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Positioning itself as “the brand new king of ultra-premium wi-fi gaming audio,” the Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional is gunning for pole place in a crowded market. And whereas it makes a superb run for it with its readability of sound, there are some things holding it again from greatness. And even simply common mediocrity.
I have been utilizing the Nova Professional, SteelSeries’ pitch for premium wi-fi supremacy, for a superb 5 months at this level. In that point I’ve solely discovered just a few small points with it: a rapidly slacking headband, loud glitch noises when going out of vary, and a few minor strain from the drivers generally touching my ears. In designing the Stealth Professional, Turtle Seashore has made a commendable effort to not solely match its principal competitors for much less, but additionally enhance on a number of the niggles Nova Professional customers have been complaining of.
That is on paper, although; issues pan out a bit of otherwise in follow.
Just like the Nova Professional, the Stealth Professional is available in two, console-specific SKUs for Xbox and PlayStation. And luxury-wise the Turtle Seashore design does alright. The Stealth Professional sits comparatively comfortably on the ears, and the rotating ear cups imply it is easy sufficient to get it in the fitting place.
Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional specification
Frequency response: 10Hz – 22KHz
Drivers: 50mm Nanoclear, Neodymium magnets
Microphone: TruSpeak, removable, 100Hz–8kHz
Connection: 2.4Ghz wi-fi + Bluetooth 5.1
Weight: 422g (14.8lbs)
Battery life: 12hr per battery, rated
Value: $330 (opens in new tab) / £280 (opens in new tab)
I respect that Turtle Seashore has made lodging for eyeglasses, and regardless of it gripping my head fairly onerous to maintain from falling off, I have not felt my glasses digging into the aspect of my face. That stated, whereas the earcups are gorgeously spongy, the headscarf is not as comfy as I might have favored for the worth, particularly for longer gaming periods.
That is partly as a result of the headset is simply so darn heavy at 422g, actually in comparison with the Nova Professional’s 338g. And whereas you do not have to place up with the headscarf going slack and needing to get replaced, you are coping with much more strain in your crown each day. Personally I might want the headscarf resolution as a result of consolation actually is essential on the subject of a gaming headset, and I should not should shuffle it backwards and forwards each 5 minutes to distribute the burden myself.
In fact, sound is simply as necessary, too, and I have been fairly impressed by how the Audio Hub V2 software program enriches the general soundstage. There could solely be just a few EQ presets, however the Superhuman Listening to characteristic actually helps distinguish totally different in-game sounds, together with footsteps and gunshots, and the 7.1 encompass meant I might inform the path simply. The bass increase does so much to enhance the richness of the lows with out distorting the sound at excessive volumes, too.
Positive, the choices aren’t as huge as with the SteelSeries Sonar software program, however I respect the simplicity. It is fast to obtain and set up, although I’ve had a few points with it consuming up my system assets.
When it is behaving, the software program sits between one and two % CPU utilization. However when an audio program begins gobbling up 95.3% of my CPU utilization and nearly crashing my PC, it is clear there’s one thing severely flawed. That is with out the flamboyant Superhuman Listening to turned on, too.
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It has been a rollercoaster, software-wise.
A fast reinstall mounted the problem, although it’s kind of of a ache that I’ve had to take action twice already this morning, the primary time because of the software program instantly failing to recognise the headset after I walked out of vary. In different phrases, it has been a rollercoaster, software-wise. Unplugging the transmitter truly threw up a blue display screen of loss of life at one level, so I will not be doing that once more. The corporate has since up to date the software program, so hopefully these points will subside, nevertheless it’s not made a terrific first impression.
There are just a few remapping choices to work via, too, with totally different choices for the wheel and aspect buttons on the headset in PC and console mode. The aspect buttons could be lengthy pressed to shift them to their chosen secondary capabilities—just like the G-shift operate on Logitech mice. A cool little characteristic, if applied a bit of clumsily. You actually should learn the directions to become familiar with what all of the buttons do, nevertheless it’s good to see all of the helpful capabilities accessible on the headset.
Sadly, the buttons themselves aren’t wonderful to work with. I’ve to really feel round so much for them as they’re flush and awkward to press. The wheel can also be on the rattly aspect, and having all of the buttons on the fitting means I’ve to take away my main hand from my mouse or controller to make use of them.
Typically the headset is nicely constructed, however as with plenty of the Turtle Seashore merchandise I’ve used, the bodily interface undermines the general design.
That stated, the wi-fi connectivity is not unhealthy. So long as I stayed nearer than 15m, and inside line-of-sight to the transmitter, I did not expertise any dropouts. Add a submitting cupboard or a wall, although, and that is when the dropouts begin to come up. The Bluetooth will not be the hottest, however I can at the least say it dealt with obstacles a bit of higher.
The mic has its personal points, too. Shut up the plosives are fairly unhealthy, nevertheless it’s usually fairly clear even with it away from my face. Sadly, it does sound fairly darn fuzzy.
In relation to battery life, I have been utilizing it for a superb six hours and have not needed to swap the battery. I respect the inclusion of a spare battery, although even the rated lifetime of each batteries collectively (simply 12 hours every) cannot match as much as a number of the finest wi-fi gaming headsets we have examined. Once you’ve received the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wi-fi (opens in new tab) providing some 300 hours, the competitors is stiff.
As I stated earlier than, on paper these specs might sound to again up the $330 price ticket, however with all of the software program points, interface downfalls, and discomfort it does not hit the mark for me.
Toss stuff just like the distinctive audiophile Audeze Maxwell (opens in new tab) into the combination, with its $299 / £319 price ticket, and the Stealth Professional actually does not stand an opportunity. Notably towards the heat of these 90mm planar magnetic drivers, the breadth of the 10Hz-50,000Hz frequency response, and a whopping 80 hour battery life.
Once you’re being requested to spend this a lot money on a gaming headset it must be a no-compromise machine. And at simply £50/$20 lower than the Nova Professional, there are simply too many issues holding the Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional again to suggest, price ticket being not the least of them, however actually not the one one.
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