$329 is asking quite a bit for a headset, particularly for an energetic noise canceling headset that doesn’t come from the likes of Apple or Sony. However the Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional headset lives as much as its identify by providing a clear look that offers it common attraction, but in addition devoted gaming options that different ANC opponents lack. And the ANC right here is sweet. The likes of the AirPods Max are most likely nonetheless a greater decide for people who find themselves deep into Apple’s ecosystem, and Sony’s WH-1000XM5 are most likely a bit of higher if you happen to don’t care about something however sound high quality. However if you happen to wish to play a bit of Fortnite or Apex Legends on the facet, the removable growth mic, 2.4 GHZ connectivity, and backup battery will serve you effectively right here, and the cans will nonetheless sound nice.
Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional
Turtle Seashore’s Stealth Professional Gaming Headset has the proper mixture of sound high quality and high quality of life.
Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional
Turtle Seashore’s Stealth Professional Gaming Headset has the proper mixture of sound high quality and high quality of life.
What’s it?
Turtle Seashore’s newest ANC gaming headset comes with a wi-fi transmitter and two batteries within the pack
Worth
$329
Like
Spare battery, intuitive controls, extraordinarily comfy match, lengthy battery life, sensible treble, wonderful multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, nice noise-canceling, a helpful companion app
Dislike
No 3.5mm jack, the adjustment slider is just too tight, mic may function extra noise discount
The Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional seems to be clear sufficient for the subway
Turtle Seashore experimented with a barely totally different design for the Stealth Professional. The corporate drifted away from the Stealth collection’ customary ovular aesthetics in the direction of an all-plastic physique with a metallic headband and spherical earcups. Although the earcups are rotatable and will be made to lie flat round your shoulders, which is nice, the hinge is a bit of tight. Whereas a very free hinge could be a ache, this one misses the candy spot in between the 2.
Each the earcups make up for the hinge with hidden surprises. The proper one sports activities a wheel that doubles as a quantity management dial. That’s customary, however the wheel sports activities a customizable (by way of the Turtle Seashore Audio Hub app) button proper in its heart (extra on that later). The left cup is even cooler. Its plate will be opened as much as reveal the battery, which you’ll then swap out for a spare. Yeah, the Stealth Professional comes with two batteries within the bundle, so you possibly can swap one in as the opposite loses cost, much like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional. The identical earcup additionally hosts a small plate masking the headset’s growth mic port for when it isn’t put in. It’s little options like these that make the design of this headset so considerate.
Picture: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
The Stealth Professional is a fairly handsome headset. I wouldn’t say it’s probably the most beautiful pair of cans I’ve ever seen, however it’s positively decently interesting and doesn’t scream “gaming.” The inclusion of non-compulsory RGB lighting may’ve positively upped the sport with out sacrificing that common attraction, but it surely’s not such as you’d see it whereas carrying the headset.
Equipment-wise, I used to be completely impressed. You get a wi-fi transmitter that delivers a 2.4GHz lag-free connection, fees the battery packs, and might even cost different gadgets with a built-in USB-A port. There are additionally two battery packs as talked about above, in addition to two Kind-C cables of various lengths. You additionally get the aforementioned growth mic and a carrying pouch for the headset. The velvet pouch exudes sophistication, affords safety, and encompasses a pocket for cables, too.
A light-weight wi-fi headset that’s good for glasses
I may put on the Stealth Professional all day lengthy and nonetheless be relaxed. That’s because of the generously-padded leatherette-coated reminiscence foam earcups and headband. It primarily appears like a feather atop my head. The thick ear cushions additionally make sure that my ears are evaded the metallic grilles on the within of the earcups, in order that the cartilage doesn’t come into contact with it–a fairly widespread challenge with over-the-ear headphones. The massive circumference of the earcups additionally offers a sound-proof, safe seal and vastly contribute to fairly respectable passive noise isolation.
The scarf performs its half in offering a snug match. Not solely is it adjustable and properly padded, but it surely’s additionally thick sufficient to maintain the burden of the headset evenly distributed in your noggin. Overly skinny headbands put a whole lot of stress on a small floor space and find yourself being disagreeable for longer gaming classes.
Picture: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
The Stealth Professional is supplied with Turtle Seashore’s “ProSpecs” glasses-fitting know-how, which I used to be pleasantly stunned to see isn’t only a advertising and marketing gimmick. In contrast to many different on-ear headphones, the Stealth Professional gave adequate area to my glasses and didn’t put stress on them. In case you don’t really feel the identical method, you possibly can really change the quantity of reduction the froth provides you by eradicating the earcup and pulling an adjustable ribbon.
My greatest challenge with the Stealth Professional’s construct is that, whereas the metallic slider on the scarf does an excellent job of providing flexibility, it’s method too tight. And no, I don’t imply agency–I imply tight. It is extremely tough to regulate the headset, and that you must apply a big quantity of power to take action. A scarf as tight as that is positively not preferable in the midst of an intense gaming session.
An ANC headset with customizable controls
The controls on the Stealth Professional are fairly simple. Other than the aforementioned quantity wheel, the proper cup hosts a bluetooth pairing button, an influence button, and a button for toggling on the headset’s energetic noise canceling (branded as “Superhuman Listening to”). The ANC button doubles as a mute/unmute button when it’s pressed for 2 seconds. The identical cup additionally hosts a Kind-C charging port. As one of many three buttons is textured, it is vitally simple to inform which management you’re about to press with out wanting. This makes the structure fairly intuitive.
Gaming noise canceling that really works
In case you’re into treble, that is the headset to go for. The high-end audio on the Stealth Professional is among the cleanest and clearest I’ve come throughout. Total, the sound options distinctive layering, however the treble particularly stands out. The bass is nice, too, however this headset might be particularly helpful for monitoring high-pitched sound results, like gunshots. It’s not overdone or excessively heavy. I had a good time enjoying Name of Obligation: Warzone 2 on this. The spatial sound got here via simply, making my recreation extraordinarily immersive. The mids are spacious too, and the soundstage is impressively vast.
The energetic noise canceling mode on the Stealth Professional really works, regardless of its foolish identify. And in comparison with one among my newest favorites, the JBL Quantum 910 Wi-fi, it’s so significantly better. It considerably muted all of the noise coming from the playground that I reside proper subsequent to. And that’s one thing not a whole lot of headphones are able to. Sounds of all frequencies had been quieted down; whether or not they had been excessive or low pitch. Additionally, the Stealth Professional fortunately doesn’t have the annoying hum most ambient or transparency modes on ANC headsets do, that means there’s no interference if that you must shortly test in your environment.
The Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional has two batteries, which you’ll swap out by opening one of many earcups.Picture: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
The multipoint connectivity on these cans is among the smoothest I’ve ever seen. I used to be related to my PC by way of the wi-fi transmitter and was concurrently paired to my iPhone by way of Bluetooth. Once I received a name on my cellphone, I simply needed to obtain it and the remainder was all sorted robotically. The amount of my recreation went down a bit so I may hear my name higher. The swap was extraordinarily seamless and didn’t require any further effort on my facet.
There’s additionally wired USB-C connectivity for a dependable energy backup (however no 3.5mm audio connectivity), however with each batteries providing as much as 12 hours and one at all times charging within the background, you don’t have to fret about your headset operating out of juice.
The vary of the Bluetooth is spectacular. I examined it by strolling round my home, and even with closed doorways between the headset and my cellphone; in keeping with my good friend on the cellphone, the connection didn’t stutter for even a second.
The Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional wi-fi transmitter doubles as a charging puck for the battery.Picture: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
Turtle Seashore’s Audio Hub is, for a change, a companion app that’s really helpful. It has a clear and easy-to-use interface, and affords a whole lot of bass and treble-focused equalizer presets in addition to the choice to customise your individual. It affords mic settings, too, so you possibly can tweak its sensitivity and noise gate. My private favourite function was the perform remapping one, the place I used to be in a position to customise the perform of the amount wheel in addition to the ANC button. You should utilize the wheel to regulate plenty of issues similar to mic monitor quantity, ANC stage, bass increase, treble increase, noise gate, and mic sensitivity. The ANC button can be utilized for turning the noise gate on/off, biking between recreation presets, or as a multi-function button.
The removable growth mic works, however the built-in mics are cleaner
After a one-hour name with a good friend, we concluded that the removable growth mic is a strong 7 out of 10. Whereas it did an excellent job at transmitting my voice clearly, it isn’t the most effective at canceling background noise. They might hear the hum of my tower fan, a lot in order that they had been bothered by the noise. In addition they reported that my voice sounded a bit of extra “sharp and tinny” than it often does. Switching to the built-in beamforming mics made them happier. Apparently, it’s “cleaner and clearer.”
Picture: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
Must you purchase the Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional Gaming Headset?
The Stealth Professional is the most effective gaming headset Turtle Seashore has produced to this point. It sports activities a singular design, and the two-battery function provides it an extended battery life. It hosts a straightforward and intuitive management structure and an especially comfy match. The treble and sound imaging is nice, and so is the noise-canceling. It’s received fairly spectacular twin connectivity and a really helpful companion app. I simply want it featured RGB lighting and a less-tight adjustment slider. Slightly extra noise discount on the growth mic would have been nice, too.
It’s admittedly a giant funding, however it will be price it. It checks all of the containers {that a} gaming headset ought to provide, plus has just a few comfort options, like that backup battery and that glasses-fit adjustment.