Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Wireless Gaming Headset Review - Premium Sound, Fantastic Features

TweakTown Rating: 92%

Our Verdict

The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II is a premium and versatile wireless gaming headset that not only supports high-res audio with impressive ANC for on-the-go listening, but it does so with style and a design that stands out from the pack.

Pros

• Robust, stylish build
• Excellent high-res audio quality
• Broadcast-quality microphone
• Versatile connectivity options, including simultaneous Bluetooth
• Impressive ANC makes it a travel companion

Cons

• Limited sound customization
• Mic monitoring is enabled by default and requires the Swarm II app to turn it off
• Overall weight and fit might not be suitable for some

Should you buy it?

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Introduction & Specification Details and Close-up

We've seen the arrival of a few different premium headsets that blend a lifestyle or more stylish look with versatility and a focus that still aims its sights, or sounds, on gaming. The new Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset certainly falls into this category, as it blends hi-res wireless audio with impressive ANC and a near-broadcast-quality microphone, all in a headset that connects to PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Bluetooth devices to deliver an immersive audio experience. Naturally, the $349.99 USD price tag is high for a gaming headset, but it's indicative of the Stealth Pro II's tech and features. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset is not only one of the company's most impressive headsets to date, but one that also stands out from the pack.

If you've taken a glance at the score and award, you might be thinking that the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset is on par with similarly priced and positioned premium headsets. However, it's different enough that there's something of a learning curve, or getting used to, that we weren't expecting, to the point where our first hour or so with it was one of confusion that slowly evolved into appreciation and admiration. This is due to the Turtle Beach Signature Sound tuning, which is not exactly flat or neutral, as well as the headset's overall weight and the surprisingly tight fit, pressure-wise. After several days of heavy use, these initial thoughts faded, but they highlight that, for some, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset might not be the right, well, fit.

When it comes to the overall sound, although there's an emphasis on low- and high-end frequencies to create a more immersive, booming soundspace, mid-range detail isn't sacrificed, and overall clarity remains, no matter the volume. In fact, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset's high-resolution audio (it can handle 24-bit 96 kHz sound over low-latency wireless) is certified by the Japan Audio Society (JAS), so when it comes to both gaming and listening to music, it's hard not to be impressed. But there's a lot more to the story here, from the active noise cancellation (ANC) that's good enough for air travel through to the fantastic microphone and long-lasting battery. It even ships with a receiver/puck and charger, plus a spare battery, so you're always ready to go.

Specifications & Close Up

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Kosta's Test System Specifications

Design & Software Support

Design

Weighing in at 382 grams without the attached boom mic, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset is definitely on the heavy side for a gaming headset. Naturally, when it comes to comfort for long sessions that can last hours, weight is a factor, but not the most important one. The overall build quality here is robust, with anodized aluminum, metal controls, premium rubber, and dual-layer memory foam cushions paired with breathable fabric. The solid headband also includes breathable mesh padding to reduce downward pressure. Weight distribution alleviates some of the weight, too, but the fit still falls on the tight side, with notable clamping pressure creating a vacuum or isolated effect even without ANC. Coming from a lightweight headset, it took some getting used to, but overall, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset is comfortable enough to wear for extended listening.

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When it comes to chat, you've got two options: using the integrated beamforming microphones or connecting the premium detachable boom microphone that features built-in AI noise reduction. The latter adds some negligible weight to the headset but is definitely the way to go for in-game chat or dialing into a call, as the voice clarity and detail are near-broadcast quality, and it eliminates background noise. Controls are located on both earcups, which is good because the Stealth Pro II Headset supports simultaneous dual-wireless connectivity over 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth. On the left earcup, you've got volume and game/chat mixing dials, ANC controls, and the power button. On the right earcup, you've got a Bluetooth sync button, a separate volume dial for the secondary Bluetooth source, and a mode switch button for Xbox connectivity.

The left earcup also features a removable magnetic panel for accessing the battery, with Turtle Beach providing two batteries, a high-quality battery-charging dock/puck that doubles as a second wireless interface, and an included USB dongle. Battery life on a single charge is 40 hours, too, so with two batteries ready to go, that's 80 hours in total. And with multiple dongles, you can connect and seamlessly switch between four devices, which is impressive. Turtle Beach says this is an industry first, but you'll need to shell out for additional dongles to take advantage of this relatively niche feature. For this review, we tested this by switching between PC and Xbox and then between PC and PS5, and the process took seconds. And when you add Bluetooth support, including the LC3 codec and LE Audio, the versatility is here and then some.

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Underneath the hood, the Stealth Pro II Headset is powered by Turtle Beach's 60mm Eclipse Dual Drivers, which include two speakers for better response across low and high frequencies. These custom large drivers, which can support high-resolution audio, are why the Stealth Pro II has been awarded the rare Japan Audio Society certification, and, when paired with the comfortable cushions and ANC, can deliver a truly isolated experience that rivals even some of the more premium headphones on the market. As for the default tuning, the Turtle Beach Signature Sound is definitely geared more toward enhancing immersion in games, movies, and bass-heavy music, but the mid-range clarity and lack of distortion make it Turtle Beach's best-sounding headset to date. Turtle Beach offers a few presets to switch to, along with a Superhuman hearing mode for competitive games, but they are all a little lacking or not really worth it - which is a shame.

Basically, if you want to make changes to the sound profile, you're better off creating a new preset using Turtle Beach's Swarm II app, which is available on PC and mobile devices. The latter lets you make changes regardless of the connected 2.4 GHz device, keeping you in the game or whatever soundscape your head is currently in.

Frequently Asked Questions

TweakBot answers common questions about this review using TweakTown's own coverage from this page and related content from our archive. Tap a question to reveal the answer, or type your own below.

Question #1

How does the Stealth Pro II handle simultaneous 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connections in practice—can you stream audio from Bluetooth while playing on the 2.4 GHz dongle without lag or priority conflicts?

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Question #2

What is the process for swapping batteries during a gaming session and does the headset hot-swap without disconnecting from the active 2.4 GHz source?

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Question #3

Does the detachable boom mic use the internal beamforming mics automatically when removed, and how does voice quality compare between the boom and internal mics in party chat?

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Question #4

Are there any limitations or extra steps to enable Dolby Atmos on console (Xbox/PS5) with the Stealth Pro II using the included CrossPlay 2.0 USB transmitter?

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Software Support

Turtle Beach's straightforward Swarm II customization app is available as a standalone PC app and as a smartphone app for iOS or Android. Having the option to make changes and mess about with settings on your phone while you're gaming on a big screen is the sort of quality-of-life feature that makes modern headsets like this a worthwhile upgrade. Both offer the same functionality, too, so you can take your pick. As for the various settings, there's quite a lot on offer, but, again, it's all straightforward.

For the main audio, you can control the volume, enable and tweak the Superhuman Hearing mode, which amplifies things like footsteps and other high-end frequencies for competitive games, and adjust the ANC or turn it off. Likewise, you've got similar Microphone settings covering sensitivity (a very welcome option you don't see often), monitoring so you can hear your voice, and sliders for cutting out background noise. What gets a little disappointing is the Equalizer section for tuning the sound and microphone. Not only are you limited to a simple 10-band equalizer, but there are only three basic presets or sound profiles to choose from, aside from the default Turtle Beach Signature Sound. Granted, this default profile is pretty much all you need, but it would have been nice to see a few more presets related to game genres, music styles, and movies. You can create your own, but since the Turtle Beach Signature Sound is already tuned for a little extra low-end oomph, you're not starting from a flat or neutral sound.

Outside of this, you can also change the functionality of a few dials and buttons, as well as set up hotkeys on your keyboard to access features like ANC and microphone muting. On PC or Xbox, you can also install the Dolby Atmos app for spatial audio or virtual surround sound, as the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset fully supports Dolby Atmos. If there's one change that we would make for the overall design of the Stealth Pro II Headset, it would be to add microphone monitoring as a physical control on the headset. By default, it's enabled, so out of the box, the ANC is somewhat negated by the fact that you can hear background noise and you can only turn it off by opening the Swarm II app.

Performance & Microphone Quality

Performance

With 40 hours of battery life and a spare battery always ready to go, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset is that rare headset where you never really have to worry about running out of juice. When you do, it only takes a few seconds to get back into the action. After spending considerable time playing a range of games on PC and Xbox Series X, including 007 First Light, Forza Horizon 6, Resident Evil Requiem, Diablo 4, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Pragmata, it's safe to say that Turtle Beach has delivered. All of these titles feature impeccable sound design, mixing, and presentation, and with or without Dolby Atmos, the Stealth Pro II Headset delivers an immersive audio experience that is noticeably more impressive than most wireless gaming headsets. Even the default Turtle Beach Signature Sound shines with these titles, with everything from weapons to music and effects all presented with excellent channel separation and depth.

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We also tested out Turtle Beach's custom Superhuman Hearing mode in Counter-Strike 2. Although it does make footsteps, weapon reloads, and distant gunfire more prominent, with the bonus of spatial awareness, it comes at the cost of basically everything else. This means every other effect is neutered, alongside any music, which makes the experience sound, well, hollow. It's a mode built for competitive games and to boost your performance, but if you're a fan of immersive audio-visual experiences, it's more of a curiosity than a killer feature. Outside of gaming, we also used the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset to listen to a range of lossless music across the Electronic, Classical, and Jazz genres, and the headset's high-resolution capabilities definitely come through. However, the Turtle Beach Signature Sound isn't quite neutral or balanced enough to be worthwhile for hardcore audiophiles. This isn't to say that listening to lossless high-resolution recordings isn't fantastic; it's just that you're pretty much beholden to the out-of-the-box tuning.

Microphone Quality

One of the things that sets a wireless gaming headset apart from a pair of headphones, aside from its focus on low-latency connectivity, is its chat functionality. With platforms like Discord and chat services on consoles, chatting with friends while playing together or even when you're in a single-player game is a part of the modern gaming experience. That said, most gaming headsets feature serviceable or fine voice chat quality, so it's always worth highlighting when a headset knocks it out of the park like the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II. Here, the voice quality is not only good enough for streaming or even content creation, but you can also fine-tune a wide range of settings and adjust the sound profile via the Swarm II app. The AI noise cancellation works great, too, cutting out background noise like distant chatter, humming machines, and clacking keyboards.

Final Thoughts

If you're in the market for a premium flagship wireless gaming headset, then the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset is a fantastic choice. From the immersive, booming sound to the versatile connectivity that makes it a companion for basically any gaming device, it's an impressive effort. The build quality, too, is up there, with metal dials, premium cushions, and, outside of the rubber coating, an all-metal design. That said, the overall build is on the heavy side, and the clamping pressure takes some getting used to, so you might want to try before you buy. But if you do, there aren't many downsides. Our biggest complaint would be the lack of depth to the equalizer tuning and presets on offer, but as that's more software than hardware, the Stealth Pro II's physical design and underlying hardware more than live up to the premium price point.

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Where the Stealth Pro II levels up is with its dual-mode functionality as a lifestyle headset that can be taken on the road. Not only do you get up to 80 hours of use with the two included battery packs, but the active noise cancellation (ANC) is surprisingly competitive for a gaming headset - delivering isolation at a level you normally find on more expensive offerings. And for those who care about aesthetics, the fact that it maintains its own identity, without copying the look and feel of other lifestyle headsets, is a plus. Ultimately, in the world of audio, sound is king, and the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II Headset's high-resolution, low-latency wireless audio and tuning make it a standout option in a sea of gaming headsets.