AKG 451 or HyperX Cloud gaming headset

[gupsterg]

Wish to buy a set of headphones for gaming, current choices as per title.

AKG 451 have good reviews as standard set of headphones and comparing their release price of over £100 vs £38 now @ Amazon think they'd be fine for me.

HyperX come across as potentially better suited for longer period gaming and better suited for the purpose?

The mic with the HyperX really has no use for me, main purpose is to get great sound, anyone wish to share their experience of which to get?

TIA

[KeyboardDemon]

It depends on what's more important to you. Gaming headsets offer great features like directional sound with 5.1/7.1 modes but they don't offer excellent audio quality. If music playback at the highest fidelity is a priority then get the AKG 451s, if you can live with audio that is OK but must have the directional sound for gaming then get the HyperX headset.

I recently switched from a cheap Steel Series headset which was OK to a Corsair HS2100 wireless headset when the refurb sets were available for around £42 and have been blown away by the audio quality, the mic is great too, most of my online gaming friends have commented on the improvement in audio quality, though sadly it hasn't improved my corny jokes.

If a mic is not important to you then I would say that you are really deciding between quality stereo and surround features, once you work out which is your priority it will be easier to narrow the field, but there is a thread on here with the HyperX Cloud going for £49.98 with a gaming mouse mat, so that price might help you decide.

[gupsterg]

there is a thread on here with the HyperX Cloud going for £49.98 with a gaming mouse mat, so that price might help you decide.

LOL! I posted that chap!

Budget is £50 for a pair of headphones, will see if can get a deal on the HS2100 but currently leaning towards the HyperX Cloud. The Cloud have been on deals recently with a few e-tailers as the Cloud II have been released. Cloud II have 7.1 surround, these don't AFAIK plus Cloud II are USB with their own sound card built in IIRC from a review in this month's CPC.

The AKG K451 have an in-line mic on cable so I guess perhaps not as good as the Cloud? due to position?

I'm also thinking the Cloud gotta be better due to bigger drivers? 53mm.

I'd be using the headphone jack on my monitor (no mic socket on it) which is getting audio over DP cable from the R9 290. I can also use the mobo soundcard via chassis front panel, I didn't invest in a proper sound card as didn't see the point this time round.

Specs wise AKG state Freq.range 11Hz – 29.5kHz vs Cloud 15Hz–25kHz , so does that mean the AKG will respond to lower (bass) and higher (treble) freq. better?

[MrRockliffe]

I had the cloud and they sound nothing short of incredible. Way better than my equally priced HS 260 (though, the Func headset can be found for <40 now).

BUT:

I had 3 pairs of them from Amazon. 2 of which had a grounding issue with the microphone, resulting in a constant buzzing noise for both me and my friend. All of them also had issues with the drivers. They're particularly fragile and all ended up blown. In the end, they literally ran out of replacements, and thus had to refund me.

That being said, they're super comfy, sound great, half decent mic and a nice braided cable.

I also use Razer's 7.1 surround sound software which does a great job for films, although personally I don't use it for gaming as all the games I play have great built in directional audio.

Ebuyer don't have a particularly great track record when it comes to warranty replacements, so I'd be a little sceptical when buying it from them. Through Amazon, however, I'd definitely risk it, since they always shipped me a new version before I had to send back mine.

[MrJim]

I bought the HyperX Cloud II headset a week or so ago, & I've been really impressed by the sound quality. But if you don't need a mic, I'm sure there are cheaper headphone options out there...

[gupsterg]

Thanks for your experience share MrRockliffe, that defo makes me think if I buy the Cloud go the Amazon route. I know they've had them @ £45 a little while back so will keep my eyes peeled to see if they drop the price again. RE the Func HS 260 they seem to have a small range response than even the Cloud, 20-20kHz vs 15Hz–25kHz.

SO I'm now guessing the AKG K451 @ 11Hz–29.5kHz must be better for sound? again if buy these from Amazon have the comfort of their great return policy.

MrJim, thanks for share on experience, I wouldn't mind buying the Cloud II but only when they're within my budget . I was pushing the boat out IMO to pay £50 for a set of headphones .

Looks like Amazon upped the price of the AKG K451 from £38 to £50, so I guess I'll wait and see what I do.

[Kovoet]

I bought the HyperX Cloud II headset a week or so ago, & I've been really impressed by the sound quality. But if you don't need a mic, I'm sure there are cheaper headphone options out there...

Had nine for about three weeks. After having the qpad and hyper x using a soundblaster zx I was nervous about the sound but definitely not the comfort as is exactly the same. In game I'm totally impressed, with music is not bad at all.

Am I happy with my purchase most definitely.

[MrRockliffe]

Never use frequency response to decide sound quality. Human hearing spectrum is 20-20000 Hz, assuming perfect hearing.

[gupsterg]

Cheers! .

What on the spec sheet is best to gauge sound quality? or only real way is hearing? and would I be able to hear the difference? LOL

[MrRockliffe]

The only way is to hear it unfortunately, which makes buying them all that more difficult :/

[gupsterg]

Ahh! was thinking you'd say that!

Online shopping has many benefits but this is where it falls flat face down IMO and it killed places in the real world to go and experience a product before buying!

[MrRockliffe]

Hifi headphones are great if you're anywhere near Worthing in the south.

[gupsterg]

Unfortunately 3hrs away from me , cheers for posting though, will get my google goggles on for places closer .

*** edit ***

I also use Razer's 7.1 surround sound software which does a great job for films, although personally I don't use it for gaming as all the games I play have great built in directional audio.

Looks like via Asus Sonic Studio that's covered .

Amazon had Cloud I @ £49.98 last night, went to order today and price gone up .

[gupsterg]

Well after doing more reading and pondering if I should get USB connection headset or wireless I went and pulled the trigger on the HyperX Cloud! .

For the price it seems amazing how well packaged, amount of accessories and the build quality you get! Luv the feel of leather earcups, haven't tried the velour earcups yet.

I'm not really an audiophile but my impressions are there is this distinct clarity across treble/mid/bass vs the Skullcandy headphones I'd nicked off my daughter to try for a period before these came.

[Kovoet]

Told you, they brilliant

[jamesreid61]

Akg headphones better quality in sound as they they are hifi manufacturer