Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX vs Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX
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Differences Summary
Connectivity
Controls
Headphone Audio Quality
Microphone Audio Quality
Build Quality and Comfort
Software
Verdict
Differences Summary
Both headsets are wireless and can connect using the 2.4 GHz dongle. However, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX also has Bluetooth that can be used simultaneously with the 2.4 GHz wireless.
The 700 has a more sturdy build than the 600 with the 700 including metal on the adjustment brackets.
The 600’s padding is made of a mesh cloth. The 700 is a more noise-isolating and softer cloth with pleather facing the front.
The 600 has up to 48 hours of battery life which is longer than the 40 hours on the 700.
The 700 is compatible with the Turtle Beach Audio Hub phone app that allows you to adjust the equalizer and other settings.
Connectivity
There are Xbox and PlayStation branded versions of both the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX and the Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX. If you decide on either of these, I highly recommend getting the Xbox branded version, because that one works on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC (and other consoles). The PlayStation branded versions do NOT work on Xbox.
Both devices are wireless and they come with a USB-A wireless transmitter for low latency audio. The switch on the transmitter can be toggled to “USB” or “Xbox” mode. The latter is needed for Xbox (I used mine with the Series S), and USB is for PC or other consoles.
Controls
Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX
At the top is a headphone volume wheel with finite scroll. On Xbox, this controls the game volume. The wheel under that controls mic monitoring AKA sidetone when in USB mode, but it adjusts the chat volume in Xbox mode.
Next is the mode button which will swap through the 4 built-in EQ presets. You cannot make any custom ones on the 600. The headset will make a number of beeps depending on which preset you switch to. They include: signature sound, bass boost, bass + treble boost, and vocal boost which sounds like a midrange and upper mids boost.
From Turtle Beach’s support website.
Tapping the power button once will enable “Superhuman Hearing” which is basically a massive treble boost and bass cut. It's pretty terrible for Modern Warfare II since the footsteps in that game are much more bassy than MW2019 and Warzone 1.
Lastly is the USB-C charging port and the flip to mute mic.
Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX
Most of the controls on the 700 are the same, but there are a few extra ones. At the top on the left earcup is a finite scroll master volume wheel. Underneath that, the wheel controls mic monitoring in USB mode and chat volume in Xbox mode. This one is infinite scroll.
The mode button turns superhuman hearing on and off by default, but using the phone app, you can remap it to other functions as well (shown below).
The Bluetooth button functions like many traditional headphones: pressing it once to answer calls or play or pause a track. Two presses skips songs and three goes back a song.
There’s a power button and a flip to mute mic just like the 600.
Headphone Audio Quality
Neither of these headsets sound amazing.
While using the 600, you can straight up get lost listening out for footsteps. The sound separation just isn't that good. The highs aren't shrill, but they're hollow and the detail is lacking. I didn’t enjoy this for music listening either.
Dead Space 2 with the Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare II with the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX.
The 700’s audio is much better. It’s nowhere close to the Audeze Penrose or the Maxwell, but I'd put it around the Astro A40. The bass is much more open than that headset, however. I'd take the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX over the A40 for FPS games, but for immersion and sub-bass in music I prefer the A40.
The 700 does have a slightly warm sound, but the bass doesn't truly thump or boom even with lots of EQ adjustments.
I'd get these headsets for their other attributes like comfort or connectivity over the headphone audio.
Microphone Audio Quality
Both of these mics are a bit below average. I wouldn't be surprised if these are using the exact same capsule. The tonality is thin and also muffled at the same time. Background noise rejection is non-existent, so any ambient sounds, keyboard typing, or even breathing come through pretty clear.
One advantage to these mics is the positioning makes them very resistant to plosives. Still, I wouldn’t buy either of these headsets for the mic. The Corsair HS80 is the only gaming headset mic with decent quality that I’ve used.
Software
Turtle Beach has a software application for desktop and mobile called Audio Hub. Since the 600 doesn't have Bluetooth it only connects to the desktop app. All it does for the 600 is lets you change the mic monitoring level and tones level.
On the 700, the desktop app is only for updating the firmware of the 700. The 700 is controlled through the phone app version of Audio Hub. It’s somehow even worse than Audeze HQ. Even with my headset literally playing audio from my phone, it only successfully connected to the app about 20% of the time. You can't adjust or undo any of your changes to the EQ or other settings without it.
Common…
When you do get it to work, it's… decent. The equalizer is kind of vague without giving you real frequencies. I could never get the level of satisfying bass that I wanted, and the upper mids never felt as detailed as I desired. These settings apply to the headset so they'll work when using Bluetooth or switching from PC to console or whatever device you're using.
Build Quality and Comfort
This is no contest. The Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX owns the 600 Gen 2 MAX in both departments.
The 600 is made of cheap, thin plastic that makes it feel like a toy. I know some people swear by the mesh type of padding they use, but I find it scratchy, I hate the sound of it when it rubs against basically anything, and it's just not comfortable. One advantage is that It doesn’t trap in heat too much.
The 700 fits very snug, and it's made of much softer cloth. It gets much hotter than the 600 after longer periods. The clamping force is strong, but glasses wearers can use the "Prospecs Glasses Relief System” to make a small indent in the padding to relieve pressure. Basically, there’s a tab inside that you can adjust to make an indent in the padding for your glasses to fit. I’ve tried it with my own, and it works, but it’s not a massive change.
Adjust this flap/band to make room for your glasses.
Second loosest setting on the left, Tightest setting on the right.
The 700 is of the most comfortable headsets I've worn. The build is still plastic, but it's way more sturdy than the 600 and it even has some better on the headband.
Both devices have adjustable height and swivel so they fit comfortably around your neck when not in use. The 700 I find to open out a bit more, whereas I can feel the 600 on my neck a bit too much.
The 700 also has some metal on the adjustment brackets to aid with durability.
Verdict
I wouldn't actually recommend buying either of these devices.
At the Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX’s price range, the Corsair HS80 is just straight up better as a wireless option with better headphone and mic audio. And I find it way more comfortable.
The Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX is much more compelling, but at its launch price of $200 I think it's way too much. And if you have the money, consider looking into the Audeze Maxwell which sounds much better as long as you EQ it, and it has a superior build.
But if we're just comparing the 600 to the 700, and you're dead set on getting a Turtle Beach device, then I'd get the 700. It's straight up better. It has Bluetooth and wireless simultaneously, better audio quality, better build quality, and it has more comfortable padding.
