I recently purchased a Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 for gaming on the Xbox Series X, and could not be happier with this device. This headset has several great features in design and performance that make it the perfect gaming headset. With Turtle Beach, I expect to get great sound, but there is so much more to this gaming headset.

With a price tag of $149.99 the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 headset is in the mid to upper price range devices. I have to say that it is worth the money for several reasons. Among these are sound quality, wireless connectivity, and the overall feel of the device.

Massive Audio

The audio range is incredible with super crisp highs, which is just about piecing, and heavy lows that are more felt than heard. Not only does this headset have outstanding audio range but the clarity is precise as well. I have noticed that in-game sounds are spatially accurate; the location of footsteps or breaking glass can be easily pinpointed. This is truly a game-changer, even if you’re currently using a 7.1 channel surround home theater setup. The layer of added gaming immersion can not be overstated.

Wireless Connectivity

When it comes to Xbox and wireless connectivity it is not as simple as connecting any Bluetooth headset. The system requires a specific device type, with low latency, so the available options can be somewhat limited. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 for Xbox is a fantastic solution and connects with the same push-button method as connecting a controller to the console. Powering on the headset will power on the console, again, in the same way as a controller.

This headset will also wirelessly connect to smartphones or other Bluetooth-enabled devices. The beautiful part of this functionality is that both the connected Xbox and smartphone can operate at the same time. I like listening to Spotify using my phone while playing games. Even phone calls won’t interrupt gaming.

The Feel of the Headset

I found that this accessory is rather bulky, which is somewhat expected when it comes to headsets in this class. Although it has a larger size, it doesn’t feel too big when it’s on your head. Much of this is due to the fact that the weight is well distributed. The frame has a top arm that is firm, but not too tight, and easily adjusts to fit most heads.

The earpad cushions are made of memory foam, and soft synthetic leather, which is very comfortable. The design is intended to be accomodating to glasses. I wear glasses and find that it takes a little adjustment once the headset is on to get situated. Once in place, the cushions feel very natural on the ears and can be worn comfortably for hours.

Battery Life

Turtle Beach states that this headset has a battery life of up to 20 hours. I have found that the battery will last a solid 14 to 15 hours of gameplay. Keep in mind that I do keep the volume fairly high. I have yet to marathon through 14 hours of continuous gameplay under this headset, so my results are spread across two or three days between charges. Overall I have been satisfied with the battery life.

Conclusion

The Stealth 700 Gen 2 by Turtle Beach is an overall win. With amazing sound, flawless wireless connectivity, and a comfortable yet functional design, this device is well worth the money. I would recommend this as the headset for any gamer. It is simple to connect to the Xbox, PC, or smartphone and will change your game in no time.

Buy it now on Amazon

The post Turtle Beach Stealth 700 – Game-Changing Audio first appeared on The Gaming Column.

Size and Construction

The body form is that of a Super Nintendo controller, with an Xbox similar button layout. The 8BitDo controller has stout construction, responsive buttons, and includes a fairly substantial smartphone clip. The phone clip is well built and is capable of supporting a large phone. That being said, the controller is a little smaller and lighter weight than the average android phone, which tends to make the combination imbalanced and top-heavy. The included phone clip does, however, have two points of articulation, which can help to counter the uneven feel. Positioning my phone over the top of the buttons helped to give the rig a more balanced feel.

Feel of the Controller

The button layout is familiar enough to the OEM Xbox controller that the feel of the controller isn’t hard to use. The size of the accessory does take away from faster gameplay, at least in terms of muscle memory. The bumpers and triggers are small and close together, so it does take time to become comfortable with trigger locations. D-pad and Left stick are reversed, compared to the Xbox controller, making it more similar to a PlayStation layout in that regard, but that doesn’t seem to change the play. The compact design places the button cluster closer to the right thumb, but we didn’t see any adverse effects from this.

This controller has an internal rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, rated for 16 hours of gameplay, and charges with USB-C (cable included). With a fully drained battery, the charge time was seen at just under 2 hours. Button configurations and joystick sensitivity can be adjusted with software downloadable from the 8bitdo web site.

Buy it on Amazon

Available for $44.99 on Amazon (at the time of this article) the 8BitDo SN30 Pro controller is a good product for the price, and a great way to experience Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The post Gaming on the Go: 8BitDo Controller first appeared on The Gaming Column.