E3 2016 - Turtle Beach Showcase | PlayStation LifeStyle

Turtle Beach is well-known for making gaming audio accessories, and the company was in full force at E3 2016. A new year brought with it new products to introduce. We went hands-on with their offerings while at the show, and have all the information you need ready for your perusal.

Stream Your Voice

First up, the Turtle Beach Stream Mic. While external microphones are typically associated with PC streamers, this mic is compatible with the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows/Mac platforms. Just plug it into an available USB port, and it will work on the PS4 without any additional configuration required. It features support for multiple mounting options, so you can install it as a boom mic, or just prop it up on a stand. Beyond the “TruSpeak” speech pickup technology, there is also a headphone jack, so you can listen to your voice as it sounds over game audio. There is also customization software, the Ear Force Audio Hub, but that is likely exclusive to PCs. The Turtle Beach Stream Mic will be available in Fall 2016, for an MSRP of $99.95 US.

Next, the Turtle Beach Stealth 350VR Gaming Headset. Virtual Reality is the Next Big Thing^TM, in case you didn’t hear. Turtle Beach isn’t one to be left in the digital dust, so of course they have an offering of their own for this fledgling category. The Stealth 350VR features 50mm drivers, which is slightly larger than most headsets, and should provide for a better response range. Unique to this headset is a battery-powered amplifier. It provides up to 30 hours of amped-up audio between charges, and should give anything you play a little extra oomf all around. This headset is specially engineered to work with the PlayStation VR headband without interference, and also has a special channel to provide clearance for the overhead cables that you’ll find on the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. The Turtle Beach Stealth 350VR Gaming Headset launches Fall 2016, for an MSRP of $79.95.

Turtle Beach also showed off its Elite Pro set of gaming accessories. The Elite Pro Tournament Gaming Headset features separately adjustable ear-cup position and headband tension level, to achieve a perfect comfort level for every gamer. It also features “Aerofit” ear cushions, which are filled with cooling memory foam. I was able to try this on, and the cooling sensation was noticeable, and would definitely be appreciated in longer stretches of gaming. This headset also features 50mm drivers, so are bound to have punch to their audio performance. The Elite Pro Tournament Gaming Headset is available now, for an MSRP of $199.99.

Controller of Tactics

The Elite Pro Tactical Audio Controller (T.A.C.) promises to deliver complete control to your audio, enabling you to balance game audio, a background audio limiter to dampen noise around you from being picked up on your mic, an outbound mic boost, and a mic monitor level so you can hear yourself as much or as little as you please. It also boasts DTS Headphone:X 7.1 surround sound, with compatible games I assume. Hook it up to a Windows or Mac-based PC, and it becomes a full-fledged dedicated sound card. The T.A.C. is out now, for an MSRP of $199.99.

Turtle Beach rounded out their offerings with the Elite Pro Tournament Noise-Cancelling Microphone, with noise-cancelling technology built for eSports, the Elite Pro Tactical Audio Adapter for Xbox One, which enables features such as something they called “Superhuman Hearing” (an audio booster), and finally the Elite Pro A.M.P. for PlayStation 4, an audio amplifier which includes mic monitoring. Each of these last three accessories are available now. MSRPs are as follows:

Elite Pro Tournament Noise-Cancelling Microphone: $39.99
Elite Pro Tactical Audio Adapter for Xbox One: $59.99
Elite Pro A.M.P. for PlayStation 4: $39.99

Turtle Beach may be a bit on the pricey side for some, but they use premium materials. The headsets on display were lightweight, and appeared to be durable. Time will tell if they can withstand the wear and tear of your average gamer, but you often get what you pay for. Turtle Beach appears to know what gamers, especially professional gamers, want in their video game accessories, and it shows.