Turtle Beach has repeatedly proven that they know what they’re doing when it comes to gaming headsets. They are a staple in the gaming industry because they know that sweet balance between audio quality, price, and efficiency. It should not be a surprise that the Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX headset is one of the best choices for any gamer on any platform. Now, there are some features that need further explanation since not everything is accessible on all platforms. Still, regardless of where you use this headset, it delivers a cohesive package worthy of your collection.
What’s In The Box
Simplicity at its finest. Turtle Beach provides tightly knit packaging for the Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX along with the USB dongle receiver as well as a USB C charging cable. The USB C cable is approximately 2 feet long, a bit short, not leaving much room for charging and playing simultaneously. Luckily, any USB C cable will work, so it is recommended to use your own longer cable if you need to charge and play. There is also a basic instruction manual included, as well as warranty information that provides necessary information.
Aesthetics And Build Quality
The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX comes in 3 distinct colorways: Black, Midnight Red, and Arctic Camo. We received the Midnight Red headset for review and it really pops. The pictures online made it seem a bit glossier than it actually is but I prefer its matte look. Fewer fingerprints and less cleaning.
The built-in mic can be flipped up to seamlessly fold into the headset, staying out of view and keeping you focused on what's happening on screen. When flipped down, the mic can be tilted slightly inward if you tend to speak softly in order for the mic to pick up your voice easier, but the flexibility ends there. I will say that I didn't find the need to adjust the mic placement at all. Friends were always able to hear me very clearly and the mic usage always consisted of me just simply flipping it up or down when I wanted to speak or mute.
The headset is remarkably lightweight and malleable. It is made almost entirely out of plastic but it does feel very durable. I would not recommend bending the top strap much as it does feel like it would easily break if too much pressure was applied. The top strap does include a soft foam that adds extra comfort for long gaming sessions. The ear cushions are made out of a plushy breathable material that feels very comfortable on the ears. I do have small ears and they fit great in the cushion cups with extra room to move around.
However, I can see someone with very large ears possibly having a different experience. The good news is that the inner cutout of the cushions have a lip with extra room, so if you do have large ears you can still enjoy these headphones but it might feel a bit more snug fitting.
Specs And Special Features
Massive 48+ hour battery life which is closer to over 55 hours in my time with the headset. Really impressive for such a high-quality headset!
Compatible with Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC & Mac. However, the Game/Chat volume slider only works for Xbox. Instead, this works as a slider for sidetone on all other systems.
Proprietary, lag-free 2.4GHz wireless connection
50mm speakers for immersive surround sound
Gen 2 Mic for clear chat with teammates
Comfortable, glasses-friendly ear cushions
First of all, let’s talk about this massive battery! This thing will last for well over 50 hours of gameplay. I stopped counting after 55 hours without a charge. These are seriously impressive numbers and well worth the purchase in itself. For those wondering, you can charge and use the headset at the same time, and thankfully so, since there is no Bluetooth or headphone jack included in this headset, so do not expect to use this for your phone or tablet. It is also worth noting that the ear cups twist outward to allow the headset to comfortably rest on your shoulders when not in active use.
I must say I am very impressed with this headset. At this price point, you are getting more bang for your buck with a gaming headset that not only delivers on quality but also versatility. This headset can be used on all current game consoles as well as PC and Mac. Everything is connected via the USB dongle, so it is compatible with the Switch when in dock mode.
The sound quality is fantastic on all systems. You do have to adjust the volume of the headset on PlayStation in the system settings to ensure you are getting max volume, otherwise, it will seem low at first. The PS5/PS4 will not display the headset battery level for onscreen displays but the dongle does light up red or green when you mute/unmute the mic. The Superhuman Hearing mode is fantastic for competitive shooters. It truly does a great job amplifying footsteps and feels like you are borderline cheating. This came especially handy in Call of Duty and it definitely improved my performance since I could anticipate the enemy’s presence much better.
What It Could Have Done Better
The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX does a lot right but there is some room for improvement. Unfortunately, It does not include a headphone jack so it can not be used with an aux cable to plug into your gamepad or phone. It functions strictly off of the USB dongle so no Bluetooth connection either. It would have been great to include at least a headphone jack to offer further versatility and truly make this an all-in-one gaming headset if you game on mobile.
Adding to that, the included cable is too short. A mere 2-foot cable is not long enough to plug and play on console for most setups. Thankfully it does use USB C and more than likely you will have a lengthy USB C you can use as your charging cable, but if not, I definitely recommended buying at least a 6-foot cable or longer.
Lastly, the slider on the headset that controls chat volume is locked exclusively to Xbox. I found this quite odd that they dedicated a slider on the headset to control chat volume, and marketed the headset as multi-compatible, but this main feature is locked to a single console. It works great on Xbox, adjusting the chat volume and game volume appropriately, but it will not work on anything else. That being said, the slider is not completely useless. On all other platforms, that slider is dedicated to controlling the sidetone volume, which allows you to hear yourself through your headset. I did appreciate that Turtle Beach did provide a use for the slider and controlling sidetone volume is great, but I feel being able to control game/chat volume is much more needed. It is a shame that it is not universally controllable on all systems.
Verdict
Even with minor hiccups, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX is a must-buy not only for Xbox owners but for gamers on all platforms. The versatility of the headset is much appreciated and there is no dip in sound quality. Great highs, deep lows, and even 3D audio is implemented for PS5 users. The astounding 50+ hour battery life on this headset makes it an easy choice for anyone looking for a brand-new wireless gaming headset.
The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX is available now via Turtle Beach and major retailers.
