The best sound for €100? The HyperX Cloud III S Wireless shakes up our comparison of gaming headsets

The arrival on the market of the HyperX Cloud III S Wireless headset, presented in appearance as a simple patch providing dual connectivity, masks a much more ambitious reality: a sound metamorphosis that shakes up the standards of its category. The audio isn’t just improved over its predecessor, the Cloud III Wirelessit is totally transfigured, propelling this model to the rank of absolute reference in terms of acoustic balance, including compared to much more expensive headphones. The HyperX Cloud III S Wireless has in fact been offered at only €100 since Black Friday (compared to €150 at its launch), a price which continues to apply at Amazon.

An ultra-balanced sound, worthy of the sector’s nomadic tenors

The heart of this success lies in the unprecedented mastery of the 53 mm transducers which deliver an extremely natural, rich sound with perfect versatility. Where most gaming headsets give in to the temptation of cartoonish over-emphasis on bass and treble for an easy “immersive” effect, the Cloud III S Wireless adopts a technical and balanced approach. The result is a level of detail and a separation of instruments that allow it to compete without blushing with high-end Bluetooth headsets usually cited as a reference for music listening, such as the Sony WH-1000XM6 or the Bose QC Ultra Headphones (Gen 2). The listening impression is that of an ample and detailed soundstage, without ever going into excess.

This sound signature is not only excellent for music, it is ideally relevant for gaming. Its sober approach to the bass, although it can be adjusted via the equalizer to obtain more body if the user wishes, avoids distortion and allows precise localization of the atmospheres and the small crucial details in play. This consistency and this accuracy of the adjustment make the flagship and much more expensive models of the competition, such as the recent Razer Blackshark V3 Pro or the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wirelesswho do not achieve such a level of technical mastery.

Successful spatial audio, supported by advanced customization

Even the integration of 3D sound, often a gimmick, is mastered here. Although limited by the current application, it gives a surplus of scale and localization without being caricatured, avoiding the pitfall of excessive reverberation, even if it causes a slight loss of coherence.

This acoustic performance is supported by the flexibility offered by the software. The 10-band equalizer, accessible through Ngenuity software, allows users to tailor the headset’s sound signature to their preferences. Slightly enhancing the bass or midrange frequencies can provide a more lively sound, without unbalancing the whole thing or introducing distortion. Additionally, the future version of the app (currently in public beta) promises to unlock full control over spatial audio (adjustment of virtual channels for 3D sound) and significant microphone improvements (AI noise reduction), ensuring that the currently spartan user experience will rise to the level of sonic excellence.

The best Audio rating in our gaming headset comparison

In short, the real achievement of this headset lies in making reference audio quality accessible at a rock-bottom price, forcing the market to reconsider what the sound standard should be for the player. The HyperX Cloud III S Wireless therefore obtains the best audio score among all the gaming headsets we tested, allowing it to rise to the top of our comparison in this regard.

Please note that we are only comparing the Cloud III S Wireless to headsets passed through our lab. Certain more expensive models with much greater sound ambitions on paper are not yet included, such as theAudeze Maxwellthe SteelSeries Nova Elite or the Sony INZONE H9 II. It remains to be seen whether they will be able to compete with this astonishing headset which doesn’t look like much, but still holds its own against most headsets for all targets (gaming, nomadic or living room).

Want to save even more? Discover our promo codes selected for you.