By: Ronald Chow (Guest Editor)
January 17, 2025
The first pair of wireless headphones were invented in the 1960s. These were only able to listen in on radio waves. The first portable music player was the Sony Walkman that hit the shelves in 1979. The first laptop computer, the Osborne 1, came out in 1981. The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, which is the first cellular phone, was commercially available in 1983. Due to our mobile nature, for any given piece of electronic technology, we have sought to cut the cable. Whether for work or enjoyment, we desire to make these tools portable to bring them with us. As technology progresses, these wireless devices have become more complicated as well. We have demands for more features and greater utility. Many wireless electronics have become more complicated than their wired counterparts. These devices are crammed full of tiny chips, antennas, and batteries. These increase the weight and complexity, but offer the convenience of not being tied down by the length of a cable. Today’s offering is similarly a wireless device, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3. As its name suggests, the Stealth 700 we have is the third major iteration of its Stealth lineup of wireless gaming headsets, along with its Stealth 600 Gen 3 younger brother. Let us see how the Stealth 700 Gen 3 performs and what improvements it has compared its predecessors, including the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX.
Our review unit of the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 shipped from Turtle Beach’s distribution center in Elwood, Illinois. It came via FedEx Express courier services to our offices in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The box arrived in quite a crumpled state, as the top and bottom sides of the box was partially crushed. Fortunately, the contents were safe with a piece of packing paper and adequate empty space to protect the product box from damage.
The product box of the Stealth 700 Gen 3 features a clean white design with a subtle pink and blue wave pattern on the sides. The front prominently displays an image of the wireless headset in the center, with the Turtle Beach logo and branding positioned above it. To the right, icons and text highlight the headset’s cross-play capabilities, simultaneous wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, and AI microphone noise reduction. At the bottom left of the front panel, the Stealth 700 headset name is here. Microsoft Xbox logos and a green stripe at the bottom of the box indicate that this Stealth 700 is designed to be used with the Xbox. However, the fine print clarifies that it is also compatible with PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. Additional feature highlights are on the sides and back of the box, while important specifications can be found on the bottom. The information is presented in a well-organized manner, providing plenty of details without appearing cluttered or overwhelming.
Here are the specifications of the Stealth 700 Gen 3 from Turtle Beach's website:
Specifications
Connectivity: Wireless, Bluetooth®
60mm Eclipse™ Dual Drivers
Frequency Response: 20Hz- 20kHz
Microphone: Uni-Directional, Flip-to-Mute
Ear-cushion Material: Hybrid Leatherette & Athletic Weave Fabric, Memory Foam
Battery: Rechargeable Lithium Polymer
Inside the box, we have the headphones in plastic wrapping and caressed by a black cardboard carton. There is a 0.7m, or 2.3ft, USB Type-C to Type-A cable for charging. Two USB Type-A transmitters are included, with one for the Xbox console and one for PC, but we will learn these are not exclusive to the devices. A quick start guide is on top to provide the needed information to get going with the Stealth 700.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware and Software
3. Subjective Audio Analysis
4. Conclusion
