The Turtle Beach Recon 50X is a decent budget gaming headset. These headphones have a moderately well-balanced sound that's a bit cluttered but delivers a good bass. They're also lightweight and have no latency for gaming and watching movies since they're wired. Unfortunately, their build quality is sub-par and not as durable as comparable models in their price range. They also don't fit well on all listeners, making them a bit uncomfortable and poorly isolating. Note that we tested the Xbox One variant of this headset, but we expect similar results for the Recon 50P PS4 variant.
Our Verdict
The Turtle Beach Recon 50x are below-average mixed usage headphones. They're a decent option for gaming thanks to their great boom mic and low latency wired connection. Unfortunately, they have a plasticky build quality that does not feel very durable, and an awkward fit that causes a lot of seal issues and makes them a poor choice to use in loud, noisy environments. They also won't be as convenient as some of the other gaming headsets we've tested since they're limited by the relatively short range of their audio cable.
- Decent sound quality.
- Great microphone.
- Weak build quality.
- Awkward over-ear fit.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
Decent for neutral listening. These aren't the most comfortable headphones to wear for long listening sessions, but on the upside, they have a decently well-balanced sound. They have good and extended bass and a decent treble range that's not too sharp. Unfortunately, the high-bass/low-mid bump does make them sound a little muddy and cluttered. They won't be ideal for more neutral listeners since they have a muddy sound and can't create a good soundstage but they should sound decent enough for most listeners and gaming.
Poor headphones for commuters. The Turtle Beach Recon 50X/50P don't have any active features and don't have a noise cancellation feature, so they can't block out the noise of a busy subway platform or a bus engine.
Disappointing headphones for sports. They have mediocre stability and won't fall during brisk movements, but they are a bit bulky and could get in the way during workouts. Since they are wired, the cable will get in the way during intense workouts.
Disappointing headphones for use at work in an office. They have decent comfort, but they are a bit bulky and get warm with longer listening sessions. They have decent leakage, and you can listen in peace without bothering your neighbors.
This wired gaming headset can't be used wirelessly.
Decent headphones for gaming. The Turtle Beach Recon 50X/50P produce a decent sound that works well for in-game sound effects and deep bass, but voice isn't as clear. The detachable microphone has excellent recording quality. They are wired, so there's no latency, but they don't have any customization options, unlike many other gaming headphones.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Jun 15, 2018: Review published.
- Updated Jun 13, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Turtle Beach Recon 50X/50P is a budget gaming headset with a decent mic. These headphones are lightweight and easy to use but their plasticky build quality isn't on par with other headphones and gaming headsets in their price range. They also don't have the best fit around your ears, the cups are somewhat shallow, and the pads are a bit stiff. On the upside, the mic is detachable so you can use them outdoors but they won't be as versatile as some of the other models compared below. See also our recommendations for the best gaming headsets under $50, the best PS4 headsets, and the best gaming headsets.
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 and Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P models are very similar, but the Recon 70 might be a better option thanks to their more comfortable design and better sound profile. However, the Recon 50x have an excellent microphone and outperform the Recon 70 in this regard. Overall, the recording quality of the Recon 70's mic is good, making them a decent choice for gaming.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger is a much better wired gaming headset than the Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P. While both headphones have impressive microphones, the HyperX have a much better-balanced sound profile. They're also a lot more comfortable and feel much better-built. That said, while the Turtle Beach's mic doesn't handle noise quite as well as the Hyper X's, it sounds better in perfectly quiet environments.
The Turtle Beach Stealth 300 are a better, wired headset than the Turtle Beach Recon 50X. The Stealth 300 have a better-built design that's more comfortable to wear during long gaming sessions. They also feel a lot more durable than the Recon 50X and have a better-balanced sound that caters to a greater genre of music and games. They also come with 3 other audio profiles you can cycle through. The only factors that should make you choose the Recon 50X over the Stealth 300 are price and battery life, since the 50X are completely passive, unlike the 300 which run out of battery and have no passive playback.
The Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P and the Xbox Stereo Headset are both gaming headphones with different strengths. The Turtle Beach have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their overall mic performance is better. However, the Xbox headphones are more comfortable, better built, and have a more stable fit.
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