I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing various Turtle Beach headsets over the years, and specifically, the predecessor to this very headset we’re reviewing today. The original Turtle Beach Stealth Pro headset might have featured a bulky design and a hefty, premium price tag, but it was undoubtedly one of the best headsets at that price and at that point in time.
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II feels like a much more refined option, one that listens to the shortcomings of its older siblings and adjusts and improves accordingly. While the Stealth Pro II still sits behind a premium price tag, it’s certainly one of the most versatile headsets available in the market today.
Design
From a design perspective, the Stealth Pro II looks much better than its predecessor, and for a few reasons. The biggest improvement is simply the newer, slimmer design. I mean, there’s still a little bulk to the Stealth Pro II, but it’s considerably less than the original Stealth Pro, and now it looks like something I would want to wear out and about for things like music and podcasts, as opposed to just gaming.
Available in both Black and White, the metallic finish and subtle aluminium and chrome accents around both the earcup and adjustable brackets go a long way in adding to the premium look and feel of the headset. If you’ve read my other reviews on gaming headsets, you’ll know that I’m a huge fan of the adjustable ski band for added comfort. While that’s not here specifically, I’m actually impressed with the alternative.
An additional mesh has been fused onto the softer, upper plastic portion of the head, which sits right up against it. The result is something that feels as soft and light as a ski band, but not as flimsy as a piece of fabric under the headband itself. While the trade-off is one that’s still not adjustable, it’s a solid improvement compared to the standard padding of the original Stealth Pro headset.
At 393g with the additional boom mic attached, it still feels incredibly comfortable to wear, and the memory foam earcups also feel great. While they do trap a little heat after an hour or so, it’s nothing outrageous. The adjustable brackets are also easy to use and feel incredibly sturdy, even when stretching this out for larger heads like mine.
Much like the original Stealth Pro, a fair amount is going on beside each of the earcups, as far as controls are concerned. The right ear cup features a dedicated Crossplay button to switch between transmitters on the fly, a Bluetooth button and a Bluetooth volume wheel to adjust the volume of your Bluetooth device, which is a nice touch.
On the left ear cup, you’ll find a Mode button to switch between ANC and transparency modes, a volume wheel for your game audio, a scroll wheel for your mic sensitivity, a USB-C charging port and finally, a power button which also works to turn Superhuman Hearing on and off.
It’s great that all these controls are present, but when the headset is on, I have a hard time distinguishing each from the other. On multiplayer occasions, I had to take the headset off and check, as I had no idea what I was pressing, even after feeling my way around.
The included hard carry case is also fantastic. It fits the headphones nicely, along with the dock and boom mic. It simply makes the experience feel that much more premium, and I wish more high-end options would work to make this a standard.
Along with the carry case contents, you’ll also find the additional USB-A transmitter and a 2-metre USB-A to USB-C cable to be used with the charging dock. Stangely enough, however, there’s no additional USB charging cable for another platform, which would have come in handy.
Performance
While the original Stealth Pro was great, I dare say that the Stealth Pro II is significantly better, and for a few reasons. The sound quality really speaks for itself. The included 60mm Eclipse dual drivers are loud, punchy, and create a huge soundstage for all types of listening and gaming.
The bass can be a little strong out of the box, but the headset itself sounds crystal clear, free from any noticeable distortion at louder volume levels. I’ve been trying this for music and podcasts outside of gaming, and I’m incredibly impressed.
At A$549.95, you’re even getting certified Hi-Res Wireless Audio, an admittedly tougher standard to meet as far as gaming headsets are concerned. This simply means you’ll be getting access to 96kHz/24-bit transmission for higher-clarity audio, with greater bandwidth for a range of listening experiences via USB.
It even supports Dolby Atmos for both the Xbox Series X/S and PC, and Tempest 3D Audio for the PS5, meaning you’ll be getting sound firing independently out of both left and right drivers for added immersion.
You’ll also be getting access to ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) to help block out our surroundings, along with a transparency mode to let those sounds in. While I’ve been trying to take advantage of both modes and have done so over the course of a few weeks, my three-week-old newborn son, Henry, appreciates the transparency mode when I have to go and pick him up for a feed.
As far as ANC modes go in gaming headsets, this is actually quite good. They’re never ground-breaking, and I would always recommend a more dedicated pair of over-ear headphones like the Sony XM6 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but I’m certainly impressed with these guys here.
For reference, the Arctis Nova Elite gaming headphones have the best ANC in a headset thus far, and this comes incredibly close. For a headset that’s less than half the price, I feel like that’s an absolute win for the sake of value.
You’ll also get the latest Bluetooth 5.3 for things like mobile devices and 2.4 GHz connectivity via both the dock and USB-A transmitter. Simultaneous audio even allows you to connect to both devices, so you can even answer phone calls without having to switch between devices each time.
The Stealth Pro II also comes with its own dock for both connectivity and virtually unlimited battery life. It’s once again a very minimal dock, so you won’t be able to control things like master volume or adjust preset and EQ options here, but it’s a fine addition that blends in nicely.
The ring on the bottom of the dock will flash white if the headset isn’t connected, and remain on once it is. While this can be annoying if you’re not using the headset, to have this white light flashing at you, it does turn off after a few minutes.
The battery life is also a massive upgrade over the first Stealth Pro, and Turtle Beach suggests that you’ll be getting 80 hours total from both batteries.
Swapping them is also incredibly easy thanks to the detachable magnetic plate on the side of the earcup, but given each battery in the Stealth Pro was only 12 hours, it’s more than a massive leap in longevity.
The included USB-A transmitter is super handy for connecting to virtually any other device like a PC or an additional console. If you always jump between platforms as I do, it’s nice to have this ready to go without having to disconnect and reconnect or move entire DAC systems and transmitters along with you. You can actually add up to four of these USB-A transmitters, but they are not included.
The detachable mic is also very decent, and the flip-to-mute function works well. It’s great for most party chats and even meetings, for that matter. It also does a decent job of blocking out general background noise.
Finally, it is worth noting that the headset exists in two versions, being the PC and Xbox. We are reviewing the PC version, which works on PlayStation but not on Xbox, due to their security and audio requirements. The Xbox version will work on all platforms.
Software
I’m not a massive fan of Turtle Beach’s knack for having various apps for various headsets, but I can’t argue with the results of the Swarm II app.
Available on PC, iOS, and Android. I opted for the iOS mobile option simply out of convenience, as I use this headset primarily on my PlayStation 5. As with most headsets, you will need to connect the headset, dock, and transmitter to your PC to update the firmware.
Within the app, you’ll be able to adjust and customise settings like ANC levels, various EQ presets, along with the ability to create your own, and adjust the Superhuman Hearing settings, which essentially amplify more subtle sounds in certain games.
Via four easy tabs at the bottom of the screen, you’ll be able to switch to and customise your microphone settings, and customise your headset and transmitter settings, including remapping the Mode button and volume scroll wheel underneath it. There are also Macro settings which you can download, as additional presets crafted for certain games.
Overall, it’s a fine app that doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel, but it’s a functional experience nonetheless.
Verdict & Value
Overall, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II wireless gaming headset offers incredible value for money, even with its premium price tag. It provides incredible audio, virtually unlimited battery life, and works with any platform via the dock, USB-A transmitter, or Bluetooth.
It’s sturdy, durable and comfortable to wear for longer gaming sessions, and the larger 60mm Eclipse drivers make this a joy to use outside of the home for things like music as well.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Superb audio quality; Versatile across multiple platforms; Solid build and comfortable to wear; Incredible battery life
Lowlights: Various controls on each ear cup can get a little overwhelming
Manufacturer: Turtle Beach
Price: A$549.95
Available: Now available at leading hardware retailers including JB Hi-Fi and EB Games, and via the official Turtle Beach website.
Review based on unit supplied by Turtle Beach.
