It’s deja vu. All over once more. The HyperX Cloud Orbit S is a really acquainted gaming headset, and shall be to anybody who’s laid eyes on the Audeze Mobius cans. Aside from the little HyperX logos on the earcups, rather than the Mobius’ carbon fibre aesthetic, the 2 headsets are equivalent in look. But it’s not only a case of HyperX taking an current design and rebadging it, there have been some cuts made right here and there to supply a cheaper model. And, for probably the most half, the pruning has proved wise.
But it’s on no account the primary time that HyperX has tweaked another person’s headset design, slapped their very own badge on it and produced a high quality product. Anyone bear in mind the unique HyperX Cloud headset? Yeah, one of many best ever made… nevertheless it began out life as a Qpad QH-90 earlier than Kingston tweaked the EQ and launched most likely the defining HyperX product.
The Audeze Mobius too is likely one of the best gaming headsets in its personal proper, sporting some gorgeous-sounding planar magnetic drivers, a snug body, critical platform versatility… and a few questionably helpful 3D audio tech.
So what has HyperX taken with it to create the Cloud Orbit S headset? Inevitably the gimmicky Waves Nx tech has made it throughout to sit down below these HyperX badges, however an important factor is that the Orbit S continues to be utilizing the identical 100mm planar magnetic drivers.
| HyperX Cloud Orbit S | HyperX Cloud Orbit | Audeze Mobius | |
| Driver | Planar Magnetic | Planar Magnetic | Planar Magnetic |
| Driver measurement | 100mm | 100mm | 100mm |
| Frequency response | 10Hz–50,000Hz | 10Hz – 50,000Hz | 10Hz – 50,000Hz |
| Mic | Detachable | Detachable | Detachable |
| Connections | USB (Type-A & C), 3.5mm analogue | USB (Type-A & C), 3.5mm analogue | Bluetooth, USB (Type-A & C), 3.5mm analogue |
| Tech | Waves Nx 3D audio, Waves Nx head monitoring | Waves Nx 3D audio | Waves Nx 3D audio, Waves Nx head monitoring |
| Price | $329 | £300 | $300 | £270 | $399 | £330 |
Ever since I acquired my fingers on a pair of Oppo PM3s, I’ve been in love with the audio readability and depth you will get from a set of planar magnetic drivers. Most headsets, gaming or in any other case, will use normal dynamic drivers. They use a skinny coil of wire that an audio sign is handed via, which then reacts with a magnet and sends a conical diaphragm wiggling forwards and backwards to generate the sound waves that go and whack into your ear drums.
That vibration, nonetheless, can result in distortion at excessive volumes or with low bass frequencies, which suggests you don’t at all times get completely clear audio from normal magnetic drivers. Even them Neil Diamond ones. Sorry. Neodymium.
Planar magnetic drivers, nonetheless, use many magnets with a skinny, flat membrane stretched between them. This is the floor which is vibrated to create the sound waves you then hear. And it’s this flat membrane that allows planar magnetic headphones to generate their distinctive, cleaner, extra correct audio, with out distortion, and with out unusual sound bounce from that conical design.
Basically, planar magnetic drivers are simply plain higher. They’re heavier, and dearer, however undoubtedly higher.
So having one other set of gaming headphones utilizing the know-how is a particular plus, and with the Orbit S costing rather less than the Audeze Mobius cans, that’s a bonus too. But how is HyperX transport primarily the identical headset but with a decrease sticker value? Because the Orbit S is a resolutely wired set.
THE SONIC LANDSCAPE CAN BE SPECTACULAR WHEN PLAYING THE RIGHT GAME
The Mobius is a bit more versatile in that it affords a Bluetooth wi-fi connection, whereas the Orbit S depends on both a 3.5mm cable or a USB-C connection to supply the sonic items. But for a PC-focused gaming headset, that’s undoubtedly not a nasty factor.
But HyperX has additionally gone a little bit additional, as a result of there’s a straight Orbit headset in addition to this Orbit S. The Orbit is rather less costly once more, and the one factor it’s lacking is the Audeze Waves Nx head monitoring know-how. I’m utilizing ‘missing’ right here in a purely goal sense, as a result of subjectively I don’t miss it in any respect.
Here’s the factor. The Waves Nx 3D audio does sound nice. Mix the detailed audio of the beautiful planar magnetic drivers with some correct spatial sound and the ensuing sonic panorama could be spectacular when enjoying the suitable game. Running round in Resi 7 and the hairs actually stood up on my arms. The whispers and moans emanating from unknown and unknowable locations round that rickety previous home are rendered superbly with the Orbit S.
But the top monitoring? I simply don’t see the purpose. For PC gaming I’m wanting straight on the display screen – that’s my viewport – so ideally I don’t need to look away from it. The Waves Nx head monitoring signifies that you set the display screen because the centre level for audio and as you progress your noggin it sounds just like the centre channel is at all times coming from that path. But I merely can’t see how that’s useful, or immersive.
There’s one other niggle with the Waves Nx tech, and that’s the truth that it requires the usage of a battery or direct USB energy to the headset. Try operating the Orbit S via a 3.5mm jack and you continue to have to show it on and chug via a few of that 10 hours of battery life to have any audio, even when you flip the 3D off. That cuts its versatility, although actually I’d solely need to use them plugged into the PC, not wandering round city.
In the top, whereas the 3D audio sounds good, the top monitoring undoubtedly looks like a little bit of a gimmick. And once I can merely purchase primarily the identical headset, with the identical nice audio, with out the top monitoring for a cheaper price, that’s what I’m going to do. And the audio is nice, I can’t stress that sufficient… I simply wouldn’t suggest spending the additional $30 on the ‘S’ model. Just go purchase the straight HyperX Orbit.
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