Turtle Seashore is not any stranger to good gaming headsets. So far as my associates had been involved, they had been important in case you wished to be thought-about a “critical” gamer. The corporate’s Stealth 700 Gen 3 sits just under its Stealth Professional line and affords a powerful vary of options for $200. For starters the headphones has huge, 60mm drivers, plus a number of wi-fi transmitters in addition to Bluetooth. The PC model even consists of the choice for 24-bit audio, sadly at the price of Xbox compatibility.
Talking of compatibility, the non-24-bit model will work with PC, Xbox, PlayStation and any Bluetooth machine like a telephone or Nintendo Swap. The CrossPlay button on the precise earcup allows you to immediately swap between the wi-fi transmitters. You possibly can even stream audio from a Bluetooth-connected machine and the wi-fi transmitter concurrently so you may take heed to an epic playlist out of your telephone whereas dominating on the battlefield.
What I like concerning the Turtle Seashore Stealth 700 Gen 3
The ear cups are fairly snug. The cushions are reminiscence foam and coated in a leatherette materials that by no means obtained uncomfortable or sizzling for me whereas carrying them for lengthy intervals. Turtle Seashore additionally has what they name “ProSpecs” expertise, which is supposedly glasses-friendly. As a spectacle-clad gamer, I appreciated how snug they had been whereas carrying my glasses. Different headsets I’ve worn weren’t as accommodating.
The mic is cleverly hidden away within the left ear cup, and whenever you pull it down, it mechanically unmutes. For the Gen 3, Turtle Seashore has added AI-assisted noise discount to the microphone, which labored very properly for me throughout video calls. I do not play many multiplayer video games, so I wasn’t in a position to try it out throughout gameplay. Judging by my expertise on a number of video calls I might say it really works properly. I would not say it is considerably higher than what another firm is doing, nevertheless it’s good at what it does.
The left earcup additionally homes the facility button, USB-C charging port, two management wheels – one among which is remappable. There’s additionally a remappable Mode button which by default toggles Turtle Seashore’s Superhuman listening to mode which will increase the sounds of gunshots and footsteps. On the precise earcup is the Bluetooth pairing button, Bluetooth quantity management wheel and CrossPlay button for switching between sources.
What I do not like concerning the Turtle Seashore Stealth 700 Gen 3
As my colleague Lori Grunin identified in her Stealth Professional assessment, having a single Bluetooth button generally is a double-edged sword. Since Bluetooth headphones mechanically hook up with essentially the most lately related machine the headphones are at all times leaping backwards and forwards between units. So this would possibly take a second to treatment at first of a play session.
To be sincere, with all of the buttons and controls on the Stealth 700, it took me some time to study all of them. At instances it grew to become annoying. I might have to recollect which wheel managed quantity for which machine. Typically I might hit one when attempting to readjust the headset. What I might actually have preferred was a grasp quantity wheel that decreased every thing without delay.
Oddly, I seen that the facility indicator gentle across the energy button would blink quickly whereas it was on as an alternative of remaining stable inexperienced. It wasn’t a deal-breaker for me since I could not see it, nevertheless it appeared the alternative of what a blinking gentle means on different gear.
There is a little bit of a draw back to these huge drivers and additional cushiony ear cups: the Stealth 700 is a bit heavy. It by no means grew to become uncomfortable or painful, however I’d immediately really feel them with even the slightest head motion. I used to be at all times acutely aware that they had been on my head and I at all times needed to be cautious of by no means shifting my head too shortly.
What may be a much bigger dealbreaker for some, and have become extra of a difficulty for me the longer I used them, is the dearth of any kind of lively noise cancellation. With a lot of far cheaper headphones providing noise canceling, albeit not gaming headsets, that appears a disadvantage for the worth of the Stealth 700s. I additionally preferred these headphones sufficient to make use of them as my each day headphones, however attempting to work in a espresso store with none noise cancellation will be robust.
The dearth of noise cancellation probably helps Turtle Seashore’s declare that the Stealth 700 will get as much as 80 hours of battery life. That is fairly spectacular for a gaming headset like this. Whereas 80 hours could also be technically achievable, you will probably by no means see battery life that prime. For me, whereas gaming a mean of two to three hours a day, a cost lasted about two weeks. Turtle Seashore additionally claims it will probably quick cost to present you 3 hours of gaming time in about quarter-hour.
Customization of the buttons and EQs takes place within the Turtle Seashore Swarm II app, which additionally allows you to modify mic ranges, chat settings and most different typical gaming changes. The software program generally is a bit complicated, even glitchy, at instances although. It had hassle recognizing the 700 headset a couple of instances, particularly when related by way of Bluetooth.
Must you purchase the Stealth 700 Gen 3?
The third technology of the Stealth 700 headset is a major improve from the Gen 2 and it affords fairly a couple of extra substantial options than different headsets at this worth. If you happen to’re out there for a brand new gaming headset, the Stealth 700 provides you with nearly every thing you might ask for after which some… besides noise canceling.
Lastly, there are three variations of the Stealth 700 Gen 3. The Xbox model is appropriate with each platform. The Ps is appropriate with PC and the PC variations is able to 24-bit audio in addition to being appropriate with PlayStation. All variations also can hook up with Bluetooth units.
The Stealth 700 Gen 3 headphones from Turtle Seashore are a major improve over the Gen 2. They’re very snug, ship distinctive audio and hook up with a number of platforms. If the dearth of noise cancellation is not a dealbreaker for you, you will be fairly glad.
