A good headset has become a requirement for competitive gaming nowadays. Being able to gauge your surroundings by sound alone is a tremendous advantage and one that is necessary in order to perform at a high level. However, most quality headsets can cost an arm and a leg, forcing frugal customers to spring for low-quality gear. Thankfully, Turtle Beach's Elite Atlas headset manages to pack impressive speakers into a sleek design — all at a price point that won't break the bank.
An Appreciation For Sound
Many aspects of sound design are often overlooked by players. Sure, we love hearing massive explosions and the rattling of gunfire, but what about snide remarks made by an NPC off in the distance? Or listening to water splash as your player wades through it? What about the soundtrack that pumps through the entire experience — do most people stop and appreciate all the work that goes on behind the scenes to flesh out their gaming sessions?
With the Elite Atlas headset, you'll understand what you've been missing. Not only are Turtle Beach's 50mm Nanoclear speakers capable of delivering surround sound quality explosions, but its Aerofit ear cushions help block ambient sound, keeping you glued to your screen.
If you're upgrading from a low tier set of speakers the difference is immediately noticeable. You'll obviously be able to hear opponent footsteps loud and clear, but it also brings a game's background music to the forefront, boasting an impressive speaker frequency response from 12Hz to 20kHz. In short, you'll be able to pick up deep bass and high frequency sounds that you'd otherwise miss out on with a less capable headset.
Comfortable Design
The overall design of the Elite Atlas Headset is just as impressive as the sound quality. Not only are the ear cushions large enough to fit snugly around my Dumbo-sized ears, but they include patented Pro-Specs technology that allows gamers with glasses to comfortably wear the headset. Both the speaker plates and ear cushions are held in place by magnets and can easily be removed for cleaning or replacement when needed.
As for the ear cushions themselves, they are Turtle Beach's own Aerofit cushions that have been infused with cooling gel. It sounds strange, but it truly does help keep your ears cool and comfortable during extended sessions. After using the Elite Atlas headset for over a month, I can confidently say that this is one of the most comfortable headsets I've ever used.
Clear Communication
Back in 2018 the Elite Atlas was crowned the Best Gaming Headset at the Windows Central Game Awards. While part of the reason it won is its superior sound quality, the other aspect is its crystal-clear microphone. Not much needs to be said here, other than your commands won't get lost behind a jumbled mic and your voice will be crisp and clear to your teammates. The included unidirectional microphone features Turtle Beach's TruSpeak Technology — which is fancy talk for, "this is a great microphone."
Only Minor Complaints
Anyone in the market for a top-tier gaming headset should give strong consideration to the Elite Atlas. In my experience with the product it's done nothing but perform admirably and continues to be my go-to headset when playing CS: GO and Rainbow Six Siege. My only complaint is that although the ear cushions do a great job at blocking ambient noise from getting in, they're not so great at containing all the action going on in your game. In fact, the speakers are so powerful that went turned up to just 20% of their max capacity, anyone sitting nearby will be able to hear your game loud and clear. It's a minor inconvenience and one that certainly isn't a dealbreaker.
The Elite Atlas from Turtle Beach retails for $99.95 and would make an excellent addition to any gamer's setup. Check out the official website for more details.
Turtle Beach provided TheGamer with an Elite Atlas for this review.