REVIEW: TURTLE BEACH’S FLAGSHIP HEADSET, THE STEALTH PRO – A MULTIPLATFORM MONSTER

When Turtle Beach released their Stealth Gen 2 line of headsets in 2020, I was thrilled with the 700 version. It became my go-to choice every day and night when it was time to squad up and get down to business. With its abundant feature set, excellent audio reproduction, comfortable fit and impressive mic performance, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 quickly became the most frequently used headset in my gaming arsenal. A couple of years later (2022), Turtle Beach decided to not leave “good enough” alone and took the existing Stealth 700 Gen 2 to another level with the release of an even more feature-packed version, rightfully dubbed the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX (check out my in-depth review here). The MAX would easily replace its predecessor in my nightly FPS sessions. Everything was great in my world of gaming until now…Turtle Beach has done it again but with a completely redesigned feature packed King of the Stealth series…behold…the Stealth Pro has arrived and is ready to sit on the throne. Many thanks to Turtle Beach for sending us a review unit.

DRIVERS:

Equipped with Turtle Beach’s legendary 50mm NanoClear drivers, the Stealth Pro (SP) delivers amazingly clear and crisp audio reproductions in any game you throw at it. With these precision tuned drivers angled towards your ear’s sweet spot, you can choose from a variety of soundstages and customizable dynamic ranges that will cater to your specific audio needs. Also embedded into NanoClear drivers is Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing mode which amplifies the highs and mids and decreases the lows at the push of a button. I have used this feature many times in Search and Destroy games where I was the last man standing and ended up clutching the win thankfully because I could accurately hear enemies crouching, reloading and crouch-walking around me.

PRO TIP: The SP Xbox version kicks open all compatibility and audio doors with active software tuning for Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, DTS Headphone: X and even 3D Audio for PS5, while the SP Playstation version is not compatible with Xbox and only offers 3D Audio for PS5 consoles.

ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLING (ANC): 

Taking the SP to another level is Turtle Beach’s active noise cancellation (ANC) that delivers an isolating immersive audio experience that many competitive headsets just cannot deliver. By intelligently analyzing and countering external sounds with dual external mics, the SP’s ANC gives you perfectly dedicated audio replay that is void of any distractions. If you’re gaming in a noisy living room, dominating Zelda on a subway train or stuck playing next to someone who is loudly tiktok’ing, the SP’s ANC truly removes so much of those distracting sounds and only delivers you the silence you need when stalking your in-game prey. I honestly was surprised with the ANC performance, which provides deafening isolation that is on par with other higher end audiophile headphones, which is amazing for a gaming headset.

MICROPHONE:

Turtle Beach decided to go with a more traditional plug-in, swing down boom mic for the SP. To be honest, I was sad to see that the SP wasn’t equipped with a more “stealthy” hideaway mic like the Stealth Gen2 700, but where this design had me sad, the audio tech behind it really got my spirits back up. 

Equipped with an extended boom arm and an unidirectional cardioid microphone pattern, the SP ensures that your voice is captured accurately and transmitted with clarity. The boom mic’s range is well-suited for both close-range and distance communication, making it a versatile choice for various gaming and streaming environments. Because of the mic’s upgraded sensitivities and clarity, I needed to change my game settings and bring my settings down lower to compensate for the better mic performance.

With S.M.A.R.T. (Sonic Measurement Audio Reduction Tuning) technology powering the boom mic along with two concealed microphones, the SP delivers crystal clear chat with or without the boom mic attached. This is a feature that many Twitch streamers will love. For some, boom mics are an “ick” so to counter this ick, expensive external chat microphones need to be set up in order for viewers to get the full vocal experience. With the SP’s dual external mics coupled with S.M.A.R.T. I was truly impressed with how well the my chat audio was without the boom mic attached. This is a game changer and is a welcome feature for any streamer that is anti-boom mic and can’t afford a pricey external mic. S.M.A.R.T. tech also filters out background noise with your voice prioritized to insure the best clarity for whomever you are chatting with.

TRANSMITTER & CHARGING HUB:

For wireless connectivity, the SP does away with industry standard dongles and opts for a proprietary silver hockey puck shaped transmitter hub that doubles as a battery charger with an additional charging USB port. Connectivity is super easy by plugging into your preferred console with one of the supplied USB to USB-C cables and a flick of the PS or PC switch (same feature on the Xbox version but labeled: Xbox – PC). For PC connectivity, simply switch to the PC mode, plug the hub into your PC, hold down the power button on the headset for two seconds and you’re ready to go. As to be expected, Playstation hub LEDs will light up blue while the Xbox hub will light up green. 

The charging transmitter station delivers lag-free 2.4 GHz wireless connection and can be placed anywhere in your gaming set up using the 6.5 foot USB-C cable. One of the best features of this hub is its super fast 15 minute charge rating that will yield up to 3 hours of gameplay, in case you lost one of the included batteries. Yes that’s right, Turtle Beach generously provides SP users with not one but TWO hot swappable battery packs. Battery swapping is super easy by lifting the magnetic cover on the left earcup, under the boom mic, and dropping it in. Each battery is rated 12+ plus hours at full charge, so forever-play is actually achievable. 

HEADSET CONTROLS:

To keep gamers focused less on figuring out settings and more on the game, all of the SP’s controls are all located on the right side earcup. Dedicated buttons and jog wheel make it easy for players to switch settings like activating and deactivating Superhuman Hearing and upping the volume with a push of button or flick of the wheel. To further give gamers more customization, the wheel and mode button are mappable, using the Audio Hub software.

AUDIO HUB APP:

Turtle Beach’s Audio Hub software is an awesome tool that gives all gamers the ability to fine tune any must have settings. Gamers and streamers can easily tap into the SP’s 10 band EQ to get that perfect sound while also toggling through the various other settings that give users the best competitive edge (I’m staring at you Superhuman Hearing). Mic-monitoring, which plays your own chat in your ear, is also available and can be activated via the Audio Hub app (desktop or mobile app). After a few attempts, the mic-monitoring feature on my review unit seemed to suffer from a slight latency, resulting in my own voice echoing in the headset. Additionally, with the volume slider at 100%, mic-monitoring was still very faint due to the boom mic not being in front of my mouth, making this feature not as usable as its predecessors. Maybe the boom mic needs to be a touch longer? This is one of my favorite features so I hope that it will be fixed in future firmware updates.

Speaking of firmware updates, Turtle Beach has always had their finger on the pulse of all their products when it comes to fine tuning and fixing any audio issues with regular patches and updates. In order to update the SP, you must use the computer/desktop version of the Audio Hub V2 software. Unlike previous headset updates the new V2 software will easily detect your headset and transmitter station, direct you with prompts and quickly update both units to the latest firmware versions. Please keep in mind that both the SP and its hub must be plugged in separately and at the same time when updating. This might be challenging for anyone with a single USB-C port Macbook so make sure you either have a port expander (check here) or a backup computer with more than one port. 

DUAL CONNECTIVITY:

Dual connectivity was available in previous Stealth headsets so I was thrilled about it also being offered with the newest 5.1 Bluetooth connectivity software. As a genuine “iykyk” moment, dual connectivity is one of those features you never knew you needed until you got it or tried it out. Imagine being able to watch tiktoks during long lobby wait times, listen to music throughout the whole game and/or watch Youtube tip videos when you’re stuck at an unsolvable level, without ever pissing off anyone in your squad or lobby. The only caveat is you wouldn’t be able to share any Bluetooth audio with your online friends.

FIT:

The SP’s fit is immaculate. My initial thoughts were that the headset might be too tight and too heavy but once I slipped the SP over my melon, the squishy memory foam cups wrapped in plush leatherette immediately embraced each ear and instantly I was a fan. Not only were any ideas of “tight” and “heavy” banished, but once the earcups snuggled in, it delivered a solid isolating listening environment. The metal headband is able to retain a firm but giving grasp and I never experienced any slippage that I’ve experienced with plastic headband headsets. Additionally, the SP will not slip or fly off your head with any abrupt head jerks or quick turns. As with all Turtle Beach headsets, the SP earcups are easy to remove and replace if you need fresh new cushions. Let’s also not forget about the amazing patented ProSpecs™ glasses-friendly technology that can be adjusted to create a tiny little divot at the temples to accommodate glasses for my fellow four-eyed players. If you wear glasses to see or bring the glare down then ProSpecs is a godsend when it comes to eliminating temple pain and pressure.

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FINAL THOUGHTS & CONCLUSION:

LOVED:

• Excellent performance with multiplatform compatibility means purchasing one headset for everything.
• 50mm angled NanoClear tuned drivers.
• Dual connectivity (console and cellphone).
• Active Noise Canceling is top tier and perfect for silencing ambient distractions or angry girlfriends/boyfriends.
• Boom mic delivers the goods with clarity in various audio modes.
• Dual external mics powered by S.M.A.R.T. bring impressive chat reproduction without the boom mic attached.
• Hot swappable 12 hour battery pack system with not one but TWO batteries and 3 hours of gameplay with only 15 minutes of charging is amazing.
• Fine tooth audio and mic customization with the Turtle Beach Audio Hub V2 software via mobile & desktop apps.
• Xbox version is compatible with all gaming formats.
• Xbox version is active tuned for Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, DTS Headphone: X and even 3D Audio for PS5. ***BUY THE XBOX VERSION
• Plush and supple earcups that embrace your ears, equipped with ProSpecs provide pain-free long term use.
• Easy to install firmware updates and software support regularly released.
• One year warranty.
• Excellent tech support response.

NOT SO MUCH:

• Exposed boom mic vs. flip-up hideaway mic, not a deal breaker…maybe the hideaway will make a comeback in the Stealth Pro Gen 2? We can only hope.
• Mic-monitoring (at time of publishing) has latency echoing issues and volume bugs that should be resolved with upcoming firmware updates.
• Lukewarm design may not be appealing to gamers.
• PS5 version does NOT support Xbox connectivity and only offers PS5 3D Audio tuning. ***DO NOT GET THIS VERSION
• MSRP can cause sticker shock so keep your eyes open for sales and discounts.

CONCLUSION: 

With a $329.99 MSRP the Stealth Pro can be quite intimidating when it comes to pulling out your wallet or purse. Yes, it is a pricey gaming headset, but with its premium price comes great rewards. For someone with many different gaming platforms, the SP (Xbox version) cures the problem of buying multiple headsets for each console, desktop or handheld. Purchasing comparable performing headsets would easily set you back $100-150 per platform and quickly clutter up your gaming space with a bunch of cumbersome rigs and a plethora of tiny dongles that can easily be lost. On top of eliminating the need for many different headsets, the SP delivers exemplary wireless audio and microphone performance with zero latency or echoing. The SP’s Active Noise Cancellation is surprisingly competent and perfect for a noisy household, on-the-go use or airplane travel and can easily hold its own against other non-gaming audiophile ANC headphones. On top of all of these premium features, the easy to use Audio Hub V2 software grants all users the power to custom tune mic and audio settings, giving this beast the competitive edge in all arenas. Do I like the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro? They say “a picture says a 1000 words” so let the below GIF speak a million…

You can follow the links below to purchase:

• Stealth Pro (PS or Xbox) here.
• Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX (PS or Xbox) here.
• Stealth 700 Gen 2 (PS or Xbox) here.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Headphones:

• Drivers: 50mm Nanoclear™ Drivers with Neodymium magnets
• Noise Cancellation: Variable Active Noise Cancellation – >25dB Noise Reduction @ 100Hz
• Frequency Response: 10Hz – 22kHz

Microphone:

• Type: Built-in & removable boom mic. Unidirectional Noise Cancelling – >30dB Noise Reduction @ 3kHz
• Frequency Response: 100Hz – 8kHz
• Sensitivity: Boom: -22dBFS/Pa / Built-in: -26dBFS/Pa

Earcups:

• Earcup Design: Over-Ear (Closed)
• Ear Cushion Material: Leatherette wrapped Memory Foam

Connectivity:

• Wireless Transmitter: PlayStation® Consoles, PC, Mac® and Nintendo Switch™
• Dual Connection: Simultaneous 2.4Ghz & Bluetooth
• Gaming Wireless: 2.4Ghz Lag-Free Wireless
• Range: Up to 50’ / 15m
• Bluetooth®: iOS, Android, PC & Mac®, Nintendo Switch™ & other Bluetooth® Equipped Devices

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BOX CONTENTS:

• Turtle Beach Stealth™ Pro Wireless Noise-Cancelling Gaming Headset
• Removable TruSpeak™ Boom Microphone
• 2x Rechargeable Battery Packs
• Transmitter & Charging Station
• 3ft USB-C Cable & 6.5ft USB-C Transmitter Cable
• Velvet Cloth Carrying Pouch
• Quick Start Guide & Turtle Beach Sticker