Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Review – One of the Finest Gaming Headsets Yet

Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Review

A number of years in the past, I reviewed the unique Turtle Beach Stealth Pro, and till simply a few weeks in the past, it was nonetheless my default every day headset for my Xbox. For me, it hit that candy spot: premium sound, good consolation, simple to make use of, and I beloved that swappable battery system. That mentioned, it wasn’t good.

It was costly, battery life sat at round 12 hours per pack, and through longer gaming periods my ears would get toasty, particularly in the summertime months. Even with these drawbacks, it remained the headset I saved reaching for time and time once more. So when Turtle Beach introduced the sequel, I used to be genuinely pumped.

After spending time with the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II over the previous couple of weeks, I can confidently say this isn’t simply an incremental improve or a easy refresh. It’s a premium, bordering-on-luxury headset that improves on practically each facet of the unique.

Strong Impressions Out of the Box

If you’ve learn any of my headset critiques, you recognize I place plenty of weight on first impressions. To me, they matter. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II completely nails them.

The bigger packaging alone indicators a high-quality product. Inside is a slick, outsized hard-shell carrying case that homes the headset. It’s concerning the greatest headset case I’ve ever used, but it surely’s simply extra refined than its predecessor. Inside the case, these headphones look beautiful.

What I actually like about these cans is that they’re the sort of headset you’ll be able to put on on a airplane or in a espresso store with out wanting such as you’re about to drop into an esports match. You don’t really feel misplaced sporting them in public, which is an enormous win in my opinion.

The included equipment are a pleasant contact, too. Out of the field, you get each the slick-looking charging puck and a wi-fi transmitter. One of the good options right here is Turtle Beach’s CrossPlay 2.0 system, which helps as much as 4 wi-fi transmitters round your house. Since the transmitters are wi-fi, your gadgets don’t all must dwell beside one another on the identical desk. You can transfer between rooms and platforms with ease. Additional transmitters price additional, however the flexibility right here is spectacular.

Setup Is Easy… Sorta

The excellent news is that connectivity is superb. Pairing the headset with my Xbox was instantaneous. I initially skipped updating the headset, plugged the charging transmitter into the console, powered on each the Xbox and the headset, and I used to be related instantly. It additionally routinely detected my Dolby Atmos app on Xbox and unlocked entry with none additional steps. Bluetooth pairing was simply as seamless. At no level did I’ve to combat the headset throughout setup.

The unhealthy information? Turtle Beach leans a little bit too closely on QR-code-based documentation. Call me old fashioned, however I miss the bodily quick-start guides. I discovered it irritating having to consistently pull out my cellphone and entry the assist hyperlink simply to determine primary features like the place the mode button is, learn how to mute the interior mic, learn how to change between gadgets, or learn how to allow options like Superhuman Hearing. I perceive this can be a minor gripe, however when a headset packs on this many options and controls, that frustration provides up sooner than it ought to. That all being mentioned, the net directions are respectable.

Comfort That Matches the Price

Comfort was one among my issues with the unique Stealth Pro. Granted, it’s not horrible. It’s simply wonderful and whereas the sound was implausible, the warmth buildup across the ears grew to become noticeable throughout marathon gaming periods. Thankfully, Turtle Beach addressed that drawback this time round.

The Stealth Pro II is extraordinarily snug and feels completely implausible. The mesh suspension headband distributes weight properly. The memory-foam ear cushions really feel softer and extra breathable. Even after a number of lengthy nights enjoying Black Ops 7, I by no means discovered myself determined to take the headset off so my head and ears may breathe.

I also needs to point out the ProSpecs glasses aid system, which deserves reward. If you put on glasses, you understand how shortly some headsets can change into uncomfortable and even painful over time. That merely isn’t a problem right here. It’s stunning what number of headsets nonetheless overlook glasses wearers, however the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II clearly doesn’t right here.

The microphone design is stable, too. Turtle Beach opted for a detachable floating mic as an alternative of a retractable one. Personally, I nonetheless desire retractable microphones as a result of they’re more durable to lose and simpler to tuck away. That mentioned, I do respect having the ability to totally detach the mic when utilizing the headset casually in public or whereas touring.

Stellar Sound Performance

This is the place the Stealth Pro II actually earns its flagship standing. These cans function huge 60mm Eclipse twin drivers with devoted woofers and tweeters, and the distinction is instantly noticeable. Highs are crisp, mids keep detailed and clear, and the bass has severe punch.

Most of my time was spent with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 utilizing the headset, and the audio expertise was very good. Footsteps felt sharper and louder than ever, directional audio was amazingly correct, and explosions carried some severe weight. Combined with Dolby Atmos, the soundstage feels genuinely immersive. Turtle Beach advertises a “three-dimensional” audio expertise, and the Stealth Pro II completely delivers on that promise. It’s simply one of many best-sounding headsets I’ve ever worn.

I additionally hung out enjoying Resident Evil Requiem, and truthfully, the headset virtually made the sport insufferable, however not in a nasty means. The sound design cranks the stress and creepiness issue by way of the roof. Being in a position to hear each tiny creak, groan, motion, and unsettling background noise is important in a horror recreation like this. The Stealth Pro II delivers each element with terrifying readability.

I like how versatile the headset sounded outdoors gaming as nicely. Music playback is considerably higher than what most gaming headsets supply. This is among the few gaming headsets I’d fortunately use purely for music.

A Surprisingly Excellent Microphone

I’ve by no means positioned an enormous emphasis on gaming headset microphones. Admittedly, my requirements have all the time been pretty easy. I simply want them to sound “good enough.” Thankfully, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II delivers excess of that.

The removable 9mm microphone produces a transparent, full-sounding voice high quality. The inner mic can decide up a little bit of background noise, so I usually most popular preserving it muted, however the removable increase mic does a wonderful job filtering out distractions with out making your voice sound robotic or compressed.

Party chat, Teams calls, and even work conferences all sounded nice. If you stream, casually podcast, want to speak with a co-worker over Teams or spend plenty of time in multiplayer video games, the microphone setup here’s a power.

Battery Life Is a Massive Upgrade

One of the most important enhancements over the unique headset is battery life. The unique Stealth Pro’s roughly 12-hour battery system is limiting. I used to be swapping out these batteries extra typically than I wished to. The Stealth Pro II solves that problem with twin swappable 40-hour batteries. During the previous two weeks, I solely swapped out the battery twice, and as soon as was as a result of I simply wished to see the way it all labored. Only as soon as did I get low sufficient for a low battery warning.

It’s an ideal system that retains you gaming indefinitely by swapping packs whereas the opposite expenses within the dock. It removes battery anxiousness solely.

The Price Problem

There’s no avoiding it, the Stealth Pro II is pricey. At $349.99 USD, this sits firmly within the premium headsets territory. With the alternate price, it’s an actual kick within the tooth for Canadians. Yet not like some premium gaming headsets that primarily justify their worth by way of branding and speaker measurement, the Stealth Pro II feels feature-complete. Between the Hi-Res Wireless Audio, CrossPlay multi-device performance, Active Noise Cancellation, premium supplies, lengthy battery life, and glorious microphone high quality, you’ll be able to see the place the cash went.

Still, $350 is a severe funding, and informal gamers can completely discover good wi-fi gaming headsets for a lot much less cash.

Three years later, my unique Stealth Pro lastly has a worthy substitute. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II takes the whole lot I beloved concerning the unique and improves practically each space. The consolation is healthier. The battery life is dramatically higher. The whole bundle appears higher. The sound high quality is healthier. The microphone is superb. And the premium design stands out in a crowded gaming headset market. It’s not good. But if you’d like an excellent wi-fi gaming headset that feels simply as snug dealing with music, journey, work, and gaming because it does multiplayer periods, Turtle Beach has constructed one thing critically spectacular right here.

***The headset was offered by the writer for the aim of this assessment***