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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-20 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Turtle Beach Stealth 700 — biggest strength: true multiplatform wireless freedom. A proprietary 2.4GHz connection plus Bluetooth 5.1, a 40+ hour battery, and compatibility with Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC and Mac.
• Turtle Beach Stealth 700 — biggest trade-off: it is a big, 10.56-ounce over-ear gaming headset with faux leather and metal build, and its mic is tuned for teammates, not for professional call clarity.
• Hewlett HP Poly EncorePro — biggest strength: a lightweight, wired USB-A headset with a noise-cancelling omni-directional boom mic built specifically for voice conversations.
• Hewlett HP Poly EncorePro — biggest trade-off: it is strictly wired with a short 2.92 ft cable, delivers voice-focused audio capped at 6.80 kHz, and is not meant for games or music enjoyment.
• Choose Turtle Beach Stealth 700 if you game on multiple platforms and want one headset to rule them all.
• Choose Hewlett HP Poly EncorePro if you spend your day on calls and need clear speech, all-day comfort and zero charging.
The Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX is, first and foremost, a gaming headset. Turtle Beach built it around a proprietary lag-free 2.4GHz wireless connection and a small USB transmitter, and the clever part is that a switch on the transmitter flips the headset between Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC. If you own more than one console, that single dongle replaces a drawer full of adapters. It is officially licensed by Microsoft for Xbox, which matters to Xbox owners who want a headset that connects cleanly without extra fuss.
Audio is handled by 50mm Nanoclear dynamic drivers with a 20Hz–22kHz frequency range and 32-ohm impedance. In practice, that combination is designed for immersive surround-style gaming — the low end carries explosions and engine rumble, the top end handles footsteps and environmental detail. Bluetooth 5.1 runs alongside the 2.4GHz link, so you can stay connected to your phone for calls or music while you play. The Gen 2 mic is aimed at clear chat with teammates rather than studio-grade voice capture.
Battery life is the headline. Turtle Beach rates it at 40+ hours, and a 15-minute charge is enough for roughly 8 hours of play, so a forgotten charge is rarely a disaster. The trade-offs are real, though: this is a 10.56-ounce over-ear headset with faux leather and metal construction, which is heavy compared to an office headset, and it has no active noise cancellation. If you want a light, wired headset purely for work calls, this is the wrong tool. If you want one wireless headset for console and PC gaming with your phone connected at the same time, it is exactly the right one.
The HP Poly EncorePro 725 is a different species entirely. This is a wired USB-A headset built for contact centers and office communication, and every spec points that way. The omni-directional, noise-cancelling microphone is the core feature — it is designed to reduce background noise so the person on the other end hears your voice rather than the room around you. In a busy call environment, that is the difference between a smooth conversation and repeating yourself all day.
The audio is tuned for speech, not entertainment. The frequency response runs from 150 Hz up to 6.80 kHz, which deliberately skips the deep bass and the high treble that music and games rely on, and concentrates on the range where the human voice lives. The 300-ohm impedance and stereo binaural design suit clear, balanced voice reproduction. If you try to use this for gaming or music, it will sound thin and flat — that is not a defect, it is the design goal.
Comfort is the other strength. It weighs just 1.6 ounces, uses an on-ear, over-the-head binaural design with supra-aural faux leather cushions, and connects by USB Type A for plug-and-play use on virtually any computer. Built-in media controls sit on the headset. The catch is mobility: the cable is only 2.92 ft, so you are tethered close to your machine, and there is no wireless option at all. Buy this if your job is talking to people and you want clear speech, a light fit and no battery to worry about. Skip it if you want a headset for games or media.
• Best for gaming across multiple platforms → Turtle Beach Stealth 700. One transmitter switch covers Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and PC.
• Best for all-day work calls → Hewlett HP Poly EncorePro. At 1.6 ounces with a voice-tuned frequency range, it is built to be worn through a full shift.
• Best for battery life and wireless freedom → Turtle Beach Stealth 700. 40+ hours per charge, plus 8 hours from a 15-minute top-up.
• Best for clear voice capture in a noisy room → Hewlett HP Poly EncorePro. Its noise-cancelling omni-directional mic exists for exactly this.
• Best for immersive, bass-heavy audio → Turtle Beach Stealth 700. 50mm drivers with a 20Hz–22kHz range versus a voice-only 150Hz–6.80kHz range.
• Best for plug-and-play simplicity → Hewlett HP Poly EncorePro. USB Type A, no charging, no pairing, no software.
• Best for staying reachable on your phone while gaming → Turtle Beach Stealth 700. Bluetooth 5.1 runs alongside the 2.4GHz connection.
• Best for a light, low-hassle fit → Hewlett HP Poly EncorePro. 1.6 ounces versus 10.56 ounces is a night-and-day difference over a long day.
In my opinion, most people searching this comparison are gamers who stumbled onto an office headset, and for them the answer is clear: I would buy the Turtle Beach Stealth 700. The multiplatform wireless design, the 40+ hour battery and the 50mm drivers make it the far more versatile product for entertainment, and the Bluetooth link keeps your phone in the mix.
If your actual job is taking calls all day, flip that recommendation — I would buy the HP Poly EncorePro, because its noise-cancelling mic and speech-tuned audio are purpose-built for conversation, and its 1.6-ounce weight disappears on your head. Match the headset to the job and you will be happy either way.
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700, without question. It is designed for gaming with 50mm drivers, a 20Hz–22kHz range, low-latency 2.4GHz wireless and console compatibility. The EncorePro is a voice headset with a 150Hz–6.80kHz range, so games will sound flat.
You can plug it in and it will work, since it is USB Type A plug-and-play. But its frequency response is tuned for speech, so music and games will lack bass and detail. It is the wrong tool for entertainment.
Yes. It connects over 2.4GHz wireless for gaming and Bluetooth 5.1 simultaneously, so you can take a call or play audio from your phone while staying in the game. Bluetooth range is listed at 10 meters.
Choose wireless if you move around, game on multiple platforms, or hate cables — the Stealth 700 gives you 40+ hours per charge. Choose wired if you sit at one desk all day and never want to think about charging — the EncorePro runs off USB with a 2.92 ft cable. For current pricing on either, check the latest price on Amazon.
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