Turtle Beach's latest flagship headset, the Stealth Pro II, aims to bridge the gap between dedicated gaming peripherals and high-fidelity audiophile equipment. This ambitious goal results in a headset that is among the year's best, though its premium price point demands careful consideration.
Design and Features
The Stealth Pro II refines the design language seen in its predecessor, moving away from a purely utilitarian aesthetic towards a more stylish and versatile appearance. Available in black or white, the headset features larger, ovular earcups with a softer, more breathable fabric, and a headband incorporating an elastic weave for enhanced comfort. The blend of matte plastic, hybrid fabric, and brushed aluminum faceplates lends a more luxurious feel, making it suitable for use beyond gaming sessions.
Key to the Stealth Pro II's premium positioning is the return of the hot-swappable battery system. Paired with a charging dock, this feature allows for near-continuous use by providing two batteries: one in the headset and another charging. Battery life has seen a substantial upgrade, with each battery offering approximately 40 hours of real-world gaming, effectively eliminating battery anxiety.
Audio performance is driven by Turtle Beach's new Eclipse Dual Drivers, which are larger 60mm units featuring separate subwoofers and tweeters. This design allows for physically separated bass from mid and high frequencies, contributing to a wider frequency response of 10 Hz to 40 kHz. While this range extends beyond human hearing, it provides ample headroom for pristine reproduction of audible sound.
Active noise cancellation (ANC) has also been improved, offering more effective blocking of environmental sounds. However, a noticeable cabin pressure effect may be an issue for sensitive users. The microphone has received a significant upgrade, with a detachable nine-millimeter unidirectional unit capable of delivering a full-bodied sound typically associated with desktop microphones. The accompanying software allows for EQ customization to achieve a desired vocal profile.
The headset supports Bluetooth 5.3 alongside a 2.4 GHz connection, enabling simultaneous use for gaming and taking calls or listening to music. Controls for game-chat mix, volume, ANC, and listening modes are located on the earcups for intuitive access. A standout feature for multi-platform users is CrossPlay 2.0, which, via a USB dongle and the base station, allows for on-the-fly switching between up to four connected devices. The Xbox version is recommended for users with both Xbox and PlayStation consoles, as it natively supports all three platforms, whereas the PS5 version is limited to PlayStation and PC.
Software and Performance
Configuration and customization are handled through Turtle Beach's Swarm II software. While functional, the application is comparatively rudimentary with fewer options and less polish than competing software suites. Firmware updates can be a slow and occasionally problematic process, though once completed, the software runs smoothly. The Swarm II app offers settings for volume, mic gain, ANC, sidetone, and a noise gate, along with a 10-band equalizer for both headphones and the microphone, featuring presets for quick adjustments.
Functionality can be assigned to the headset's multi-function roller and button, with a dedicated tab for power settings and feature toggles like Superhuman Hearing.
Despite its weight, the Stealth Pro II offers excellent comfort thanks to supple ear cushions and a well-distributed headband. Out of the box, the sound profile can be boomy due to the powerful low end, but this can be significantly mitigated through EQ adjustments within the Swarm II software. Once tuned, the headset delivers a full and detailed audio experience for both music and gaming, though some listeners may find the bass has a slightly elastic quality.
The effectiveness of the ANC is a notable upgrade. While the cabin pressure effect is present, the ability to block out external distractions is impressive. The battery system lives up to its promises, providing ample playtime and freedom from constant charging. The base station is simple but functional, with an illuminated ring indicating status and an eject button that clearly shows battery charge levels.
CrossPlay 2.0 proves indispensable for users with multiple consoles, offering seamless switching between devices. The microphone's performance is consistently strong across all platforms, providing clear and full-bodied audio that can be further refined with software tuning.
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II is available for $349.99 in black or white, with Xbox/PC and PS5 specific versions. It can be purchased directly from Turtle Beach and major online retailers.