Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3) is simply great. It’s forward thinking in terms of its “multi-platform” approach to offer a seamless experience across multiple systems with its dual dongles. It’s also has fantastic audio quality and customization. The redesign of this headset looks and feels refreshing as a result. Turtle Beach has been building up to the what the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3) is, and that’s offering something premium in build and quality that truly delivers.
The Stealth 700 (Gen 3) rocks new 60mm Eclipse Dual Drivers, which deliver a robust and immersive soundscape. From the subtle nuances of ambient sounds to the explosive impact of gunfire, the audio is rich and detailed. The bass is deep and punchy, adding a satisfying layer to the gaming experience. While some may find the sound profile slightly bass-heavy, it’s a preference that can be adjusted to a certain extent using the Turtle Beach Swarm II app, on mobile and desktop (more on this later). Compare this to the Audeze Maxwell and its 90mm drivers, they don’t quite stack up but there’s some great sound quality coming out of the Stealth 700’s.
The headset excels at delivering a cinematic audio experience, particularly in games with immersive soundtracks. The sound stage is wide, allowing you to pinpoint the location of sounds in the virtual environment. The 7.1 surround sound simulation, while not a true surround sound experience, adds depth and immersion to the audio. When compared to the Stealth 600 (Gen 3) / Stealth 500 or even the Stealth Pro, the Stealth 700 (Gen3) really stands out in a class all its own.
One of the most crucial aspects of a gaming headset is comfort. The Stealth 700 (Gen 3) doesn’t quite hit the mark for me, but this is going to be very subjective. The over-ear design, coupled with soft memory foam ear cushions, aims to provide a comfortable fit even during extended gaming sessions. The adjustable headband ensures a secure and personalized fit, minimizing any pressure points. Now, I don’t think i have a big head, but it doesn’t sit comfortably for me – and in time feels heavy on the head.
The flip-to-mute microphone on the Stealth 700 (Gen 3) is a convenient feature. The audio quality is clear and natural, making it easy for teammates to hear and understand your voice. The AI noise reduction technology effectively filters out background noise, ensuring that your voice is heard loud and clear. The microphone is flexible and can be adjusted to your preferred position. The flip-to-mute mechanism is reliable and easy to use. The microphone boom arm is sturdy and doesn’t feel flimsy. The increased focus on improving the microphone quality can be felt, and heard.
The Stealth 700 (Gen 3) offers a range of features that enhance the gaming experience. The CrossPlay wireless system allows you to easily switch between gaming consoles, PC, and mobile devices with the use of two separate dongles on the intended devices you wish to use the headset on. The dual USB transmitters provide a seamless connection to your PC and other devices, with all of this can happen with the press of a button – it’s flawless. The headset also supports Bluetooth connectivity, making it easy to listen to music or take calls.
There’s a reliance to use the Turtle Beach Swarm II app in order to update and make adjustments to the headset. As you’d expect, you can adjust the EQ settings, create custom audio profiles, and update the headset’s firmware. The app is not great, but can be quick and handy for changing things on the fly, especially from media to games, or from regular games to competitive FPS games. I was able to update the headset using the app, but on the desktop version, shows that there’s an update that I can’t ever apply. It’s inconsistent and problematic, but is a software problem and not a hardware one.
The headset also is a bit more grown up, with no RGB or lighting to be found here. And considering a headset is always on your head, I don’t miss something I never could see. Beyond the traditional white and black colorways, there is a new cobalt blue option that looks absolutely stunning.
When looking at the headset, the left ear cup controls the mode, overall volume, game volume, charging port, and the power button. THe right earcup, you have the swap dongle button, chat volume, and Bluetooth enablement. The buttons are many, but balanced and gives you a lot of control at your fingertips.
The Stealth 700 (Gen 3) boasts an impressive battery life of up to 80 hours on a single charge, impressively matching what the Audeze Maxwell has been doing. This means you can enjoy extended gaming sessions without worrying about the headset running out of juice. The quick charging feature is a welcome addition, allowing you to quickly top up the battery for those impromptu gaming sessions. The headset’s battery life is simply excellent, it feels like it works forever. You’ll probably go so long you’ll forget to charge it. If that happens, the quick-charging feature is a lifesaver when you need to get back into the game.
Finally there is a worthy contender to the Audeze Maxwells, and that’s the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3). The Swarm II software is a bust on mobile and even desktop, but once you set things to the way you like – you mostly can forget it. The sleek design looks modern, and is a fantastic gaming headset that offers exceptional sound quality, comfort, and features. The immersive audio experience, coupled with the comfortable fit and long battery life, make it a compelling choice. Whether it is for a single system or utilizing multi-platform, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3) lets you go anywhere and hear everything.
A Stealth 700 (Gen 3) was provided in advance by Turtle Beach for review purposes
