Turtle Beach has introduced its next generation gaming headset with the Stealth 700 Gen 3. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann was able to take a look at the headset and listen to it briefly at gamescom 2024.
Turtle Beach is now launching the third generation of its Stealth 700. The new gaming headset will be released on September 22, 2024, at a price of 199.99 Euros. The device is compatible with PC, mobile phones, and all common gaming consoles.
At Gamescom, I already had the chance to hold the new gaming headset and listen to it briefly. My first impression is positive, but there are still some question marks that can only be clarified with a proper test.
New gaming headset comes with two wireless adapters at the same time
What is the special feature? Turtle Beach relies on two dongles for its 3rd generation headset. You can plug one into your PS5 and the other into your gaming PC. With a single button press, you can quickly switch between your platforms. This way, you can play on the PS5 first and later switch to your PC without having to unplug a dongle. This is great for people like me who play on multiple platforms at the same time.
What unfortunately does not work: You cannot use sound through both dongles at the same time, you always have to choose one connection.
What does work, however, is that you can use the headset simultaneously via dongle as well as Bluetooth. For example, you can play on the PS5 while simultaneously answering a call on your mobile phone. This “Dual-Connection” feature is nothing new and is now supported by many manufacturers, such as Razer or SteelSeries.
What is my first impression? The headset fits very closely around the ears, so you perceive very little of your surroundings, typical for a closed headset. This puts the focus strongly on the sound and the noises you hear through the headset.
During my brief wear at Gamescom, I was able to listen to music and a game (Wuthering Wave). My first impression is quite positive. The sound is powerful, and the closed headset brings the sound surprisingly well to life.
I was also impressed by the build quality of the headset. Many components are made of metal, which makes the headset appear very high-quality at first glance. The ear cushions are removable and replaceable. The main body continues to be made of plastic, similar to its predecessor.
What bothers me? The synthetic leather cushions get very warm, especially in the summer. I would have liked to have seen alternative fabric cushions. For example, Logitech offers this for its “G Pro X” headset series.
Unfortunately, but bearable: The dongles are for USB-A and not for USB-C. With the Steam Deck or other gaming handhelds, the dongles do not work; you will have to rely on Bluetooth here.
There are still question marks regarding ergonomics and battery life
What can I not comment on? I could not test the microphone. As someone who already uses a desktop microphone, the microphone plays a rather minor role for me.
I also cannot comment on the battery life. Turtle Beach rates the runtime at “up to 80 hours.” The headset is indeed robust, but also quite heavy. Whether I will feel the headset on my head and ears after 8 hours, I cannot say yet.
Another key issue is ergonomics: I personally have not had problems with Turtle Beach headsets, but I know from colleagues that the headsets can press very hard on large heads over time. I personally found the predecessor, the 700 Gen 2 MAX, to be very comfortable, while colleagues found quite the opposite. You can read the extensive test of the predecessor directly on MeinMMO: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max in review: Good gaming headset with difficult ergonomics
Webedia Gaming (GameStar, GamePro, MeinMMO) accompanies the big gaming event as the official media partner of gamescom 2024.
