Update
- 02/08/2019 Turtle Beach Recon 200 Review
- 01/25/2019 Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Review
- 10/26/2018Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 SuperAmp Review
Compared to other brands
Ear Force Audio Hub is a preset manager and firmware updater for the Elite 800, Stealth 500X, XP510, PX51, Phantom, Z300, i30 and i60 Turtle Beach devices. This application can automatically check for updates and install the newest version if one is available. Lack of Customization Options. Unfortunately, Turtle Beach does not have the best support software for added customization options. Compared to other brands, the Turtle Beach Audio HUB lacks a lot of features and customization options.
- Unique Features. Turtle Beach Headphones typically have a few distinguishing active features that set them apart from the competition. From Bluetooth compatibility to bass effect options, even on the more budget headsets of the lineup, Turtle Beach is a great brand if you're looking for gaming headphones with a few connectivity options.
- Versatile Gaming Designs. Since Turtle Beach has quite a few models that are Bluetooth compatible. They are one of the few brands that offer headsets versatile enough to work wirelessly with your phone. They also have a few models with detachable mics so you can more conveniently use them outdoors with your mobile devices.
- Good Microphone Quality. Being gaming headsets, most options by Turtle Beach have good microphones for multiplayer gaming. Their often shorter boom mics are not as good as some of the other gaming brands like HyperX or SteelSeries, but they still deliver a good recording quality and should be more than suitable for gaming and making calls.
- Lack of Customization Options. Unfortunately, Turtle Beach does not have the best support software for added customization options. Compared to other brands, the Turtle Beach Audio HUB lacks a lot of features and customization options. It's also a bit unreliable and crashes often.
- Inconsistent Build Quality. While some of the more recent and high-end models of Turtle Beach headphones have better build quality, the greater majority of the lineup feels plasticky and somewhat poorly built, especially for their price point, when compared to other gaming brands like Corsair or HyperX.
Overall, Turtle Beach makes decent gaming headphones with sometimes unique features that make them a bit more versatile and convenient for casual use. They also set themselves apart by having quite a few Bluetooth-compatible gaming headsets in their lineup. Unfortunately, their build quality is often slightly lacking. More recent headphones like the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas and Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 are somewhat decently well-built, but the greater majority of the line up feels plasticky and a little cheap when compared to other headphones in the same price range.
Best Turtle Beach Headsets
The Turtle Beach brand has a few models in their lineup that we have not tested yet. However, despite a few exceptions, most of the lineup falls in these 4 categories:
- Recon = The budget lineup. Mostly wired gaming headsets, some with detachable mics.
- Stealth = The budget to mid-range lineup. Mostly wireless headphones, with some models being Bluetooth compatible.
- Elite/Elite Pro = The high-end and more premium headsets. Typically better built with a lot of features. Most are wireless, but some come wired with a DAC/amp.
- Battle Buds = The gaming earbuds lineup. Mostly compact earbuds for gaming; unfortunately, we haven't yet tested a lot of models in this series.
Best Turtle Beach Headset for Gaming
Usage Ratings - Version 1.2
Mixed Usage
Critical Listening
Commute/Travel
Sports/Fitness
Office
TV
Gaming
Type : Over-ear
Wireless : No
Mic : Yes
The best Turtle Beach headset for gaming is the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 SuperAmp. These headphones have a much better build quality than the rest of the lineup, and with their amp, you also have Bluetooth compatibility, so you can game while still receiving calls from your phone. However, they are not wireless, since they must be connected via the SuperAmp to work. They are also somewhat pricey for what they have to offer. In this case, if you really do not need the Bluetooth support with the SuperAmp, then go for the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas instead. They have the same great build quality and sound, but they are much more affordable.
Best Turtle Beach Headphones for Mixed Usage
Usage Ratings - Version 1.2
Mixed Usage
Critical Listening
Commute/Travel
Sports/Fitness
Office
TV
Gaming
Type : Over-ear
Wireless : Yes
![Elite Elite](/uploads/1/2/4/8/124895964/217253511.jpg)
Mic : Yes
The best Turtle Beach headphones for mixed usage are the Turtle Beach Elite 800. The Elite 800 are Bluetooth-compatible headphones packed with features and come with a base station that provides quite a few connection options. The base is console specific, but works well as a home theater set up and has dock charging so you can display your headphones next to your PC or TV. Unfortunately, build quality is a bit mediocre for the price. Their control scheme is also overly sensitive and very confusing. However, if you want the most feature-packed option available from Turtle Beach, then the Elite 800 are a decent option.
Conclusion
Turtle Beach makes budget to high-end gaming headphones with unique features that make them a bit more versatile for casual use. They're decently affordable, sound moderately well-balanced, and have Bluetooth compatibility, making them slightly easier to use with mobile phones. Unfortunately, their build quality is somewhat lacking, especially when compared to similarly priced headphones from other brands like Corsair and SteelSeries. They also do not have a lot of customization options and a mediocre, sometimes frustrating app. However, if you often use your gaming headset with your phone or like to have a few connection options, like Bluetooth and wired support, then Turtle Beach may just be the right brand for your next headset.
Discover our recommendations for the best gaming headphones.