Cut the cord.
There are a lot of gaming headsets out there. I have reviewed several of those headsets. It is amazing how large this market is, and even more impressive at just how many quality headsets are available. Turtle Beach has always been one of my favorites to check out. They deliver great quality mixed with super comfortable design. Their latest headset also finally solves a massive issue I have had with Xbox One sets for years; being truly wireless.
The Stealth 700 series features Microsoft Direct Sound as well as Bluetooth wireless capabilities, which means it will technically work on PS4 as well as phones and other devices. Setting it up on Xbox One was simple. Simply pair it like a regular controller. The headset comes with the standard micro USB cable to update the firmware, and there is even an app for mobile devices to control the settings from a touch screen.
MSRP: $149.99
Price I’d Pay: $149.99
The first firmware update had some issues. The headset constantly defaulted to noise cancelling, which is a great feature, but for someone with kids I like to use mic monitoring so I can still hear some of my surroundings. After the latest patch though, it keeps my settings by default.
Comfort is always a big issue with headsets as well. I spend 3-4 hours in any one session playing Overwatch and if the headset is too tight, it can be a problem. Turtle Beach has always had the most comfortable headsets and the Stealth 700 is no exception. Even after four straight hours of sniping fools as Hanzo or lobbing my bombs with Junkrat, the headset feels great. The battery life is also stellar as I never once ran out of juice.
Most wireless sets are limited to stereo sound. The 700 however, delivers Microsoft Sonic Surround, which sounds amazing. The bass feels just right and the mids and highs are crystal clear. I also appreciate that there are separate volume dials for chat and game audio. Speaking of the functions, the buttons on the side are nice, but also confusing. Unless I memorize what each one does I am prone to pushing the wrong one. That is why I mostly stuck with the app to make adjustments to the sound. There are more options there anyways.
The microphone is also high quality. It is a multi-directional mix, which means it picks up sound from every angle. It is unobtrusive on the side, and can even be flicked up to mute chat dialogue. It works perfectly and the sound quality is great. I have had people tell me online my voice quality has greatly improved since using the headset.
Chat boost is also available which is self-explanatory. It is a nice feature as I have several online friends who like to whisper into their microphones. This headset seems to be tailored to my personal tastes, and I love that.
The Stealth 700 is a higher-end model, but its features and functions make it worth the extra cash. The surround sound mimics traditional 5.1 nicely, and the comfort cannot be overstated. It is nigh impossible to find a headset with this level of quality and easy on the head (and ears) to wear. This has become my default Xbox Live headset right now, and I highly recommend it to those looking for a quality experience.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
