Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3: A Brief Two-Minute Review
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 serves as a wireless gaming headset that works across multiple platforms due to its Bluetooth capabilities along with the inclusion of two USB dongles.
Although it mostly lacks common gaming features such as RGB lighting, its large ear cups make it quite noticeable. This means it's not very suitable for traveling. Nearly every aspect of this device emphasizes its design over portability. best PC gaming headsets out there have a lower profile than this.
Fortunately, it isn't as cumbersome as it appears, though certain players might opt for a lighter model. In my case, this wasn't a concern with the Stealth 700 Gen 3. However, what did irritate me was the absence of cushioning on the headband, leading to discomfort even during brief gaming periods.
The comfort around the ears has improved significantly. The earcups offer ample cushioning, making them suitable for those who wear glasses as well. However, my main issue is their considerable size; they do not sit securely enough during vigorous movement to keep them in place. Nonetheless, for regular head movements, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 headphones remain stable quite adequately.
The overall craftsmanship is also quite solid, despite not using the highest-end materials throughout. The folding mic is a great feature, feeling just as well-constructed with a smooth open mechanism and ample steadiness when deployed.
The Stealth 700 Gen 3 features four buttons, providing extensive on-the-go customization options. Additionally, this device includes three scroll wheels; two of these are dedicated to adjusting the volume separately from Bluetooth and transmitter inputs. This allows you to enjoy music or answer calls via your smartphone simultaneously while still getting game sounds from your computer or gaming console.
Additional adjustments can be made utilizing Turtle Beach’s Swarm 2 external software on PCs, enabling precise customization of audio outputs and inputs, along with the ability to redefine functions for the Mode button and one wheel, though these modifications have certain limitations.
The audio performance excels for gaming as well as various types of leisure activities such as enjoying music and viewing media. Every frequency range remains crisp and balanced, and the Bass Boost feature delivers richer bass tones without compromising the overall fidelity, though some minor distortions might occur at louder levels. In terms of vocal capture, the mic performs adequately; it provides sufficient clarity for everyday use, and the noise gate effectively filters out background noises you'd rather not have recorded.
The Stealth 700 Gen 3 pairs swiftly using the wireless transmitter and Bluetooth, and they function together smoothly. Nonetheless, I encountered sporadic audio drops when connected to a PC; determining if the problem lies with the headset itself or my specific configuration is challenging. If the fault resides within the device, perhaps future updates could address this potential flaw.
The battery life is outstanding and aligns well with Turtle Beach’s claimed 80 hours, as I used it for a few days through both Bluetooth and the transmitter across various gaming platforms, yet it only decreased by about 5-10%.
It occupies a mid-range position in terms of pricing, costing approximately the same as the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro , which ranks among the top wireless gaming headsets available. Nevertheless, this headset includes additional features not found in the Stealth 700 Gen 3 and outperforms it in nearly every aspect. Additionally, there’s also the Epos H3 This option stands out as one of the top affordable gaming headsets available; however, you'll need to accept that it uses a wired connection.
Although these gaming headsets may provide greater value, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 comes close. At this price level, it performs impressively well, delivering audio quality that exceeds expectations for its category. Some minor discomforts and usage problems do arise; however, considering the cost, they aren’t significant enough to be considered major drawbacks.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Review: Cost and Availability
- $199.99 / £179.99 /AU$399.95
- Now available in three different colors
- Middle-tier pricing for a gaming headset
The Stealth 700 Gen 3 has a price tag of $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$399.95 and can be purchased immediately in three different colors: Black, White, and Cobalt Blue. It offers several versions compatible with Xbox, PlayStation, and PC; however, they all come at an identical cost.
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, among the best wireless gaming headsets In our opinion, it offers the same pricing (or even a bit lower in the UK). The headset boasts excellent audio and microphone quality, along with robust construction. It comes with additional adjustments and personalization options compared to the Stealth 700 Gen 3, including support for THX Spatial Audio. Additionally, its battery performance is impressive, which makes it hard to surpass at this particular price range.
If your aim is to significantly reduce costs for a gaming headset, the Epos H3 is among the options worth considering. best wired gaming headsets It can often be discovered at a considerable markdown off its initial cost. In our opinion, this headset provides excellent audio quality and remarkable comfort considering the price point. There’s also a wireless version offered; however, it comes with a higher price tag.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Review: Features
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Review: Design and Features
- Very bulky
- Plenty of physical adjustments
- Several helpful attributes and personalization options
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 has a relatively understated design, avoiding the overly flashy aesthetics common in many gaming headsets; notably, it lacks RGB lighting altogether. Nevertheless, it is fairly large, featuring exceptionally broad drivers—possibly the widest I've encountered on a gaming headset—which means it doesn't exactly blend into the background.
It feels well-constructed despite this. Although it may not use top-tier materials, the components seem quite sturdy and are assembled nicely. The retractable microphone is a thoughtful feature; its hinge provides seamless movement along with good stability when locked into place. Nonetheless, even though the Stealth 700 Gen 3 doesn't weigh as much as expected, individuals who are particular about headset weight ought to be aware that it is more substantial compared to certain competitors in its category.
The cushions on the earpieces are quite plush, enhancing the overall comfort when worn for extended periods. Turtle Beach explicitly notes that the Stealth 700 Gen 3 model is designed with glasses compatibility in mind, and I concur with this assessment, having felt no discomfort or strain even when using them over the temples of my eyeglasses.
These cushions have a distinctive shape that somewhat mimics the curve of an actual earlobe. In my experience, this design worked reasonably well, though they might be slightly oversized for some individuals. Additionally, because the headband is fairly broad, these headphones may not sit as snugly against your ears compared to others you've used, particularly during active moments. However, their sizable diameter ensures compatibility with various ear shapes and sizes.
Adjusting the height for the driver is simple but resistant to accidental movements. Additionally, these drivers can pivot ninety degrees, making it convenient to wear them hanging around your neck. On the downside, the headband feels uncomfortable. Although the cushion appears soft and luxurious, it collapses very readily, which means the firmer part within pushes against the upper area of my head, leading to discomfort even during brief usage sessions.
On both controllers, several buttons are available: the CrossPlay toggle allows switching between two transmitters—one designed for Xbox and another for other gaming systems. Additionally, there’s a Bluetooth button along with a Mode button to cycle through different audio settings. However, unlike some Razer headsets, this controller fails to provide an audible cue indicating which mode is active at any time.
Tapping the power button can switch the Superhuman Hearing mode; however, occasionally, this did not function correctly, necessitating that I turn off and then turn back on the headset for the button to become effective again.
Interestingly, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 comes equipped with three scrolling wheels: one adjusts the balance between game audio and voice chat, whereas the other two handle volume adjustments—one for Bluetooth connections and another for wired transmissions. While this might appear excessive at first glance, these controls actually highlight a distinctive feature of the headset—simultaneous output from both wireless and wired sources—with each source’s volume being adjustable separately.
This implies that you'll need to familiarize yourself with the placement of every knob whenever you wish to make real-time modifications. Fortunately, however, these knobs are compact enough not to overcrowd the interface, making them simple to handle after you can pinpoint their locations, thus offering seamless and precise tweaks.
With Turtle Beach’s Swarm 2 software, only a single wheel can be reallocated. This allows you to tweak settings such as microphone monitoring volume, chat level, bass enhancement, treble adjustment, or configure the microphone's noise gate.
Swarm 2 provides additional customizations and adjustments. The previously mentioned Mode button can also be reallocated; however, apart from its standard use, the sole alternative functionality available is enabling/disabling the noise gate.
Swarm 2 offers several pre-set audio configurations such as Bass Boost, Bass and Treble Boost, and Vocal Boost. Each of these settings allows for customization; alternatively, you may design your own configuration by adjusting ten distinct frequencies within a range of 32Hz to 16kHz, allowing up to a +9dB increase or decrease per point. This extensive tweaking capability enables you to fine-tune the soundscape according to your liking.
Additionally, there is a feature known as Superhuman Hearing, aimed at amplifying specific audio cues within the game like footfalls and gunfire. Regarding microphone configurations, you have the ability to tweak the pickup sensitivity, monitor volume, and noise threshold—these are key adjustments worth considering for optimal performance.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Review: How It Performs
- Impressive sound
- Passable microphone
- Some connectivity issues
I was largely satisfied with the audio performance of the Stealth 700 Gen 3. The sound across all frequencies remains crisp and well-balanced, and the Bass and Treble Boost mode substantially amplifies the lower range without becoming overwhelming—it works excellently for gaming as well as enjoying music. However, this enhancement might lead to some distortion at higher volumes, though simply reducing the volume slightly resolves this issue effectively. On the downside, I discovered that the Vocal Boost feature compromises the overall clarity too much to be practical.
The Superhuman Hearing mode proved helpful in some situations, but I generally opted to keep it deactivated. While playing Counter-Strike 2 The footsteps setting amplified these sounds but resulted in a noticeable decline in general audio quality. Similarly, the gunshot setting failed to enhance the clarity of gunfire noises. Enabling both Bass and Treble Boost offered the most satisfying experience, delivering crisp sound with significant depth and richness.
The built-in microphone offers decent sound quality but falls short when it comes to crystal-clear voice reproduction. However, the noise gate function works well and effectively eliminates background noises you'd rather not hear.
Plugging into a PC using the USB transmitter is just like plug-and-play. Similarly, linking up with consoles is equally straightforward. best PS5 headsets and best Nintendo Switch headsets Setting up Bluetooth with my phone was straightforward, and I didn't notice any significant difference in audio quality. I experienced no problems when gaming on my PC using the dongle and simultaneously listening to music from my Google Pixel 7a via Bluetooth.
Nevertheless, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 may require a few seconds to reconnect with a PC upon turning it back on following hibernation mode. Additionally, I encountered several unexpected disconnections from my computer post receiving an alert sound from the headphones, which remained unexplained.
The problem might be originating from my personal computer instead of the Stealth 700 Gen 3; however, similar issues have not arisen with other gaming headsets I’ve used. Fortunately, I managed to restore the audio promptly. Hopefully, an upcoming firmware update will resolve the matter should the issue stem from the headset itself.
Positively speaking, the battery life of the Stealth 700 Gen 3 is impressive, matching Turtle Beach’s claimed 80 hours. After several days of intermittent use, the battery had only decreased from 5-10%.
Should I purchase the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3?
Buy it if...
You're looking for excellent gaming sound. The audio from the Stealth 700 Gen 3 is crisp and powerful, ideal for both gaming and enjoying music, with the Bass Boost enhancing the overall sound quality even more.
You desire numerous physical modifications.
Featuring four buttons along with at least three scroll wheels, making adjustments to different settings during gameplay becomes quite simple.
Don't buy it if...
Your head is quite sensitive. Although I found the earpads quite comfy, the headband lacks sufficient padding, leading to discomfort and pain.
You prefer something subtle... in all aspects. The Stealth 700 Gen 3 is quite bulky among gaming headsets I've tried, so if you prefer something slim and inconspicuous, this model won't be suitable for you.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Review: Take Other Options Into Account Too
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro stands out among top-tier gaming headsets because it excels in every area without missing a beat. It offers comfort, durability, excellent audio quality, and useful features, along with an impressive battery lifespan. Priced similarly to the Stealth 700 Gen 3, this model may hold a slight advantage due to its overall balance of qualities.
Read our full Review of Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
Epos H3 For those operating with a tight budget, we believe the Epos H3 stands out as the top choice for a wired gaming headset due to its exceptional audio quality and comfort, which surpass expectations at this price point. Additionally, there is a wireless version offered; however, it comes at a higher cost.
Read our full Epos H3 review
The Way I Put the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Through Its Paces
- Tested for several days
- Used on multiple platforms
- Extensive gaming experience
I put the Stealth 700 Gen 3 through various tests over multiple days. During this period, I utilized it for gaming, enjoying music, and viewing videos. I connected it to an array of devices including a Windows 10 computer, a PS5 , and a Nintendo Switch I linked up with these systems using both the wireless USB transmitter and Bluetooth wherever possible.
I played games like Counter-Strike 2 and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl , where precise audio quality and clear vocals are crucial. I additionally recorded my voice to assess the microphone’s performance.
I've been into gaming for more than two decades, trying out countless headsets from different manufacturers at all price levels. Additionally, I have conducted reviews of several gaming headset models before.
- First reviewed February 2025.
- Read more about how we test
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