Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Wired PC Gaming Headset Review

A Closer Look and Performance

If you saw our review of the Elite Pro 2 headset a couple of months ago, then yes, you are seeing double. If you didn’t see that review, it’s right here. The headset is basically identical. OR should that be literally identical? Turtle Beach is no stranger to copying themselves, and I think it’s fair to say this is a renamed bundle without the Super Amp in the box.

Is that a big issue though? Well, no not really, as the Elite Pro 2 is a freaking awesome headset and I love the design. I’m looking for some differences though, and I just can’t see them. Which is shocking given this headset is £150 cheaper than the Elite, so that means that mini Super Amp is a damn expensive add-on, to say the least.

Half the Price all of the Quality

The headset uses some of the best design and build quality we’ve ever seen from Turtle Beach though. It has a metal headband, with durable reinforcements, and matte finished durable plastics. It’s every bit a premium quality headset. Keep in mind, at £220, I awarded this Elite as one of the best on the market. At £90 this is the same headset (best I can tell) and still every bit as sexy and well made.

The headset is super comfortable and features an auto-adjustment headband that’s mounted on suspension springs. There’s a good layer of padding and a wide headband, so it distributes its weight very evenly and comfortably.

Big Ear Cups Big Comfort

However, it’s those deep dish ear cups that really give the headset its most valuable asset. They’re super comfortable and fit easily around your whole ear. This blocks out a lot of external noise, while also locking in the sound; the end result is a much deeper and more enveloping bass response too.

Behind those huge ear cups, you’ll find a set of Turtle Beach’s flagship 50mm drivers. They’re tuned to their “signature sound” which has been the big feature of Turtle Beach for many years now.

Powerful Sound

Punchy yet clean and not overpowering bass, very detailed midranges, and a bright and clear high that’s superb for adding vibrancy to games, movies and music.

To my ears, the sound is very close indeed to their Elite Pro from a few years back. I know this, as the Elite Pro is my daily headset. What’s changed then? Well, they’re louder now, there’s a richer bass to the sound, and the build quality and fitment is improved too. By how much though? Not enough for me to trade up, but considering this headset is HALF the price of the original, clearly Turtle Beach are doing some great things.

The back of the drivers pops off, allowing you to do… well, it doesn’t “do” anything actually. You can buy custom-designed backs, or customise it yourself though if you so desire.

Dial That Bass To “WOMP WOMP” Mode

While they lack the drive of the Super Amp that gives them a lot of processing power, you’re not losing out at all. Sure, the more expensive model has a mobile app, where you can tweak the EQ, but as a PC user, I can do that anyway. This headset is capable of being pushed very freaking hard indeed. I’ve had them hooked up to my guitar amp, my PC, my Xbox and mobile and they work great all around. However, on the PC, I can set a standard EQ just in windows. While the flatter response is great for competitive gaming and team chart, I found it handled drastic EQ changes without falter, distortion or loss of quality.

Here you can see I have a pretty additive EQ with a strong bass and treble push, and a slight boost to the mid but still overall a scooped mid. The bass is bone-shaking while playing games, but it still has all the brightness and detail to make movies, music, games, and anything else, come to life. Turtle Beach says it’ll respond down to 12Hz and up to 22kHz and I don’t doubt it, there’s some real soul to the bass, and the treble has superb clarity even when things get low and rumbly.