Roccat Sova/HyperX Stinger
Yeah, sting those clouds – they deserve it
PRICE $ 79 hyperxgaming.com We’ve
been impressed with every headset from HyperX so far, from the breakout Cloud to the brilliant Revolver, and the Stinger is no exception.
The budget entry into the HyperX headset range, the Stinger is quite unlike the other headsets in design. It’s a lot simpler, with a padded plastic headband instead of a fully padded headband or supportive strap, and earcups attached with a plastic swivel. The headset still features the memory foam and leatherette covering of the other models, making the Stinger very comfortable to wear, and the headband gives enough clamp to provide some decent passive noise occlusion. The headset weighs in at around 275g so you don’t have to worry about them becoming uncomfortable over longer gaming sessions.
We tested the headset with a variety of games and music, from shooters to rhythm games and classical through to bluegrass, and the big 50mm drivers perform well for the most part in gaming and other media, with clear highs and decent bass. The mid ranges do come across as a little weak, but for the price the performance is excellent.
The microphone is also good, with decent noise cancelling and sensitivity. The mic can be muted by flicking it up and out of the way but unfortunately it can’t be removed, meaning the Stinger will be tethered to your PC unless you don’t mind walking the streets with a boom mic sticking out of your ear. 2016 is shaping up to be the year of excellent budget headsets. DANIEL WILKS