A solid wired solution.
The Stealth 300 headset from Turtle Beach is one of the most practical headsets I have used in quite some time. It uses a standard jack to plug in, which makes it compatible with almost any device or gaming console imaginable. It is extremely comfortable in long sessions. The sound quality is amazing, and it supports various sound capabilities making games really pop. It also weighs in at just $80 and is exceptionally well-built. Those looking for a quality headset without breaking the bank definitely need to check this one out.
There are two versions of the Stealth 300 available, but honestly aside from the color scheme they house the same components. So regardless of which console you game on, just choose based on color preference. The design is simple. There is nothing elegant in the way it looks. The earcups are extremely comfortable however. I spent three hours in a session of Overwatch without having to take them off. The only issue I have with the design is it can be a challenge to fit over my head.
MSRP: $79.99
Designed For: XB1, PS4
Price I’d Pay: $79.99
There are two dials and two buttons on the side of the unit. One dial is used for main volume, while the other is chat volume. It can be confusing until I got used to which was which. A little differentiation in the dials would have done wonders. The buttons allowed me to turn the unit on/off as well as change sound modes. There is a small number of beeps for each setting which is nice. The power button may confuse some since this is a wired headset, but I will get to that.
The sound modes feel like the standard fare of options. Some offering more bass while others focus on chat. I wish it would let me know which is which instead of letting me test and decide.
The power button does what it says, but it is weird to have a powered headset that is wired. I get it, there are mechanics inside that require power. The unit comes with a charging cable that can be used in any USB power station. The charge lasts a while, which is great, but it still sucks that I have to charge a wired headset. The biggest issue with the Stealth 300 is that a lot of wired headsets that require power also offer a barebones mode once the juice runs out. This unit does not, meaning when it dies, it is back on the charger and waiting.
The microphone slides up out of the way when not in use. It reminds me of the Stealth 600 and 700 models. It is really convenient. I did have some issues with people hearing me in online games at times though. There is a way to turn up my chat volume, but without a mic boost built in, I had to ask my teammates to turn theirs up instead.
Now for the biggest and most nitpicky gripe I have about this headset. The 3.5mm jack used to attach to the controller. It has a protruding input as opposed to an L-shaped one. This is murder on every headset I ever use. When I game I usually have my controller in my lap. This means of the jack protrudes it slowly eats away at my cable shielding. Yes this is a personal gripe, but one that most headsets fall victim to. I wish more devices took this position into consideration.
The Stealth 300 is a fantastic device though. The sound quality is amazing. The comfort level is unmatched among other headsets in the same price range. The fact that it works for nearly every device is just icing on the cake. For those looking for quality sound at a not-so-premium price, Turtle Beach has created just the headset for you.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
