We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a featherweight headset that blocks out the room and does double duty on a console, choose Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK; if you need plush memory-foam comfort, a tank-like aluminum frame and a mic you can rip off for solo play, choose HyperX Cloud. These two wired 3.5 mm headsets sit in the same corner of the gaming market, but they were clearly built by people with different priorities. One chases isolation and low weight. The other chases durability and long-session cushioning.
• Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK — biggest strength: closed-back isolation plus 45 mm drivers and a sub-230 g build, so you get immersion and long-session comfort without a heavy clamp on your head.
• Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK — biggest trade-off: it's wired only, and you'll want to keep track of two detachable cables and a detachable mic, which is more parts to manage than a fixed-cable headset.
• HyperX Cloud — biggest strength: memory foam ear cushions, a sturdy aluminum frame and a detachable noise-cancelling mic make it a comfort-and-longevity pick with in-line controls.
• HyperX Cloud — biggest trade-off: it's heavier, its passive noise cancellation relies on the seal rather than a closed-back design claim, and its frequency range tops out at 20,000 Hz versus the Audio-Technica's 35,000 Hz.
• Who each pick is for: pick the Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK if you game on PC and console, share a noisy space, and want the lightest possible setup. Pick the HyperX Cloud if you want cushioned marathon comfort, a rugged frame you don't have to baby, and the freedom to snap the mic off.
The ATH-GL3BK's whole personality comes down to two specs: closed-back cups and a weight under 230 grams. Closed-back means the earcups physically seal around your ears, so outside noise gets pushed down and your game audio stays in. In a shared living room, a dorm, or next to a noisy PC fan, that isolation is the difference between hearing footsteps and hearing everything else in the house. The 45 mm dynamic drivers cover a stated 10 Hz to 35,000 Hz range, which is a very wide window — the sub-bass end matters for explosions and rumble, and the extended top end matters for picking out directional cues in competitive shooters.
The second thing you notice is the weight. Under 230 grams is genuinely light for an over-ear gaming headset, and that's the spec that decides whether hour four feels fine or feels like a chore. The earpads and headpad detach for replacement too, which is a practical touch if you wear a headset daily and want it to last beyond the first set of pads.
Buy it if: you game on PC and modern consoles (the box includes a 3.0 m cable with separate mic and headphone plugs for PC, plus a 1.2 m TRRS cable for consoles), you care about isolation, and light weight is your top comfort factor. Skip it if you hate detachable parts, or if you want the mic permanently attached and ready with zero setup.
HyperX Cloud: Who It's For
The HyperX Cloud leans hard into comfort and toughness, and the spec sheet says so plainly. Padded memory foam ear cushions are the headline, and memory foam is the right call for marathon sessions because it spreads pressure instead of creating hot spots. The frame is aluminum, which is the material choice you make when you want a headset to survive being tossed in a bag, sat on, or used for years. That aluminum shell is also why the Cloud carries more heft than the Audio-Technica — durability has a weight cost, and this is where you pay it.
Audio here is a dynamic driver with enhanced bass reproduction and a stated 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz range. That's the standard full-range window, tuned for punch rather than for the extreme top end the Audio-Technica claims. For most games, music and voice chat, 20 kHz is plenty; the difference shows up in how each headset frames detail versus impact.
The mic is detachable and noise-cancelling, which is a genuinely useful combo: keep it on for squad play, pull it off for a single-player campaign or for listening to music. Controls sit in-line on the cable — a small remote for volume and mute — so you're not alt-tabbing out of a match to fix your levels. Noise control is passive, meaning it comes from the cushion seal rather than active electronics.
Buy it if: comfort over long sessions and build quality are your priorities, you want a mic you can remove entirely, and you like having controls on the cable rather than on the cup. Skip it if you want the lightest headset you can find, or if you specifically need the stronger isolation a closed-back design is meant to deliver.
• Best for isolation → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. Closed-back cups are built to keep your audio in and the room out.
• Best for lightweight comfort → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. Under 230 grams is about as light as over-ear gaming headsets get.
• Best for marathon cushioned comfort → HyperX Cloud. Memory foam ear cushions are designed to stay comfortable over long sessions.
• Best for durability → HyperX Cloud. An aluminum frame is the sturdier long-term bet.
• Best for PC + console flexibility out of the box → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. Two included cables cover PC and modern consoles.
• Best for solo play and music listening → HyperX Cloud. The detachable noise-cancelling mic comes off cleanly when you don't need it.
• Best for on-cup controls → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. Volume dial and mute switch sit right on the left earcup.
• Best for on-cable controls → HyperX Cloud. In-line volume and mute keep your hands off your head.
• Best for widest stated frequency range → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. 10 Hz–35,000 Hz versus 20 Hz–20,000 Hz.
In my opinion, the Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK is the headset I'd buy. The reasons are concrete: it's lighter, it isolates because it's closed-back, its 45 mm drivers cover a wider stated frequency range, and it ships with both a PC cable and a console cable so it works with whatever you plug into. If your priority were instead cushioned comfort over very long sessions plus an aluminum frame you don't have to think about, I'd point you to the HyperX Cloud without hesitation — that's a genuinely different, genuinely good set of strengths. But for a mix of PC and console gaming, low weight and strong isolation, the Audio-Technica is my pick.
FAQ
how much gaming headphones
are gaming headphones good for calls
Both of these have detachable boom mics, and that's the important part for calls. The Audio-Technica uses a directional boom with a windscreen aimed at your mouth; the HyperX Cloud uses a detachable noise-cancelling mic. Either works for voice chat and calls — just keep the boom close to your mouth.
is gaming better with headphones
For most people, yes. Over-ear headsets put the drivers around your ears rather than in them, which usually means better isolation and a wider sense of direction. That's exactly the pitch of the Audio-Technica's closed-back design and the HyperX Cloud's memory foam seal.
how to game with bluetooth headphones
Neither of these is Bluetooth — both are wired 3.5 mm headsets, which is a plus if you want zero lag and no charging. Plug the Audio-Technica's 1.2 m TRRS cable into a controller, or its 3.0 m split cable into a PC; plug the HyperX Cloud's 3.5 mm jack into the same kind of port.
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