Turtle Beach Recon 500 vs Stealth 600 (2022): Which Gaming Headset Should You Buy?

Choosing a gaming headset can be a tricky endeavor since there are tons of options to choose from. Do you go with a simple wired gaming headset that’s compatible with many gaming platforms such as the Turtle Beach Recon 500? Or do you go with a more convenient wireless gaming headset, like the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2? If you’re stuck and you can’t decide which one to get, below is our comparison of the two. By the end, you should be able to pick which one is better for your specific needs.

Turtle Beach Recon 500 vs Stealth 600 Comparison Chart

Design

Both gaming headsets are comfortable to wear during gaming marathons.

Although these two are gaming headsets, they can still pass off as casual headphones since they have a sleek and modern look, aside from the Turtle Beach branding. It helps that the mic on the Recon 500 is detachable and that the mic on the Stealth 600 integrates well into its left earcup.

In terms of build quality, the two are above average. As noted in our Turtle Beach Recon 500 vs Recon 200 comparison, the Recon 500 have a metal frame for durability, even though they are made mostly of plastic. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 have the same build quality as the Recon 500. They are also quite flexible and they have earcups that swivel. As with most gaming headsets, the weakest points on these two are their hinges.

The two headsets are well-padded for comfort. They both come with memory foam ear pads that are covered in soft mesh fabric while their headbands’ cushion is covered with leatherette. They can be worn over a long period without trapping heat due to the earcups’ mesh fabric and they are lightweight as well, so they aren’t fatiguing.

Connectivity and Controls

The Turtle Beach Recon 500 are wired, while the Stealth 600 Gen 2 are wireless.

As a wired gaming headset with a 3.5mm connector, the Turtle Beach Recon 500 are compatible with any device that also has a 3.5mm jack. This gaming headset is as straightforward as they come when it comes to connectivity.

Meanwhile, there are two versions of the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2. The PlayStation version of the Stealth 600 will work on PlayStation consoles, PC and the Nintendo Switch (docked mode). The Stealth 600 Xbox version will work on Xbox consoles and PC. Both of them are connected via a USB wireless dongle.

When it comes to controls, the Recon 500 have a much simpler configuration. The headset comes with only a mute/unmute button and a volume wheel. On the other hand, the control layout of the Stealth 600 Gen 2 is more cluttered. The headset has a power button, a volume wheel, a mic monitoring wheel and an EQ mode button with four presets—signature sound, bass boost, treble boost and vocal boost. To mute the mic, you just need to flip it up.

The battery life of the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 is advertised to last up to 15 hours. However, it can actually last up to 20+ hours. As such, the battery life of the Stealth 600 Gen 2 is excellent.

Gaming Performance and Sound Quality

Both headphones sound great, but only the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 have support for virtual surround sound.

These two gaming headsets have a very similar neutral sound profile. The lows are accurate and tight, while the mids are rich and full-sounding. The highs are slightly under emphasized, but they are still present and clear. These headsets output a neutral sound that’s great for listening to a wide genre of music. They don’t have an overemphasized bass that a lot of gaming headsets suffer from.

When gaming, the two are similar in that they output a balanced sound. The lows don’t overpower other frequencies. Even though the bass is not boosted, you can still experience loud explosions and rumble, as intended by game developers, so you shouldn’t worry about that. That said, the Stealth 600 Gen 2 do come with EQ presets that can change their overall sound. You have four options to choose from–signature sound, bass boost, treble boost and vocal boost.

Aside from having EQ presets, the Stealth 600 Gen 2 also support Spatial surround sound on PS5 and Windows Sonic on Xbox consoles and PC. On the PS4 and Nintendo Switch, the Stealth 600 Gen 2 will only do stereo. The Turtle Beach Recon 500 are stereo headphones as well, so they won’t support any form of virtual surround sound.

Verdict

Both headsets offer excellent sound, so choosing one will come down to whether you want a wired or wireless pair.

The Turtle Beach Recon 500 and the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 are both impressive gaming headsets. Choosing one will boil down to whether you prefer a more affordable wired headset or whether you want a slightly more expensive, but more convenient wireless gaming headset. Both of them offer excellent sound and they are comfortable and durable. Whichever one you end up with, you won’t be disappointed.

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