Introduction
Both Turtle Beach and HyperX are well-established brands in the gaming market these days and both make very solid products when it comes to headphones.
With that in mind, we wanted to settle a long-standing argument to draw a line under who the overall winner is in terms of quality, features, and design to help you pick the best headphones for your needs.
We’ll also highlight some of the best headphones from both companies and underline any notable features that might help make the choice easier.
Turtle Beach: Who are they?
Turtle Beach can be found dating back to the 70s when they made a variety of audio-specific equipment such as sound cards and MIDI synths for musicians.
However, it wasn’t until 2005 when they started really making a name for themselves and this is because it was the first point at which they were selling their popular Turtle Beach headsets.
At first, there was some skepticism around whether they’d be able to break into the headphone market as we already had long-established competitors, however, with a heavy focus on console gamers they were able to create a strong niche.
The rest is basically history, Turtle Beach kept going from strength to strength and has really refined their audio products to be some of the best in the world for gamers.
HyperX: And who are they?
HyperX is an offshoot of Kingston who is a multinational American-based corporation.
They were established back in the late 80s and are probably most well-known for making memory and RAM.
In fact, it wasn’t up until recently that they were able to make a name for themselves in the world of gaming where they launched the super-successful “HyperX” branding for high-end gaming equipment.
Who makes the better headphones?
HyperX has arguably been making PC-specific gaming headsets for longer, however, Turtle Beach has been working with audio longer.
In the way of tech specifics, we don’t think there’s too much difference between gaming headsets these days as most are usually built with 40-50mm drivers and a frequency range of 12Hz – 20kHz.
We think most headphones are sold based on their feature kit and what novelties are included such as super-soft cushioning or quick mute options, etc.
Still, with that in mind, Turtle Beach is arguably more focused on console gamers whereas HyperX products are designed mainly for PC gamers and that can dictate what kind of conveniences you’ll get with your new headset.
Best Headsets: Turtle Beach vs HyperX (A Look at Their Entry-Level, Mid-Range, and Premium Products)
Top 3 Turtle Beach Headsets
Best Entry-Level – Turtle Beach Recon 70 Gaming Headset
Notable Features
Pros
- Compatible for PC and Console
- 3.5mm Interface
- Low Cost
- Comfortable Design
Cons
- No Quick Mute Switch
- Might Be Awkward With Glasses
The Recon 70 from Turtle Beach is an unassuming headset and that’s because it actually has some great features for a relatively low cost.
It’s over-ear meaning you will get more natural sounds, has an adjustable cushioned headband for total comfort, and also has decent enough 40mm sound drivers for a punchy sound.
As well as that, it’s been designed in a wide range of colors meaning you’ll be able to pick exactly what you like depending on your preferences or to match your setup better.
With that said, some people have noted that it can be a little uncomfortable if you have big glasses frames and it’s also worth bearing in mind that the mic doesn’t have a quick mute button so you’ll need to mute it manually.
Other than that, we think it’s a great all-rounder and it’s nice to see some premium design features in a low-cost headset.
Best Mid-Range – Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 Pro
Notable Features
Pros
- Robust Build-Quality
- “ProSpecs” Glasses Relief (Great for glasses wearers)
- Extreme Comfort
- Powerful Audio
- Noise-Canceling Mic
Cons
- Might need an adapter for party chat on consoles
- A little expensive
If you like powerful, robust headsets then you’ll get all that and more with the Elite Pro 2‘s from Turtle Beach.
They definitely aren’t built to be subtle as they’re designed with a metal headband, large ear-cups to house the powerful 50mm speakers, and thick memory-foam cushions to keep you comfortable during the longest gaming sessions.
Unlike the previous headset, this one also comes with a mute switch meaning you can quickly silence yourself if there’s anything going on in the background, however, the noise-canceling mic does a great job of that anyway.
The only drawback we could find is that you might need an adapter for party chat on consoles, however, it’s rather cheap and PCs don’t have that problem.
Other than that, it’s a fairly reasonable choice except is a little toward the higher price bracket for mid-range headsets.
Best Premium – Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2
Notable Features
Pros
- Wireless (Low Latency)
- Microphone Sheath
- 50mm Nanoclear Drivers
- Long Battery Life
- App-based Audio Customization
Cons
- No Noise Canceling (Mic)
We think if you’re spending a good bit of money on a headset then you might as well get a wireless one (they can still be connected if needed).
That’s because it frees you up to move around without getting snagged and generally looks much neater too.
In fact, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 will last a very long time on a wireless charge (up to 20 hours) meaning you’ll probably be finished gaming before you need to plug them in any way.
In case you want to use them as headphones (or don’t want the mic in your periphery) then it has a full microphone sheath to hide it away completely.
We also like the quick-access panel to adjust things such as the audio and the ability to quickly mute your mic too which is situated on the earcup itself.
Similar to the mid-range headset, these headphones feature extremely comfortable Aero-fit gel-infused cushions which make for a really satisfying experience, especially if you’re using them all day.
They also include powerful 50mm Nanoclear drivers that are known to deliver excellent audio soundscapes meaning you’ll feel much more immersed in your games.
As an FYI, the audio can be customized in the Turtle Beach app.
Lastly, there’s nothing much negative to say about this headset, however, it doesn’t feature active noise-canceling on the mic which we thought was unusual as you get it on the mid-range but should be fine in relatively quiet environments.
Top 3 HyperX Headsets
Entry-Level – HyperX Cloud Stinger
Notable Features
Pros
- Lightweight Design
- Powerful 50mm Drivers
- Noise-Canceling Mic
- Comfortable
- Multi-Platform
Cons
- Stereo Sound (Not surround)
This headset is an insane bargain and you’d be crazy not to buy it if you were wanting something a little more premium but for a lower cost.
That’s because the Cloud Stinger features 50mm drivers, active noise cancellation, quick-mute functionality, and even comfort features that you usually see reserved for more expensive models.
Really, there’s very little that we can critique on this headset as it’s absolutely perfect for the price point.
We could only find very few negative reviews and those were for defective headsets being sent out and accidental damage rather than the headset being at fault.
The only point we did want to mention that we highlighted as a con was the fact that it’s stereo (2.1) sound rather than surround, however, it’s unlikely you’d get a surround headset at this price point, and surround sound is useless in most games.
Mid-Range – HyperX Cloud II
Notable Features
Pros
- Surround Sound 7.1
- Extremely Comfortable
- Robust Design
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Detachable Microphone
Cons
- Limited Color/Design Choices
Again, this is another HyperX headset that over-delivers on features at a bargain price point.
It’s very hard to fault the Cloud II as it comes with some amazing features such as huge 53mm drivers, 7.1 surround sound, and comfortable memory foam for long sessions.
You can also detach the microphone completely which makes it less fiddly for when you just want to watch some movies or when you want to take it out with you to listen to music.
We also appreciate the robust design, especially since HyperX is using extra-thick metal for the attachments on the ear-cups which will ensure they’ll last a long time.
From personal experience, the microphone is really well balanced in terms of audio, it’s not too loud and it’s not too quiet either — it’s also evened out really well in terms of not picking up any static or unusual sounds.
Premium – HyperX Cloud Orbit S
Notable Features
Pros
- 3D Audio (Positional)
- Head Tracking
- Advanced Audio Customization
- Powerful Custom 100mm Audeze Drivers
- Multi-Device Compatibility
- Detachable Microphone
Cons
- Expensive
If you want the absolute cream of the crop offering from HyperX, then there can be no other choice other than the Cloud Orbit S.
It’s an ultra-premium, ultra-advanced headset that is designed to take your listening experiences to the cutting-edge next level.
It comes with full positional head tracking to deliver a super-immersive 3D soundscape in both games and movies that are made to utilize it.
The Cloud Orbit S also makes use of powerful, custom Audeze 100mm sound drivers to help deliver one of the crispest audio experiences you’re likely to hear; this is further enhanced by the ability to tweak your experience through the Audeze customization interface.
In our opinion, these kinds of advances in sound technology are great for most modern games as they’re likely to be made with this in mind and can really help transform the game world into something that becomes living and breathing.
Aside from the pristine sound experience, you’ll also be happy to know that the Cloud Orbit S comes with modern comforts such as memory foam cushioning for long-lasting comfort and you can also fully detach the microphone if you want to use the headset as a standalone experience.
You’ll also find a physical control panel situated on the ear cup meaning you can control things like the volume and the ability to toggle the 3D sound on the fly.
Overall, this is a really solid product, and although it’s expensive, it’s very much well worth the money.
Who Do We Prefer? HyperX or Turtle Beach?
In terms of aesthetic design, we really appreciate the efforts that Turtle Beach has made to offer a wide range of choices to suit their customer’s needs, however, we still believe they have a long way to go in terms of delivering premium headset experiences.
Overall, HyperX offers a more complete package in terms of headsets, and often at a more suitable price point compared to Turtle Beach.
All of this combined with the fact that HyperX has made huge strides to deliver premium audio experiences over the years means that we’ve ultimately decided they’re the winner in this scenario.
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- 8 Best Closed Back Audiophile Headphones for Gaming
- 11 Gaming-Related Questions Answered
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