Turtle Beach Atlas One Multi-Format Gaming Headset Review

Introduction

Turtle Beach Atlas One

Fired up and ready to play some games? Need to enjoy your games in peace or scream at your buddies? Then Turtle Beach are here to save the day. Their new Atlas One headset recently launched, and at just £39.99, it’s sure to appeal to those on a tighter budget, or just hunting for a good bargain. While it is primarily a PC gaming headset, its 3.5mm jack means it’ll work just fine on Xbox One, PS4 Pro & PS4, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices with a 3.5mm headset jack. All those devices, affordable price, and the well proven Turtle Beach name? This should be an easy review if I ever had one.

Features

Audio Connection

• PC Gaming: 3.5mm or Pink/Green PC Splitter Cable (included) Xbox One, PS4™ Pro & PS4™, Nintendo Switch™, Mobile Devices: 3.5mm

Speaker Frequency Response

• 20Hz – 20kHz

Speaker Size

• 40mm

Onboard Controls

• Master Volume Wheel, Mic Mute

Microphone

• Fixed Omni-Directional Flip-to-Mute Microphone

Headband Material

• Synthetic Leather with Foam Cushioning

Ear Cushion

• Over-Ear, Synthetic Leather with Memory Foam Cushioning

Specifications

For in-depth specifications, please visit the official product page here.

What Turtle Beach Had to Say

“Built for PC! The Turtle Beach® Atlas One gaming headset delivers comfort driven performance with immersive Windows Sonic surround sound and crystal-clear chat through its high-quality 40mm speakers and high-sensitivity flip-to-mute mic. The Atlas One also features a lightweight design with a metal-reinforced headband and glasses friendly synthetic leather-wrapped memory foam ear cushions to provide added durability and unmatched comfort. Additionally, while the Atlas One is designed for PC gaming, it’s standard 3.5mm connection also makes it great to use with Xbox One, PS4™ Pro & PS4™, Nintendo Switch™, and mobile devices with a 3.5mm headset jack.” – Turtle Beach

A Closer Look and Performance

At this price range, you don’t have to look far to find a headset that’s cheaply built. Fortunately, Turtle Beach have their designs nailed down and have done for over a decade. The Atlas One is very nicely made and looks pretty similar to some of their more expensive models too. It comes hard-wired with a 3.5mm audio cable, using a 4-pole jack. That means it’ll hook right up to your mobile, controller, tablet, etc. If you’re using it on PC though, it comes with an adapter/extension cable in the box.

The headset is pretty darn comfortable too, partly because it’s relatively lightweight, but also thanks to this lovely padding on the ear cups. It’s not leather, not at this price, but it’s a good substitute. It has a soft memory foam padding that’s very comfortable, and it’s big enough to fit around the ear too. It uses their glasses relief system too, a small notch in the upper 3rd of the foam that allows the arms of your glasses to sit under the ear cups more comfortable; a small detail, but a valuable one.

Drivers

The drivers use a closed back design, locking in the sound and blocking a bit of external noise too. The closed back design is good for the audio performance too, as it helps tighten up the bass response, but more on that in a moment. The headset is pretty much all plastic on the exterior. However, they’ve given it a fake carbon fibre texture that saves it from looking too bland.

Plastic on the outside, metal on the inside. The headband is nice and durable and allows for a good range of extension. It fits my large head just fine but can be made small enough to fit children, so no one is left out of the fun.

There’s some padding on the headband too, which doesn’t look like much, but since the headset is quite light, it’s more than enough.

Folding Design

Both of the ear cups can be folded inwards, which is perfect for wearing the headset around your neck between games.

The headset is passively powered but still has a handy volume control wheel on the side. It’s great, as it means you don’t need to fiddle with the settings on your computer or mobile device for volume changes. At maximum volume, the headset is pretty punchy too, surprisingly so actually. It’s not so loud you’ll go deaf, but again, it has plenty of kick to it.

The 40mm drivers offer the classic Turtle Beach “signature sound”, offering a really clean sound that’s not overly boosted in any way. There’s a good amount of bass there when the source material calls for it, but it’s not overly imposing. There’s a lot of detail in the mid-range though, adding plenty of texture and details to gaming, movies and music too. The treble is quite bright, but like the bass, not overly so. There’s just a nice air-like quality to it that makes voice chat nice and natural sounding.

Performance

Obviously, the headset is marketed for gaming. However, it’s pretty versatile, especially with the multi-format support. I’ve been using it while say on the train listening to some music last weekend, and it worked great. It’s not going to replace my dedicated music headphones any time soon, but they’re still up to the job and then some. Of course, I can get home, plug them into my Xbox One (or other consoles), and chat with my friends and play some games with it too. It’s certainly appealing to have a single headset that ticks all of the boxes.

I do prefer headsets with a removable microphone, as I so rarely use one myself. However, this one is small and unobtrusive. It folds up out of the way when you don’t need it too.

Flip the microphone down, and it’s short enough not to obstruct your view. However, it’s nicely placed at the side of your mouth for clear chat audio, without your buddies heading you breath and spit into it; they’ll be happier about this than you.

Final Thoughts

How Much Does it Cost?

The Turtle Beach Atlas One gaming headset is available now from most major retailers. It’s priced at just £39.99, which quite honestly is an absolute bargain. You can spend the same money on some pretty questionable import brands like SADES, BlueFire, Nubwo, KLIM, for the same level of features, so a brand name product at this price, it’s a done deal.

Overview

There’s not a huge amount of things to say about this headset, as on the surface (and technically below it), there’s not a whole lot going on. However, everything it does have works as good as one could hope. Is it the best headset in the world? No, of course not. Is it one of the best headsets under £50? Absolutely!

One Headset to Rule Them All

Easily one of the biggest selling points of this headset is how versatile it is. From jamming out at work to music on your phone to screaming at your mates playing Fallout 76 “WHY DID YOU BUY FALLOUT 76!!!”, to having a business call on Skype. Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, PC, it doesn’t matter, just plug it into whatever device and it’s good to go. One headset, all your devices; job done!

Performance

The sound quality is excellent, and while way back in the days of my youth, Turtle Beach had an “iffy” reputation for sound quality, those days are far far far in the past now. Their signature sound has been honed to perfection and you’ll be hard pushed to find anything better at this price range. Audiophile it is not, but pleasing to the ear it certainly is. Good bass, plenty of detail, and crystal clear treble.

Build Quality

The headset is quite light and uses a synthetic leather padding on the ear cups and headband. It’s mostly plastic on the outside, but the headband is reinforced with a metal strip. The design is pretty similar to dozens of other Turtle Beach headsets, which have changed so little over the years. However, there’s method to their madness, as they know the design is reliable and they’ve gotten pretty good at putting them together over the years.

Should I Buy One

The Atlas series of headsets is winning plenty of awards for good reason. While the Atlas One may be the entry-level model, it still ticks all the right boxes. It sounds great, it’s stylish, and it’s affordable, what more do you need? Highly recommended!

Turtle Beach Atlas One Multi-Format Gaming Headset Review