worse than the base Cloud Stinger and they’re all pretty standard quality for headset mics.
Lastly, Stinger Core’s mic actually has the most flex to it allowing it to be bent inwards more easily.
Comfort and Build Quality
Left to right: Cloud Stinger, Stinger S, and Stinger Core.
Each of these headsets have an over-the-ear design.
The Cloud Stinger and Cloud Stinger S are well above average comfort for headsets which is impressive considering the price. The pleather’s softness is somewhere between the Cloud Alpha and Cloud II which are some of the most easy to wear headsets for long periods.
The Stinger and Stinger S also have rotating cups so you can rest them on your shoulders easily.
The Cloud Stinger Core’s padding is rough and makes and irritating scratching sound when rubbing against hair or skin. It feels like rubbing styrofoam or cardboard together. If you’re especially sensitive to that sound or texture like me, the Cloud Core is not the headset for you. If that’s no big deal, then these are overall still very below average in the comfort department.
Stinger, Stinger S, Stinger Core.
Concerning the build, all three of these devices are made primarily of plastic. With normal use, this has not caused any problems, and there don’t seem to be any glaring volatility points. The adjustment brackets have good extension and with several notches inside to keep them in place.
Verdict
Once again in order: Stinger, Stinger S, Stinger Core.
I recommend the HyperX Cloud Stinger. It’s comfortable, it has a decent mic, and the sound quality is enough to get more enjoyment out of games than monitor speakers.
If you have a laptop without a separate mic and headphone port, then you’ll need the Cloud Stinger S instead to make use of the USB connecter, but be aware that this degrades the mic quality.
I’d pass on the Cloud Stinger Core. It’s not very comfortable, and the sound is way too muffled for me to recommend.
Amazon Listings
HyperX Cloud Stinger: https://amzn.to/36aAOiP
HyperX Cloud Stinger S: https://amzn.to/3At9fiu
HyperX Cloud Stinger Core 7.1: https://amzn.to/2Ty1Vld
