Pros
The first wi-fi Xbox One headset
Also works with moveable units
Easy setup
Cons
Expensive
Mesh padding
Lacks lively noise cancellation
What is the Turtle Beach Stealth 500X?
Ever because the Xbox One launched in November 2013, it’s been enjoying catch-up relating to gaming headsets. The console didn’t even work with third-party headsets for 4 months after launch, till Microsoft launched the Official Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter. Now, over a yr after launch, the primary wi-fi Xbox One headset is simply simply hitting the market, which does away with the necessity for any adapter in any respect. The Turtle Beach Stealth 500X is totally wi-fi, so doesn’t want to connect with the Xbox One Controller utilizing any wires. This additional freedom is a luxurious fairly than a necessity, but it surely actually makes all of the distinction whenever you’re enjoying extended on-line classes. The Turtle Beach Stealth 500X comes packing the newest audio options, such because the comparatively new DTS Headphone:X 7.1 Surround Sound commonplace, audio presets and cell phone compatibility. It has a superb 15-hour battery life, a removable high-quality microphone, and helpful voice options comparable to Dynamic Chat Boost. However, the Turtle Beach Stealth 500X isn’t excellent. Comfort, look and audio options fall fairly far in need of Turtle Beach’s Elite 800 headset, which prices solely £20 extra. And whereas it’s utterly wi-fi on Xbox One, you’ll have to bodily join it to the PS4’s DualShock 4 controller to make use of it with that system. Overall although, you’re an Xbox One gamer who needs a top-class headset that provides the liberty of wi-fi, the Turtle Beach Stealth 500X is the headset to get.
Turtle Beach Stealth 500X – Design
Turtle Beach’s headsets are available varied totally different flavours relating to luxuriousness. At the highest of the tree is the brand new Turtle Beach Elite 800, which comes with mushy plastic-leather lining, reminiscence foam padding, and a comparatively fashionable end. At the mid-range, its headsets include mesh lining, extraordinary foam padding, and maybe a much less premium/lifestyle-led design. This is the place the Turtle Beach Stealth 500X is available in — it’s not as luxurious as its new Elite 800 stablemate, but it surely’s nonetheless solidly constructed and comfy for lengthy gaming classes. The subject although? The Stealth 500X isn’t a mid-range headset: it carries a steep £230 price ticket, simply £20 lower than the flagship Elite 800.
The Stealth 500X seems to be like practically each different Turtle Beach headset ever made, in as a lot because it positively seems to be like a gaming headset, fairly than a way of life product. The inexperienced detailing is according to Microsoft’s Xbox branding, but it surely doesn’t look significantly cool. Sadly, the ear plates aren’t detachable both, so there’s no scope for customisation like there may be on the Elite 800.
The headset can also be adorned with a wide range of buttons (eight, to be
exact, plus two quantity wheels), which is nice, however there’s rather a lot to
be taught, and so they’re simply pressed by mistake. The microphone may be
eliminated, however the connector itself protrudes from the headset about an
inch, which isn’t significantly elegant. See additionally: Best Gaming Headset 2015 So if it’s not construct high quality, what’s justifying the high-end price ticket on the Stealth 500X? Well, the headset’s wi-fi performance must be a significant factor – it’s a primary for an Xbox One headset, so it’s at the moment the one one available on the market. This is supplied by a small field that’s concerning the measurement of a pack of playing cards, which connects to the Xbox One utilizing USB and digital optical connections. Once linked, paired and setup within the Xbox One system settings (all of which takes lower than 5 minutes), you should use the headset wirelessly with the Xbox One with out the particular controller adaptor that’s been a necessity to this point. The bundle comes with all of the cables you want to use it with an Xbox One, and a 3.5mm cable to attach it to something with a headphone output. This means the Stealth 500X can truly be used with practically all computer systems, tablets and cell phones, though you continue to want to verify the inner battery is charged. See additionally: Best Headphones 2015
The battery on the Stealth 500X is rechargeable utilizing the included mini-USB cable. It looks as if a design oversight that the headset doesn’t have a micro-USB connector — the identical one used to cost the Xbox One controller. As a outcome, you want a unique cable plugged into your Xbox One console for the headset, along with the one for the wi-fi receiver, which takes up two of the console’s three obtainable ports. Chances are you’ll have one other USB port close by if issues turn into a difficulty, but it surely’s nonetheless a irritating oversight. Thankfully, when you lose or break the charging cable, a minimum of you possibly can choose up a brand new one very cheaply, and even simply plug it into a normal USB wall charger. Thankfully, you don’t should cost the Stealth 500X too typically, due to its glorious 15-hour battery life. We discovered that it truly went barely past the quoted capability once we have been utilizing the headset in stereo mode and the microphone wasn’t linked. The predominant frustration is having to wire the headset in each time — we a lot choose the dock on the Elite 800, which lets you drop the headset in with out having to plug in any cables.See additionally: Xbox One vs Xbox 360
While the headset doesn’t formally work with different consoles or PCs, it would work simply high-quality with just about something with an optical audio output. On PS4, you’ll want to make use of a wired connection to attach it to the controller, which isn’t fairly as elegant as on Xbox One, and also you received’t be capable of management quantity utilizing the buttons on the headset, but it surely works. Whatever format you’re utilizing, there’s an optical audio passthrough on the wi-fi receiver, which means you possibly can nonetheless output sport audio to your audio system, so different individuals can hear what’s happening. The headset additionally features a 3.5mm audio connector, so you possibly can connect with any machine that has a headphone socket. See additionally: Xbox One HDD Upgrade – How to improve your Xbox One storage
Turtle Beach Stealth 500X – Audio Quality
Turtle Beach has earned a popularity for nice audio efficiency, and the Stealth 500X isn’t any slouch on this division. The headset’s 50mm drivers ship nice audio efficiency, whereas the host of options and settings imply you possibly can tailor the sound precisely to your liking. The massive characteristic for the Stealth 500X is DTS Headphone:X 7.1 Surround Sound, which has solely just lately been launched to Turtle Beach’s high-end headsets. When you’re utilizing a Dolby Digital supply, comparable to a sport or a film out of your Xbox One, the headset will intelligently retune the sign to offer a fake encompass sound by the headset’s stereo drivers. The outcome sounds good, though you commerce a number of the stereo readability in return for a wider sound stage. It works significantly effectively in first-person shooters, the place you possibly can hear the place gunfire is coming from, and motion films, which normally simply sound higher in encompass sound. However, for all of Turtle Beach’s crowing concerning the introduction of DTS Headphone:X 7.1 Surround Sound, it doesn’t sound noticeably higher than encompass headphone applied sciences on competing headsets. See additionally: Xbox One suggestions, methods and secret options
Sadly, the Stealth 500X is missing a few the standout options that make its larger brother, the Elite 800, actually stand out. While the headphones do a very good job of isolating exterior distractions due to good earcup design, they don’t have lively noise cancellation, which is a boon for individuals who journey lengthy distances typically. And whereas the microphone on the Stealth 500X is unquestionably higher than hidden one on the Elite 800, it’s additionally a lot simpler to lose, and the connector on the ear cup juts out, which makes it look much less elegant. One of the perfect options of Turtle Beach headsets basically are the customized sound profiles. You can tweak the audio on the Stealth 500X to such a level that it would truly be a bit overkill. There are 4 predominant classes of audio: Game, Movie, Music and Stereo, that are then damaged up into sub-categories comparable to shooters or racing video games, horror or motion films, and acoustic and dance music. See additionally: Xbox One FAQ
On the video games facet, there are particular person presets that intention to profit from fashionable video games comparable to Call of Duty, GTA 5 and Destiny. We actually favored these fast presets — the layman doesn’t should know what’s being tweaked, however the finish outcomes are glorious. The draw back is that you need to join the headset to a PC to obtain and handle these presets, and there’s no Mac or cellular assist. You additionally want a PC to replace the headset’s firmware, so bear that in thoughts when you’re a Mac family. Microphone high quality on the Stealth 500X is great, due to the truth that the microphone is very maneuverable. There are additionally some nice microphone options constructed into the headset. When you’re speaking to individuals on-line, your personal voice is pumped again by the headset so that you don’t find yourself shouting. Also, the dynamic chat enhance mechanically will increase different voices at any time when in-game audio will get loud.
Should I purchase the Turtle Beach Stealth 500X?
If you’re an Xbox One proprietor in search of a totally wi-fi headset, then there actually is just one choice proper now — this Turtle Beach Stealth 500X. More will little doubt be coming, however for now, that is your solely choice when you don’t wish to should bodily join a headset to the Xbox One controller. That specialism makes it form of like an Apple iPhone – it’s nice at doing one factor rather well, however you’re paying a premium for it. It’s a great-sounding headset, but it surely lacks the premium high quality end of different headsets on this worth bracket, comparable to Turtle Beach’s personal Elite 800, in addition to a number of the nice options of that headset, comparable to lively noise cancellation. That stated, it’s a fantastic-sounding headset each by way of audio system and microphone. If you sport on the Xbox One and spend numerous time on-line, you owe it to your self to improve to the Turtle Beach Stealth 500X — simply keep in mind that an Elite 800-style choice is within the works at Turtle Beach’s New York places of work and can arrive within the UK later this yr.
Verdict
The Turtle Beach Stealth 500X sounds nice, has glorious battery life and presents all the advantages of wi-fi, however construct high quality, options and luxury are all far behind the similarly-priced Elite 800.