The Turtle Beach headset is your first choice to start your search for one of the best gaming audio experiences on the market in 2022. Now a household name on all platforms, Turtle Beach has years of experience producing a modern, well-rounded product range.
Turtle Beach’s Stealth, Elite, Recon and Atlas lines vary in price and features, and feature compatibility options for PC, console (yes, including Nintendo Switch) and mobile device launch. What’s the difference between picking one of the best Turtle Beach headsets and the rest? The biggest difference is simple: they’re built from the ground up for gaming and emerge as some of the best gaming headsets around.
This design philosophy is reflected in everything from the microphone to the way the speakers are tuned to the comfort you can expect. After all, if you’re going to have something going on in your head for hours on end while playing games and chatting with friends about gaming, it better feel good. Thankfully, Turtle Beach’s line is very comfortable on your cranium. If you don’t mind spending the big bucks, you can get a pretty spectacular sound experience, but even entry-level headphones will feel and sound great.
The best Turtle Beach headsets 2022
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX Multiplatform Amplified Wireless Gaming Headset
Drivers: 50mm Nanoclear™ neodymium drivers
Weight: 385g
Compatibility: Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch
Great sound quality
Comfortable during lengthy sessions
The 2020 Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 has long been considered one of the best Xbox Series X headsets on the market – it topped the list at one point – but it has finally met its rival.
Think of the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX as a more generic iteration of its predecessor, with the most obvious shift being multi-platform support. Turtle Beach bundles a USB transmitter, which makes the beautiful cobalt blue headset compatible not only with Xbox Series X and Xbox One hardware, but also with PS5, PS4, PC and the docked Nintendo Switch.
This means that all platforms can now take advantage of the core features of the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX, such as dynamic 50mm drivers that bring real life to rendered soundscapes, the wonderful depth and clarity of online stages, and the stable performance of movies and music. Naturally, Turtle Beach’s patented “Superman Hearing” feature returns, designed to better identify the nuances of individual movements in online shooters – you might like it, but we found the mix a bit off-putting in some cases. Especially if you value clarity over cacophony in a massive firefight.
While some may find the headband a bit tight, most will likely find that this modified offering from Turtle Beach gets the job done during long gaming sessions, while the headset stays comfortable and cool. The 40-hour battery life isn’t disappointing either, and you can easily use the flip mute microphone or change the onboard EQ. All in all, if you want a versatile headset with plenty of options and sound, you should definitely consider getting the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max – the best Turtle Beach headset you can buy right now.
Turtle Beach Recon 70 Camo White Gaming Headset for Xbox Series X
Drivers: 40mm
Works with: Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC, all phone and tablets
Super price
Decent mic
Those looking for a Turtle Beach headset for the Nintendo Switch – and it’s wallet-friendly – should check out the Recon 70. despite the low price, it’s the complete package: good sound and A well-balanced bass; a decent microphone; and it’s also quite comfortable. It’s a good start for a headset at the budget end of the spectrum.
Though it does have some drawbacks: it doesn’t score well on movies or TV, for example. But that’s simply because it just holds its own and does what it’s supposed to do well: game.
Oh, and don’t worry about the many variants that appear there. Even though there are Recon 70P, X and higher versions, they’re all the same headset with slightly different colors. Whichever one you choose, you’ll get great value for your money.
Turtle Beach Recon 500 Multiplatform Gaming Headset for Xbox Series X
Drivers: 60mm Eclipse
Weight: c.600g
Compatibility: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Mobile
No ‘gamer aesthetic’ flare or design quirks
Zero distortion
When you impose a budget on yourself, you make certain trade-offs. When you buy a gaming headset, the first things you want to know are extraneous features and luxurious construction materials. Well, you won’t find those in the Recon 500’s box, as Turtle Beach’s latest long-running lineup costs less than $100/£100. Crucially, the sound you’ll find is so good that it will blow your mind.
Wood composite injection molding technology. 60mm drivers. Each ear cup has a dedicated woofer and tweeter. It doesn’t sound like a recipe for crisp, precise sound, but it all comes together in a spectrum of powerful, ultra-responsive bass, a fine top end, and a pleasingly flat EQ curve.
So that’s you. Take it to the bank. But what doesn’t appear are mostly add-ons – it’s a simple wired model with just a mic mute, detachable mic arm and volume wheel for physical control. Not one for the perennial tweaker, but those who like simple and fundamentally great audio should look to this new Recon as one of the latest and best Turtle Beach headphones to emerge.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX Multiplatform Amplified Wireless Gaming Headset for Xbox Series X
Drivers: 50mm Nanoclear™ neodymium drivers
Weight: 295g
Compatibility: Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch
Great console compatibility
Dependable microphone
If you’re looking for consistent performance without dealing a heartbreaking blow to your bank balance, Turtle Beach’s Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX is an affordable entry point into the world of top-of-the-line gaming headsets. This supercharged version of the Turtle Beach Stealth Gen 2 comes in a rather flashy midnight red configuration, boasts 48 hours of battery life (a huge improvement over its predecessor’s 24-hour life), lag-free 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, and excellent compatibility across all major platforms.
This is despite being an officially licensed product from Microsoft for Xbox. A convenient USB transmitter ensures wireless compatibility with PlayStation consoles, PCs and Nintendo Switch. This versatility is also reflected in the quality of sound that the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX can deliver, with its 50mm drivers providing consistently amplified surround sound and considerable clarity – this is particularly noticeable for those who like to play first-person shooters online, as well as role-playing games that want to immerse themselves in the world around them.
The integrated flip mute microphone is unobtrusive but effective, and the compact design is relatively comfortable during extended play sessions. Some people may crave more punchy bass and a more dynamic midrange, but the truth is it’s hard to find that much to complain about for the price. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX is a solid alternative to other mid-range headphones, and its long battery life and console compatibility help push it over the edge.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless Gaming Headset
Drivers: 50mm
Weight: 580g
Compatibility: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Comfortable for glasses wearers
Excellent audio and microphone accuracy
Next-gen compatible
The second generation Turtle Beach Stealth 600 is a great low-budget wireless headset that works with Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5 and PC. With 15 hours of battery life, comfortable to wear glasses, and well-tuned 50mm speakers, you’ll get your money’s worth. Setup is a breeze – for the Xbox version, it’s as easy as turning the headset on directly and pressing the sync button on it and my Xbox One at the same time. It instantly syncs and starts picking up my sound and game volume.
It’s definitely a good choice for gaming on a budget, as the sound quality is top notch and the microphone sensitivity is perfect for those who want to communicate without shouting. However, the headset plastic does feel a bit cheap due to the reasonable price, especially on the headband and earcups, which unfortunately do get rather uncomfortable after long gaming sessions (whether that’s my funny-shaped ears or not is unclear). Microphone monitoring is not a feature I like, as it echoes any noise I make at the end, but fortunately it can be turned off via the Turtle Beach audio hub.
In short, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 is an excellent sequel to an affordable wireless headset. It looks great, feels great, and sounds great – a no-brainer if you want a pair of headphones that won’t break the bank before the next generation is released.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless Gaming Headset
Drivers: 50mm Nanoclear™ neodymium drivers
Weight: 382g
Compatibility: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Incredibly comfortable
Great microphone accuracy
The second generation of Turtle Beach Stealth 700’s comes with some serious upgrades from the previous generation, and for only $50 more than the Stealth 600 Gen 2, it’s a serious contender for your next gaming headset.
The Stealth 700 Gen 2 has gotten a design upgrade from the original headset, with a slightly toned-down look (no more bright green on the Xbox version) and a flip-to-mute mic that folds neatly into the earcup. The control buttons have also been reorganized and moved to just one earcup. The buttons are nicely sized and well-spaced out, but if you’re used to the Gen 1 Stealth 700s, you might need some time to get adjusted to them.
The Stealth 700 Gen 2 is leagues more comfortable than the Stealth 600 Gen 2, which is saying something as I found the latter fit my glasses-wearing head quite well, but had ear cups that began to pinch after a few hours of gaming. The supple memory foam cushions with Aerofit cooling gel on the Stealth 700 Gen 2 is incredibly comfortable and lets you wear this headset with ease for hours upon hours of gaming.
And these headphones sound great, with large drivers that give you some great all-around sound, and the ability to fine-tune the audio to your liking with the Audio Hub. Turn on Superhuman Hearing mode to get the upperhand in online shooters, or enable the bass boost for some serious rumble during a heart-pumping campaign mission. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 is a great headset for the price point.
Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 + SuperAmp Performance Gaming Headset for
Drivers: 50mm
Weight: 1.12kg
Compatibility: PC, PS4, Xbox One, mobile
Bluetooth connectivity
SuperAmp connects to app for full control over audio
The Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 was developed in collaboration with top esports teams and delivers great clarity for competitive gaming. The generously-sized cooling gel-infused memory foam ear cups keep out external noise, while the TruSpeak mic has optional mic monitoring and is remarkably clear. The SuperAmp packed in with the headset is where the fun is at. It hooks up via Bluetooth to the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app on your mobile device, letting you switch between sound profiles, tweak your game/ chat mix, and you can even take phone calls via the Bluetooth connection to your phone. It’s an expensive gaming headset, but it’ll give you the edge in any online scenario, and that is something you can’t put a price on.
Turtle Beach Recon 200 Gen 2 Powered Gaming Headset
Drivers: 40mm
Compatibility: PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
Variable mic monitoring
Wide compatibility
Turtle beach audio quality
Turtle Beach refreshed its Recon 200 line with the Gen 2 model earlier this year. The resulting headset still offers that enticingly low $59.99 / £49.99 price tag, but packages variable mic monitoring, a glasses-friendly design, and more comfortable memory foam cushions. Not only that but running out of juice isn’t game over right now. While still a powered headset, that 12-hour battery life isn’t as cumbersome these days; the Gen 2 will still work in passive mode as well.
At $60 / £50, you’re still getting a fairly cheap plastic design, which doesn’t feel like it would take much to snap. However, there’s a decent sound coming from those 40mm cups, even if it’s more comfortable in the mid and higher ranges than the lows. The Turtle Beach Recon 200 Gen 2 fared much better during a spin around Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch than it did with the gravelly soundscape of Borderlands 3, for example. However, that bass treatment is a common gripe with cheaper headsets and you’re still getting great value for money overall here.