TL;DR
Turtle Beach's Recon Air headset aims for wireless convenience but stumbles significantly. While boasting good microphone quality for calls, its incoming audio is disappointingly quiet, making it unusable in noisy environments. The fit is also problematic, proving uncomfortable and insecure. Connectivity issues plagued testing with Xbox consoles, with low game audio levels and a failed connection attempt on another Xbox model. Despite its affordable price and basic Bluetooth functionality for mobile, its core performance falls short. Want to know if it's worth the gamble? Dive into the full review.
I reviewed the Recon 200 gen 2 from Turtle Beach last year and found it to be a decent offering, though its price point relative to its audio performance was a consideration. Given Turtle Beach’s position in the gaming headset market, the arrival of the Recon Air headset piqued my interest. Its initial appearance suggested a robust and well-designed product.
Upon unboxing, the earpiece exhibits a lightweight, plastic construction, though the surface finish is reasonably appealing. My initial step was to pair it with my mobile phone via Bluetooth. A double-click of the power button initiated pairing, and the device promptly appeared in the phone’s list. However, upon inserting the earpiece, I immediately noted discomfort. The ear loop caused slight irritation, and achieving a secure fit within the ear proved challenging, regardless of the chosen rubber tip. The fit was, at best, precarious.
During a test call, the microphone’s outgoing audio quality was reported as excellent. However, the incoming audio was significantly lacking. Even at maximum volume, the audio from my conversation partner was barely audible. Consequently, the Recon Air is unsuitable for use in environments with even moderate ambient noise.
The volume controls are conveniently positioned on the earpiece’s upper surface, providing easy access. A dedicated mute button is also included. Audible signals confirm microphone status (on/off) and volume limits (maximum/minimum).
This Recon Air variant is compatible with Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Possessing both consoles, I commenced testing on the Xbox Series S. As this console lacks Bluetooth connectivity, a dedicated control unit is provided for connection to the controller. This connection mutes the audio output from the console’s speakers, diverting audio to the earpiece. However, the initial game audio level in the earpiece was extremely low, necessitating adjustments within the console’s audio settings to route game audio through the speakers while directing chat audio to the earpiece.
A similar issue arose: while other players could hear me clearly, I struggled to hear them over the game audio. This proved highly frustrating. Subsequently, I disconnected the control unit and attempted to test the device with an Xbox One X. Unfortunately, despite repeated attempts, I was unable to establish a connection with the controller (a genuine Microsoft product). The connection process stalled, and I was hesitant to apply excessive force to the control unit for fear of causing damage.
In conclusion, the Recon Air from Turtle Beach suffers from compatibility issues and insufficient volume. However, given its functional Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phone use and its relatively low price, it avoids a completely negative assessment.
Turtle Beach provided test samples for this review. The provision of review materials does not influence our editorial independence or testing procedures.
