Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Short review: Pros: Airy highs, expansive soundstage, very comfortable Cons: Minor aesthetic design choices Summary: I consider these to be a great value and would highly recommend them. Even in comparison to the high rated HyperX Cloud, everything sounds rich and detailed. In comparison, everything else sounds distorted or dull. The sparkly highs, solid bass impact, and expansive soundstage are extremely immersive and welcoming while being comfortable enough for long wearing sessions. Long Review: Overview: Two years ago, HyperX introduced as the Cloud as a curve ball into a market full of poorly tuned headsets which focused on aesthetic appeal and marketability rather than actual quality. With this headset, HyperX have again pushed the industry standard higher. True to the name, the Cloud Revolvers are highly comfortable and I have no issues with ear moisture or headaches while wearing them all day whether for gaming or working. While every aspect of the headset is top-notch, the clarity and soundstage are what separates the Revolver from the other available headsets. Highs: Without a doubt, these highs are why I highly recommend this headset; the highs are done extraordinarily well and very pleasant to listen to. They are extremely clear and crisp without being fatiguing or headache-inducing. Female vocals, violin, flute, piano, and even electro-mixes sound absolutely stunning on these. The highs provide the clarity and air that seem lacking in every other gaming headset. Compared to flat tone of my Cloud II, my muffled Kraken Pro, and the artificial metallic tone of the Steelseries Siberia V3, these are clearly superior. Mids: The mids are on these are well executed. While they lack a little lushness, the midrange is still very pleasing; textured and detailed without sounding thin like many of its bass-heavy or V-shaped competitors. Like female vocals, male vocals, acoustic guitars, and percussive attacks sound natural and engaging. Lows: The lows on these are very controlled and tight. This will be a positive for most audio-phile listeners, but average consumers may see it as a glaring weakness. The bass is solid with good extension, providing a deep, rumbly sub-bass and strong punchy mid-bass. Those accustomed to bloated, boomy, overdone bass will find the Revolver unsatisfying in this aspect, but I found it to be plenty enough. The bass is not sloppy or muddy; it is strong and detailed while providing good impact. Overall Sound: Among a sea of headsets that sound like garbled messes, the Revolver stands as a shining beacon. It sounds clear and detailed, constantly providing those “I hear things I’ve never heard before” moments. The bass is well defined and tight, proving more is not better. All of these aspects combine together to form a signature that is fun and engaging, yet comfortable enough to listen to all day. Soundstage: This is the trump card that the Revolver holds over headsets from its competitors. HyperX pushed the product saying it provided a “studio-grade soundstage” and it certainly delivers; in this aspect, the Revolver is competitive with even normal music headphones making it far superior to other gaming headsets. The soundstage on these is equivalent of Dolby 5.1 speakers. From a stereo headset without any virtual-surround options, that’s very impressive. Listening to recordings of bands, orchestras, or any songs with an emphasized soundstage will sound phenomenal. In games, I am able to detect the location of sounds such as footsteps, gunshots, and ambient noise which provides both an added level of immersion and a slight edge over my opponents. Similarly, movies are equally enjoyable as you will experience the soundstage that theatres provide. Microphone: The microphone is respectable. Those looking to record podcasts should look towards professional microphones, but this is more than adequate for streaming, Skype, Discord, TeamSpeak, etc. In contrast to the poor microphones on the Kraken Pro and A40, this sounds spectacular. Design/Comfort: The aesthetic appeal is highly contested; I personally find them highly attractive and reminiscent of AKG headphones with just enough gamer appeal. The ear cups are large and deep while the ear pads are highly comfortable while providing a strong seal for good isolation. The suspension headband allows the Revolver to be worn by anyone as the headset automatically adjusts to best hug your head; it is both efficient and effective. My one gripe is the gloss black ring around the logo. I definitely prefer a matte black to match the rest of the headphone, but it is personal preference as to which looks better. The last thing I would add is more red contrast; as is, the red stitching and logo ring seem misplaced against the rest of the headphone. If the headband were red or the metal band were red, it would pop more. Comparisons: HyperX Cloud/Cloud II: I find the Cloud/Cloud II as the standard to compare against within gaming headsets as I find it to be the most competent and good sounding headphone meant for this market. Funnily enough, it’s also produced by HyperX. There is a good amount of bass, but it is boomy and poorly controlled. Similarly, the mid-range is slightly pulled back, resulting in a thin sound. Clarity and details are lost because of the muted highs. The Revolver, in contrast, sounds much fuller, rich, and expansive which results in a better overall experience. Audio-Technica M50x: The M50x is the most recommended headphone for those seeking to enter the audiophile world. I’ve never been a fan. It has a V-shaped signature meaning the bass and highs are the focus. This results in a boomy bass-line and artificial, metallic-sounding highs. Combined with the recessed mid-range and narrow soundstage, this results in an aggressive, unnatural, closed-in sound. The Revolver sounds natural with more detail and a liquid, lush bass-line. Coupled with the large soundstage, the Revolver is technically superior. Beats Solo2: The Solo2 is Beats’ most popular headphone. The plastic and pleather construction pales in comparison to the Revolver’s steel and leather design. As for sound, the bass has good quality, but not quantity; the bass is textured and has good extension, but is so elevated that it covers the other frequencies. On their own, the highs and midrange sound passable, but are immediately covered by the bass. As a result, the Solo2 sounds dull and closed-in with a bloated bass-line. The Revolver can be seen as a better Solo2; it takes all the weaknesses of the Solo2, refines them, and turns it into a lush sounding headset. Overall Rating: 4.5 stars