When it comes to gaming headsets, there isn’t a lot that a company can do to stand out. Delivering high quality sound, strong connectivity, and good battery life will get you far, but consumers have become a lot more discerning about gimmicks. They want smart design choices and everything else is an added bonus if it doesn’t inflate the price too much. Turtle Beach’s Stealth 700 Gen 3 might be the gaming headset that ticks all those expected boxes while bringing something unique to the table.
I’ve been a fan of the Turtle Beach Stealth gaming headset line since 700 Gen 1, and Gen 3 is still solid in terms of design and sound quality. As a glasses wearer, I appreciate the considerations that ensure there isn’t any extra pressure on my frames. The look of the Stealth 700 – whether it’s the PC, PlayStation, or Xbox model – is elegant with flashy accents of color. And they are plenty comfortable to wear, although those with larger head sizes or ear sizes might feel more cramped.
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Sound quality is also incredible on the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 thanks to the 60mm Dual Eclipse Drivers. These are some of the biggest drivers in a gaming headset and they offer a rich, full sound that can punch up the bass of explosions while keeping dialogue distinct and clear. Playing God of War Ragnarok on PC, for example, let the Stealth 700 Gen 3 bring that epic score envelop me, while the tiny details like a paddle through water were still present.
CrossPlay is a Game Changer for the Stealth 700 Gen 3
If you’re looking for a high-quality headset that is well-made and delivers excellent sound, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 has that covered. Where it stands apart is in its connectivity. Turtle Beach ships each headset with two USB-A dongles and offers what it calls CrossPlay. What that means is, that with just the press of a button, you can go from listening to the audio on your PC to the audio on your PlayStation/Xbox. It’s such a simple feature but one that goes a long way towards making the Stealth 700 feel like the only gaming headset you’ll ever need.
Obviously, this is a use-case that isn’t going to apply to everyone, but those who own more than one platform usually have a headset for each. I like to hop on the PC for more graphics-intensive experiences and then chill out on the couch with lighter fare on my Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5. With the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3, I don’t have to do anything more than press a button on the headset, and I’m getting high-quality audio from a different platform.
To make things even better, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 supports simultaneous audio over its 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth. So you can be in a Discord call on your phone and still hear the audio coming from the game. Each earcup also has a volume wheel so you can control their levels independent of another.
Again, this isn’t a feature that is going to appeal to everybody, but for a lot of people, it’s a game-changer. Its implementation is so simple and works right out of the box – just plug the USB dongles into each platform.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 is Built to Last
For those Discord calls or game chats, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 is equipped with a flip-down microphone that is really good. Turtle Beach uses AI noise reduction to keep the focus on your voice and I found it to do a great job of keeping any background noise from distracting my part chat friends. I even used the headset for a Bluetooth call while walking around and it did well to keep the ambient noise and wind out.
The cherry on top of it all, in my opinion, is the 80-hour battery life on the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3. Oftentimes, high-end headsets will put some unique features or pack some serious drivers under the hood, and that will result in a less-than-desirable battery life. I’ve been using the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 for the last few weeks for a few hours of gaming each night, and I’ve yet to need to charge the headset. Not only do you not need to worry about which headset to grab for a specific platform, but you don’t need to worry about if it’s charged or not. And if the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 happens to be low on juice, you can get a few hours of charge in just 15 minutes.
With Turtle Beach’s Swarm II App, you can customize listening modes and turn on the company’s Superhuman Hearing Mode for pinpointing footsteps in shooters. The headset sounds great right out of the box, but Turtle Beach offers EQ customization for those who prefer a specific sound profile.
My one concern with the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 gaming headset is the fit. I don’t have a particularly big head or big ears, but I could still feel like the headband got a little tight and friends with larger heads noted a snug fit as well. The earcups, while outfitted with comfortable leatherette material, are a little on the snug side, creating that vacuum feel. Without a lot of room for your ear to breathe, some might find them too tight.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Final Thoughts
Acknowledging that the CrossPlay won’t offer the same utility for everyone, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 gaming headset is still excellent in all the areas that matter. Sound quality is exceptional, battery life is incredible, design is solid, and I always appreciate the simultaneous Bluetooth audio when included. This is definitely one of the best gaming headsets on the market right now and a multi-platform gamer’s dream.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 has been redesigned for a third generation of premium gaming. The headset features tons of class leading exclusive features, including the CrossPlay dual wireless transmitter system – the first of its kind! Add to that exceptional microphone performance and battery life, and the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 headset is a must have for any gamer looking to upgrade their peripherals.
- Microphone
- Flip to mute and unidirectional
- Compatibility
- Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Brand
- Turtle Beach
- Noise Cancellation
- Yes
- Battery Life
- 80 Hours
- Ear Cushions
- Premium leatheratte and memory foam
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 are available now in three different models (PC, PS, or Xbox) for $199.99. Game Rant was provided a PC and Xbox model for this review.
