Turtle Beach Atlas Air: open-back wireless headset hits $130 — Black Friday bargain

The Turtle Beach Atlas Air, an uncommon open-back wireless gaming headset, is on sale for about $130 for Black Friday — roughly $50 off its MSRP and a strong price for what it offers. If you’re after a headset that delivers a spacious, natural soundstage and long battery life without breaking the bank, this model is worth a look.

Unlike most gaming headsets, the Atlas Air uses an open-back earcup design that creates a wider, more realistic sound field. That makes environmental cues — footsteps, directional effects and ambient detail — easier to place while playing. It won’t suit noisy rooms (open-backs leak and let sound in), but in a quiet setup it provides an immersive experience often missing from closed-back gaming cans.

Key specs & highlights

• Design: Open-back wireless headset (also works wired via 3.5mm)
• Battery life: ~50–60 hours per charge
• Compatibility: PC and PS5 via USB dongle, Bluetooth for Switch/Switch 2; no native Xbox Wireless (wired 3.5mm usable)
• Weight & comfort: Lightweight (~0.66 lbs) with memory-foam earcups for extended sessions
• Mic & features: Decent detachable/flip mic; not the top mic we’ve tested but serviceable for chat

Why it stands out

The Atlas Air’s open-back tuning gives games a sense of space that many gaming headsets lack. Compared to typical closed-back models, it presents scenes more like a pair of reference headphones, helping with situational awareness in competitive titles and lending cinematic games a broader soundstage. Combined with very long battery life and lightweight comfort, it’s a compelling package at this discount.

Trade-offs to consider

• Open-back earcups leak audio and allow external noise in — not ideal in shared or noisy environments.
• Bass extension is modest compared to closed-back designs; explosions and low-end punch are less emphasized.
• No native Xbox Wireless support — Xbox users will need to use the wired 3.5mm connection or another solution.
• Companion software/firmware may be finicky; some users prefer to avoid the software post-update.

Buying tips

• Test in a quiet room if possible — open-back listening is best experienced in low-noise environments.
• Check platform compatibility for your setup (PC/PS5 via dongle vs. Bluetooth vs. wired).
• Compare recent street prices — $130 is a strong deal, but stock can move quickly during Black Friday.

Grab the Black Friday offer (affiliate): Turtle Beach Atlas Air on Amazon.

Discussion: Do you prefer open-back headsets for gaming immersion, or do you stick with closed-back models for better isolation and bass? Would you buy the Atlas Air at $130 given the trade-offs?