IF YOU’RE FORTUNATE enough to own
HyperX’s excellent Cloud Revolver S
headset, there's not much to get excited
about on the Revolver 7.1. It's a hardware
refresh in the minimalist sense, with
only one significant change; the Revolver
S used Dolby tech to produce virtual
surround sound, while the Revolver 7.1
uses HyperX’s proprietary surround
sound hardware for genuine 7.1.
The design is similar to the original
Revolver, with large earcups and a
sturdy steel frame that supports a self-
adjusting headband. The combination of
metal and matte plastic gives a premium
feel to the headset, with memory foam
wrapped in a soft leatherette on the
earcups and headband. It’s a far more
refined product than HyperX’s cheaper
offerings such as the Cloud Stinger and
Cloud Core headsets, with a hefty $150
price tag to match.
Naturally, we can expect some
premium sound quality at that price and
the Revolver 7.1 mostly delivers in that
respect. Games sound fantastic and this
headset’s plug-and-play functionality
makes it perfect for gamers who want
zero-fuss setups for their peripherals.
Because the 7.1 surround sound is
delivered directly by the hardware rather
than simulated virtually, no software
is required to use it; all you have to do
is hit the chunky 7.1 button on the USB
controller. The Revolver has no RGB
lights to speak of either, so HyperX’s
Ngenuity software isn't required here.
The surround sound works really well
in games, with Doom Eternal delivering
the perfect combination of gnarly sound
effects and pulse-pounding speed metal.
Even the clustered soundscape of the
game’s busier segments was clear and
focused, with demonic shrieks coming
across with clarity over the thumping
soundtrack. The sparser audio of The
Witcher 3 also showcases the surround
sound, working wonders for the game’s
immersive qualities.
When it comes to music, the Revolver
7.1 performs admirably too, with deep
bass notes and good clarity on high-Surround sound
gets serious
HyperX Cloud
Revolver 7.1
7
VERDICT HyperX Cloud Revolver 7.1SIX SHOOTER Good for gaming
and music alike; software-free
surround sound; great build quality.
FIRING BLANKS Fairly expensive; needs
more audio customization options.
$150, hyperx.comSPECIFICATIONSDriver Type 50mm neodymium
magnet
Frequency Response 10Hz–23.2kHz
Sensitivity -40dBVDesign Style Circumaural,
closed back
Microphone Type Unidirectional noise-
cancelling electret
condenser
Connection Standard 3.5mm/USB
Battery Life N/AWeight 0.83lbpitched tones. Naturally, it won't beat
the dynamic range of a proper pair of
audiophile headphones from Sennheiser
or Beyerdynamic but, for a gaming
headset, the audio quality is impressive.
The USB controller is a great
inclusion, boasting a sturdy build and
large, clicky buttons for adjusting volume
and microphone sensitivity. The headset
plugs directly into either a controller or
device via a 3.5mm jack; while a USB port
is required when using the controller. The
actual headset cable is short compared
to the 2m woven cable on the controller
though, so using it without the controller
feels impractical.ON THE MIC
The detachable microphone is over-
designed, with a patterned rubberized
exterior and chunky head. It’s a far cry
from the simple but effective headset
mics seen on HyperX’s Cloud Flight and
Cloud Alpha, but it works well, picking
up speech clearly while automatically
filtering out background noise. The option
to adjust mic sensitivity with a few clicks
on the USB controller is great, saving you
a trip into your system settings.
The lack of software inclusion might
spell trouble for users who like to tweak
their audio experience. EQ customization
and adjustment of the 7.1 surround
sound’s virtual speaker positioning isn’t
an option in Ngenuity, and while changes
can be made in Windows Sonic, there
is hardly a wealth of options. We wish
the Revolver 7.1 had some capacity for
software audio adjustments.Meanwhile, another sticking point
is the price—$150 is no small fee for
a gaming headset, even one that feels
as well designed as this. And while the
Revolver 7.1 might be comfortable (the
double headband means it fits itself
neatly to most heads with no trouble), the
steel construction means the headset is
on the heavy side, which is bound to cause
problems for some users after extended
periods of use. –CHRISTIAN GUYTONMAR 2022 MAXIMU MPC 89