The fate of open-back headphones usually means trading bass for a more natural soundstage—the sound escapes, and so does the punch of the drums. This time, HyperX is trying to solve that exact contradiction. The Cloud Alpha Air marks the first open-back gaming headset from a company that's been making gaming peripherals for over a decade. Priced at $150, it features a built-in Bass Tube structure designed to retain the bass thickness typically associated with closed-back headphones, even within an open soundstage.
Engadget reporter Sam Rutherford, after testing it firsthand, said the Cloud Alpha Air does deliver well-controlled bass extension. Listening to the Nintendo Wii Shop Channel theme, he noticed new layers of depth without the bass overpowering the mids and highs. In shooters, the bass made footsteps and explosions easier to distinguish—though he noted it remains unclear whether this edge is enough to give it a real competitive advantage over similarly priced rivals.
On the spec sheet, the Cloud Alpha Air has an impedance of 34 ohms, which is on the lower side. Rutherford found that when connected to a PC via the 3.5mm audio cable, the overall volume felt somewhat lacking—so for fuller output, users may need to rely on the included USB adapter or a separate DAC. The headset also supports HyperX's free NGENUITY software, allowing for EQ adjustments and sound mode customization.
Design-wise, HyperX has taken a more restrained approach this time. The headset itself has just two control points—a volume wheel and a mic mute button. Beneath the metal mesh side panels sit red 40mm dynamic drivers, paired with large earcups wrapped in Ultrasuede for extended comfort during long wear. The metal headband also passed what Rutherford calls the "bend test"—forcefully twisting both earcups in opposite directions—and held up structurally without issue.
The accessories are arguably the most satisfying part of this headset: a basic 3.5mm audio cable, a PC extension cable with separate audio and mic connectors, and an adapter that supports both USB-A and USB-C—covering nearly any device you'd want to connect. It also comes with a drawstring pouch for easy carrying.
The only downside is that the Cloud Alpha Air is currently only available in a wired version. When Rutherford asked HyperX staff whether a wireless version was in the works, they declined to comment.
At the same time, HyperX also introduced new color options for its existing Cloud III S, Cloud III Wired, and Cloud Flight 2 headsets. On the mouse side, the lineup welcomes the Pulsefire Haste 3 Pro, built with a carbon fiber shell weighing just 47 grams—making it HyperX's lightest mouse to date. Priced at $130, it features a new Performance Sensor supporting up to 42,000 DPI, along with up to 150 hours of wireless battery life at a 1K polling rate. For those on a tighter budget, there's also a plastic-shelled version with similar specs, the Pro Model, priced at $90, plus an entry-level wired option at $40. As for desktops and laptops, HyperX didn't announce any new models this round—aside from an updated AMD configuration for the Omen 35L. The new lineup is expected to launch this September.
