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Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2  Headphones Review

Review updated Jun 21, 2023 at 04:03pm
Tested using methodology v1.5 
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2
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 
 0
Notice: These headphones were replaced by Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

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
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Aug 06, 2024: We updated the Battery section of the review with a comparison to the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) Wireless.
    2.  Updated Jun 21, 2023: Made minor edits to the text and checked that it's up to date.
    3.  Updated Nov 26, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
    4.  Updated Sep 23, 2020: Review published.

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    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.

    Popular Headphones Comparisons

    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.

    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. The Stealth 700 have a more comprehensive control scheme, a better build quality, and a superior boom microphone, and they 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 a longer battery life.

    Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3)

    The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) are better gaming headphones than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2. The Gen 3's 85-hour continuous battery life comfortably beats the Gen 2's 23 hours, and the Gen 3's microphone does a significantly better job separating your voice from any background noise. The Gen 3 also come with a more fully-featured companion app that allows you to EQ the headphones' sound to your taste.

    Turtle Beach Stealth 600

    The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 are the newer version of the Turtle Beach Stealth 600. The Gen 2 are better built and 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 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 a 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.

    Show more 

    Test Results

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    Design
    Style
    TypeOver-ear
    EnclosureClosed-Back
    WirelessYes
    TransducerDynamic

    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
    Comfort
    Weight0.64 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
    Controls
    OS Compatibility
    Not OS specific
    Ease Of UseDecent
    FeedbackDecent
    Call/Music ControlNo
    Volume ControlYes
    Microphone ControlMute/Unmute
    Channel Mixing
    No
    Noise Cancelling ControlNo
    Talk-Through
    No
    Additional ControlsPresets

    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
    Portability
    L7.7" (19.6 cm)
    W7.5" (19.1 cm)
    H3.2" (8.1 cm)
    Volume185.00 in³ (3,031.59 cm³)
    Transmitter RequiredYes

    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.

    0.0
    Case
    TypeNo case
    LN/A
    WN/A
    HN/A
    VolumeN/A

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

    7.0
    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
    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.

    Headshots 1
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    In The Box

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

    Sound
    Sound Profile
    See details on graph tool
    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
    Frequency Response Consistency
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    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.

    Raw Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    7.6
    Bass Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    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
    Mid Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    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
    Treble Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    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
    Peaks/Dips
    See details on graph tool
    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
    Imaging
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    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
    Passive Soundstage
    See details on graph tool
    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.

    0.0
    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
    Weighted Harmonic Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    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.

    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
    Noise Isolation
    See details on graph tool
    Isolation Audio
    Overall Attenuation
    -9.44 dB
    Noise CancellingNo
    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
    Leakage
    See details on graph tool
    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 Style
    Integrated
    No
    In-Line
    No
    Boom
    Yes
    Detachable Boom
    No
    MicYes
    7.3
    Recording Quality
    See details on graph tool
    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
    Noise Handling
    See details on graph tool
    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
    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 PortUSB-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. If you'd prefer to be able to fit in a few marathon gaming sessions between charges, consider the sequel to these headphones, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) Wireless, which had a continuous battery life of over 85 hours in our tests.

    4.0
    App Support
    App NameTurtle Beach Audio Hub
    iOSNo
    AndroidNo
    macOSYes
    WindowsYes
    Equalizer
    No
    ANC Control
    No
    Mic ControlNo
    Room Effects
    No
    Playback Control
    No
    Button MappingNo
    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
    0.0
    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
    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.

    0.0
    Wired
    Analog Audio
    No
    USB Audio
    No
    DetachableNo
    LengthN/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.

    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.

    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.

    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
    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.

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    1. Update: We updated the Battery section of the review with a comparison to the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) Wireless.

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