The cost of living is rising. However, Turtle Beach’s new Stealth 600 gaming headset remains affordable. It works with both PCs and consoles. Additionally, it boasts a long battery life and many features. You can tweak these features through physical controls or an app. This generous offering is under $100.
Advantages:
- Adjustable chat mix control
- Supports wireless and Bluetooth connections
- Effective microphone noise cancellation
- Long 80-hour battery life
Disadvantages:
- 50mm drivers lack clarity in high frequencies
- May become uncomfortable over time
- Insufficient padding on the headband
Turtle Beach Stealth 600: Quick Review
Creating a premium headset is simple by adding many features and using handcrafted materials. However, achieving a sub-$100 price point, like the Turtle Beach Gen 3 Stealth 600 in 2024, is much harder. For budget-conscious buyers, Turtle Beach delivers.
The headset includes an 80-hour battery life, physical chat mix, volume, and EQ preset controls. It also offers a quick swap button for switching between 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.2 connections. Further adjustments can be made via the Swarm app.
Comfort and feel reveal some compromises made to maintain the low price. The sound quality is good but not outstanding. This is expected for the price range.
High-end features like smart mic noise cancellation and mic EQ presets seem borrowed from pricier models. The headset’s compatibility with multiple devices, including PCs and consoles, is a major benefit. If it has a full-size USB port, the Stealth 600 can likely connect. Not all features work on every device, but for the price, this headset is a reliable choice for wireless gaming.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600: Price and Availability
The list price is $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179. Wireless headsets are rarely cheaper. This model competes well with Corsair and SteelSeries.
Finding a cheaper wireless headset than the Stealth 600’s MSRP is difficult. The Corsair HS55 Wireless Core costs $10 / £10 less. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 is slightly higher at $130 / £130.
UK gamers often face higher costs due to conversion rates. This pricing parity between the US and the UK is not unique to Turtle Beach.
Price Comparison Table
| Headset | Price (USD) | Price (GBP) | Price (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Beach Stealth 600 | $99.99 | £99.99 | AU$179 |
| Corsair HS55 Wireless Core | $89.99 | £89.99 | N/A |
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 | $130 | £130 | N/A |
Turtle Beach Stealth 600: Specifications
The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 is priced at $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179. It weighs 10.6oz / 301g and is compatible with PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. It connects via Type A Wireless (2.4 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.2. The battery lasts 80 hours and features AI noise reduction, 10-band EQ presets, and remappable controls through the Swarm software.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600: Design and Features
The headset has a smart, exciting look but feels a bit tight. It includes many controls. The materials are plastic and pleather, and the foam padding is not very luxurious.
In comparison, the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 offer better comfort and aesthetics. The Corsair HS55 Wireless Core has a similar robust design but uses varied materials and finishes.
Despite its appearance, the Stealth 600 is durable. It withstands pulling and twisting without showing weak points. Moving the earcups produces little noise, with no creaking.
The fit is snug, with strong clamping force. The lower half of the earcup exerts more pressure. This becomes noticeable after a couple of hours.
The headband also applies noticeable pressure. Despite the light weight of 10.6oz / 301g, the contact points are quickly felt.
However, the headset is feature-rich for its price. The left earcup has power, mute, EQ preset, connection switch, and pairing buttons. There are also volume and chat mix wheels, which are remappable via the Swarm app, enhancing its PC gaming capabilities.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600: Performance Review
Clear Mic Audio and Effective Noise Cancellation
The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 offers impressive performance for its price. The mic audio is clear and rounded, while the AI noise cancellation works effectively.
Balanced Sound with Emphasis on Bass and Mids
This headset’s 50mm drivers are tuned to enhance bass and mid frequencies. This tuning delivers a strong, immersive bass response, making it great for shooters and racing games. However, the emphasis on low-end frequencies compromises the higher range, resulting in less clarity for sounds like breaking glass or voices. Compared to the Arctis Nova 5 and Blackshark V2, the Stealth 600 lacks some detail in music, even with its 10-band EQ presets. The ‘superhuman hearing’ preset aims to amplify critical in-game sounds but may sound too tinny for extended use.
Multi-Platform Compatibility and Convenient Controls
Designed for gaming, the Stealth 600 excels in providing clear, powerful sound across multiple platforms. Whether connected via 2.4GHz wireless or Bluetooth 5.2, it works well with PCs, iPhones, and PS5s. The headset supports either wireless or Bluetooth connections, not both simultaneously, but switching between them is easy with a button press.
Extensive Customization with Swarm App
The Swarm app on PC or mobile allows extensive customization, including noise cancellation levels and custom EQ presets. The AI-assisted noise cancellation and mic audio quality are particularly impressive.
Outstanding Battery Life
The Stealth 600 boasts an 80-hour battery life, a significant feature at this price point. During our testing, the battery life held up as advertised.
In summary, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 provides excellent audio quality and gaming performance, with a focus on bass and mids, effective noise cancellation, and an impressive battery life, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious gamers.
