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Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Review updated Jun 21, 2023 at 04:03 pm
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless Picture
7.4
Neutral Sound
5.5
Commute/Travel
5.9
Sports/Fitness
6.6
Office
7.2
Wireless Gaming
5.5
Wired Gaming
6.2
Phone Calls

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless gaming headphones come in separate Xbox and PlayStation variants. They're the next generation of the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless and offer similar features, including onboard EQ presets for some sound customization. They have a flippable boom mic, and a wireless dongle offers a low-latency connection for gaming, but they don't support Bluetooth or offer in-app options for customization.

Our Verdict

7.4 Neutral Sound

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 are decent for neutral sound. Their audio delivery is inconsistent, so they can sound different depending on their fit and positioning on your head. They have a well-balanced sound profile suitable for many different genres. However, they're lacking a bit of low-bass, which may be disappointing for fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM. They don't offer an EQ for sound customization, but you can choose from four different EQ presets with onboard controls.

Pros
  • Well-balanced sound profile.
  • Four EQ presets.
Cons
  • Inconsistent audio delivery.
  • Lacks sub-bass.
5.5 Commute/Travel

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 are middling for commute and travel. They can't block out a lot of background noises like plane engines or voices. These bulky headphones also need to be used with their wireless dongle, which limits their versatility and portability. They're comfortable, and their long continuous battery life can get you through long days on the go.

Pros
  • Long continuous battery life.
  • Comfortable fit for most.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation performance.
  • Bulky design.
  • Leak a bit of audio.
5.9 Sports/Fitness

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 are sub-par for sports and fitness. As over-ear headphones, they have a bulky design and aren't very stable, so they can move around and fall off your head during intense movements. They aren't very portable since they need to be used with their wireless dongle and don't support Bluetooth for an easy connection with your phone.

Pros
  • Comfortable fit for most.
Cons
  • Not stable enough for exercise.
  • Bulky design.
6.6 Office

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 are passable for office use. They aren't meant for casual use but have a comfortable fit for long days of work and enough battery life for a full day. However, they don't isolate much background noise and won't block out rumbling engines or background conversations. They also leak some audio, but it won't be overly noticeable unless you listen to your music at very loud volumes.

Pros
  • Long continuous battery life.
  • Comfortable fit for most.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation performance.
  • Leak a bit of audio.
7.2 Wireless Gaming

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 are decent for wireless gaming. They have a comfortable fit for most people and won't cause a lot of fatigue during long gaming sessions. They also have low latency over non-Βluetooth wireless, which helps ensure your audio and video stay in sync when gaming. They come in separate Xbox and PlayStation variants, so get the right version for your console. Unfortunately, they lack some low-bass, so action-packed scenes lack rumble and punch.

Pros
  • Decent mic recording quality.
  • Comfortable fit for most.
  • Low latency.
  • PS4 and Xbox One variants available.
Cons
  • Inconsistent audio delivery.
  • Lacks sub-bass.
5.5 Wired Gaming

You can only use the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 wirelessly. There's a USB-C cable included, but it's just for charging.

6.2 Phone Calls

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 are mediocre for phone calls. Their boom microphone has a decent recording quality, so your voice sounds understandable but not full-bodied. However, it doesn't properly separate your voice from ambient sound, so background noise can drown out your voice. The headphones don't isolate you from very much noise, so you might not hear a call you take in a noisy place.

Pros
  • Decent mic recording quality.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation performance.
  • 7.4 Neutral Sound
  • 5.5 Commute/Travel
  • 5.9 Sports/Fitness
  • 6.6 Office
  • 7.2 Wireless Gaming
  • 5.5 Wired Gaming
  • 6.2 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Jun 21, 2023: Made minor edits to the text and checked that it's up to date.
  2. Updated Nov 26, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  3. Updated Sep 23, 2020: Review published.
  4. Updated Sep 14, 2020: Early access published.
  5. Updated Sep 02, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  6. Updated Aug 28, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  7. Updated Aug 21, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 comes in either 'Black' or 'White'. With the PS4 variant, the Black model has blue accents, and with the Xbox One variant, the Black model has green accents. Both versions of the White model have silver accents. We tested the Black and Blue PS4/PS5 model, but we also expect our results to be valid for the 'White' version.

The Xbox One variant is compatible with Xbox One consoles via Xbox Wireless, and it's advertised as having Windows Sonic Surround Sound. There may be other differences between variants, as one user has reported hardware differences. As a result, we don't know how the Xbox variant's performance differs from the PlayStation version.

If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 are the next generation of the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless and offer a sturdier build and longer battery life. These gaming-oriented headphones are well-built and have low latency, but they aren't very versatile or customizable. Their sound profile lacks a bit of low bass and varies depending on the headphones' fit and positioning on your head. These headphones are available in PS4 and Xbox One variants.

If you're looking for other headphones, check out our recommendations for the best gaming headsets under $100, the best PS4 headsets, and the best gaming headsets.

Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless

The Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless are better for wireless gaming than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless. The Astro have an easier-to-use control scheme, better build quality, a more stable fit, and more consistent audio delivery. Meanwhile, the Turtle Beach are comfier, have a longer battery life, lower audio leakage, and superior noise isolation performance. They also offer better microphone recording quality, though their boom mic doesn't isolate speech from background noise as well as the Astro's mic.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless are better overall than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless. The Stealth 700 have a more comprehensive control scheme, better-build quality, a superior boom microphone, and deliver audio more consistently. They're also Bluetooth-compatible, allowing you to connect to your phone or laptop without the use of an adapter. Meanwhile, the Stealth 600 are more comfortable and have longer battery life.

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless

The SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless are better gaming headphones than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless. The SteelSeries are better-built and have a more stable fit. Their boom microphone has a better recording quality and noise handling performance, making it easier to communicate with your teammates. They also have a longer continuous battery life, and their companion software gives you a lot more customization options.

Logitech G PRO X WIRELESS LIGHTSPEED Gaming Headset

The Logitech G PRO X WIRELESS LIGHTSPEED Gaming Headset is a better headset for wireless gaming than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless. The Logitech are better built and more comfortable, and their sound profile is more neutral, which some may prefer. Their audio delivery is also more consistent. If you like a different sound, the Logitech also have more customization options. They leak less noise, and their detachable boom mic performs better than the Turtle Beach. That said, the Turtle Beach have an Xbox One variant and a more stable fit.

Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless are the newer version of the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless. The Gen 2 are better-built, more stable, and they charge using USB-C instead of Micro-USB, which is more convenient. They also have improved noise isolation and leakage performance. That said, the Gen 1 have a more consistent audio delivery and a more neutral sound profile with a more extended bass response that some may prefer.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Wireless

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless and the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Wireless are gaming-oriented headphones, and depending on your preferences, you may prefer one over the other. The Gen 2 are more comfortable and better built, and they have longer continuous battery life. Also, their sound profile is more neutral compared to the bass-heavy 700. However, the 700 have a better overall microphone performance, and their companion software gives you more customization options, including an adjustable mic control and EQ presets.

Turtle Beach Recon 500

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless are better for wireless gaming, while the Turtle Beach Recon 500 are better for wired gaming. The 600 are more comfortable, feel better built, and have under 24 hours of continuous battery life. However, the 500 have a more neutral default sound profile, and their boom mic offers better overall performance.

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless

The SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless are better gaming headphones than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless. The SteelSeries have a more stable fit, a better noise isolation performance, and they leak less noise. Their continuous battery life is longer, and their boom microphone performs better overall. They're compatible with both the PS4 and the Xbox One, while the Turtle Beach have separate variants for each console.

Corsair HS70 Wireless

The Corsair HS70 Wireless are better gaming headphones than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless. The Corsair are better-built and have a more stable fit. Their audio delivery is more consistent, and their bass extends lower, so you can feel the thump and punch from action-packed scenes. The Corsair's boom mic is detachable, and it performs better in noisier environments. The iCUE companion software also makes the Corsair more customizable. That said, the Turtle Beach have longer continuous battery life and a bit less latency.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 have a simple design that's similar to the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless. The boom mic isn't detachable, but you can flip it up for a more casual look. They come in a few different colorways.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.64 lbs
Clamping Force
1.3 lbs

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 are comfortable. They're quite lightweight, and the headband and the ear cups are well-padded. That said, the ear cups feel tighter than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless as they clamp a bit more at the bottom of the ear.

5.4
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Decent
Feedback Decent
Call/Music Control No
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control Mute/Unmute
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls Presets

The headphones' controls are somewhat limited since they lack call and music functions, but they work for gaming. Unlike the Turtle Beach Recon 500, they have a mode button that lets you easily cycle between four EQ presets: 'Signature Sound', 'Bass Boost', 'Treble Boost', and 'Vocal Boost'. The volume wheel has notches at min and max volume. Finally, the mic monitoring wheel controls how much of your own voice you hear.

  • Power button
    • Press: Powers the headphones on/off.
    • 2-second press: Activates 'Superhuman Hearing' (meant to amplify in-game sounds).
  • Volume wheel: Turns volume up or down.
  • Mic monitoring wheel: Adjusts sidetone.
  • Mode button: Cycles between EQ presets: Signature Sound (default), Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and Vocal Boost.

5.5
Design
Portability
L 7.7" (19.6 cm)
W 7.5" (19.1 cm)
H 3.2" (8.1 cm)
Volume 185.00 in³ (3,031.59 cm³)
Transmitter Required Yes

Like most over-ear gaming headsets, they aren't very portable and won't fit in smaller bags. It's not an issue if you plan to leave them at your desk or near your couch, though. Unlike the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless, you can even fold them into a slightly more compact, convenient format.

0
Design
Case
Type No case
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A

They don't come with a case or pouch, unlike the newer Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Wireless.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 have a decent build quality. They're mostly made of plastic, which feels dense and solid. The removable ear pads are made of cloth material, and the headband is covered in faux leather for a more comfortable fit. The hinges feel much more solid and durable than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless'.

6.5
Design
Stability

These are fairly stable headphones. They stay on your head while you're gaming, but more intense movements cause them to slip off your ears or your head. If you like to bop your head while gaming, headphones like the Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless do a better job of staying in place.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 headphones
  • USB transmitter
  • USB-C charging cable
  • Manuals
  • Turtle Beach decal sticker

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
-1.77 dB
Treble Amount
-0.76 dB

These headphones have a neutral sound profile suitable for various audio content. Unfortunately, they lack a bit of low-bass, so action-packed scenes feel like they lack punch. They have an inconsistent audio delivery, so they may not sound the same for everyone. Fortunately, you can customize the sound using the four EQ presets: 'Signature Sound', 'Bass Boost', 'Treble Boost', and 'Vocal Boost'. They also have a 'Superhuman Hearing' feature, which boosts sound effects like footsteps in games. This feature's performance depends on the game you're using, though. It can also make other sounds seem muted and veiled.

In addition, some users have reported experiencing crackling and popping noises while using these headphones. One user suggested an Audio Hub firmware update could help fix this issue. Although we didn't encounter this noise during our original tests, we plan to retest these headphones and update our review as soon as possible.

5.4
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
1.34 dB

These headphones have disappointing frequency response consistency. Their bass and treble delivery depends on the headphones' fit and positioning on your head, so it's important to take some time to adjust them to get a more consistent sound.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
7.6
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.09 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
87.24 Hz
Low-Bass
-4.66 dB
Mid-Bass
-2.21 dB
High-Bass
1.9 dB

These headphones have good bass accuracy. There's an underemphasis in the low and mid-bass, so your favorite games' deep rumbles and thumps of explosions sound subdued. However, some slight overemphasis in the high-bass helps emphasize sound effects like footsteps in games like Escape from Tarkov.

8.0
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
2.61 dB
Low-Mid
-3.54 dB
Mid-Mid
-1.25 dB
High-Mid
-0.31 dB

The mid accuracy is impressive. The range is pretty well-balanced, which makes vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present. However, the underemphasis in the low-mid can make these same instruments sound a bit thin.

7.8
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.3 dB
Low-Treble
-0.48 dB
Mid-Treble
0.35 dB
High-Treble
-9.8 dB

These headphones have good treble accuracy. The response is even and well-balanced, so vocals and sibilants sound present and detailed.

7.0
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.01 dB
Dips
1.53 dB

These headphones have a decent peaks and dips performance. There's a bit of a mismatch between our unit's left and right drivers. There's a dip in the low-bass that reduces rumble in the left driver, while a peak in the mid to high-bass is more present in the right driver and adds some extra punch and boom. The dip in the low-mid thins out vocals and lead instruments, and the dip in the low-treble hurts the comprehensibility of these same instruments.

8.1
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.3
Weighted Phase Mismatch
9.02
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.52
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
2.6

These headphones have a great imaging performance, which reflects the brand's usually solid quality control and ergonomics. The weighted group delay falls below the audibility threshold, ensuring tight bass and transparent treble. The L/R drivers of our unit are quite well-matched in amplitude and frequency. However, a phase mismatch causes bass frequencies to seem louder in the left driver, which can create the impression of holes in the stereo image. That said, imaging can vary between units.

6.1
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
2.85 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
6.93 dB
PRTF Distance
12.05 dB
Openness
5.7
Acoustic Space Excitation
4.0

Their passive soundstage is passable. Their over-ear design allows sound to interact with your outer ear, so audio seems like it's coming from speakers around you and not from inside your head. However, the soundstage isn't as out-of-head, spacious, or wide as that of most open-back over-ear headphones.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No

The PlayStation variant doesn't have any surround sound features. However, the Xbox One variant supports Windows Sonic Surround Sound. Otherwise, consider the Sony PULSE 3D Wireless if you want wireless gaming headphones with a 3D virtual surround sound feature.

7.0
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.569
WHD @ 100
0.193

These headphones have a decent weighted harmonic distortion performance. There's a peak in the low-treble at normal listening volumes, but it won't be too noticeable. The rest of its frequencies fall within good limits, so audio reproduction is clear and pure.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
1.1.6
Power
On
Connection
Wireless (Proprietary)
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
EQ
Default
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
Boom

These are the settings we used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when using these test settings. Note that the default EQ is the Signature Sound EQ.

Isolation
3.8
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-9.44 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
0.82 dB
Mid
-7.24 dB
Treble
-22.57 dB

They don't block out very much background noise, which is normal for gaming headsets without ANC. They don't isolate in the bass range, so you hear bass-heavy sounds like bus engines. They reduce a little higher-pitched noise but won't completely isolate you from background chit-chat or a humming A/C unit.

6.5
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
42.25 dB

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 have a fair leakage performance. Audio leakage is concentrated in the mid-range, so it sounds quite full-bodied. People nearby can hear your audio if you're listening at a high volume somewhere, like an office.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
In-Line
No
Boom
Yes
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
7.3
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
177.02 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
2.2 dB
HFE
6,267.15 Hz
Weighted THD
8.938
Gain
10.48 dB

The microphone's recording quality is decent. Your voice sounds quite clear but not full-bodied or natural. You won't have trouble being heard well, though.

6.0
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
6.54 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
6.0
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
6.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The mic has a mediocre noise handling performance. You won't notice a drop in audio quality in moderately noisy places. However, the mic doesn't filter out background noise, so it's present and loud in the call. If you're talking to friends near an open window with loud traffic outside, your voice can be drowned out, making it hard to understand.

Active Features
8.5
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
23.7 hrs
Additional Charges
0.0
Total Battery Life
23.7 hrs
Charge Time
2.2 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
Auto-Off Timer
Audio While Charging
Yes
Passive Playback
No
Charging Port USB-C

They have an excellent battery life. The manufacturer advertises them as having a continuous battery life of 15 hours, and we measured over 23 hours, which is more than enough to get you through long gaming sessions. They don't charge particularly quickly but can receive audio while charging and automatically switch off after five minutes of inactivity to save power. Also, keep in mind that battery life varies with real-life use.

4.0
Active Features
App Support
App Name Turtle Beach Audio Hub
iOS No
Android No
macOS Yes
Windows Yes
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No

You can't do much with the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app. You can use it to update the headset and control the volume level of voice prompts.

Connectivity
0
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
No Bluetooth
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
PC Latency (SBC)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
N/A
Android Latency
N/A

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 aren't Bluetooth-compatible. If you're looking for comparable gaming headphones that can connect with your phone and other devices via Bluetooth, take a look at the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless.

8.4
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
92.00 ft (28.04 m)
Non-BT Latency
34 ms

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 have impressive non-Bluetooth wireless connectivity. They have low latency, so you won't notice a delay between your game video and audio. This variant is compatible with PS4, PS5, and PCs, but you can get an Xbox One variant if you use that console.

0
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
No
USB Audio
No
Detachable No
Length N/A
Connection
No Wired Option
Analog/USB Audio Latency
N/A

You can't use the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 wired. The USB-C cable is for charging only.

Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
No
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone

The PlayStation variant of these headphones are compatible with PCs via non-Bluetooth wireless. However, you'll need an Xbox Wireless Adapter if you want to use the Xbox variant on a PC. Unfortunately, neither variant supports Bluetooth or an analog connection.

Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
No
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
PS5 Analog
No
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone

The PlayStation variant is fully compatible with PS4 and PS5 via non-Bluetooth wireless using the USB dongle.

Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
No
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No

The PS4 variant of these headphones isn't compatible with the Xbox One, but you can buy an Xbox One variant.

3.4
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
Wireless USB Dongle
USB Input
Yes
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
USB

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 don't have a dock, but they come with a wireless USB dongle that works with PCs and PS4s. If you're an Xbox gamer, you'll want to ensure you get the Xbox variant.