The almost perfect mid-range headset: Turtle Beach Elite Atlas

Martin Jud

23.10.2018

Translation: machine translated

I like lovebirds and Sex on the Beach. Let's see if I can do the same with a Turtle Beach. I've heard that the wired over-ear headset sets new standards in eSports audio.

Finally I can hear crystal clear. The Turtle Beach headset seems to have paid for itself. Or it would if I had bought it. At the moment, I'm just testing it out.

Gaming headset

Turtle Beach Elite Atlas

Cable

41

A week and a half later: Wow, that rattles! Is this supposed to be the promised quality at a bargain price? What have I let myself be talked into?

Wait a minute. I'm listening to an old MP3 that's only been converted at 96 kbit/s. I actually thought that I had already converted the entire collection of my CDs to FLAC (or at least MP3 at 320 kbit/s). Some songs must have slipped through my fingers. As I have the CD at home but now have to listen to this one song, I decide to download the album I want... another way.

Try number two: Now in the best quality and with the best sound. Even if YouTube doesn't provide lossless sound, it's worth showing you this gem from 1999. Turn it up a bit. If you don't like the song, you can complain about it in the comments column.

The rich bass is particularly impressive on the first listen. Or could it be that I like the sound so much because it's Friday and there's a lot of rubbish going on in my head? Does that sound good when I'm testing for lack of sleep? But hello, by all means!

To be on the safe side, I decide to spend at least a week with the Turtle Beach. I want to test the sound even better. Apart from that, I want to know how the headset performs when gaming with surround sound.

Technical data - what the manufacturer promises

• Suitable for PC gaming (3.5 mm jack connection and distribution cable), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and any other device with a 3.5 mm jack
• Frequency range from 12 Hz to 20 KHz
• 50 mm speaker (Nanoclear with neodymium magnets)
• Gaming directional microphone
• Headband padding made of leather and memory foam
• Over-ear ear pads made of leather and memory foam (interchangeable thanks to magnets)
• Magnetic and interchangeable shell covers

The cable of the gaming headset is relatively short at 100 cm and comes with a volume control and slider to deactivate the microphone.

In addition, a 200 cm long distribution cable is included, which you also need for playing on the PC. What I particularly like is that both the microphone and the padding are removable/replaceable. If you like and have alternative shell covers, you can also replace these. I'm still working out whether there will be covers with a Hello Kitty print at some point in the future.

Processing, look and feel

Thanks to the thick padding and the built-in 50 mm speakers, the headset looks huge. However, at 371 grams, it does not weigh more than competing products.

When you wear the headset, it moulds comfortably to your head. It also stays firmly in place - even on the head of editorial colleague Kevin, whose headset wobbles around. You can even headbang with this headset. The padding and wearing comfort remind me of the wireless surround headphones Sony MDR-HW700DS, whose padding is also 2.5 cm thick. As someone who wears glasses, I don't notice any uncomfortable pressure points even after hours.

The fact that both over-ear cups can be rotated accommodates non-symmetrical heads and ensures a perfect fit. The headband itself can be adjusted in three stages. In terms of workmanship and ergonomics, there is nothing lacking here. What I like about the exterior is that there are no RGB LEDs. My headphones don't need that, because I personally wouldn't get anything out of the show anyway.

The sound: boom isn't everything

How do they sound? Well, first of all, it has to be said that these things are not suitable for the train, even if the microphone is detachable. Because if you turn it up, your environment will also hear it. So please don't do it, because there are people like me who will strangle you for it.

16 800 Hz and it doesn't go any further

Children perceive a frequency range of around 20 to 20,000 Hz. Some adults do the same until their hearing deteriorates with age. To get an idea of the frequency range promised by the manufacturer, I listen to all frequencies up to 20,000 Hz. Of course, it also depends on my hearing, which is why I grab some headphones lying around at home for comparison.

In addition to the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas, these are the Corsair VOID PRO RGB Wireless, the headphones Sony MDR-HW700DS as well as some dodgy in-ear headphones that I received from Huawei with a Nova 2.

And this is how the four test candidates performed:

Well, are there any headphones that can cover the frequency range specified by the manufacturer? Probably yes, but probably not for a mid-range product. At least it's clear that I hear badly that there are differences in quality. In terms of product (headset) and price, only the Corsair wireless headset is comparable here. And this is beaten by the Turtle Beach at both the lowest and highest audible frequencies.

Music on the ears

My initial euphoria when listening to music has not disappeared over the days, but it has been somewhat dampened. Because before I listened to Bomfunk MC's Freestyler, I was travelling with HTC in-ear headphones. When I now compare them to my home system or one of the devices mentioned above, it becomes clear that even an ear needs to be calibrated from time to time.

I still like the bass, but they somehow lack oomph. The Sony headphones are crisper, but they're out of competition anyway. If I compare them with the Corsair headset, the Turtle Beach clearly wins. In comparison, the sound on the wireless headphones sounds somehow clipped. With the Turtle Beach headset, and with the given price in mind, you can't complain. I also like the mids and highs: I got decent, albeit not royal sound on my ears.

Gaming, the showpiece discipline

I really like the headset when gaming on the PS4 Pro. "Onrush" sounds just as good as with the Sony headphones. And I feel exactly the same about "Divinity: Original Sin II". Because I wanted a second opinion, I asked my gaming wife to test the headset on "The Elder Scrolls Online". With surround activated, of course.

First of all, she seems to be impressed. What comes across particularly well with the Turtle Beach are weather noises, background music and the precision of the surround sound. I want to see for myself. I put on the headset to watch her marvelling and listening to some of the battles and come to the conclusion that I agree with her impression. We then do the same with the Corsair VOID PRO RGB Wireless.

Funny: we both like the fights better with the Corsair headset. I don't notice any difference in terms of surround sound. If someone rides past us, the direction of the sound changes equally precisely with both headsets. In dialogue, on the other hand, the voices sound a little metallic with the Turtle Beach, whereas the Corsair has no problems.

Before I take the Turtle Beach from my wife, I want to know which of the headsets she prefers for gaming. Without hesitation, she names the Corsair. She says that both are convincing in terms of sound quality, but the Turtle Beach presses too hard on her head over time. Well, that's how different people feel. I could wear this thing for ages.

Microphone quality

What really convinces with Turtle Beach is the microphone. When tested with audio recorder, Skype and Teamspeak, nothing can be criticised. Of course, it can't keep up with a professional microphone including a table stand, but I still sound clear to the other party - my voice is not cut off by the frequency range. Every now and then the odd bit of background noise gets through. Nevertheless, if you position it in such a way that you don't directly reinhale, nothing stands in the way of clear communication.

Conclusion: Should you treat yourself to this part?

The fact that the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas was tested and co-developed by gamers for gamers according to the product description sounds great. But don't let yourself be blinded by marketing texts. Especially as tastes differ. Both in terms of ergonomics and sound.

When you buy this product, you get an over-ear headset that is solidly made and ergonomically well thought-out for the price. The interchangeable ear pads, the headband padding, the swivelling shells and the three-stage adjustment of the headband leave little to be desired. For some heads, the pressure of the pads could become uncomfortable over time. It works for me. Another good thing is that you can also wear the headset with glasses without any problems. The pads give way where your glasses temples are so that they don't pinch even when worn for long periods of time.

If you want to listen to music as well as gaming, you can detach the microphone. What's more, the sound with the 50 mm speakers is surprisingly good. Not comparable to high-end headphones, but definitely better than some other mid-range headsets.

The microphone delivers solid performance when gaming. The speakers, on the other hand, are a matter of taste. Weather noises, background sound and the surround sound are convincing. However, combat noises, such as explosions, do not sound as powerful as with other headsets. Dialogues with NPCs are also better with the competition: with the Turtle Beach, they occasionally have a metallic character.

In view of the price-performance ratio, I can recommend buying this headset. If you have no need for Turtle Beach, I recommend the alternative Sex on the Beach. <p

Martin Jud

Senior Editor

martin.jud@digitecgalaxus.ch

I find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.

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