HyperX Cloud II vs Koss KPH40

Short answer: the HyperX Cloud II, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #113 of 134 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $47.48. The Koss KPH40 ranks #115, rated 2.8/5, at $32.99, $14.49 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 134 over-ear headphones, and the Koss KPH30i, ranked #67 at $23.99, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.

What the HyperX Cloud II does well: A built-in microphone and a closed-back design make it a ready-made gaming headset, and the 60 ohm impedance with 98 dB sensitivity means it runs easily from a PC or console. Watch for: A deep dip of roughly 15 dB near 4.2 kHz hollows out presence, so voices and the attack of instruments sound recessed, while a peak of about 9 dB near 8.6 kHz adds a sharp, sizzly edge to cymbals and sibilance.

Why pick the Koss KPH40: It is one of the cheapest options in its class, and the open-back design gives a more airy, spacious feel than most closed budget headsets. Watch for: Sub-bass rolls off about 7 dB below target under 60 Hz, so kick drums and synth bass lack rumble.

Buy the HyperX Cloud II. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $14.49 with the Koss KPH40 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.

Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.

Specifications Side By Side

Related Headphone Comparisons

How HyperX Cloud II compares with other leading options:

• Sony WH-CH510 vs HyperX Cloud II
• HyperX Cloud II vs Sennheiser HD 450BT
• Koss KPH40 vs Razer BlackShark V2 X
• Koss KPH40 vs Koss Porta Pro
• Koss KPH30i vs Koss KPH40

Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

The Two Headphones In Full

HyperX Cloud II: $47.48 Amazon eBay

Pros: A built-in microphone and a closed-back design make it a ready-made gaming headset, and the 60 ohm impedance with 98 dB sensitivity means it runs easily from a PC or console. The large 53mm driver delivers bass about 4 dB above the Harman target, which suits listeners who want punchy explosions and a warm, bass-forward presentation. Sub-bass and the lower midrange sit close to target, so the low end is fuller without being muddy.

Cons: A deep dip of roughly 15 dB near 4.2 kHz hollows out presence, so voices and the attack of instruments sound recessed, while a peak of about 9 dB near 8.6 kHz adds a sharp, sizzly edge to cymbals and sibilance. Treble above 6 kHz runs about 4 to 5 dB hot, which can become fatiguing at higher volumes. The HyperX Cloud Alpha has a higher rating at a lower price.

Full HyperX Cloud II review and specifications →

Released	Feb 2015 (11 years ago)
Back	Closed
Built-in Microphone	Yes
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	3.60 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Dynamic
Drivers	1 x 53mm dynamic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	60 ohms
Sensitivity	98 dB SPL/mW
Tonal Tilt	-0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	+4.1 dB	0.70
Peak	170 Hz	-7.0 dB	1.06
Peak	271 Hz	+3.7 dB	0.58
Peak	3,828 Hz	+5.4 dB	3.60
Peak	57 Hz	-4.8 dB	0.58
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-7.0 dB	0.70
Peak	8,085 Hz	-3.0 dB	3.98
Peak	2,378 Hz	-1.9 dB	2.78
Peak	3,700 Hz	+1.3 dB	2.71
Peak	1,123 Hz	+1.1 dB	3.29

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the HyperX Cloud II (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • HyperX Cloud II vs Sennheiser HD 450BT
  • HyperX Cloud II vs Sony WH-CH510

Koss KPH40: $32.99 Amazon eBay

Pros: It is one of the cheapest options in its class, and the open-back design gives a more airy, spacious feel than most closed budget headsets. Bass between 60 and 200 Hz sits about 2 dB above target and the lower mids are slightly full, which suits a warm, relaxed listener. Sensitivity of 101 dB at 60 ohms means a phone can drive it.

Cons: Sub-bass rolls off about 7 dB below target under 60 Hz, so kick drums and synth bass lack rumble. A 14.5 dB dip near 4.4 kHz makes vocals and instrument detail sound distant, and treble is about 4 dB low overall, so the sound is dark and muffled. Open backs also leak sound and offer no isolation.

Full Koss KPH40 review and specifications →

Back	Open
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	3.35 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Dynamic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	54 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	60 ohms
Sensitivity	101 dB SPL/1mW
Tonal Tilt	-1.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	+7.5 dB	0.70
Peak	79 Hz	-7.6 dB	0.37
Peak	3,725 Hz	+4.9 dB	3.94
Peak	614 Hz	+1.5 dB	2.05
Peak	37 Hz	+3.9 dB	1.16
High shelf	10,000 Hz	+1.9 dB	0.70
Peak	7,429 Hz	+4.0 dB	0.78
Peak	5,445 Hz	-7.7 dB	4.24
Peak	1,941 Hz	-2.0 dB	2.35
Peak	1,012 Hz	+0.3 dB	1.84

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the Koss KPH40 (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Koss KPH40 vs Koss KSC75
  • Koss KPH40 vs Koss Porta Pro
  • Koss KPH40 vs Razer BlackShark V2 X
  • Koss KPH40 vs Koss KPH30i