HP Cloud Stinger Core - Gaming Headset + 7.1 - Black
By HP · Gaming Headsets · Audio & Electronics
- 2.4GHz wireless
- DTS Headphone:X spatial audio
- 40mm drivers
- Noise-cancelling mic
- Steel sliders
Lowest price seen
$44.99
from $44.99 at R3NEW (refurb retailer) · Checked Oct 9, 2026
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Summary
A lightweight 2.4 GHz wireless gaming headset with 40 mm drivers, DTS Headphone:X and a flip-to-mute microphone, aimed at budget PC players. Check two things before buying: the virtual 7.1 surround only works through HyperX NGenuity software on Windows, and there is no Bluetooth, so you need a spare USB-A port for the dongle.
Strengths
- Lightweight at 244 g and comfortable for long sessions.
- Stable 2.4 GHz link in the same room.
- Bass-forward sound keeps directional audio cues clear.
- Convenient flip-to-mute, noise-cancelling microphone.
- Adjustable steel sliders feel durable for the price.
Weaknesses
- Bass-heavy tuning will not suit every listener.
- Microphone is serviceable but mellow, short on low end, and clips when it sits close to your mouth.
- NGenuity software is bare, with no equalizer and no sidetone.
- Wireless signal drops through walls, even under 20 ft.
- Low-battery warning arrives early, so shutdowns can surprise you.
- No Bluetooth; the dongle is USB-A only.
Verified specifications
| Model | Cloud Stinger Core Wireless + 7.1 (Black), model CS002. |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | PC; also works with PS4/PS5 through the 2.4 GHz dongle. |
| Drivers | 40 mm dynamic with neodymium magnets. |
| Form factor | over-ear, closed-back. |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz–21 kHz (manufacturer); IGN measured 20 Hz–20 kHz. |
| Impedance | 16 ohm. |
| Sensitivity | 103 dBSPL/mW at 1 kHz. |
| Total harmonic distortion | under 2%. |
| Battery life | up to 17 hours. |
| Wireless | 2.4 GHz USB-A dongle; up to 20 m claimed, 12 m (39.4 ft) in Tom’s Hardware’s report. |
| Charging | USB-C. |
| Microphone | electret condenser, unidirectional, noise-cancelling, 50 Hz–18 kHz, flip-to-mute. |
| Spatial audio | DTS Headphone:X, virtual 7.1 via HyperX NGenuity on Windows. |
| Weight | 244 g. |
Full research notes and sources
Sound and spatial audio
The 40 mm neodymium drivers sound bass-forward without going muddy, and directional cues came through clearly in IGN’s Overwatch testing. The virtual 7.1 surround is DTS Headphone:X run by HyperX NGenuity on Windows, not a hardware feature, so it does nothing on a console or without the software installed. IGN could not hear a difference between 7.1 on and off.
Microphone and software
The flip-to-mute electret condenser mic is fine for in-game chat: mellow, short on low end, and prone to clipping when it sits close to your mouth. It is not the microphone for streaming. NGenuity itself is bare — volume and a 7.1 toggle, with no equalizer and no sidetone — so plan on living with the stock tuning. The mic does not detach.
Wireless and battery life
The USB-A dongle keeps a stable 2.4 GHz link in the same room, but the signal drops through walls even under 20 ft. HyperX rates the range at up to 20 m; Tom’s Hardware reported up to 12 m. The 17-hour battery claim held up in testing, though the early low-battery warning can catch you out, and runtime falls once the mic is live. There is no Bluetooth. Recharge is over USB-C.
Is it worth it?
At the $79.99 launch price in August 2020 this was hard to argue with: stable wireless, 17 hours of battery, and a comfortable 244 g frame for less than $100. Above $100 the picture changes; IGN notes the Corsair HS70 Pro and SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless outclass it at slightly higher prices, and past $125 a budget wireless headset stops making sense. If you mostly play on a Windows PC and want wireless freedom cheaply, it still fits; if you need console surround, Bluetooth, or a broadcast-quality mic, look elsewhere.
Which model this is
This page covers the Cloud Stinger Core Wireless + 7.1 in Black, model CS002. That is the 2.4 GHz wireless version, not the wired 3.5 mm Cloud Stinger Core, the Cloud Stinger, the Cloud Stinger 2, or the Xbox-specific CloudX Stinger Core. It launched under HyperX, which HP acquired in 2021, and is now sold under the HP brand.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- Cloud Stinger Core Wireless Gaming Headset + 7.1 — HyperX UK
- Cloud Stinger Core Wireless + 7.1 Quick Start Guide (PDF)
Independent reviews:
- HyperX Cloud Stinger Core Wireless + 7.1 Review — IGN
- HyperX Cloud Stinger Core Wireless launch — Tom’s Hardware
Owner reports:
- None found; owner threads could not be fetched.
Stores: