The Best Turtle Beach Headsets in 2023

Turtle Beach has a storied history in the PC audio world, starting in the mid-1970s as a maker of software to edit musical recordings. The company would go on to become one of the most popular manufacturers of sound cards before concentrating on developing headsets in 2005. Today, Turtle Beach is a dominant force in the gaming headset arena, producing numerous wireless and wired options praised for their rich soundscapes, microphone quality, and ease of connectivity.

When choosing the right Turtle Beach headset, focus on these qualities

• Build Quality: Turtle Beach designs several affordable gaming headsets consisting of mostly plastic parts. While these budget peripherals have surprisingly convincing sound and microphone quality, they may not endure the most rigorous gaming action. Thankfully, Turtle Beach also sells much more expensive headsets built with sturdy materials like aluminum and steel.
• Comfort: The headsets created by Turtle Beach employ a variety of materials in their earpads and headbands. Some choices are softer and more breathable than others and also are better at noise isolation.
• Platform: Another admirable characteristic of Turtle Beach headsets is their widespread compatibility with all gaming consoles and PCs. Nevertheless, the company often makes many different versions of the same model with various colors and minor differences in features aimed at a particular platform.
• Wired vs. Wireless: Like all major gaming headset manufacturers, Turtle Beach customers have a choice of both wired and wireless devices. Wired headsets sidestep any battery life concerns while cord-free alternatives allow for total freedom around gaming desks.

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Game Rant’s for the Best Turtle Beach headsets in 2023

Like the Turtle Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max also makes some significant improvements on its predecessor. Battery life is now stellar at 40 hours and wireless connectivity to Xbox and PlayStation consoles is improved. Still, many buyers are undoubtedly wondering if the higher price is justified over the somewhat more affordable Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max.

From a visual standpoint, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max is quite bulkier than the 600 Gen 2 Max, and as a result, it weighs a much more significant 381 grams. However, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max is also better built, with some metal pieces reinforcing the adjustment points on the headband. Still, there is quite a bit of plastic used in the rest of the device compared to the most premium headsets like the Stealth Pro. The earcups sport a softer, more luxurious feeling pleather, which is also more effective at rejecting background noise.

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As the overall best Turtle Beach headset, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max has ample battery life, widespread wireless connectivity, and a high-quality microphone.

The Turtle Beach Recon 50 is an extremely affordable wired gaming headset that’s compatible with PCs or console controllers that include a headphone port. Among the top-budget headsets, the Recon 50 tries to differentiate itself with a mix of comfort, sound quality, and a surprisingly accurate microphone.

Clocking in at only 209 grams, the Recon 50 is one of the lightest gaming headsets on the market. As expected, its build quality is predominantly plastic, but there is an ample amount of adjustability with the headset’s swiveling earcups. While the earcups can also slide up and down below the headband, larger heads may still struggle to find a comfortable fit. Synthetic leather lines the set of cans, and foam cushioning make the Recon 50 not a bad option for longer gaming sessions.

If a buyer intends to use a headset more than their PC speakers, then it’s worth saving up money for gear with better build quality and improved sound. Otherwise, the versatile and crisp microphone quality of the Recon, along with its widespread connectivity, make it an excellent target for gamers who have already invested too much money in their console or rig.

If a gamer’s budget is stuck between the Stealth Pro and more budget alternatives, the Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max is a more than sensible solution. Evolving from the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2, the Max version addresses some of the shortcomings of the popular wireless headset. The trademarks of the Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max are its exceptional battery life and hassle-free wireless connectivity to nearly every console.

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It’s common for wireless headsets to only work with certain consoles or devices, forcing buyers to purchase different versions for their multiple systems. The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max solves that dilemma with a low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless USB dongle that manages to pair with Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch consoles, as well as accommodating PC gamers. While the wireless headset is officially licensed for Xbox use, with a flip of a switch on the adapter, the peripheral becomes compatible with other platforms. Sadly, the Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max doesn’t include an analog audio connection for wired use.

Even with no wired option and a form factor that may be too small for some buyers, the Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max is the best Turtle Beach Headset in the mid-range sector. Battery life ranks well above what a modest amount of money would usually buy, and it’s also able to wirelessly connect to virtually any gaming console or PC.

Until the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro arrived, the manufacturer did not have a legitimate answer to the highest-end wireless gaming headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. The Stealth Pro attempts to combine the best qualities of the most feature-packed headsets while setting some new high marks for performance. There are two versions of the headset for PlayStation and Xbox gamers, with PC users able to enjoy the capabilities of the Stealth Pro with either variety.

Where the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro really shines is with its active noise cancellation abilities. ANC is typically found on only the most expensive headsets and nullifies distracting background noises by monitoring environments with small mics and producing finely tuned electronic pulses of sound. Turtle Beach’s headset is able to reduce unwanted sounds by as much as 25 decibels, which eclipses the noise cancellation levels of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. Listeners are able to adjust how much background noise is able to penetrate the earcups of the Stealth Pro with sliders in the Turtle Beach Audio Hub. The S.M.A.R.T Noise-Cancelling TruSpeak external boom mic also does an excellent job filtering out everything except the voices of chatters during multiplayer action.

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As one of the most advanced peripherals the company has manufactured to date, the Stealth Pro is the obvious choice for the best Turtle Beach headset in the high-end category. Even if the headband could use more flexibility and its battery life trails the capabilities of other wireless contenders, the Stealth Pro outputs exceptional sound quality in even the most chaotic settings. Make sure to read Game Rant’s comprehensive review of the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro.

The Turtle Beach Recon 70X is the clear choice for the best Turtle Beach headset among wired options. Of course, the manufacturer doesn’t produce many premium corded headsets, so there isn’t much competition for the Recon 70x. Regardless, the headset is very popular especially among Xbox gamers because of its green and black color scheme. Turtle Beach also makes versions of the Recon 70 for other consoles, but they all connect via a 3.5 mm analog audio cable to controllers and PCs.

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Even though the Turtle Beach Recon 70X is a legitimate budget headset, it does offer a significant step up in comfort from the Recon 50. Gamers will find that the synthetic leather material on the earpads feels a bit more supple and also forms a tighter grip on earlobes for improved noise isolation. Bass tones are once again a highlight and overall the Recon 70X sounds more lifelike than other cheap competitors. For a small investment, the Recon 70X does an admirable job supporting surround sound formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, as well as Sony’s Tempest 3D Audio which enhances the sound of even the most basic stereo headsets.

Surprisingly, contrary to the Recon 50, the Turtle Beach Recon 70X does not feature a detachable microphone. Fortunately, the high-sensitivity mic still flips up to mute, and the recording quality is more than acceptable for novice streamers. The 4-foot cord attached to the Recon 70X will come up short for some gamers looking to use the headset with more than just console controllers. Also, when on full blast, the low mid, and high tones tend to become muddled, which makes the lack of any companion software to adjust settings disappointing.

With significant clamping force, the fit of the Turtle Beach Recon 70X is still somewhat confining on larger heads. Nevertheless, its improved earpads and noise isolation alone are reasons to consider spending a bit more funds on the Recon 70X over the slightly cheaper Recon 50X.

When mobile or away from home and a gaming headset is not available, the solution is often a cheap pair of wired earbuds. Unfortunately, most of these earbuds lack features to make them practical for gaming which is where the Turtle Beach Battle Buds come into focus. The Battle Buds have a distinctive triangular shield with the Turtle Beach logo on their surfaces. Connecting with a typical 3.5 mm analog audio cable, the Battle Buds are compatible with any gaming controller, mobile device, or PC with the appropriate audio jack.

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The Turtle Beach Battle Buds won’t rattle eardrums with excessive bass as like most earbuds, they excel at sharper higher tones. The overall sound is outclassed by budget headsets, but portability is what attracts buyers to the Battle Buds. To address the problem of inexpensive earbuds having terrible built-in mics, Turtle Beach has designed an external boom mic that can snap into the side of one of the buds. Undoubtedly, gamers are better off with this portable boom mic than an internal mic, but it’s so sensitive that it’s likely to pick up on background noises in crowded environments.

With a fairly unbalanced sound, the Turtle Beach Battle Buds are no match for far more expensive wireless earbuds like the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed. Nevertheless, they are a reasonable solution for gamers on the go who don’t want to risk losing or misplacing costly gaming gear.

How to Find Gaming Paradise with Turtle Beach

With their decades of proven excellence in sound equipment and software, a gamer can hardly go wrong in deciding to buy a Turtle Beach gaming headset. Even so, the manufacturer’s inventory appeals to gamers with very different expectations and budgets. To avoid disappointment, when purchasing a Turtle Beach headset, remember to consider build quality, comfort, platform compatibility, and whether a wired or wireless device is ideal.

Build Quality

Without a doubt, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro is the company’s most well-built gaming headset to date. At 400 grams, it’s not the most lightweight gear available, but a healthy amount of aluminum used in its construction allows it to withstand the rigors of extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, the affordable Recon 50 is extremely compact at just 209 grams but is unlikely to outlast more expensive options because of its uniformly plastic frame.

Comfort

Much to the dismay of speakers, headsets have become the default choice of audio gear for many gamers. With ears pressed against earpads and headbands clamping on heads for long hours, a lack of comfort can spell doom for any headset. The Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max is one of the most luxurious feeling peripherals made by Turtle Beach, benefiting from Aerofit cooling gel in its ear cushions and extra padding in its headband compared to the original Stealth 700 Gen 2.

Platform

When it comes to finding a single headset that can connect to every gaming console and PC, a wired device like the Turtle Beach Recon 70X is an outstanding candidate. Even with a rather short 4-foot cord, the Recon 70X will work with PlayStation and Xbox consoles or any source with an analog audio jack.

Turtle Beach also manufactures wireless gaming headsets that are able to pair with nearly every gaming system thanks to a versatile USB dongle or Bluetooth. Once again, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max rises to the occasion with dual wireless connectivity allowing simultaneous audio from PCs, consoles, and mobile devices.

Wired vs. Wireless

The budget-friendly Turtle Beach Recon 50 is one of the manufacturer’s oldest headset designs and provides the stability of a wired connection. On the other hand, the low-latency wireless Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max does what few competitors can do at its mid-range price point. Gamers won’t have to purchase several different versions of the headset since its USB dongle has a switch to maximize its compatibility. Also, the Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max’s 48-hour battery life will never leave multiplayer gamers unable to communicate at critical gameplay moments.

Whichever Turtle Beach headset buyers end up purchasing, they will have the confidence of gaming with a peripheral from one of the most reliable manufacturers in the PC audio industry.

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FAQ

Q: What makes Turtle Beach different from other gaming headset manufacturers?

Turtle Beach has experience in the PC audio industry that predates the explosion of gaming-specific gear. The company has implemented its vast knowledge of how to produce a balanced soundscape and accurately record audio with its numerous gaming headsets.

Q: What’s the average budget for a gaming headset?

The budget for a gaming headset can vary wildly depending on multiple factors. Make, build, brand, RGB, and compatibility all can affect the price of a headset. The lower range can be anywhere from $20-$30, while high-end gaming gear headsets can cost anywhere up to $200-350.

Q: Which is better, wired or wireless gaming headsets?

Depending on the quality of the individual headset, one may be better than the other. However, most of the time, the difference between a wireless and wired headset is indistinguishable. While the answer may have been wired over wireless in the past, technology has improved in the last several years, making wireless and wired more comparable in the modern gaming scene.