Last year's Kingston HyperX Cloud despite being positioned as a gaming headset was well-rounded enough for all kinds of uses. We even recommended it over the more bombastic Asus Strix Pro . Kingston has already launched an upgrade and quite unsurprisingly it is called the Kingston HyperX Cloud II.

Great fit; Decent surround sound; Good value for money

Cable could have been detachable

When it comes to putting the HyperX Cloud II to the test it proved itself quite well. The comfort of this headset is up there with the best. The extra included velour cup cushions proved to be the best feeling and throughout testing we even felt as if it wasn't on.

Kingston has once again impressed us with their latest headset from their HyperX Cloud series, the Stinger. Aimed at budget-conscious gamers, the Stinger offers up goodies such as HyperX signature memory foam, rotating ear cups, and intuitive microphone and volume adjustments.

Very comfortable; Lightweight – 275 grams; Headset mounted volume slider is conveniently placed; Memory foam in all padding areas; Low price

No size markings on adjustable slider band; Headset cord is short when used without Y-adapter extension

The Kingston HyperX Cloud II aims to offer everything the average gamer would want from a headset. It boasts big 53mm drivers, surround sound processing, and a detachable microphone. It works with all of the major gaming platforms, including PC/Mac, mobile, PS4 and Xbox One (with an adaptor).

Great sound quality; Luxurious finish; Thoughtful extras

Headphone cord doesn't detach; Flimsy carry case

KitGuru Says: Kingston's newly revamped Cloud II headset does not change the formula much, but that is a good thing. The surround features add a new element to an already stellar product without bumping the price up too much.

Gaming audio is fantastic; Although imperfect, 7.1 setting adds new dimension to gameplay, Metal frame means no creaking, making it great for Oculus Rift gaming, Great for music too, Plenty of volume, Microphone clarity is excellent, Supremely comfortable over multi-hour periods, Although not...

Virtual surround sound is not as good as the real deal; Audio cable should be on the right; Noise cancelling microphone is not perfect

The HyperX Cloud Stinger is one of the best headsets that I've used or handled this year. The fixed cable is the one thing that gives me pause, but the Cloud Stinger basically nails each area of concern for a $50 headset and elevates the category.

The HyperX Cloud Stinger Gaming Headset provides some excellent value for money and impressive audio!

Kingston has made a name for itself in the gaming world through extremely comfortable headphones that make up the HyperX series. The HyperX Cloud Stinger acts as an affordable introductory version to get you hooked, and it works. At only $50, these are some very comfortable headphones.

Very comfortable; Great audio quality for the price; Feels durable

Plastic look; Non-retractable mic; Poor volume control

There is no better headphone at this price point other than HyperX Cloud II that gives a stunning virtual 7.1 channel surround sound experience.

Solid construction quality Super comfortable ear cups Loud speaker drivers with 60 Ohm impedance Natural sounds with no artificial boosting or attenuation Very great performance vs price ratio

Cable is a little short unless you are using the USB sound card

Kingston's HyperX Cloud II headset feels like it is worth around $300, sounds like it is worth $200 and costs $100. We recommend this for any gamer looking for a game-winning headset.

The feel; Comfort in the long-run; Strong backbone; Easy to clean

Size issues; The microphone socket; USB; PRICING; United States; Kingston HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset for PC/PS4/Mobile retails for $97.29 at Amazon; Canada; Kingston HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset for PC/PS4/Mobile retails for CDN$204.08 at Amazon Canada