SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 vs Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3): Which Headphones Are Better?

Tested using Methodology v2.0

Updated Jan 08, 2026 05:33 PM

See Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) Review

Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) Picture

TypeOver-ear

Noise CancellingNo

EnclosureClosed-Back

Bass Amount Very Emphasized (6 dB)

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

Treble Amount Very Emphasized (4 dB)

MicYes

Sound Signature V-Shaped

TypeOver-ear

Noise CancellingNo

EnclosureClosed-Back

Bass Amount Very Emphasized (7 dB)

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

Treble Amount Slightly Emphasized (1 dB)

MicYes

Sound Signature Boosted Bass

Recommended in 8 articles:
Gaming
Wireless Gaming
PC Gaming
5

Recommended in 1 article:
SteelSeries

Our Verdict

Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 and the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) have different strengths. The SteelSeries' mic has a better recording quality, and they also have a sturdier build quality and a more useful companion app. On the other hand, the Turtle Beach have a much longer battery life and are usually a little cheaper than the SteelSeries. The Turtle Beach's mic is also a little better at separating your voice from any noise around you.

Variants

Stealth 600 (Gen 3) (Black - PC)
Stealth 600 (Gen 3) (Black - PS)
Stealth 600 (Gen 3) (Black - Xbox)
Stealth 600 (Gen 3) (White - PS)
Stealth 600 (Gen 3) (White - Xbox)

Arctis Nova 5X (Black)
Arctis Nova 5P (Black)
Arctis Nova 5 (Black)

Review

See SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Review

Check Price

Black - PC

Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

BestBuy.com

Black

Arctis Nova 5X

Black - PS

Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

Black

Arctis Nova 5P

Black - Xbox

Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

Black

Arctis Nova 5

White - PS

Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

White - Xbox

Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

Main Differences for

Sports And Fitness

Threshold

0.10

Sports And Fitness

6.7

6.9

Stability

6.0

6.5

Full Comparison

Sports And Fitness

6.7

6.9

Travel

6.4

6.2

Office Work

6.7

6.6

Wireless Gaming (In Development)

7.4

Wired Gaming (In Development)

6.0

5.9

Audio Reproduction Accuracy

7.4

6.6

Noise Isolation

4.9

5.0

Microphone (In Development)

8.1

8.2

Frequency Response Consistency

4.2

3.8

Sound

Sound Profile

Normalization Frequency

500 Hz

350 Hz

Bass Amount

Very Emphasized (6 dB)

Very Emphasized (7 dB)

Treble Amount

Very Emphasized (4 dB)

Slightly Emphasized (1 dB)

Sound Signature

V-Shaped

Boosted Bass

Show Text

Frequency Response Consistency

4.2

3.8

Consistency L

Consistency R

Std. Deviation

2.35 dB

2.75 dB

Show Text

Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

Raw FR R

Bass Profile: Target Compliance

7.2

6.7

Bass Profile: Target Compliance

RMS Deviation From Target

6.1 dB

7.2 dB

Low-Frequency Extension

20 Hz

Low Bass

3.5 dB

4.11 dB

Mid Bass

7.18 dB

8.18 dB

High Bass

7.13 dB

9.38 dB

Show Text

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance

8.9

8.1

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance

RMS Deviation From Target

1.49 dB

2.57 dB

Low Mid

0.28 dB

1.7 dB

Mid-Mid

1.54 dB

0.83 dB

High Mid

0.12 dB

2.74 dB

Show Text

Treble Profile: Target Compliance

6.7

6.4

Treble Profile: Target Compliance

RMS Deviation From Target

4.52 dB

4.84 dB

Low Treble

1.35 dB

-0.62 dB

Mid Treble

6.41 dB

3.83 dB

High Treble

-3.25 dB

-4.14 dB

Show Text

Peaks/Dips

8.0

6.9

Peaks/Dips Graph

Peaks

1.05 dB

1.63 dB

Dips

1.84 dB

2.81 dB

Show Text

Stereo Mismatch

8.0

4.3

Frequency Response Mismatch

Phase Response Mismatch

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

0.21 dB

2.40 dB

Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch

1.09 dB

2.42 dB

Weighted Phase Mismatch

2.5°

5.1°

Show Text

Group Delay

4.6

7.2

Group Delay

Weighted Group Delay

1.7 ms

1.1 ms

Show Text

Cumulative Spectral Decay

CSD

Compare High-Res

Compare High-Res

PRTF

7.9

7.7

PRTF

PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation)

2.18 dB

2.34 dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

5.04 dB

6.91 dB

PRTF Distance

12.08 dB

13.06 dB

Show Text

Harmonic Distortion

7.6

9.0

Harmonics Levels

THD Ratio

WHD @ 94 dB SPL

0.30%

0.09%

WHD @ 104 dB SPL

0.73%

0.23%

Show Text

Electrical Aspects

Impedance

Sensitivity @1kHz-1V

N/A

Bluetooth Max SPL

100.0 dB

103.0 dB

Virtual Soundstage

0.0

2.0

Virtual Soundstage

Compare High-Res

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Virtual Soundstage

Head Modeling

Speaker Modeling

On/Off

Room Ambience

Head Tracking

Virtual Surround

Windows Sonic Spatial Audio

Show Text

Test Settings

Firmware

V6.96.1480

1.7

Power

Connection

Wireless (Proprietary)

Codec

PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz

Test Instrument

Audio Precision APx517B

EQ

Turtle Beach Signature Sound

Default (Flat)

ANC

No ANC

Tip/Pad

Default

Microphone

Boom

Show Text

Design

Style

Design Picture 2

Compare High-Res

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Design Picture 2

Type

Over-ear

Enclosure

Closed-Back

Wireless

Yes

Transducer

Dynamic

Show Text

Comfort

7.5

Comfort Picture

Compare High-Res

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Comfort Picture

Weight

0.7 lbs

0.58 lbs

Clamping Force

1.2 lbs

0.7 lbs

Show Text

Controls

7.5

7.6

Controls Picture

Compare High-Res

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Controls Picture

OS Compatibility

Not OS specific

Ease Of Use

Decent

Good

Feedback

Good

Call/Music Control

Yes

Volume Control

Yes

Microphone Control

Mute/Unmute

Channel Mixing

Yes

Noise Cancelling Control

Talk-Through

Additional Controls

Bluetooth + Multi function

Multi function

Show Text

Portability

5.4

5.7

Portability Picture

Compare High-Res

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Portability Picture

L

7.8" (19.7 cm)

7.7" (19.5 cm)

W

7.8" (19.9 cm)

10.5" (26.6 cm)

H

3.4" (8.6 cm)

1.9" (4.7 cm)

Volume

205.74 in³ (3,371.46 cm³)

148.77 in³ (2,437.89 cm³)

Transmitter Required

Show Text

Case

0.0

Case Picture

Compare High-Res

Type

No case

L

N/A

W

N/A

H

N/A

Volume

N/A

Show Text

Build Quality

6.5

7.5

Build Quality Picture

Compare High-Res

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Build Quality Picture

Show Text

Stability

6.0

6.5

Stability Picture

Compare High-Res

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Stability Picture

Show Text

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

Compare High-Res

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Angled Picture

Side Picture

Compare High-Res

Headshots 2

Front Picture

Compare High-Res

Rear Picture

Compare High-Res

Top

Top Picture

Compare High-Res

In The Box

In The Box Picture

Compare High-Res

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 In The Box Picture

Show Text

Isolation

Noise Isolation - Full Range

4.9

5.1

Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph

Noise Cancelling

Overall Attenuation

-12.05 dB

-12.63 dB

Bass

2.36 dB

0.81 dB

Mid

-12.21 dB

-11.19 dB

Treble

-28.87 dB

-30.82 dB

Show Text

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios

4.4

4.5

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph

Airplane Noise Attenuation

-9.97 dB

-9.94 dB

Airplane Noise Isolation Audio

Office Noise Attenuation

-10.41 dB

-10.38 dB

Office Noise Isolation Audio

Street Noise Attenuation

-10.60 dB

-11.80 dB

Street Noise Isolation Audio

Show Text

Noise Isolation - Voice Handling

Female Voice 1

Male Voice 1

Female Voice 2

Male Voice 2

ANC Wind Handling

ANC Wind Handling Graph

ANC Wind Noise

N/A

Leakage

6.9

Leakage

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

40.4 dB

40.34 dB

Show Text

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

In-Line

Boom

Yes

Detachable Boom

Mic

Yes

Recording Quality

7.8

8.5

Microphone Frequency Response

Recorded Speech

LFE

111.52 Hz

20 Hz

FR Std. Dev.

1.19 dB

1.85 dB

HFE

6,177.3 Hz

7,452.94 Hz

Weighted THD

0.863

0.081

Gain

1.08 dB

1.98 dB

Show Text

Noise Handling

8.3

8.0

SpNR

SpNR

24.37 dB

42.07 dB

Noise Gate

On/Off Toggle

Speech + Pink Noise Handling

8.5

8.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample

Speech + Subway Noise Handling

8.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

Show Text

Active Features

Battery

8.9

Battery Type

Rechargable

Continuous Battery Life

85.7 hrs

48.2 hrs

Additional Charges

0.0

Total Battery Life

85.7 hrs

48.2 hrs

Charge Time

4.25 hrs

1.8 hrs

Power-Saving Feature

Auto-Off Timer

Audio While Charging

Yes

Passive Playback

Charging Port

USB-C

Show Text

App Support

8.0

8.5

App Picture

Compare High-Res

App Name

Swarm II

Steelseries GG

iOS

Yes

Android

Yes

macOS

Yes

Windows

Yes

Equalizer

Graphic + Presets

Parametric + Presets

ANC Control

Mic Control

Adjustable Level

Room Effects

Playback Control

Button Mapping

Yes

Surround Support

Yes

Show Text

Connectivity

Wired Connection

0.0

Cable Picture

Compare High-Res

Analog Audio

USB Audio

Detachable

Length

N/A

Connector

No Wired Option

N/A

Latency - Analog

N/A

Latency - USB

N/A

Recorded Latency

N/A

Recorded Latency Connection

N/A

Show Text

Bluetooth Connection

8.1

8.2

Bluetooth Version

5.2

5.3

Multi-Device Pairing

Bluetooth + Console/Non-BT Wireless

Quick Pair (Android)

Quick Pair (iOS)

Line Of Sight Range

334.65 ft (102.00 m)

Latency - SBC

180 ms

153 ms

Latency - aptX

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)

N/A

Latency - LDAC

N/A

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Codec

SBC

AAC Support

Show Text

Wireless Connection (Dongle)

7.4

7.6

Line Of Sight Range

157.48 ft (48.00 m)

147.64 ft (45.00 m)

Latency - Dongle

37 ms

30 ms

Recorded Latency

Show Text

PC Compatibility

Analog

Wired USB

Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Show Text

PlayStation Compatibility

PS4 Analog

PS4 Wired USB

PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

PS5 Analog

PS5 Wired USB

PS5 Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Show Text

Xbox Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Xbox One Wired USB

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Xbox Series X|S Analog

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Show Text

Base/Dock

3.4

Type

Wireless USB Dongle

USB Input

Yes

Line In

Line Out

Optical Input

RCA Input

Dock Charging

Power Supply

USB

USB-C

Show Text

Check Price

Black - PC

Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

BestBuy.com

Black

Arctis Nova 5X

Black - PS

Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

Black

Arctis Nova 5P

Black - Xbox

Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

Black

Arctis Nova 5

White - PS

Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

White - Xbox

Stealth 600 (Gen 3)