We ask so much more of our gaming headsets nowadays. Having a headset in 2021 means you need something that provides not only quality audio but a comfortable fit, a great-sound microphone, an easy-to-set-up pairing, and something that can last a long time. Oh, and if it doesn’t cost an arm and leg, that’d be nice too.
Turtle Beach has been in the headset business for a while now, continuing to push and refine its products with each new iteration. Their Stealth 700 Gen 2 Playstation Headset — compatible with both PS4 and PS5 — feels like the pinnacle of all their work so far. Turtle Beach makes some of the best PS5 headsets, and so I jumped at the chance to test out the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Playstation Headset.
Buy: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Playstation Headset $149.95
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Playstation Headset: What We Liked
From the moment you open the box, the Stealth 700 feels substantial. Not in an overly heavy way, but in a way that you can tell that they’re durable and well-made. The headband has plenty of cushion at the top and rests comfortably on your head, which makes extended play sessions a breeze. The sides adjust easily thanks to the metal-reinforced headband, ensuring that if you drop or somehow sit on top of them, they won’t snap. The swiveling ear cups feature a gel-infused, memory foam cushion which not only provides comfort but helps to cool your ears, so they don’t get overheated. The cups also help lock in the fit around your ears; the headset doesn’t feature active noise cancelation, but the cups provide a great seal to cut out the majority of outside noise. The control buttons (volume, pairing, on/off) all sit easily on the left cup for easy access.
The Stealth namesake comes from the handy way in which the microphone is deployed; when not in use, it stays tucked away in the left cup and then folds down when you need it. It’s all part of a subtle approach, even down to the low-key Turtle Beach branding on the headset itself. Even pairing is a breeze; an included USB adaptor plugs in your system and then requires you to turn it on, and you’re all set. Included Bluetooth capability allows you to pair it to your phone or even PC should you desire. The battery life clocks in around 20 hours or so, which means you can go from gaming to listening to a podcast with ease and not have to fret over battery life too much.
The audio quality is really fantastic. I tested it on my Playstation 5 (it works on PS4) with the enabled 3D Audio during my God of War playthrough. I had to turn down the volume at times because of how intense the playback was, as I could hear every single axe swing and could even hear enemies approaching behind me. It was also helpful for figuring out where enemies might come from during a heated game of Fortnite. The audio is crisp, clear and allows you to hear all the different nuances in a game’s audio design. It feels on par with some of the top-tier PC gaming headsets I’ve tested.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Playstation Headset: What We Didn’t Like
Honestly, a lot of this is going to be nit-picky. The Stealth’s microphone doesn’t allow for a full adjustment like other headsets do, as it just folds down or folds up. It might feel weird to those used to fiddling with the microphone to get it closer to your face with no lateral movement. It’s a super minor issue, but one worth flagging nonetheless. Also, the headset skews naturally loud. It took me a few times to realize I needed to start with the volume a little lower than I otherwise anticipated. The shape of the headset might throw you off a bit as well since the L-shaped cups are meant to sit on your ears facing away from you instead of towards the screen. It’s a minor thing, but you might feel like you have the Stealth on backward at first.
The Verdict: The 3rd Party Console Gaming Headset to Beat
If you’re looking for a gaming headset that’s the complete package, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 headset for the Playstation 4 and 5 is the headset to beat. Sure, we loved Sony’s dedicated headset a lot, but if you’d rather try something different or want an option that’s far more versatile, the Stealth is the way to go. With Playstation 5 still being so new, we anticipate future iterations of the Stealth only to get better and more impressive. But for now, there’s plenty to be excited about.
Buy: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Playstation Headset $149.95
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