This headset lets me switch from PC to PS5 in seconds – If only it weren’t so uncomfortable to wear

With the TurtleBeach Stealth 700 Gen 3, there is a headset that allows you to switch between PS5 and PC in seconds. The trick behind it is two separate adapters for each device. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann tested the headset and explains why this feature is brilliant. And, why the ergonomics are not so successful.

At Gamescom 2024, I was able to briefly try out the TurtleBeach Stealth 700 Gen 3. My first impression: Strong sound, decent build quality, and a brilliant idea that lies behind the ability to quickly switch between multiple devices. But I still had concerns about the ergonomics and battery life.

In the meantime, I have been able to test the gaming headset extensively for you and will explain whether my first impression was confirmed.

• Design and Build
• Build Quality
• Software
• Comfort, Weight, and Battery Life
• Sound
• Microphone
• Conclusion

Who tested it?

I have a fondness for hardware and tech and now own over 20 gaming mice, as well as several keyboards and controllers. Since 2019, I have been testing hardware for our readers at MeinMMO. In addition to the PC and major consoles, I also game on the Steam Deck.

Our device is a review specimen provided to us by the manufacturer for testing.

Benedikt Schlotmann
Hardware Editor MeinMMO

Design and Build

What’s included in the package? In addition to the gaming headset, the packaging contains a USB charging cable (2 meters, USB-C to USB-A), two adapters for the wireless connection, and a manual.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Kabelloses Multiplattform-Gaming-Headset für Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One,...	No ratings yet		Zu Amazon

*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!

Build of the headset: The TurtleBeach gaming headset is fundamentally very understated in design. The silver and black design is unobtrusive, and the manufacturer forgoes RGB lighting or other gimmicks.

The ear cups are firmly attached to the headband and can be rotated about 100 degrees. This is supposed to ensure that the headset can adapt well to your head.

All buttons needed for operation can also be found on both ear cups. At first glance, it seems very cluttered, but due to the various sizes and the texture of the dials, it becomes very intuitive after a few days. In daily use, however, it still happened to me that I occasionally pressed the wrong button.

Build Quality

The TurtleBeach gaming headset is largely made of plastic, including hinges and other elements that need to rotate. However, the manufacturer points out that the Stealth 700 is equipped with a steel-reinforced headband and metal arms that are intended to provide lasting strength. However, these parts are not visible.

Although nothing of that is visible, the headset feels high-quality and robust. This is mainly due to the high weight of over 400 grams. According to the manufacturer, the ear cushions can also be replaced easily.

In the back of your mind, you should at least consider that when putting on the headset, you have to stretch the plastic band of the headset. And plastic breaks eventually. This could affect the longevity of the headset’s build quality, but it did not play a role during my testing period.

Software

The headset uses “TurtleBeach Swarm 2” as software. However, I had some initial problems setting up the headset:

• On the first start, the headset wouldn’t connect to my computer.
• After two more attempts, it was at least recognized for driver updates on the device. However, Swarm 2 crashed every time I tried to update the headset and the two dongles. Additionally, the software always crashed when I pressed “Retry” during the update to try again.

In the meantime, the headset can be easily used on my PC, even via the wireless transmitter. Still, the initial problems during the setup were quite pronounced.

The software is otherwise fine. Each menu item provides a tooltip, but these are limited to the essentials. Neither the tooltips nor the software reveal what features like “Super Hearing” or “Waves 3D” entail. You only know that if you deal with it professionally, as I do. Everyone else will initially scratch their heads in confusion and won’t know what to toggle on or off.

Comfort, Weight, and Battery Life

What does my head look like? My head circumference is about 58 cm, so I have a rather smaller head.

In my daily life, I wore the headset for several hours each day. My biggest issue with the headset: After a few hours, it becomes very warm under the memory foam ear cushions. At first, it’s manageable, but over time it becomes uncomfortable. Unfortunately, there is no alternative like fabric cushions.

What I find much more disturbing is that the headband presses uncomfortably against my skull. Unfortunately, TurtleBeach has omitted a headband in the Stealth 700, causing the entire weight of the headset to sit uncomfortably on the skull. In contrast, SteelSeries uses such a headband in its Arctis series. And SteelSeries is also the clear winner in a direct ergonomics comparison. With the lightweight Arctis Nova 7 from SteelSeries (for review), I never had any issues with comfort.

Weight: TurtleBeach does not state the weight of the headset on the packaging or its website. On my scale, the headset measures 410 grams. This places the TurtleBeach Stealth 700 in the category of heavy models. Most headsets weigh between 200 and 400 grams. For comparison:

• The JBL Quantum 360P (for review) feels almost like a lightweight at 254 grams.
• The Arctis Nova 7 Wireless weighs 325 grams.
• The Razer Kaira Pro for the PS5 weighs 330 grams, slightly more.

The high weight is also one reason why I am surprised that TurtleBeach omitted a headband. This would help to mitigate the high weight a bit. At this point, I also wonder why TurtleBeach hasn’t taken inspiration from its own Atlas Air, which not only offers a headband but is also significantly lighter at around 300 grams, making it more comfortable to wear.

Battery life: The Stealth 700 does not need to hide when it comes to battery life. The manufacturer advertises the device with an 80-hour battery life, and I can actually use the headset for several days in everyday life before it needs to be charged again. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless can do just half of that (around 35 hours).

Range: The range of the wireless connection is acceptable but does not match the competition. Typically, I walk with the headset on into the kitchen, where a thick wall and about 7 meters separate me from my computer. As soon as I am in the kitchen, the connection eventually drops, and the headset attempts to reconnect.

For comparison: My SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7, the SteelSeries Gamebuds, or even Sony’s Inzone Buds have no problem with the distance at all.

Sound

How good does the headset sound? Aside from the ergonomic issues, the headset sounds really good. In its default setting (which the equalizer calls Turtle Beach Signature Sound), the bass is a bit too strong and powerful. But that’s not surprising for a gaming-focused headset. No question, the bass sounds good but somewhat overshadows the rest of the sound. Explosions sound powerful and loud, but you can’t hear anything else afterwards.

My recommendation is to experiment with the equalizer settings and give the highs a bit more weight. The mids sound balanced in the default setting and provide a warm sound. With adjusted equalizer settings, the mids can come across almost too artificial.

Microphone

The headset’s microphone is permanently installed but can be flipped up so that it disappears into the body of the device. The microphone itself is okay in the test but faces the usual problems that every wireless headset has:

The voice sounds heavily compressed and very muffled. It sounds as if you are slightly pinching your nose while speaking or have a cold. I uploaded a sound recording comparing the headset and a desk microphone.

No noise cancellation is also barely present: Loud noises, such as objects clattering or a plastic tab being pressed together, can be clearly heard in the microphone.

The microphone of the TurtleBeach Stealth 700 Gen 3 as a test recording:

The Logitech Yeti GX (desk microphone) in comparison as a test recording:

Conclusion: Good Sound, but Too Heavy and Uncomfortable Over Time

For whom is the headset suitable? If you are looking for a very sound-quality gaming headset that makes switching between PS5 and PC a breeze, then the TurtleBeach Stealth 700 offers you a good and unique device. Because you won’t achieve such a quick switch with any other device.

If you game on PS5 and PC and regularly switch between devices, then you will get a really good device with the Stealth 700 Gen 3. On the other hand, there are significantly more comfortable devices for around 200 Euros, but they are not as convenient for device switching. In the end, you’ll have to decide what’s more important to you.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Kabelloses Multiplattform-Gaming-Headset für Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One,...	No ratings yet		Zu Amazon

*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!

What alternatives are there?

• The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless is currently my recommendation if you are looking for a good gaming headset for PC, PS5, or Xbox. Good ergonomics, decent sound, and a functional, albeit not perfect microphone. The battery life could be a bit better.
• The Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED is a good budget option: Good sound and low weight, but it feels almost cheap and offers no additional sound settings (via equalizer).
• With the Beyerdynamic MMX 200, there’s another good alternative under 200 Euros: Good sound and especially a very good microphone for a wireless headset. However, the artificial leather cushions, like those on the Stealth 700, become uncomfortably warm over time.

Further gaming headsets in all price ranges from 50 to 300 Euros can be found in the buying guide on MeinMMO: The best gaming headsets available for purchase