The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas is a good wired gaming headset and is very similar to the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 SuperAmp, with slight differences in performance. They still have the same comfortable design with thick and comfortable padding for long gaming sessions and great build quality. They have good audio reproduction even critical listeners can appreciate, and their detachable boom microphone is great for online gaming and calls. Unfortunately, they aren’t compatible with the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app for customization options, and they don’t isolate much noise. On the upside, these are a more budget variant of the other Turtle Beach and perform similarly, so the SuperAmp may not be worth it for some.
Our Verdict
The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas are average for mixed usage. They have a good audio reproduction that critical listeners will appreciate, but their bulky design and poor breathability performance won’t be great for sports. They also don’t isolate much ambient noise, meaning you won’t block out noise in your commute or at the office. Their short cable isn't ideal for watching TV from your couch. Overall, they're a good wired gaming option but don't have the versatility of wireless technology.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Durable and comfortable design.
- Great microphone.
- Sub-par isolation and leakage performance.
- Lack of features and customization options.
- A bit too bulky for casual use.
Good for neutral listening. The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas have deep and powerful bass, an accurate and clear mid-range, and a great treble range. Unfortunately, their bass is a bit boomy, and mid-range may sound a bit thin on vocals and lead instruments. Their treble range might also lack a bit of detail and could be sharp on certain frequencies for some people. They don’t have an EQ to customize their sound, but you will be able to appreciate their comfortable design for hours. You can also get the compatible Elite Pro ear pads if you'd like more bass.
The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas are sub-par for commuting and traveling. They're very bulky, and they don’t isolate enough noise to be a good option for bus rides. They're very comfortable for long flights and rides, but you may need to take breaks to let your ears cool off.
The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas are sub-par for sports. They aren't designed to be used for sports due to their bulky design. While they're stable for light movement, they'll come off your head during physical activity. Their closed-back over-ear design also traps a lot of heat inside and around your ears, which isn't suitable for sports.
The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas are mediocre for the office. While you’ll be able to wear them comfortably for hours during your shift, they don’t isolate ambient chatter very well, and they're a bit leaky so you might bother surrounding colleagues. On the upside, you won’t have to worry about a battery dying in the middle of the day.
Being a wired pair of headphones, the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas are above-average for gaming. This headset is great if you don’t mind the short cable and the fact it isn’t wireless. You can still use the PC splitter cable for additional range. The microphone is very good for online gaming, and the sound quality is good. The thick padding is comfortable for long gaming sessions, but you might have to take the headset off from time to time to let your ears cool off as they do get hot after a while. Just be sure to use them in a quiet environment since they don’t isolate ambient noise very well.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Jan 25, 2019: Review published.
- Updated Jan 23, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas is a good wired gaming headset that'll satisfy most gamers due to its comfortable design, accurate audio reproduction, and great microphone for communicating with friends and teammates. Unfortunately, these headphones don't have a great isolation performance and lack customization features like other gaming headsets. The price point makes them a good pick for people who want a quality product at an affordable price. See our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best PS4 headsets, and the best gaming headsets under $100.
The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas is a slightly better headset than the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II if you care about sound quality the most. Both headsets are very comfortable, but the cups are deeper and larger on the Turtle Beach. However, the HyperX has channel mixing that gamers should appreciate to mix game and chat audio. The HyperX also slightly isolate more ambient noise and don't get as hot as the Turtle Beach.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha are better wired gaming headphones than the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas. While both are equally comfortable, the Alpha feel a bit more durable, thanks partly to their detachable audio cable. Both headphones have decently well-balanced sound profiles, though the Turtle Beach sound a bit more cluttered and muddy. If you play a lot of competitive online games, the Turtle Beach may be a better option, however, as their microphone performs a bit better overall, and your voice will sound much more natural and clear.
Technically, the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 SuperAmp is slightly better than the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas thanks to the amp and customization options. However, for the price difference, we suggest getting the Atlas since they are very similar headsets. The Atlas even has better more neutral default sound quality, although you can get the Elite Pro 2 pads for the Atlas if you want a bit more bass. Overall, unless you want to stream music from your phone with Bluetooth while gaming or you like the big volume wheel of the amp, the Atlas is the better choice. For most users, the amp won't be worth the huge difference in price, especially since you get a small volume wheel on the Atlas’ in-line remote.
If you really want a wireless headset for gaming, then the LucidSound LS31 Wireless is a better option than the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas. The LucidSound provides you with more freedom to move around or to game from your couch without a wire. It also has dials to mix game and chat audio, which is convenient. However, if wireless technology is not a must, the Turtle Beach are more comfortable, better-built, and has great audio reproduction.
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