How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired gaming headset built for PC and Xbox with spatial audio and a boom mic you can detach, choose HyperX; if you need long wireless playtime, foldable portability and a mic for calls on the go, choose PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear.
• HyperX's biggest strength: a purpose-built gaming setup — detachable noise-cancelling boom mic, a USB audio control box with mic and volume controls, and 2 years of DTS Headphone:X spatial audio.
• HyperX's biggest trade-off: it's a wired, adult-focused gaming headset with no Bluetooth, so it isn't the pick for wireless listening around the house or on a commute.
• PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear's biggest strength: wireless freedom — Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint, a claimed 60 hours of playtime, four EQ modes and a foldable, rotating-cup design.
• PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear's biggest trade-off: sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation, and its microphone is built in rather than a dedicated boom arm.
• Pick HyperX if you game at a desk and want clear comms plus spatial audio for PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch or VR.
• Pick PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear if you want one pair for travel, the gym, commuting and calls, with a 3.5mm cable as a backup.
HyperX built this around the desk. The Cloud Core is a wired over-ear headset with a 3.5mm jack, and the bundle includes an activation code for two years of DTS Headphone:X spatial audio. That matters in games where you need to place footsteps, reloads or voice lines directionally — spatial processing is the whole point here, and it's compatible with PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
The other half of the design is communication. The mic is detachable and noise-cancelling, and it's Discord and TeamSpeak certified, so it's aimed squarely at people who talk while they play. The USB audio control box lets you adjust mic volume, headset volume and mute without digging through system menus — a small thing that becomes a big thing once you're mid-match. The frame is aluminum, which speaks to surviving daily wear, and the memory foam ear cups are there for long sessions. A 2-year manufacturer warranty backs it up.
Who should buy it? PC and Xbox players who want a wired connection they never have to charge, a boom mic they can remove for solo play, and hardware volume controls within reach. It also suits anyone who wants the option to plug into a PlayStation, Switch, mobile device or VR setup via the standard 3.5mm cable.
Who should skip it? If wireless is non-negotiable, this isn't your headset — there's no Bluetooth here. It's also listed as adult-oriented, and it's a gaming-first design, so if you mainly want music on a train, the PowerLocus is the more natural fit.
PowerLocus takes the opposite approach: cut the cable, keep the features broad. The Boom model is a wireless over-ear headphone with Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint, meaning you can pair two devices at once and hop between them — laptop for a meeting, phone for a call — without re-pairing every time. Bluetooth range is listed at 40 feet, so you can leave your phone on the desk and walk around.
The headline number is 60 hours of playtime, which is the kind of figure that changes how you use a headphone: you stop thinking about charging. There are also four EQ modes — Pop, Bass, Rock and Vocal — so you can tilt the sound toward thump for the gym or clarity for podcasts. The 40mm dynamic drivers and 108dB sensitivity suggest an easy-to-drive, bass-forward tuning.
Physically, it's built for movement. The ear cups rotate 90 degrees, the headband is metal and expandable, and the whole thing folds into a bag. Soft memory foam ear cups are meant to stay comfortable over long stretches, and the design is explicitly pitched at the gym, travel and office hours. The built-in mic uses noise-cancelling technology for calls, and there's a 3.5mm jack as a wired fallback plus USB-C charging. It's covered by a 2-year full warranty.
Who should buy it? Commuters, travelers, gym-goers and remote workers who want one flexible pair for music, calls and video meetings. Who should skip it? Competitive gamers who want a dedicated boom mic and spatial audio processing — that's HyperX's territory, not this one.
• Best for gaming audio positioning → HyperX. DTS Headphone:X spatial audio is included, and it's built for PC and Xbox.
• Best for voice chat and streaming → HyperX. Detachable noise-cancelling mic, Discord and TeamSpeak certified.
• Best for battery life → PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear. 60 hours of claimed playtime versus a wired headset that never needs charging but never leaves the desk either.
• Best for travel and the gym → PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear. Foldable, rotating ear cups and a lightweight wireless design.
• Best for switching between phone and laptop → PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear. Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint handles two devices at once.
• Best for on-the-fly volume and mute control → HyperX. The USB audio control box puts mic volume, headset volume and mute at your fingertips.
• Best for tuning sound to your taste → PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear. Four EQ modes: Pop, Bass, Rock and Vocal.
• Best for a wired, charge-free setup → HyperX. A 3.5mm jack works across Xbox, Switch, mobile and VR, plus PC and PS4 via the USB control box.
In my opinion, these two barely compete — they solve different problems. If your priority is gaming with clear comms and spatial audio, I'd buy the HyperX Cloud Core. The detachable certified mic, the control box and the DTS Headphone:X code make it the more purposeful tool for a desk setup, and the aluminum frame and 2-year warranty suggest it'll take daily abuse.
If instead you want one wireless pair for music, calls, travel and the gym, I'd buy the PowerLocus Boom. Multipoint Bluetooth, a claimed 60-hour battery and folding ear cups are exactly what a commuter or traveler needs. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit — the value case for either depends on what you're paying.
For gaming specifically, HyperX. It's a wired headset with a detachable noise-cancelling boom mic, a USB audio control box for volume and mute, and two years of DTS Headphone:X spatial audio for PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
The listed noise control is sound isolation, not active noise cancellation. The microphone uses noise-cancelling technology for calls, but the headphones rely on the ear cups to block outside sound.
Yes. Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint lets you stay connected to two devices, and the built-in mic with noise-cancelling technology is intended for online meetings and calls. There's also a 3.5mm jack if you'd rather go wired.
PowerLocus Headphones Over Ear. The ear cups rotate 90 degrees, the headband folds, and the wireless design with claimed 60-hour playtime is made for planes, trains and gym bags. HyperX is a wired desk headset.
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