The original Turtle Beach Stealth 600 was one of the best-selling and most popular gaming headsets out there, and for good reason. Now, however, the company is finally back with an update — a Gen 2 model of the headset.
With a refreshed design, USB-C connectivity, and more, the Stealth 600 has been well and truly brought into 2020. But is it still among the best of the best headsets out there? We put the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 to the test to find out.
Design
The new Stealth 600 offer a sleek design that should look great on any TV stand, entertainment center, or desk. The headset is available in a few different color-schemes, and we’re reviewing the black model with blue highlights. It’s also available in a few different variants — one for the PlayStation 4, and compatible with the PS5, and one for the Xbox. We’re reviewing the wireless PS4 model.
On the left ear cup, you’ll get a series of controls to adjust playback and connectivity, including a power button, volume wheel, microphone volume wheel, and a mode switch. There’s also a USB-C port, and a retractable microphone. Missing, however, is an aux port — and as such, you can’t use the headset in wired mode.
The microphone in general really blends in when not in use, which is a nice touch, and you would be forgiven for not realizing there’s a microphone at all at first glance.
In the box, apart from the headset itself, you’ll get a USB dongle for the wireless connectivity, and a USB-C charging cable. The headset is paired with the transmitter — so when you plug the transmitter into the front of your PlayStation, it should automatically connect. It also works with a computer, which is a nice touch. The Xbox One version of the headset can pair directly with the Xbox — so you won’t need to use an adapter if you don’t want to.
Comfort
The new headset is relatively comfortable, thanks to the lightweight design, and breathable fabric on the ear cups. The overall clamp on the headset is relatively tight, which can make the headset feel a little constricting, but overall it’s still a relatively comfortable experience.
If we could improve upon the comfort of the headset, we would lighten it up a little on the clamp.
Sound
Gamers have different needs when it comes to audio quality than those buying headphones for music, but ultimately if a headset sounds great, it sounds great. The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 sounds great.
The bass response, for starters, is heavy and powerful, ensuring that explosions sound full-bodied and deep. When it comes to music, kick drums are tight and punchy, which is always nice.
The mids are well-tuned too. Low mids are nice and warm, while high mids, despite having a slight dip, are still more than present enough.
The highs on offer provide a good level of detail and clarity, especially for a headset in this price range. A little more high-end extension would have been nice — it always is — but it’s hard to expect something that costs $100 to sound even better than the headset already sounds.
The microphone on the headset sounds fine, but it’s definitely not built for things like Let’s Play or podcasting. If you’re into those kinds of things, it’s worth buying a dedicated microphone. That said, this mic will do fine for chatting with your teammates.
Performance
The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 headset connects wirelessly through a 2.4GHz connection, and as a result it retained a great connection throughout testing. It never skipped or broke connectivity during reasonable use.
The battery life on the headset sits in at 15 hours, which is fine, but not great. We would have liked to see a longer battery life, especially given other options range into the 20 hours+.
Conclusions
At $100, it’s no surprise that the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 is a hit. The headset isn’t necessarily the most comfortable out there, but it’s well-designed, sounds great, and comes at a great price.
But is it the best option out there? Well, it’s definitely one of them. It’s also worth considering the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless, which is one of the best wireless gaming headsets on the market, and offers a slightly more comfortable fit.
Still, considering the excellent audio quality and solid design, we’re awarding the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 the Headphone Review Silver Medal.
| Store | Price |
|---|---|
 |
$99.95 |
 |
$99.99 |
| COMPANY | $99.95 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz – 20kHz | Active noise cancellation | No |
| Driver size | 50mm | Noise attenuation | Unknown |
| Driver type | Dynamic | On-ear controls | Yes |
| Design | Closed | Microphone | Yes |
| Sensitivity | Unknown | Earpad material | Foam |
| Rated impedance | Unknown | Magnet material | Neodymium |
| Total harmonic distortion | Unknown | Water resistance | No |
| Rated input power | Unknown | Battery life | 15 Hours |
| Maximum input power | Unknown | Wireless distance | 10m (33ft) |
| Wireless connection | 2.4GHz | Cable length | N/A |
| Wired connection | No | Case type | None |
| Detachable cable | N/A | In-the-box |
|
| Weight | Unknown | Colors | Black, White |