I’ve been a fan of gaming since I obtained my first NES as a toddler. Over time, I’ve owned a number of totally different consoles and I’ve at all times seemed for tactics to reinforce one in every of my favourite hobbies. Nowadays, that may imply upgrading to a greater TV, utilizing a projector, or including a gaming headset to the combo.
Thankfully, our associates at Turtle Seaside had been variety sufficient to ship out the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max for PS4 and PS5 for overview. I’ve been utilizing it for the previous month and listed below are my ideas.
Options
The Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max is one in every of Turtle Seaside’s flagship gaming headsets, and as such, comes full of options. For starters, it makes use of a USB dongle to supply a 2.4GHz wi-fi connection between your machine and the headset. On this case, the gadgets supported are the PS4, PS4 Professional, PS4 Slim, PS5, Nintendo Change, PC, and Mac. Just about every part however an Xbox, however don’t fear, Turtle Seaside additionally makes a mannequin with Xbox compatibility as nicely.
Some further options current on the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max are an extended 40+ hour battery life, 50mm Nanoclear audio system, a flip to mute mic, bodily controls on the ear cups, sidetone monitoring, connecting concurrently with Bluetooth and the two.4GHz dongle, and a Superhuman Listening to setting.
The Superhuman Listening to choice could be discovered within the useful Turtle Seaside Audio Android app. I like when gaming headsets have an Android companion app as a result of it makes managing them a lot simpler. Particularly, in the event that they help a simultaneous connection just like the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max, as a result of on this case, I normally have the headset linked to my cellphone to take calls whereas gaming anyhow.
That’s why it solely is smart to have an Android app that enables for tweaking the totally different settings, just like the equalizer, button capabilities, Superhuman Listening to setting, and extra. Nonetheless, I’ve to say the Turtle Seaside app isn’t probably the most intuitive to make use of and I want it offered extra in depth EQ settings.
Consolation
The Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max makes use of a metal-reinforced headband and dual-foam Aerofit cooling gel-infused ear cushions that boast a glasses-friendly design. The cushions are dense and tender, however apart from the steel headband, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max is primarily constructed out of plastic.
The consolation degree of the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max got here up missing in my view. They really feel cumbersome and fairly heavy, sufficient to the place I started feeling the stress of the scarf on the highest of my head after solely gaming for an hour. Moreover, the tight clamping pressure places a whole lot of stress on the facet of your head whereas additionally inflicting my ears to get heat after prolonged use, regardless of making use of Aerofit cooling gel within the cushions.
Total, I used to be not impressed by the consolation and match of the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max, even with the beneficiant padding, it wasn’t sufficient to beat the load and clamping pressure. They’re actually not probably the most uncomfortable headphones I’ve worn, however they aren’t nice for lengthy gaming classes. Nonetheless, in case you solely play for a few hours at a time then they need to be high-quality.
Audio high quality
Because of the two.4GHz wi-fi connection offered by the USB dongle, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max has lag-free high-quality audio whereas gaming. This specific mannequin is even tuned particularly for the PlayStation 5’s 3D audio.
Whereas the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max might lack within the consolation division, it greater than makes up for it with improbable audio high quality. I used to be significantly impressed by how rather more epic the soundtrack for video games like The Witcher 3 and Horizon Zero Daybreak sounded due to the open soundstage and enormous 50mm drivers within the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max.
In addition to the soundtrack, it additionally made sneaking round much more intense as a result of I really felt surrounded by the sound and picked up on each footstep or growl, these are small sounds that always go unnoticed with regular audio system. My solely criticism can be that I want the equalizer within the app allowed extra management in adjusting the audio, however the signature setting already sounds nice and will please most avid gamers on the market.
The Superhuman Listening to additionally is useful if that you must increase the amount of the sport or for while you take calls in your cellphone.
Mic
I obtained a whole lot of optimistic suggestions when utilizing the mic throughout calls whereas gaming. I like that the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max permits me to make calls with my cellphone and everybody stated I sounded clear, though once I used the facet tone choice to listen to myself individuals complained of listening to themselves echo through the name. In any other case, every part was good and the mic labored nice.
It was additionally tremendous handy to flip it out of the way in which when not in use or flip it out once I was prepared to talk.
Battery life
Turtle Seaside charges the battery lifetime of the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max for 40 hours or extra. After utilizing it for the previous few weeks, I can vouch that it undoubtedly exceeds 30 hours together with a while in standby. They didn’t appear to reside as much as the 40+ hours listed within the specs, however that could possibly be on account of me utilizing it to make calls over Bluetooth whereas gaming and a few battery misplaced throughout standby time.
Both approach, you’ll nonetheless get loads of gaming trip of the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max, and it is best to solely have to cost it up as soon as per week except you’re a full-time gamer. Plus, in case you discover the battery getting low, then you may get eight hours of battery life from a 15-minute cost due to quick-charging.
Ultimate ideas
As somebody who has used TV audio system, soundbars, and encompass sound—I can confidently say nothing compares to utilizing a great gaming headset. And the Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max is a good gaming headset.
It has a sturdy construct, lengthy battery life, improbable audio high quality, an Android app to simply modify the settings, and a crystal clear mic. In addition to some tiny nitpicks concerning the weight, clamping pressure, and the app being just a little too fundamental, the Turtle Seaside Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max is a powerful gaming headset for less than $150.
