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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize incredible detail and wide soundstage in music, the HifiMan Sundara are superior, but they are open-back, which means they leak sound and don't isolate noise well, making them less suitable in noisy environments. On the other hand, the HyperX Cloud II are closed-back, have a boom microphone which is excellent for calls and gaming, offer better noise isolation, and are durable with good sound quality at a much lower price. The Sundara won't be convenient for traveling, whereas the Cloud II's versatility makes them a good fit for various settings despite not matching the Sundara's high-fidelity music performance. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the HifiMan Sundara
- Excellent for music
- Very good for TV and video
Advantages of the HyperX Cloud II
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
Key differences
Music
9.3
7.7
The HifiMan Sundara is excellent for music, while the HyperX Cloud II is good.
Gaming
7.2
8.6
The HyperX Cloud II is very good for gaming, while the HifiMan Sundara is good.
Phone Calls
4.9
7.5
The HyperX Cloud II is good for phone calls, while the HifiMan Sundara is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.8
7.0
The HifiMan Sundara and HyperX Cloud II are both good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the HifiMan Sundara is somewhat better.
TV and Video
8.8
7.6
The HifiMan Sundara is very good for TV and video, while the HyperX Cloud II is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.0
The HyperX Cloud II is only fair for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Sundara is poor.
Cost
$279
$93
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The HifiMan Sundara has a price of $279 and the HyperX Cloud II costs $93.
Build Quality
8.2
10.0
The HyperX Cloud II has best in class build quality, while the HifiMan Sundara has very good build quality.
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How the HifiMan Sundara and the HyperX Cloud II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Sundara | HyperX Cloud II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$279 | $93 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | HyperX | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2020 | January 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.2/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 4.3/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 10/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.2/10 | 10/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 394.6 Grams | 317.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HifiMan Sundara
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | July 2023
"The HiFiMan Sundara is the set of headphones to get if you want high-end audio, but don't want to shell out a king's ransom for it. These planar magnetic headphones are comfortable, straightforward, and excellent performers."
HyperX Cloud II
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Rhys McIntyre | December 2022
"My overall impression of the HyperX Cloud II gaming headset is overwhelmingly positive. In my opinion, this is one of the best mid-priced gaming headsets currently on the market.Solid sound quality, superior comfort, and a sleek, lightweight design – this headset delivers all of the important aspects that a gaming headset should."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Sundara or the HyperX Cloud II
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
About HyperX
Starting originally as a high-performance and gaming line of memory modules within Kingston and later acquired by HP, HyperX is a dedicated esports and gaming division focused on developing peripherals, microphones and headsets. Providing budget-friendly, comfortable and highly functional products, HyperX has become the go-to for many gamers around the world, resulting in sales of over 20 million headsets throughout the years.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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