Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 review

Our Verdict

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 connects easily via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and sounds groovy in-game. It's a tight fit, however, and not that customizable.

For

Practiced sound quality
Two kinds of wireless connectivity
Great mic

Against

Tight fit
Inconsistent book levels

Tom'due south Guide Verdict

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 connects hands via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and sounds bully in-game. Information technology's a tight fit, however, and not that customizable.

Pros

+
Good audio quality
+
2 kinds of wireless connectivity
+
Great mic

Cons

-
Tight fit
-
Inconsistent volume levels

UPDATE, nine/23: This review has been updated to reverberate the ProSpecs features in the earcups. Initially, the review stated that the earcups were not removable. In fact, they are, simply it's difficult to do.

The Turtle Embankment Stealth 700 Gen two is precisely what it sounds similar: a new version of an former Turtle Beach favorite. The original Stealth 700 was one of the first gaming headsets to comprise Xbox wireless technology, and offered solid sound and convenient Bluetooth pairing on summit of that. The Gen 2 has all of those features, plus a much better design, all at the aforementioned reasonable $150 price.

While the headset isn't as inventive now equally it was three years ago (Xbox wireless connectivity is much more mutual, for one thing), information technology'due south still a solid pick for console gamers, particularly those who want something that's time to come-proof for the PS5, Xbox Series Southward and Xbox Serial 10.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 review — (Image credit: Tom'south Guide)

Whether the Stealth 700 Gen ii is ane of the best gaming headsets you lot can go right at present is debatable. The fit is tighter than I'd like, and the Xbox One version suffers from a few inconvenient customization options. Just if you want a well-built, no-nonsense wireless headset from a trusted company, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 is a solid choice. Read our full Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 review for more info.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 design

The Turtle Embankment Stealth 700 Gen 2 looks similar a cross betwixt the Turtle Embankment Stealth 600 Gen 2 and the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero. You go a black-and-silver plastic chassis with a steel headband and slightly segmented oval earcups. The earcups fold apartment, and they're removable, if yous use some force.

Well-nigh of the controls alive on the left earcup: book control, chat mix — the two are inconveniently right next to each other, and yep, yous volition constantly become them mixed up — manner selection, power, Bluetooth, pairing (on the Xbox version) and a foldable mic. This is also where you'll find a USB-C charging port. In that location'due south nothing on the right earcup, which seems like a scrap of a waste.

The headset isn't too ostentatious to wear outside, although it's also a fiddling plain, compared to some of the more than colorful or elaborate headsets that Turtle Beach produces. How it feels, however, is a different story.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen ii condolement

Turtle Embankment headsets are ordinarily extremely comfortable, which is why it's somewhat surprising that the Stealth 700 Gen two isn't. The earcups press down very tightly, and because the headband notches aren't numbered, it's very hard to go a adept fit. While the headset advertises its glasses-friendly ProSpecs pattern, there's no east fashion to adjust a channel in the earcups. The earcups are removable, and you can make infinite for glasses past adjusting a notched ring. However, information technology's non like shooting fish in a barrel to remove the earcups (I thought information technology couldn't be done at first), and it doesn't practise much to address the overall experience of the headset.

The headset isn't too heavy, at least, and the earcups are both breathable and comfortable. But there's merely no getting around the tightness, especially since it presses downward uncomfortably on all sides of the ears from the moment you put it on. While the Stealth 700 Gen two was never painful to wear, information technology was always a relief to take it off, especially later extended gaming sessions.

Turtle Embankment Stealth 700 Gen 2 performance

In terms of sound quality, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen two is somewhere between "good" and "excellent." I tested the device with Halo iii: ODST, Blasphemous, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice and Donut Canton, and the headset provided rich, clear sound across the board. Gunning downwardly Covenant soldiers in Halo 3 had a loud and immediate experience, while the chirps and blips in Donut County all felt pointed and exact.

The headset has similarly good balance for music and video, as I learned when I hooked it up to my PC. (You'll need an Xbox Wireless Adapter to practice this for the Xbox version; the PS4 version is compatible with the PC already). I was especially pleased with the bass in tracks from bands like Flogging Molly and Onetime Crow Medicine show. Gaming headsets usually go very light on bass, and I was pleased to hear that this i balances treble, bass and vocals very well in its default soundscape.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen two features

The Turtle Embankment Stealth 700 Gen 2 is a mixed bag in terms of extra features. The Bluetooth functionality takes eye stage here, as it'southward extremely uncommon in wireless gaming headsets, particularly in the $150 price range. For the nigh part, Bluetooth worked marvelously, whether I was playing mobile games like Monument Valley 2 or taking long business organisation calls. Information technology helps that the Stealth 700 Gen two's mic is surprisingly clear and robust.

On the other hand, managing all the various buttons and options tin can exist a pain. The Turtle Beach Sound Hub software tin upgrade firmware for both the PS4 and Xbox versions of the headset, while you lot'll demand to utilise the Android or iOS app to tweak other settings. In that location, you tin reprogram buttons (it's especially useful to repurpose the conversation mixer as a Bluetooth book punch) and try out dissimilar sound EQ levels.

The bigger issue is that volume is extremely inconsistent from platform to platform. Tales of Crestoria on Android virtually blew my eardrums out when I first continued the headset, while I could barely hear a Rolling Stones song on Windows. Spotify didn't accept the aforementioned volume as YouTube. The book dial is also extremely sensitive, and you're more than likely to land on "too loud" or "too soft" than a comfortable volume. The headset'southward notification tones and vox are likewise painfully loud by default.

The battery life is as well fine, as these things get: well-nigh 20 hours. Some wireless headsets cap out at 10, merely others can go for 30 hours or more, then be prepared to accuse the Stealth 700 Gen 2 at present and so.

Turtle Embankment Stealth 700 Gen 2 verdict

During our Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen ii review, nosotros institute the headset to be bully almost across the board, save for some software difficulties and a tight fit. Comfort is usually the well-nigh of import matter in a gaming headset, and I'one thousand not sure I'd want to utilise the Stealth 700 Gen 2 every twenty-four hours as a effect. Merely in terms of what you get for your money — wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, excellent sound and mappable buttons — there's no denying that the headset is a good value.

Given the choice, I'd still go with the more comfortable, PC-centric Turtle Beach Aristocracy Atlas Aero, at least if y'all're a PS4 player. (That headset works fine on PC, PS4 and docked Switch.) Just for Xbox gamers in the market for a high-end wireless headset — particularly one that volition work with the upcoming Xbox Serial X and Xbox Series S — the Stealth 700 Gen 2 is well worth a wait.

More: Our picks of the best wireless gaming headsets

Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom'southward Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a science writing groundwork, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of science and technology. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi.