ASTRO Gaming A50 Wireless Gaming Headset + Charging Base
ASTRO Gaming A50 Wireless Gaming Headset + Charging Base Station, Game/Voice Balance Control, 2.4 GHz Wireless, 15 m Range, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Mac – Black/Gold
Supreme Freedom
Experience absolute audio immersion. The a50 wireless + base station for xbox one/pc delivers the premium acoustics, ergonomics, comfort and durability that gamers demand.
Tuned with ASTRO Audio V2
ASTRO works with developers and pro gamers to deliver premium audio tuned for gaming. Our precise frequency spectrum produces detailed in-game dialogue music and sounds for immersive audio.
Dolby Audio
Never miss another audio cue. Dolby Audio lets you hear everything in the game for an incredibly clear cinematic audio experience.
Free Dolby Atmos
Includes a free 2-year activation code for Dolby Atmos spatial audio. Allows sounds to move freely without channel restrictions for a true 3D soundscape, including sounds above and below you.
Game:Voice Balance
A feature that ASTRO pioneered, Game:Voice Balance allows total control over your game and chat audio mix. Easily adjust both with controls on the headset.
ASTRO Command Center Software
Update your firmware before using your headset to get new control over your voice communication and audio settings with free customization software.
Battery power that lasts
Don’t let a sudden power loss shut down your audio. A50 Wireless outlasts marathon gaming sessions with a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that holds 15+ hours of unstoppable power.
USB sound card support
Access Game:Voice Balance and game + voice streaming on your PC—no optical cables needed.
Mod Kit Ready
Add the kit (sold separately) for even more noise isolation. The swappable synthetic leather headband and ear cushions are compatible only with A50 Wireless Headset Gen 4 version.
| Weight: | 380 g |
| Dimensions: | 2.9 x 10.8 x 21.6 cm; 380 Grams |
| Brand: | ASTRO Gaming |
| Model: | 939-001682 |
| Colour: | BLACK GOLD |
| Batteries Included: | Yes |
| Manufacture: | Astro Gaming |
| Dimensions: | 2.9 x 10.8 x 21.6 cm; 380 Grams |
Top Headset – Astro ist einer der besten und langlebenden Headsets. Habe mein altes A50 schon 6 jahre gehabt aber das neue schaut gut aus hat einen besseren akku. Bei voice fand ich mein altes besser aber msste wahrscheinlich da an den settings spielen bei den neuen.
Sonst empfehle ich es sehr.
Empfehle auch das extra zu kaufen fr die Kopfhrer fr ein besseres feeling und abdmpfung vom sound
Quality headse
If you haven’t got these yet you are missing out a whole different experience with FPS games, bought these for Warzone and they’re game changers. If you get the right EQ setup from YouTube you will manage to get the full ability from this headset to hear footsteps in Prison from Superstore
A decent headse
The headset is good and all. However, there are some current issues, there is a random static beep that happens with this headset. I believe this is due to some sort of firmware.
Need to get EQ settings and get hdmi adapter if on ps5
Amazing headphones for warzone and ps5 but had to get HDMI adapter, also had to install nee firmware and get EQ settings from Reddit after that it felt great but first few days felt like it wasn’t great but once all of the above was done it has defo made my gameplay a lot better. Get a paddle controller and these and you will become 2KD playe
Ignore the negative reviews
I struggle to see why anyone would be disappointed with these. This is my 5th gaming headset and the first of the true premium available.
There are plenty of negative reviews from people who clearly have little appreciation for engineering or patience to tune these.
These are not and never will be plug and play for presets, and yes the standard presets are not popular with me either. A little research online and I was well away.
You should make the effort to use the optical port if new gen via hdmi extractors or in my case from the tv optical out to maximise the sound.
Mental levels of comfort!
FOR PC GAMING
This product is really good, the sound quality is easily a 10, I have never thought there would be sosmy settings and configurations on a headset before, people that say the sound is too quiet are honestly probably deaf, the A50 provides fantastic sound quality and it can be extremely loud.
Also easily the modt comfortable headset I’ve ever worn
When it comes to noise cancellation, for it to be amazing i advise you to buy the modkit (the leather pads) which in my opinion are just fantastic (although they’re an extra 30 quid which is not great taking into consideration hoe much I paid for the actual product) but it does provide the full satisfaction of great sound quality and noise cancellation.
After you buy make sure you download the ASTRO COMMAND CENTRE on your desktop and connect it to your PC as you will most definitely need to make some changes so the sound suits you best.
In conclusion it is a very good product, worth it’s money and I strongly recommend.
Literally the best sound for Xbox Series X
In my mini quest to find the best headphones for my Xbox Series X I’ve tried the Turtle Beach Stealth 700s, Arctis 9x, Razer Nari Ultimate and now these, and honestly these are head and shoulders above the rest.
The reason for that, is that all the others connect directly to the Xbox like a controller, which I’ll admit is more convenient, but even when using the Atmos app on the Xbox, the sound is still underwhelming. Honestly, the difference between them all is marginal especially when directional positioning is important such as in a FPS or battle royale such as Warzone. I just think the Xbox heavily processes the sound it sends, so by and large the headset you connect via this method is largely irrelevant.
The reason these win is that assuming you have a TV with an optical output (or you buy some sort of audio extractor I guess) you can connect these via optical, and tell the Xbox to send the uncompressed stereo feed out to the base and then let the Astros process the sound. The difference is night and day for Warzone. I can finally determine footsteps in adjacent buildings, determine the height someone is above me an so on.
Of course I wish the Xbox Series X had come with an optical port, but is is good to know that there are ways around this shortcoming and I think that’s the reason for a lot of negative reviews of this product – those guys are connecting these via USB and getting the sound that way, processed by the Xbox, which is how I initially had these set up, and I agree that gives so-so performance
You get what you pay fo
Very comfy especially during long gaming sessions, battery life is very good and the desktop app for modifying the sound presets is easy to use and smooth in its operation, sound quality is exactly what u expect from Astro, a premium priced headset that actually delivers premium quality
Better than the 9X
At first, I thought I would regret these from all the negative stars this has. But nope, these are amazing. Before these headphones, I had the 9Xs. They had some issues and after awhile the right side started to brake off, but I don’t see the A50s having any issues anytime soon. The A50s has 10/10 comfort, 10/10 sound, 10/10 build quality. I know I gave it all 10s, but you pay for what you get I suppose.
Update: I got the Xbox version, I just tried it on the PS5 to see if it would work and it does. Why are there two different ones, when the Xbox one can work on the PS5?
Incredible bit of kit. Best headset I've had.
Over the years I’ve had many headsets by many different companies like Corsair, Logitech, Steelseries etc.
These are by far the best. Sure they cost quite a bit but I don’t regret a single penny. The software is easy to use and non-intrusive, and you can save profiles to the headset, and switch them at a press of a button on the headset itself.
The other buttons control overall volume, wether or not you want Dolby Surround on, and game/voice balance.
The dock is really sleek, makes charging effortless and overall the build quality of both are astronomical ;]
If you’re deciding wether to buy this or another brand, I’d definitely recommend this over and over again. Astro Gaming have another fan/customer.
Best headset I have ever owned
What can I say about this headset? The sound quality is fantastic, the connection is the best I have ever had from a bluetooth headset. I bought these as a replacement for my steelseries arctis 9x’s (terrible headset) which suffered from constant connection issues, so moving to these is just such an improvement.
The only downside I could maybe point out with these is the lack of bluetooth connectivity for phones however it doesnt really bother me that much but could be a deal breaker for others.
The stand is fantistic build quality, when I picked it up, I couldn’t believe how heavy it was! Its a much better system for keeping it charged also, it shows how much charge the headset has on the stand so you just put it on there every time after use almost instictivly, no more coming to it next day and its dead!
Great headphones and sound (maybe wait for use with next gen)
Sound quality is exceptional, features are great. Although with next gen consoles greatly scaled back as there are no optical ports and Astros sound via usb disables Dolby digital and your presets. Therefore Dolby atoms is recommended as you can created a custom preset there. Still absolutely great headphones.
One of the best gaming headsets I've tried.
Fantastic headset with incredible sound clarity.
My only gripes are the soft rubber mic… it flops onto the frame when up right, rattling against it when you move your head… and the charging in the dock, it’s a bit hit and miss trying to set it on charge sometimes… should have had some tongue slot for alignment.
Compact it isn't, but it does sound really good
I’m not a big online gamer so this has been more about the sound reproduction for games and movies rather than the microphone quality. It does a good job in that it’s much the same quality as my B&O headset, although at this price range you might have expected noise cancellation as well. I can’t say I’ve used these that often because they’re bulky, but they are comfortable. The battery life does seem very solid (not sure if it’s 15 hours, but multiple evenings definitely). The spatial audio seems decent, although I can’t say that’s a huge deal for me.
As I don’t do multiplayer much I’d prefer it if the mic was removable, but everything does what it’s supposed to well. On the noise cancellation the padding does dampen down sounds pretty reasonably… so I’ll give that a pass as it’s not like you’re going to be wearing these on the underground – unless you’re in a pretty noisy home environment the isolation should be sufficient I guess.
Great headset.
Great product, I found the setting up confusing however that was due to a faulty headset. After hours of watching videos and browsing forums I figured this out however amazon were amazing and sent a new product out for next day delivery and they work perfectly! Really impressed, yes they are expensive however you get what you pay for.
Worth i
I was upgrading from Logitech G933s as unfortunately the power button was becoming and issue and unless positioned correctly id only have sound temporarily.
The A50s are a treat to setup the software needed is great and the entire products build quality is top end.
Mostly worth. (updated)
ORIGINAL 2020
Does what it promises. Comfortable, not had any issues with battery life, I move mine between my laptop and my xbox often and it just works. Premium price tag with actual premium quality, unlike some its competitors.
UPDATE 2022
There are a couple issues a few years in. I have the base unit permanently plugged into my Xbox Series X these days. There’s an intermittent “chirping” issue, where the headset seems to randomly make little noises every 30 minutes or so. You can resolve it by replugging the base unit to the console. Given my xbox is under the desk at the back somewhere, it’s kinda annoying.
I have my xbox set to power down completely when I turn it off, and I’ve noticed that when I turn it back on, I pretty much always need to switch the base unit mode over to PC and back to Xbox before my headset will actually pair with it.
The headband has a smoothing plastic coating that does degrade and peel off after a while, but it’s not something I really care about beyond mentioning. The way that the cup adjustment sliders are designed means that if you have long hair, your hair can and will get caught in them in a way that cannot be resolved except for snapping your hair off or pulling it out of your head. I wear a cap or tie my hair up when I use the headset pretty much always as this has happened a lot.
Functionally, everything’s still working great – no build quality issues, which is something virtually every other headset I’ve owned suffers from after a year or so.
The best headset I've had ever.
This headset is just the job for long gaming sessions on my Xbox one s. Over the years I had several headsets (usually turtle beach ones like the xp510 and x43), the Astro A50 Gen 4 is the best fitting and the comfiest one I’ve had up to now, The sound is very good once you have maxed out the two highest frequency adjustments in the the software that you have to download to your PC, this Astro Command centre is what you use to adjust the frequency bands to shape the way you want the headset to sound. The two highest ones need setting the highest in my opinion as the treble is muffled otherwise, then adjust the bass to your liking, once done you save the setting and update them to the headset then your done. You can save three and adjust them for different sound for other games styles eg one for more bass or more treble or how you want it. The Astro A50 Gen 4 is now suitable for the new Xbox series X through the use of just the USB connection as they have done away with the optical connection. The build quality is really good and I bought these as other headsets have snapped at the place the speakers connect to the headband on my last three headsets (my razer nari ultimate (xbox) snapped at the earcups). The Astro A50 has strong tubes on which the earcups turn so no worries about these breaking there, Overall I’m extremely happy with them and they would no doubt last for a long time, I was fed up of buying headsets for them to snap near the earcups over the last four headset I had for my Xbox. The battery lasts for a very long time when in use and depletes slowly and can game for extended gaming session, when finished place them down on the charger by the earcups and they magnetically fit down on the charging base.
I take real care of my stuff so If you value build quality and excellent sound get these Astros. I have had these for a month now and have really got used to them. Love them to bits.
Perfect for gaming
I had the original A50’s for 8 years and they started falling apart so I always knew I was going to get the newer version. The wireless works brilliantly and works from really far away. The quality is absolutely brilliant. You can hear everything. These are the most comfortable headset I have ever used. I have quite big ears and I like to know the ear cups dont touch much ears at all, which these do not. I wear them for 12+ hours a day for work plus gaming and it never hurts. The battery lasts for so long it’s great. The only small negative is trying to get the headset to position on the base to charge is really fiddly. I’m sat there for like 30 seconds each night trying to touch it so lightly to get it in the perfect position to start charging.
WOW - Used on Xbox one X
What a fantastic head set, sound quality is amazing and setting the headset up couldn’t be easier. The charging dock keeps your headset always charged for when you fancy a gaming session.
It’s expensive but well worth the money.
overall good pros 5 cons 2
Overall very good. PS4 use
Pros
Comfortable, through out long sessions.
Long battery life
Pleasing design
Range good (some walling and obstacles can impact but when playing or watching content
Sound quality very good (currently use in FPS, can hear audio queues i.e. foot steps before anyone [with subpar headset])
Cons
Charging station, trickey and slightly obscure for snug fit. Could be simpler for better resting position and connections when charging
Equaliser, good however difficult to perfectly balance between voice chat game audio, especially on the fly whilst in game. So once set its good but if you need to quickly mute game or chat can only do so via in game which again can take too long if in a firefigh
False information due to not stating correct informatio
Not to bad but if you have a ps4 slim you have to buy an adapter which Astro should state in their descriptions and they have to designs something for ps5 to be compatible so do not buy unless you want to end up spending extra money then expected
Amazing
Amazing headset if you buy it for xbox you will need to plug into a computer to update the software but as i play on pc i dont have that problem amazing headse
So what can I write about the Astro A50s?
Quite alot if you ask me. I’ve always had Astro headsets especially for my Xbox.
I started off with he first gen Astro A40s, I couldn’t fault them but I accidentally broke them. While looking up new headsets, I gave astro a fair share of looks. From Corsair, Razer and SteelSeries. They all had interesting features, But all the same as The Astro A50s.
– 7.1 surround sound.
– Dolby Atmos
– Great Noise Cancelling
– Crisp Audio
– Deep Bass and Great Mids
I decided on the Astro A50s (Gen4) because…. Well been with astro for years. Might as well stay loyal, But since Astro has been bought over from Logitech their quality has slightly declined a bit. But that’s not a bad thing!
When I got the headset, The box and packaging was the same, Not changed much in terms of style. As soon as I opened it all up the smell of ‘new’ hit my nose and I floated towards it like I’ve just smelt a good cherry pie!
Everything was in the box, Manual, Dolby Atmos 2 year subscription, Headset.
Took me 5 minutes to plug everything in and connect it all to my Xbox.
Now before you read this part I got to tell you that this was my problem, Very few have this problem but it does sort itself out.
So All the lights came on and I left it to charge for 24 hours, After that I connected it to my PC and updated the firmware, But the headset wouldn’t connect to the base station, This took about a week to fix, Back n fourth looking at fixes, Reddit posts, I even went on their discord and asked in there. Nothing they said worked, So on the mean time, My 300 wireless headset could only work if I had the mini USB cable attached to the side giving it power. So don’t know what happened.
After about a week, One night I went to play warzone with my friends and it just worked, Worked without the wire! I was so excited. So moral of that story is just wait a week, If it doesn’t fix itself then contact Astro.
After playing about with the PC Software I find tuned the headset to my liking.
It has 3 programmable profiles, I have mine set to FPS Games, Cinematic Games/Movies and Music. The Volume rotate wheel is tactile and can precisely set the audio. And there’s 2 buttons on the side too Game and chat volume level, So game up or chat up. And one button I don’t use much is the switch between stereo and dolby.
My personal review is anyone looking for a brilliant Headset that will last through being thrown and roughed up, Choose astro. Used it for months now and I couldn’t be happier!
Best sound from any headphones
This is an impressive kit. Amazing sound. I don’t know how I ever gamed or watched movies without it. I already had 3 pairs of other headphones including expensive Sony ones. The difference in sound is massive.
At first I had these on my pc. But now I have it on my amplifier which connects to my pc and projector. You need the digital cable for that.
If you use pc you’d only need the USB cable.
It also works on my PS4 and on my tv with also great sound.
For some strange reason on pc the Dolby surround button made it sound terrible. But on other devices it sounds amazing. So bear that in mind if you connect the base to the pc directly.
The only reason I don’t give it 5 stars is price and also that you can’t remove the microphone. I’ll never use the microphone because I don’t play online ever.
Best headset eve
Just go for it…
It’s expensive but if you want high quality experience for your gaming that’s the headset you are looking for.
Amazing sound quality for FPS and very comfortable also easy to setup
Best headset I've ever owned.
Expensive but worth every penny. The sound quality is fantastic and the positional audio with Dolby Atmos is amazing. Great range and battery life too. You will not regret buying these.
Amazing Quality for money
Sound is amazing, especially considering the fact that it is wireless and doesn’t use an external mixer like the A40 does. It is one of the most comfortable headsets i’ve ever worn. One dislike would be the battery life, for me personally i stay on the computer 12hrs a day and i use it all up within around 8hrs and since you can’t charge while you’re using it, it becomes a hassle. Other than that its great!
Oustanding
The headphones are amazing sound quality. The software allows you to create your own equaliser presets, if you know what you’re doing, I’ve found no faults with the default/existing equaliser presets. The sound is high end quality, heard instruments in songs that I’ve been listening to for years that I haven’t noticed before.
This headset gives you a whole new level of music, enhancing what you’re listening to.
In terms of gaming, the surround sound helps you to identify people around you, their distance and footsteps. It adds to the immersion of gameplay. Haven’t tested this on the Xbox yet. Only on PC gaming.
Solid headset.
Solid sound from these but had issues with cracking sound so had to reset the headset and take out the custom settings. Headset is a lot heavier than I thought it would be and I also got the mod kit to stop the sound leaking and this altered the sound output.
The sound quality is excellent especially if you play any comp games.
I would recommend but not sure if I’d pay 300 for another pair again.
Best 300 quid I've spent in lockdow
I won’t lie to start with its a little pain in the rear to set up, you may have to plug into a computer and run the astro program thats is partnered with your base. But once set up and all updates installed.. GOOD GOD that audio is amazing, Honestly as a gamer whos used a few different headphones and by far the 7.1 surround sound has changed how I play. I’m hearing peoples locations in games that I had never expected nor would have heard before
Amazing and versatile
Amazing sound quality, amazing setup options, for those of you who game on multiple platforms you can buy additional base stations and hook them up and swap the headset between the stations and the headset will autosync. Cannot recommend enough.
Good but expensive
I have two Headsets in different rooms the others are Plantronics Rig 800LX comparing these against one another I’d personally say that you can’t hear much difference not for the extra cost. I do like the charging base though which is why I decided to keep them. Overall if I was buying again I’d go for the Plantronics.
This isn’t the first Astro product I’ve owned and won’t be the last. They make fantastic quality products and have never let me down (I’ve still got an Astro a40 1st gen headset on my PC).
The headset itself is a little heavier due to the integrated battery, so it does take some getting used to. Once you are past that the headset itself is really comfortable (I game with glasses on and I’ve never had a problem). The headset holds charge very well and I’ve never had to recharge even during extensive hours of playing (battery is true to the advertised amount). The ear cups are magnetic so easily removed and can be swapped out for leather ones if desired. Both sound and voice sound great and they are my go-to headset for FPS games like CoD WarZone / Apex Legends as you are able to pickup on footsteps/direction that people are in comparison to you which is paramount in this type of competitive game. The headset is easily setup on a PS4 Pro and works with minimal amount of settings needing to be changed, there is also a great Reddit support page ran by Astro if you have any issues or general questions. The charge dock is great and the headset just pops into place when dropped onto it (feels magnetic). All the controls are on the headset so it’s easy to adjust volume and other settings on the go.
I have added a pop-filter to the microphone but that’s just personal preference, these can be purchased on Amazon for just a few ‘s.
It’s a great headset and was on sale at the time of purchase which was even better.
Better than the res
well they say you get what you pay for, i was using the corsair virtuoso se but had nothing but issue with them in the short 4 months i had them, returned them and got these. im so glad i did great sound great comfort and very light so easy to set up to. no issues so far’
update had to return, unable to charge when docked on base station. I done the hard reset as suggested when i searched online and still no joy. will order a new set hope i dont get any other issues
Overall premium headse
Overall if you’re looking for a wireless headset with velour earcups, you’re kind of limited to spending 250 on these.
Are they worth it? Probably not but for the best headset on the market. You can’t really put a price on it.
I have some bugs when the headset turns off or I lean back on my chair the headset turns off as it thinks I’ve left it on my desk or something. When it turns off the volume resets. Which is annoying.
Positives are there too but you don’t realise them as they just work so well like the very long battery life, the good mic quality, the long range, etc.
Fantastic headse
Packaging and build quality is great. Programming of different profiles is good. Very comfortable to wear and recommend getting the A50 MOD kit. They increase comfort and help with noise cancelling. Easy connectivity and can easily go upstairs to the opposite end of the house while still keeping within range. Recommend using the optical cable as I have been told from guys online that my voice sounds better.
Better read this!
As a PC user, this headset is absolutely brilliant. I have ABSOLUTELY no idea why others say these are quiet, goddammit, if I put them to full volume I can hear from my other room absolutely fine. Just make sure you INSTALL the last software version for them, you have set the sound in the control panel set to 100 and max the volume on the headset. This is all.
Otherwise, absolutely brilliant sound quality and wide range. On the plus side, it can deal with music pretty well to be honest given that I am listening to a very wide range of music from classic to EDM/Rap/Chillstep, Commercial and pretty much anything you can think of in terms of music genre.
Astro Headset and Base Statio
These wireless headphones with attached microphone are suitable for PS4/PC/MAC/Xbox and can also be used for watching films and general audio use. Out of the box the sound is not the best but once the settings were tweaked, I was very impressed with the sound. Simple to install, you can connect these headphones via USB to a PC and fully update the customised settings. For Xbox users there is currently a free offer of a 2 year Dolby Atmos to give extra functions. The headset is comfortable to wear for long periods and has padding on the earpieces. The headset is charged via the supplied base station and gives around 15 hours of use. I do think these headphones are on the pricey side so I have deducted one star for this.
Pricey
A very expensive set of cans! Are they good…. ? Yes but at this price I’d hoe so. Battery life is good but I’d like to see better, pretty comfortable and fairly good levels of noise cancellation. Distance the sound goes through walls is also very good and the base station is well designed. Sound quality to other via mic is good too as a coupe of friends online commented how clear and unruffled I sounded. Definitely a better quality build and sound than other brands I use for console gaming. Money no object they are a good set, want the same quality and features for the half the price then yes you can get it but have fun finding the right set for you. These suit small to large heads with lots of room adjustments.
Comfy, sturdy with great sound
Very comfortable with good battery life and set up is straight forward. Very high quality with a solid feel.
I originally bought the Steelseries Arctic Pro’s and the sound and audio control is much better with the A50’s.
Audio also plays through the headset and the TV at the same time unlike the Steelseries.
It’s worth noting that the headset is compatible with both Xbox One and PS4. So if you originally bought the headset for the PS4 but wanted another for the Xbox One you only need to buy another base station and not another headset.
Clear sounding gaming headphones
These are excellent headphones. The sound is crisp sand clear with not too much bass so you can hear the experience of your chosen game(s). My son is an avid gamer, and found these easy to use, charge and set up. There are various extra functions you can access by downloading the updates and tinker away to your heart’s content. However, out of the box these are perfect for their market.
Astro A50 ps4
Had this headset for a while now and can give a better opinion. Sound quality and build quality is fantastic. They do sit really comfy on my head great for long period of game playing. The only problem I had is I have large ears so they don’t fit in the headphones very well but are still comfy to wear had the Astro A 40 tr the ear cups are slightly bigger on that set but I want a wireless set. Battery has plenty of life in them and haven’t if yet ran them out. Love the dock to charge the headset display shows battery level and what sound profile you are using. Great set of wireless headphones for gaming like expensive but in my opinion well worth the extra.
Good headse
I bought them for gaming, you can distinguish in game where the sound is coming from and they have a good sound quality, but for 300 I was expecting to have better sound quality.
Perfec
See some negative reviews and I cannot see for the life of me how. Sound is excellent on its own. Even better when using Dolby Atmos. Everything is completely adjustable via the control centre PC app. Excellent mic quality. Very versatile, you can use solely on one platform or you can easily separate I.e. Game audio from the Xbox while getting voice chat from PC. That is ideal if you have friends who prefer to chat via discord. There isn’t much this headset cannot manage. The only thing it really lacks is Bluetooth functionality but there is usually a way to get around that. I would recommend this 100%
The best headset on the market!!!
If you want the best headset on the market then look no further. These really are remarkable. You pay for what you get when it comes to technology and that is the case with these. They aren’t cheap, but they are worth every penny if you want the best headset money can buy. I sit and play my PS4 slim (optical adaptor required) every night using this headset for around 4-8 hours, the battery lasts a few nights and then I put it on a small charge before I play every now and then. Very very good product.
Serious piece of kit - super comfy
This is serious bit of kit! The headphones come with the charging station which means you need somewhere permanent to keep it – has it’s advantsges but not if you don’t have the space. It’s not a big thing but it still needs an area. Plusg into the PC with a micro USB cable (provided)
These are ridiculously comfortable! Also ridiculously huge on me – I’ve got a small head so while they fit me fine, they look huge!
The sound quality is great – I don’t have any issues with that at all. Depending on what you’re on, it can feel like some sounds are accentuated over others but that’s a good thing overall rather than a disadvantage. It’s certainly not just a case of hearing one sound over all else.
The battery life seems pretty good – although having a charging station that’s huge and right next to the computer effectively means that the headphones live there so never get a chance to run down.
My only quibble is that these are crazy expensive and unless you have money to burn, I expect a cheaper pair would do the job for me and I’d be just as happy.
An excellent multipurpose headse
I’ve been using this headset for months now, mostly for PC gaming, but also for watching movies, listening to music at work, and the odd bout of Xbox gaming. It’s had a few blips over that time, but the short version is that this is a very good headset, delivering premium quality at its premium price point.
Structurally, there are three components – the docking station/charger, the headset itself, and the lead that connects the two. The lead is your basic micro-usb in black, feels like decent enough quality. I’d suggest that it’s a little too short, given you need to plug it in to your device to charge the headset – but aside from that, no complaints.
The docking station/charger is a sleek black unit, all slopes and lines. It actually looks pretty cool, as long as you like that aesthetic. It has slots for the earpieces from the headset to slide into, and when they do, they start charging (assuming the dock is plugged in!). The unit itself feels sturdy; it’s not that heavy, but it doesn’t feel cheap either. My major complaint is that it’s surprisingly easy for the headset to rest on the docking unit slightly awry, so that it isn’t actually connected to the station, but looks like it is – more than a fe wmoments of realising that the headset wasn’t charging ensued, so watch out for that.
The headset is a bit bulky, but feels well made. The mic arm mutes/unmutes depending on whether it’s up or down, and the volume control is embedded in one of the cans. There’s also some source control on one side. The volume is a bit fiddly to find if you’re sat on your couch, slightly too small to locate easily by touch, but it’s controlled by a physical roller which is reassuringly responsive and tactile; you can be precise with your levels. The Cans themselves are decent; I gather Astro sells an after-market kit to upgrade them to leather, but the existing earpieces were comfortable enough to wear for 8-12 hours at a stretch.
The mic feels a little fragile on pull up/down, but no more so than other, similar sets, and the clarity at the other end of a Skype/Zoom call or gaming voice chat is very good.
The setup process, assuming you just want the defaults out of the box, is simple enough; plug everything in, double-check your drivers, and away you go. If you want to customise, though, you’ll need to install the software, which (for those of you on Xbox) seems to require a Windows 10 PC. As usual with these, the UI is a pain in the backside – the results were decent though. I didn’t utilise all the options, but there’s a lot of choice available for customising your sound. You also get some free Dolby Atmos time; honestly I think this should’ve been perpetual, but there we are. It’s a nice benefit if you want to see what that gets you.
Overall sound quality felt pretty great to me; solid ranges, and perfectly acceptable for utility tasks like watching a film or chatting to colleagues remotely. I’ve been using it to play Battlefield and Battlefront for a few months too, and while I’m still terrible at both, I can’t attribute that to the headset – the directional sound is very clear, and the environments feel appropriately cinematic.
Overall, this is a top notch set at its price point, and one I would (and have) recommended for all sorts of different use cases. Very pleased with it, and you probably would be, too.
The Rolls Royce
This was passed to gaming son for evaluation. Very comfortable and the sound is fantastic. Used on Call of Duty. Microphone works well. Charge is long lasting and the charge stand is great. Range is fine for moving around the room with no disconnections. If you are a serious gamer then this is the one for you.
5 stars! Premium build.
Very nice sounding headphones. They work so seemlessly and are always charged on the dock station and ready to go. Connectivity is wireless and is automatic every time to my console. After doing some research I was pleased to see that Astro is a brand of Logitech. They sound excellent and are a great alternative to my home cinema setup. Very nice box with cables to get you all setup. Nice product.
Comfortable and tangle-free
These are connected to my wife’s computer, as she does a lot of gaming and in-game chatting on Discord. Although we haven’t yet installed any special software for it, and so are probably only scraping the surface of the available features, she is very happy with the sound, though personally I think they could go louder.
I tried testing the sound with various types of music and found the sound to be fine. There is more leakage than I like on headphones but that is only a problem when on public transport and so not an issue with home use.
Where these score highly for the Mrs. is in comfort. Her old headset got very uncomfortable after long gaming sessions, but she can keep these on all day. Of course the other huge plus is the wireless aspect. Connection is from the headset to the base so no need to mess around with Bluetooth pairings. The connection is very strong. I was able to walk out of the room, go downstairs to the kitchen and make tea without any loss or degradation of signal.
I really wish I had kept them for own PC now that we are locked down and I am doing lots of conference calls and videoconferencing for work!
Right, let’s start with some of the negative points people have brought up.
First issue I’ve noticed get mentioned a lot, is level of sound volume and depth of the sound.
I’m a bit of an audio snob, bose headphones, Harmon kardon speakers, BO sound bars etc. I like detail in sound, I like to hear everything at the levels they’re supposed to be heard. Crisp mids, deep lows, etc, and this headset delivers! People saying that they’re not bassy enough, for music… They’re not headphones, so why would they be? They produce more than enough bass to deliver a rich detailed gaming experience. They’re clear, no crackle, lots of detail in the sounds, clearly audible ambient sounds. Volume wise, max level is far too loud. So anyone who gets pissed they’re not louder. See a doctor, you’re clearly going deaf.
The second issue people keep rasing is the headset noise isolation. Ignore those too, because these isolate all noise outside the ear piece. My girlfriend regularly gets pissed with me because I can’t hear what she’s saying, so they’re clearly doing their job (not that I bought them to ignore the ramblings of a secondary school teacher…)
Third issue people seem to have is with software. Now, this one is a bit tricky. There’s no issue with the software per se, but I imagine anyone who doesn’t have access to a laptop or computer will have a hard time.
The reason, you can’t update your firmware through the xbox app alone, which is a bit odd. I didn’t have an issue myself, I walked upstairs, plugged them into my workstation and they were updated within 2 minutes using Astro Command center. Now, yes this will be an issue for anyone who doesn’t gave access to laptop of some form. The question I found myself asking is, why spend 300 quid on headset to play games, when you could have spent 100 on a decent headset, and also bought yourself a notebook for the remaining 200 and had some form of device for productivity.
The 4th and final issue the negative reviews address is battery life. Now, these come with 15 hours of battery life. If 15 hours is too short, you’re wasting your life on a game! 15 hour battery life, is more than enough for 3 days of gaming if you don’t charge. Anyone gaming for more than 15 hours at a time is a psycho. Genuine fruit cake. Seriously, go outside!
I know this review has just been about addressing the negatives, so I’ll sum up the headset.
It’s class! The sound quality is genuinely on par with some of the 1000 headphones out there. The design and build quality is second to none. There are parts that you may think are flimsy, but these are the parts that you swap out with modkit. The materials are premium. Even the standard earmuffs made from brushed cotton are comfy and soft. The docking station, amazing. It makes charging so convenient, and the display on front that gives you cues for what EQ you’re on etc, really nice touch.
Overall, must buy for anyone seriously into gaming. One thing I’d add, the dolby atmos 2 year license is worth it. I’d also say just buy it outright tbh. However, don’t enable it for competitive gaming. It makes the sound virtualised, which means directional sound kind of disappears and overall becomes more fuller and rich. Great for cinematic games, not so great for the likes of COD or APEX or something like that.
Easy to set up and great sound
I m not too tech savvy so I asked my more tech-savvy daughter’s family of two teens and husband who are into gadgets to use this and give me their opinion.
They have tested it for a good few weeks now and this is the verdict :
The Astro A50’s sound quality is incredibly clear with a huge depth range meaning its sound quality in a wireless headset is hard to top. No aspect of the sound becomes dominant as it perfectly equalises and compresses the sound coming from in a game and when friends are talking.
The headset is great as you get no tangled wire as it is wireless. This also makes it extremely comfortable to wear as you are not having to deal with wires if you move. Not only that but the distance that you can go without the headset cutting out is incredible and I have never seen it in a wireless headset before. The ear cups don’t fit as nicely around your ears as another set I have and the material feels a little rougher.
The wireless connection is super easy to set up as you just need to plug the base station into the PS4 or pc and it will automatically connect. The response time for a wireless connection is incredible as it seems instant. Very easy to charge up as all you have to do is place it on the station and it will automatically charge. The headsets charge life is more than longer than you would need in everyday use.
Great for everything - not just gaming!
From looks to performance, the Astro Gaming A50 Wireless Gaming Headset plus Base Station Gen 4 impresses. It looks modern and sleek in matt black and has all the functionality that you would expect from a high-end headset. But don’t be fooled: this isn’t just good for gaming, it’s great for all-round computing as well. Complementing the impressive build quality, the headset sports very comfortable ear cuffs which is essential for extended use. And speaking of extended use you can get 15 hours of non-stop use from a single charge which should satisfy even the most dedicated gamer. The base station allows you to see how much battery is left. The headset can sit on the base and it gets charged as it “rests”. The base station also allows you to select either Playstation or PC mode for the headset and which presets you are on. The mic is good. It’s rather on the long side, but it can be muted very easily but just folding it up.
I did say that this headset is as useful for PC-ing as it is for gaming. In fact, it offers more functionality when used with a desktop or laptop. You should install the Astro Command Centre software for this, and the app will give you access to EQ control, USB mic level and even something called “sidetone”. This allows you to hear yourself for the purpose of monitoring how you sound. Useful for when you are making an important presentation or recording.
With Dolby surround, a base/charging station, good looks, control and functionality, the high price tag is justified. If you can afford it, you should definitely consider this for your next gaming/general headset.
Durable, ultra cool headphones
Brilliant headphones for both gaming and general use. They’re among the best I’ve used. They’re physically comfortable for extended sessions. The EQ presets and great—I like to turn down bass and higher frequencies to reduce fatigue for longer sessions, and these do the job. They’re also great for working at home (over Teams / Skype etc) Bluetooth really matters to avoid feeling tethered to a desk. The industrial design is superb—sturdy, and sleek, with a cool, stealthy design that isn’t over-engineered. The presentation is top quality too, love the ultra cool, minimal graphics.
Great!
This is a good quality set of headphones as expected with the price. They are very comfortable on the head and around the ears. They come complete with a Mic for game play. Also in the box is a free 2 x years Dolby Atmos and you need top also install the EQ Command Centre App from Xbox store if using with your xbox. Sounds quality is good. To customize you will need to connect to a pc with Windows 10. The base that the head phones sit on to charge is magnetized making them more secure whilst charging. A great set of headphones.
Still occasionally deafen myself
I’ve never come across the Astro brand before which is quite surprising – they seem to have existed for at least 12 years, if not longer – they are owned by Logitech and are headquartered in San Francisco. This headset – the A50 – costs a lot, so there’s a big question – are they worth the asking price?
The A50 arrives in a nice package – a big outer box that’s flimsy cardboard is wrapped around an inner rigid glossy cardboard clamshell box. Inside the clamshell box is a pair of moulded transparent plastic shapes that hold your headset in place. Unlike similarly priced Sennheiser boxes I’m not tempted to keep this Astro box around, I’ll be sticking it in my loft – it’s not attractive or functional enough.
But another reason I don’t plan to keep the box around is that the A50 comes with a base station that your headset rests in to charge, and that communicates with the headset wirelessly, and the base renders a storage box obsolete.
The base station is built to a great standard, just like the headset – it’s very attractive with sharp angles, and it has an LED display that tells you the current settings of your headset. You can change these settings using the buttons on the right earpiece, or using the Astro Command Center software.
The headset is really quite beautiful. Mine is the black/grey version. Most of the plastics are finished in matt black and have a nice feel on the verge of being rubberised. Other materials are the two gloss black pilars with clearly visible markings on them that let you adjust the height of the earpieces. The first time my wife saw me wearing them she said “you look like one of those Doctor Who people” and was referring to the Cybermen, albeit that their heads are silver not black. It’s the two glossy pilars that give this impression. You get used to it after a while though.
The earpieces and the bit at the top that rests on the top of your head are black velour fabric coated foam. You can order leather-like replacements for these on the Astro website if you want.
Wearing the headset is mighty comfortable – I’m usually not good at wearing headsets for long periods as my head heats up, but I’ve managed whole afternoons with the A50 with no problem at all. Part of what makes this achievable is the excellent and enjoyable sound quality, particularly the exciting bass.
There’s a microphone attached to the left earpiece. This is switched off when folded up vertically, and switches on automatically when you pull it down to place it in front of your mouth.
As I say above, the sound quality is really good. I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 660S audiophile headphones for reference and this A50 headset is much more enjoyable to listen to. The Sennheisers are more hifi, but they don’t excite in the same way the A50 does. Added to which the A50 has the convenience of wireless. The microphone on the A50 makes them a lot more useful and multi-purpose too.
When I first started using the A50s I found the buttons on the right earpiece infuriating. Every time you press them to switch Dolby on and off, and to switch through the three graphic equalizer profiles there is a deafening beep. Fortunately in the Astro Command Center software there is a volume setting for this alert – set it to zero and the beep goes down to a merely annoying volume – still louder than I would like but at least not risking impairing my hearing. The headphones appear to remember this alert volume settings when you move everything from one PC to another.
My only real problem with the A50s is the software. It’s annoyingly dark. There is no way that Astro have considered people with visual disabilities when designing it – I very much doubt whether it conforms to W3C standards for contrast. What is the message here – people with less than perfect eyesight shouldn’t buy their products?
In summary, a really useful wireless headset that sounds great. I do wish the beeps when changing settings were not deafening, and it would be nice if the Command Center software had more contrast for people with visual disabilities.
Premium Headphones but Next Level Experience
Many people will spend hundreds if not thousands on their display but often ignore the audio. So does it make a difference to have a premium quality headset and mic.
Dolby Audio is supported which is expected at this price point.
On unboxing the design is modern but not too complicated, there is a mix of materials used but all feel high quality and well made. There is a rigidness to the headset that is reassuring, they feel that they will survive the odd drop or being sat on.
The ear cups and head support are foam material, I understand that you can swap these out for an additional cost to a faux leather set.
The left ear cup has an attached adjustable mic which is more rubber than plastic. All the usual buttons are on the other cup i.e Dolby button, Volume etc. There is also the ability to mix between game audio and voice chat which works really well in practice.
On the bottom of the headset are the contacts to charge them and also a micro USB (sadly not USBC) to charge with a cable. The basestation is a bit shiny and plasticy and doesn’t look as premium as the headset itself.
The Audio of these are great even without any adjustment however there is a software setup that you can download to make loads of adjustments. These are not just great in gaming, I was surprised by how good these were for watching movies and listening to movies, they actually sounded better than my Sony over ear 1000XM4’s.
Battery life is advertised at 15 hours however I have used these for around this time and the indicator still shows 25%. These have extra functionality if used on a PC and as previously mentioned there are loads of adjustments and customising you can do within the software.
All in, these are great, probably aimed to more dedicated gamers than myself but boy, do they tick every box I could think off!
Excellent wireless headphones with fantastic audio quality.
These premium gaming headphones sound great and are very comfortable to use, even during extended gaming sessions. They are well weighted, easily adjustable and the wireless aspect was a game changer to me, I would not want to go back to a wired set now!
The packaging is also very premium and gives a real indicator of the high quality of the product. I also like the feature that mutes the mic when you raise it up. The general build quality of the product is excellent and the battery life offers a long time between charges.
I have used them with an HP Omen gaming laptop, which has B&O tuned audio. I can honestly say that the sound has blown me away at times, both when gaming and listening to music. It seems that these headphones are also compatible with PS4 and Macs, but Xbox compatibility is not listed for this particular model.
The Astro website offers free software that can be downloaded and allows for customisations of the preset equaliser settings. It also updated the device firmware the first time I used it.
In all honesty, the high price tag does seem a bit much and would certainly have been out of my price range had I been purchasing for myself (I received this to test via the Vine scheme). But make no mistake, this is a high quality product and if you are a serious, as opposed to a casual gamer (like me) the big outlay may be more justifiable.
UNBELIEVEABLE HEADSET
Now, I’ve had plenty of headphones in my time for gaming, video editing, audio editing, and just general computer and gaming uses.
These genuinely are a cut above the rest, they’re just great – too much to list!
Astro are a great brand, very premium and well thought of in the community. These headphones are no exception.
They come nicely packaged, in a solid box with everything you need.
The headphones themselves are unbelievably well made, feel premium and just look great too. Not too heavy either, which can be an issue with these sorts of models.
I used these with my custom-built Windows PC and the hub worked amazingly. I’ve used wired headphones forever now and these were just a whole new world! I can’t go back!
They’re just so easy to use, look so good, work so seamlessly.
I like the colour scheme of the build.
The bass, treble and all of the acoustics are perfect thanks to the Dolby audio.
Couldn’t ask for more!
Wireless headset with base charger included
Suitable for PS4/PC/MAC/Xbox and also general audio and films, these are good sounding wireless headphones, with attached microphone.
Once installed (by connecting the set to a PC using the supplied micro USB) the headset can be updated to the full customised settings menu. For Xbox users there is currently a free offer of a 2 year Dolby Atmos to give extra functions.
The headset is a little on the heavy side at around 650g but I found it does sit comfortably on the head and the earpiece padding is great for long sessions of use.
Charging is via the supplied base station, and the lithium power will give a quoted 15 hours of use. Sound quality is excellent with strong bass levels and a good surround sound effect.
A good sound but at the high end of the price range for a set of headphones/headset.
Good product, way too expensive.
There’s no doubt about it that these are good headphones. You’d expect this for the price you pay for them.
They’re fully wireless to the base station and the base connects to your pc or ps4. The switch on the back of the base station determines which mode you are on. I’ve only used them for PC as I don’t have a PS4.
Build quality is good, they’re light and flexible and all of the buttons have a tactile feel to them. Speaking of buttons, there are a lot on the side of the right ear cup. On /off, dolby, profile, volume up / down and on the cup itself is the game /chat blend
The microphone arm is on the left and swivels up and down. When all the way up, the mic is off, bring it down and it turns on. One thing I found is the mic sits quite far from your mouth and doesn’t have any adjustability to bring it closer really. You can move it closer but it feels like it shouldn’t be bent that way.
The mic quality is great and everyone has told me that it sounds superb. One thing I did notice is that I had to adjust the sensitivity of the mic for open chat. At the default level it wasn’t activating for chat and I put this down to it being far away from the mouth. I adjusted it to be more sensitive and it works well now.
The ear cups are comfortable and soft and the headset itself is fairly comfortable. They’re more on ear headphones for me than over ear, but your experience may differ.
Sound quality is good and the customisation options are very good. You can tinker with the options to get the right sound for you. The dolby mode on it ruins the sound if you ask me. It becomes very echoey and the sound stage becomes VERY wide. So much so that I actually couldn’t play with this mode enabled.
Battery life is good and the dock means that you’ll never be without charge if you pick them up for a session. Realistically you’ll get about 4-5 hours from a full charge.
The dock itself is magnetic and charges the headphones when you place them on. The screen on the front tells you how much battery life is on it and the profile you have selected.
One thing I really like is the auto off / auto on feature. If you take these off and place them down, there’s an accelerometer in them that knows they’re not being worn and they go into sleep mode. As soon as you pick them up and put then back on, they connect up again. This is very clever and works really well. No timers for shut off, no buttons to reconnect, it just works.
Now for a few negatives I’ve found. Firstly the sound is OK. Not mind blowing, but just OK. As they’re open back, they do have a wide sound stage which is almost echoey, but not quite. It’s on the edge of echo as how wide it is. You can get the closed back cups as part of the mod kit but that’s an extra cost.
With the dock, I’ve found you have to place them down just right for it to connect. I was hoping it would be a “plonk it down and it charges” situation but you have to fettle around with them a little for it to sit correctly. It’s not a huge issue but it can be frustrating when you need to put them down quickly and they don’t sit right.
Finally there’s the price. Before this I had a pair of steelseries arctis 7 which are literally half the price of these and they’re just as good. Sure they don’t have the dock or wireless charging but from a performance standpoint I believe they sound better and are more immersive. The A50s seem to be a bit more complex and fine-tunable but it’s all a bit much.
I do think the A50s are a good set of gaming headphones and have lots of features but I just can’t justify them at double the price of other, very capable headsets. I’d like to give these 3.5/ 5 but as I can’t, I’ll be generous and go for 4/5
Simplicity and superb quality
The first thing that struck me was the quality of the packaging. It was like unpacking a Rolex watch or Gucci handbag. Quality and solid protection ensuring there was no damage. The headphones came in a Classic hinged box, which I’ve kept for other uses and the separate components within were encased in hardened clear plastic for protection. Everything is a sleek black. The charging base also has graduated lights to let you know how much charge is present and when it’s charging and also lets you know if it’s in P.C. or gaming mode with the digital display. The quality of the sound is rich and immersive with a fabulous tone. The fit of the headphones is adjusted on graduated sliding black rode for precise adjustment and the comfort is the best I’ve ever felt.
The charging base attaches with a USB straight to the computer. I only had to plug it in and the headphones were working. Truly plug and play. I could not have been more impressed.
Overall this is a superb product and so simple to set up.
Wow. Ok. I'm impressed.
A50 wireless headphones with base station and all you need to know.
Packaged well. Arrived in perfect condition.
Presented absolutely fabulously within a nice, black, modernly designed cardboard box.
Within the box is a really strong, nicely designed, storage box for your headphones and base station. This has a bit of weight to it. Inside of this box, each item is packaged well, some in their own containers, looking so neat and organized, it looks great.
The contents include the headphones, the base station/charging dock. Optical cable, USB universal charger and manual.
These headphones are a really nice design. They’re near all matt black, they have shiny black accents. They are very lightweight.
Within the headphones, are internal gyros, this allows the headphones to recognize when you’re not using them. They will automatically turn off until you pick them up again, fantastic for battery saving.
On the left side, is a pull down/pull up microphone. This works as simple as lift up for mute and pull down for on. This is a very crisp and clear microphone. So much better than the last version they did. Voice recordings sound absolutely incredible in comparison too.
There are thick, soft, padded ear cups. These completely surround your ears. Feeling incredibly comfy on. These have an open air design, allowing better sound quality and better noise feedback from your mic to others.
In addition to these soft material ear cups and headband, you can buy a mod kit, this mod kit is a leatherette type set for these headphones, these are also a gorgeous set if you prefer that style.
On the base of each ear cup, are the charge contacts, these magnetically connect to the docking station and stay in place, standing upright. This is where they can be stored and charged. Looking brilliant as you do it.
On the base of the right ear cup, is a charging port.
On the outer side of the right ear cup, is the voice balance. Near the base on the side of the ear cup, are 3 buttons. The EQ button, Dolby on/Source audio button and power switch. The power switch has an indicator light on it, amber shows charging and white shows on.
The headband on the headphones, has a nice padded, soft centre. This headband is adjustable. This is easily done via two poles either side, with measurements on both, allowing you to resize evenly. Also on each pole, is the L and R, so you know which way around they go.
The docking station/charging base, is a really nice design. I really does look great. especially when the headphones are sat on top. The charging base is actually heavier than the headphones themselves!
To use the charging base, you need to first have it plugged in to either your PC or ps4.
There are, on the front of the docking station, 4 level indicators. These show the charge percentage level of the headphones. There are PC and PS4 light indicators, depending on which one you’re using, it will light up. Dolby on, in a headphone shaped indicator light. Source audio passthrough on, in a white star shaped indicator light. EQ mode shows 1 for Astro, 2 for Pro and 3 for Studio. These are audio presets.
1, Astro, this is more suited for all purpose gaming mode, covering everything from music to microphone, all at a good level.
2, Pro, this is more suited to competitive games where needing to hear every little detail of what’s going on, is a must. Like a first person shooter game for example.
3, Studio, is great for films and cinematic sequences in games etc.
On the back of the docking station, is a PC/PS4 switch, depending on which one you’re using, you would switch it either side. A USB play and charge port. Allowing you to charge devices from the docking station or connect a mouse through it etc. The Optical in port and Optical out port. This is needed for connection to the PS4. Aux port for amp etc. Micro USB port to connect the docking station with power.
This is easy to set up no matter which device you’re using. The headphones are automatically synced too, so they’re saving you time already.
For PS4 setup –
* Switch docking base switch to PS4.
* Plug in USB cable, micro end in the docking base.
* Plug in Optical cable, into the PS4 and into the Optical in port, on the docking base.
* Charge the headset fully before first use.
* Once you’re on the PS4 dashboard, go to settings, select devices and click audio devices.
For PC setup –
* Switch docking base switch to PC.
* Plug in USB into PC/MacBook and then the micro end into the docking station.
* On the PC, go to playback devices tab in sound settings. Select sound output, select digital out.
* Select Astro A50 game, right click and set as default device.
* Select Astro A50 voice, right click and set as default communication device.
* In sound settings, find recording devices, select Astro A50 voice, right click and set as default device and default communication device.
These headphones have software where you can completely customise the headphones in and out sounds, set your own presets and more. This can be found on the Astro game website.
The Astro command centre software is really easy to use. There are 4 tabs at the top to use. In the top corner, it shows the headphones charge percentage level and settings. On these settings, you can check for many different updates and load and save profiles.
The 4 tabs on the command centre display are, Equalizer presets, microphone, stream port and settings.
On the Equalizer presets, you can have 1,2 and 3. This means you could have one set perfect for gaming, music and films, or streaming or really, whatever you wish.
On the microphone, you can customize the the way it works for different pre sets like, streaming, night time, home use and tournaments. You can adjust the sensitivity, volume and side tone. Side tone adjusts the volume of your voice going back into the headset. Meaning you can keep track of the sound and loudness of your voice.
On the Stream port tab you can adjust sound, chat and audio, microphone sound and aux level.
On the settings tab you can adjust voice over game level. So you can choose which one you want to have priority over the other, or you can keep them even, there is a nice large adjustment bar to find your own preferred way.
These headphones have a fantastically far range to work with. They use a 2.4ghz wireless frequency. Way better than the previous model. You can even go in your garden and they will still work!
These headphones sound absolutely amazing for most things. There wasn’t a test they didn’t fail for myself. I even appreciated the base level. The microphone is really good quality. On movies, it’s a little surround sound type feel. Gaming was absolutely amazing, as you could imagine having played with the command centre.
The headphones last 15 hours, so really you would have gone to bed by the time you need to charge them! Or at least near ready to go!
These are incredible headphones. I am definitely impressed. The durability is amazing. The design seems flawless. I love the ease of how they work. The are a far better upgrade to the previous model. Definitely suited for streamers as well as gamers.
I would recommend these. Stunning design. They feel ever so comfortable on. The sound is amazing quality aswell as the microphone. Docking station is a great design too. It does seem, thus far, they are worth the price.
Strong where it counts but not flawless
This Astro A50 Headset comes well presented and the package includes the headset, a charging/connection station, an optical and USB connection cables and a user guide. To get going you need to install the Astro Command Centre software and ensure the firmware is up to date — my example seemed to update both the headset and charging base.
The immediate impression is of a well made and strikingly designed headset albeit of nearly all plastic construction but maybe that’s necessary to give the set its lightweight. You can buy an accessory pack which replaces the fabric/foam earpads with vinyl ones and the headband insert too — it left me wondering if this should be an extra at the price point of this set? The earpads are magnetic and very easy to swap over though.
It’s clear a lot of thought and effort has gone into this set which is an evolution of previous A-series models going back many years. The headset is light and comfortable plus I rather like the standard foam earpads — they aren’t sweaty and too isolating. The earcups adjust on poles which look as though they have a Vernier type scale on them which is an interesting styling touch.
There are physical controls on the phones for power, Dolby on/off, EQ preset and volume. This is a headset you can wear for many hours without fatigue. The boom mic is easy to use — it’s on when in the downward position and off when vertical. As design feature is that when switched on the mic feeds your voice back slightly through the earphones — this took some getting used but now I like it.
Battery life is excellent — up to 15 hours from a single charge via the base — you do have to be a bit careful to ensure the headset connects with the pins on the base. The base unit features plenty of connectivity options including USB (but surprisingly, the PC connection is Micro USB rather than USB C) and optical in/out with a handy display panel at the front which includes a battery indicator.
The Astro Command Centre software is uncluttered and works well. There is one obvious idiosyncrasy the balance between game sound and voice is adjusted on the basis of shifting the balance from one to another rather than having independent control of each channel. Adjustment of the balance can be controlled via pressing the right earcup or using the control application.
Sound quality from this headset is excellent making them suitable for both gaming and listening to your music via your PC and the software gives plenty of equaliser control. I did find the volume a little low on maximum but fixed that by an app download. The bass is clear and taut without being overwhelming and the mid/upper frequencies are smooth. The soundstage is spacious and the Dolby effect is good plus the unit is D audio ready. I’ve found this headset good not only for gaming but I like their smooth sound for listening to music too.
In summary, these Astro A50s feature decent ergonomics, are comfy and, most importantly, are good where it counts most in delivering smooth, quality sound and feature a battery with plenty of stamina but they aren’t flawless.
Brillia
As with most households nowadays, top of the Christmas lists was PS4, so when this came up I thought it would be a great addition. As my brother in law is far more technical than me, I asked him to try it out for a day or two and give me a review, which is as follows:
The Astra A50 is an awesome headset. I opted for Astro, since 3 years ago, I had an A40 and loved the quality. The A50 is no different. The audio quality is outstanding! The microphone quality is very decent too, but my friends via Discord did mention, that the headset microphone I was using before, did sound better (Sennheiser PC 373D).
Receiving the headset, I had to charge it for almost half a day, for it to reach 100% (around 10-12 hours). The installation of the software was very easy and self explanatory. The Command Center Software is very easy to use and allows you to customize your audio to a large extent.
The distance the headset works at is rather decent. I can get behind 2 walls and be around 4 meters away from the base station, and the headset will work most of the time. Any closer and it works perfectly.
But there are some issues with the headset:At first, the headset hurt to wear for more than 2 hours. I have since gotten used to it and the headset seems to have fit to my head – this took quite a little while to become comfortable. The microphone standard is set to play your voice back (side tone) to you. I myself find that feature very annoying. You can disable it via the Command Center (desktop app), but every 2nd time I boot my PC, the feature is activated again, although the software says that it is turned off. It’s annoying having to slide the side tone up, release, and slide back to off, to fix this. Speaking of the microphone, the feature to “flip up to mute” is great. Many headsets have this, including the A50. But there’s a huge issue. About every 3rd or 4th time, I flip my microphone down to unmute it, it doesn’t unmute. I have to physically flip it back up to the mute position, and flip it back down to get it to unmute. Another small issue is the volume wheel on the headset. I like to wear hoodies at home, during the winter, with the cap/hoodie down. If I’m wearing my headset and hoodie, and turn my head, there’s a great chance that my volume gets lowered. This is a small issue which I personally have, but I could see other people facing the same problem. Lastly, the Dolby Atmos sounds like a cool feature, but I have yet to be able to set it up correctly, for it to work well during gaming. In games like CSGO, it’s impossible to hear where steps and shots are coming from, with Atmos activated. I advise to use the normal Astro-audio settings when gaming. It could be that Atmos is more optimized for movies and shows, but the A50 is a gaming headset and Atmos is clearly not optimized for gaming.
That all being said, I’d still recommend this headset for people willing to pay the price. I’m sure that there are cheeper wireless headphones out there, which do the same job. But I’m just a gamer who wanted to get his hands on an A50 after experiencing the A40’s a few years ago.
So overall, the feedback I’ve had from someone in the know has been really positive. Seems a great item and one I’d recommend even with the few minor points.
Incredible Build Quality - Awesome Sound - Long Life Battery - PC & PS4
These really are the next level of gaming headphones. If you are looking at this review it is because you appreciate how important your gaming headphones are in your day-to-day multiplayer games. They have all the common functions you would expect with a superpremium solution but the real reason why these are so good is how they feel when you wear them and how good the sound is. Firstly the fit and weight of the headphones is excellent on the head and will not fatigue during longer gaming sessions. The microphone quality is great I will ensure that when you are in your squad everyone can hear what you say clearly and easily. Finally the Dolby Atmos recreation really is next level combined with a good television it is an overwhelming experience and contain some of the very latest games into some of the most intense experiences you will get from your PlayStation four. These aren’t cheap but if you work out how much time you spend on your console and how much money you spend on it and the games you play this is a worthwhile investment for any serious gamer.
Absolutely divine and worth every penny! I can hear those peasant noobs a mile off with the impeccable sound quality of these bad boys the slightest Autistic screech from one of them and I’ll bust out the 360 wall run backflip no scope a land a single piece of lead between their poor cross eyes, dumb faces and swiftly Dispatch any weak, feeble and pathetic opposition! I reign supreme as always and even more so due to these come at me you vile filth I’ll end you all!
Excellent buy for me
Volume control excellent, they don’t offer a massive improvement on sound quality from a pair of 100 quid turtle beaches wired but overall happy
The optical cable is very tight to push in but you have to make sure its in correctly it will click in. I spent 2 hrs thinking they were broke because I had no game sound, checked cable loads of times and thought I was going to break it if I shoved harder. Make sure it clicks i
This is great. Would definitely recommend.
I bought these to keep from disturbing others while gaming. Sometimes it really kills other peoples mood to be surrounded by the sounds of gunfire, police sirens, monsters or whatever. Then, having bought them for preventative or social measures, I then discovered they actually enhanced the gaming experience, making me more focused, increased my concentration, engrossed me in the stories and they were very comfortable to wear, even over long periods. Would definitely recommend to a friend.
Great sound quality Audiophile music or film yes, gaming- could improve the party/game vol mixe
Great headset for those who want wired Dolby digital sound, not sure if best for sound whring on games like COD as a pair of wired hyper x’s sometimes feel better depending on if you’re in a party or no
Brillia
I owned the astro a40s for four years and apart from one issue with the mixamp, they never caused me a problem and still work to date. I decided to make the move to the a50s for the convenience of a wireless headset. So far, I’m impressed – the sound is better than the a40s, it charges fairly quick and it looks brilliant. One thing for sure is that I trust astro over some of the other brands and fully expect this headset to last as long as my previous astro headset. It’s a lot of money but it’ll be worth it.
Works grea
Works great.
No problem at all.
Some people told me I made a wrong choice but they were wrong.
Just make sure you follow the instructions for the best experience
Amazing Headset for game sessions. Does not disappoi
Having taken a look at some of the reviews i was uncertain to begin with. But like the latest reviews I can safely say that the negative ones are misleading. I updated the firmware after taking it out of the box using the astro command centre and have had to say I’ve found zero of the reported issues. Not once have i found that the chat dips in and out when chatting to fellow gamers. Sound wise it is vastly superior to other headsets I’ve had. For games like call of duty / fortnite or whatever your taste. You can clearly identify where and what dirrection the sound is coming from. Foot steps can be heard clearly which in those type of games can be a major help. Volume of headset is also more than ample. I have yet to need to have it anywhere near maximum volume. Battery life is great. Full 9 hours or so of games is no problem. Great that headset is wireless and not connected to controller as if like myself you have a pet they can catch the cable. Overall if you want a seriously good headset get this one and with the option to pay in installments give it a go. Won’t regret i
Great gaming headse
Absolutely boss ! Upgraded from PlayStation platinum wireless and the difference is night and day.
Well worth the extra money. Only down side is having to unplug the optical cable to switch between pc and PlayStation.
Best gaming sound in my book.
These are Gen 4 version for Xbox.
Super clear surround sound, and with Dolby Atmos too (where the game sound is Atmos).
On receipt I updated the firmware via the Astro Command Centre on my laptop. Easy to do.
Connected up to my Xbox one X easily and works flawlessly. Headset holds its charge well – over 3 – 4 hours and still showing 3 bars left.
I have the Gen 3 on my PS4Pro and they have always been excellent too.
The new Gen 4 base station is neater and with a clearer display. Both versions of the headset have been fine for me.
I bought this headset to use it for gaming on xbox one, and I now watch films and everything I can with it.
I read the reviews below and finally took a chance on this headset despite the negative feedback. I am very glad I did.
Out the box this product works right away with some default settings installed to rotate through 3 x EQ settings. You just plug into your Xbox and you’re away. In all honesty though if you paid this much for a headset, you’re going to want to customise it.
For a higher level of configuration you do need to plug it into a pc to install updates it seems, and a windows 10 PC at that. I mention this because not everyone would have a windows 10 PC or access to it. Top tip, even if you have a spare, you should use the micro usb cable that comes with the product to install the update on PC, otherwise it may fail. I wasted a little time in the setup process as I did have to contact customer support to help me through this, so hopefully this helps someone.
Once this is done then connect back to your xbox one and claim the free 2 x years Dolby Atmos that comes in the box, and install the EQ Command Centre App from Xbox store.
It’s worth noting why I mention the above however in a review, as the product could do with this spelling out a little clearer in a simpler instruction booklet -however it’s far from complex.
From this point you can configure settings direct on the Xbox and save profiles etc. This process is a little more complex as it involves saving sound profiles underneath file names. I would say the user interface here could be improved to make the process of what your doing a little easier. Some sort of example on screen or in the box to show you steps would be great as an improvement, and make it easier to use for novices.
Another useful feature would be that the updates install direct through Xbox rather than requiring the PC update system.
I bought this product because other brand names had let me down for performance. I may have gotten “bad units” out the box I suppose, and if that is the case then I am very unlucky. I was also interested in both Dolby Atmos and being able to customise the sound stage to a high degree. I have not been let down here as when configured the sound is amazing and does a superb job at surround sound recreation.
All in all I gave this product 4 stars for sounding great, having lots of customisation options, and the customer support I have received to help me through setup has been quick and effecient. I gave a bonus star for lack of interference on the wireless connection. I read loads of reviews before this and I think that they cast an unfair picture for this headset. I would buy again right away without hesitation if I needed another set.
The improvements I would like to see to get it to 5 stars without the bonus star, would be updates through xbox directly, a better user interface for the xbox app with a working example how to adjust and save profiles.
Good but the mod kit makes them more comfortable.
ASTRO Gaming A50 Wireless Headset + Base Station Generation 4 with Dolby Audio/Dolby Atmos, Compatible with Xbox One, PC, Mac – Black/Gold
In the box.
The headphones with folding boom mic, base station, leads and instructions.
Features.
Wireless headset, Dolby Atmos system, tuneable for your own preferences.
Set up.
It needs to be charged and paired with the Xbox, this did not take long and was easy to do.
Build quality.
They are well made but have plastic ear cups which asre not that comfortable. It is worth paying the extra for the mod kit that gives you leather ear cups and a better band to take the pressure off your head.
Sound.
Out of the box the sound was average at best. However, once you use the app to fine tune them to your liking they come into their own. You can calibrate them and define the tonal ranges and bass response as well as the Dolby system. It takes a while to do but is well worth it. These are capable of top-notch sound but you need to go through the app set up carefully to get the best out of them. Once achieved they are awesome in the sound department.
Comfort.
They are reasonably comfortable and adjustable but the leather mod kit makes them much better.
Overall.
Great sound is possible but they are rather expensive but you do get a fully customisable system. I would prefer the mod kit as standard rather than paying extra as this does push the price up. Overall, good but could be better for the price asked.
Comfortable, good battery life, great on PC, very good sound quality
I’m using these to play Overwatch on gaming rig and also for general music listening.
Very impressed with both the comfort level (for long sessions) and also the overall sound quality. Installation on Windows 10 wasn’t a problem.
I like that the mic mutes when pushed into the up position. Small features but all seems well thought through. Feedback from people I game with is that I’m very clear their side with no echo, which is what you want.
Sound quality through the headphones themselves is very clear. Nice and immersive with a good soundstage. I’m using them for general listening as well as gaming, mostly FLAC but also radio and I’m very happy with them. Plenty of detail and a pleasure for music listening, especially when the source material (or radio bitrates) are good.
They are expensive but the wireless feature is working flawlessly and the battery life is very good.
They are rather chunky but there is a lot of features to these cans. They’re very comfortable which is important.
Recommended if you’re looking for something premium that is specifically tailored to XBox and PC.
Exceptional headse
Though not the cheapest of headsets, with this Astro gaming set you really do get what you pay for. Firstly, the build quality is exceptional, and the headphones are so comfortable to wear, even for long periods or time. Then we come to the sound quality, which is superb – rich highs, perfect mid range and deep bass. The microphone quality is also fantastic, and easily adjustable.
I have used this headset for both gaming and also making video calls online, and the results are like nothing I’ve ever tried before.
If you are looking for a top quality headset that is built to last, then you have come to the right place.
Very comfy, capable but that price...
Well, where to start? The elephant in the room I guess? It’s 300!!!! Straight out of the box, that’s in my mind. Everything I did with them, it’s in the back of my mind. I know good sounding music headphones. I know good sounding travelling headphones. I know good gaming headphones. I know good sports headphones. None hit the 300 mark so for a gaming headphone, these needed to be so good at gaming.
They are good for gaming. They are good for music. Not fantastic for either, sadly.
I hooked them up the optical output on my PC and tried to get some audio but failed. Not sure if this was my fault of the headphone base (I tried both Xbox and PC modes). So, I used the USB connectivity instead and all was well. I’ve downloaded the software that’s for headphones. I remember the days when I could plug things into my PC and be able to use the default Windows drivers to access all the settings but everything is an ‘app’ instead now. The ‘app’ gives access to changing the sound (sorry, I mean the Mixamp) and that’s all I was interested in. There’s no real need for it thereafter as the setting gets pushed to the headphones.
Putting them on, I found them mega comfortable. They look ridiculously big but why should I care – I’m wearing them to play a game! Everything is nice and big to get easy access to. Connection is great, I can wonder downstairs, make a coffee, check what’s going on in the back garden with no loss. Fantastic.
Gaming experience is good. Sound is a good stereo sound, nothing too bassy that can ruin the sound of explosions. The surround effect I didn’t discover? Maybe I needed another download of something that should be built-in? Anyway, I know it’ll be the same story – some fake surround gimmick. Wearing them in a game presents no issues with sync/lag that I noticed.
All-in-all they are a very good all round set of wireless headphones. Great battery life. Very comfortable with options to swap out the cushions if required. My only issue is that, game console equalling, pricetag. For that money, a set of top ANC headphones (Sony, Bose, Sennheiser etc) are for the main, exceptional at their focal task. Whilst these are very good they just don’t quite live up to the RRP, sadly. Still, if you see these sub 200, they’re definitely worth considering.
Good but could be better ...
The price of these headphones would indicate superior quality, to be honest the build and the ergonomics of these head phones, struck me as being better than the usual gamer headset. Easily adjusted to fit your head and ears and the flip up mic which toggled mute when in the up position, promised to last a lot longer than the headphones that these would be replacing. Also the docking base is a nice addition and kept the headphones in a safe and tidy position when charging. The charge held by headphones was excellent also and outlasted my marathon gaming sessions.
There are updates to download which also included tutorials and the means to optimise to your personal needs and wants. Also if you invest in the Atmos upgrade, you will defiantly get the best out of these headphones, your gaming experience will open up appreciably.
So the price is then justified, superior build quality which means these headphone should last you a few lifetimes of the cheaper alternatives. Also the ability to download upgrades will mean that they will always be relevant and up to date.
The functionality and user friendly firmware, allows you to get the best out of your top of the range headphones.
Really the only thing that stops these headphones getting five stars is the sound quality which is mediocre at best. For the price I would have expected much better in game sounds.
Lovely headset this one, finally dropped the garish colours and gone with stealth black and silver, looks classy and sounds pretty much the same as it always has. The only negative would be the headband cushioning feels a little leaner so I do start to feel this after a few hours not something I remember feeling on the Gen1 or 2. Hopefully the mod kit will fix that one minor gripe once Amazon get hold of some.
All in all one of the most comfortable, immersive headsets you can get, especially for gaming, however also turn in a very respectable performance musically as well.
Expensive
I’m not a gamer but the lads do play and they were more than happy to test them. They seem reasonably well made and packaged. The wireless feature was good with docking. The sound is OK but no superior to many other brands. The microphone is good and helps with interaction. They are comfortable. Fairly easy to set up. The price is hard to fathom at 280 and to be honest the gamers were shocked at this. I suppose we expect more for that price. On the whole, they aren’t bad at all just expensive for what they are.
Fantastic Soundscape, Comfortable, Easy to Set Up
Really easy to set up – though the print is very small on the supplied multi-language ‘quick start’ sheet. Fortunately it was just a case of connecting it via USB and optical fibre link to my Xbox One S (both cables supplied), setting the switch on the base to ‘Xbox One’ as opposed to PC, and going into the Xbox audio settings to set up the headset. Then stick the headset itself into the base unit and charge it up (mine came pretty flat). The magnetic charge base allows you to plonk the headset onto it without having to worry too much about getting it precisely lined up.
The headset is reasonably light, but does have enough weight to give it a ‘quality’ feel. The ear cups are adjustable enough for my comfort, and the headband and ear cups are both soft and well padded. I actually find it very comfortable for extended play. They don’t start to hurt the top of my head or clamp against my ears too hard. Although they don’t have active noise cancelling, they do muffle outside noise pretty effectively. The microphone can be extended or rotated out of the way.
I had an issue at one point with the sound from the headphones not adjusting loud enough, but I managed to solve this by turning the base station off and on again.
Sound quality is very good indeed, and great throughout the range – as you’d expect at this price point. The virtual surround sound is excellent, and you can really hear where things are coming from in the sound space.
The volume control is a bit of a challenge to find at first- on the bottom of the right ear cup, but you soon get used to it, and it works very well. It doesn’t tend to get adjusted by accident.
Signal quality from the base station to the headphones seems very reliable. I didn’t experience any cut-outs, static or interference at all. It was as good as a cable, with none of the hassle!
Battery life has never been a problem. I seldom game for more than a couple of hours at a time, and I never managed to get the battery discharged by more than one bar in the time I was using it.
Overall, these are obviously expensive headphones, and you’d need to consider whether they are worth the outlay over a good quality wired pair costing half as much. All I can say is that I have both, and for pure convenience, I use the wireless headphones every time. They are hassle-free, more comfortable, have higher sound quality, and I find the surround sound to be excellent.
At the end of the day, it’s going to depend on your budget I guess.
Q. Should you buy them? A. Now
I’m going to try keep this brief, I’m a hardcore gamer and because of the long periods of time I play for I’ve never gotten on well with headsets due to them becoming uncomfortable after a period of time… until now. The Astro A50’s are like small clouds on your ears with plenty of room inside the cups and the sound quality is the best I’ve heard from a headset. The price tag is quite high, but I have no regrets buying them.
Best headset you can buy.
Not sure why people are hating on these ? I Think the headset is amazing and people are setting them up wrong if their saying the sound is off.
Honestly they are amazing, the sound is unbelievable. Easily the best headset you can buy. I had the previous A50 headset and these are better by far.
Good product.
Take a bit getting used to the sound quality. With the presets, yet its simple to use and holds up to what set out to do.
Granted the price tag is a bit on the steep side, but you get what you pay for. The Astros a50 gen for do that so far.
Recieved these yesterday, having done my homework I was aware of a new firmware available directly from astro support (beta), I updated the headset to this firmware and have had no problems.
I use these on Xbox and they are exceptional, the sound and comfort is right up there.
I have tried multiple headsets and these top the list for comfort, the earcups are soft and perfectly sized and the headset its self feels light on the head.
My main playtime is spent on Black ops and whether you choose Atmos or its build in Dolby special sound and directional play is very clear.
The base station is small and compact, and the magnetic ability of it holds the headset firm while ot charges.
Yes they are expensive, however in my opinion after using some cheaper wirelss headsets they are worth it.
The headset is really comfortable and adjusts nicely to any head size. It didn’t feel heavy on my head.
I used this with PS4 via the PC settings and it works fine. The sound quality is really good, I especially loved how it changed when I turned i.e wind coming from a different direction, very clever and made it more immersive. The volume goes plenty high enough for me but it’s not as load as you might have on music headphones – that would be too much for me with a game but some might want that.
The mic is good, quite sensitive so I had to angle it away for a little bit as it was picking up my breathing.
The charging bay looks great, really tidy and compact, the headset just sits straight on it and charges, no fiddling and angling.
Set up was pretty easy, just plug them in, leave them to charge and then play. The only negative I really have is the instruction, it’s a big fold out thing and I found it hard to find the relevant bits in the relevant language. But I managed easy enough without.
Unplug the plug every time use Xbox
Very good headset there is Best comfortability and quality built However I need to unplug replug The USB power supply to the Xbox every time and what are use could be Xbox end I think it will be easy fix if a update .
Great quality headset, but disappointed with sound quality compared with the price
I was so excited to be able to review these and there is such a lot to discuss so let’s dive in. These are the Astro Gaming A50 Wireless Headset and they’re meant to be the updated version, and I haven’t tried the previous versions so I can’t compared them to those sorry. These were extremely comfortable to wear and their battery life is extremely long life as I used them again and again without having to recharge them. The design itself was slick, with moveable ear pieces which was cool and came in handy. You can also control the volume via the headset itself as there are dials on them that allow you to not only control the volume, but also other things as well.
The charging port itself was easy to use and it did come with a lot of clear instructions and different leads to use, if you needed or wanted to use a wired connection. There’s a switch on there that allows you to switch it from Xbox to PC use, it that one easy switch.
The sound quality is why I’ve knocked it down a star. For the price of these I was expecting outstanding sound quality, but sadly the sound quality was what let these headphones down, mainly for the price. If these had been slightly cheaper, then I probably would’ve giving this product five stars. But for this price, I was expecting everything to be perfect, especially as I’ve experienced similar sound quality on a less impressive headset, for cheaper. But you do also get an activation code for Dolby Atoms For Headphones for two years with this product!
Great quality headset if a trifle expensive
The first thing to note is that these are a premium headset, and the price confirms this. The question is whether the high price actually gets you anything you cant get for cheaper elsewhere. This headset is designed to be used with the Xbox & PC, so if you have a PS4 then make sure you get the other version. I don’t have an Xbox so have been using it with my PC, and the results are pretty impressive.
The headphones themselves are solid but they are comfortable even after a couple of hours gaming. I sometimes have issues with other brands with the band digging into the top of my head after a while, and I don’t get that with this set. The stand itself is fine but nothing amazing.
Where the Headset shines is the audio quality. Playing any shooter requires instant knowledge of where shots are coming from, and I appeared to be slightly better than normal when wearing these. Watching video and listening music was equally good, just make sure to change the equalizer to match your use.
Battery life was fine with no problems getting a days use out of it and the connection was rock solid with no drop outs. The mic was also apparently decent from what other people told me.
Good produc
These came in an attractive box and looked sleek and professional. They seemed to ooze quality.
The sound is good but not the best I have experienced. This is my only real negative.
They are easy to use and block out most outside noise.
The microphone works well and doesn’t distort.
They are comfortable to wear and can be worn for a prolonged period of time.
All in all, these gaming headphones are a little on the pricey side considering the quality.
For the other reviews who state the audio quality is okay nothing fancy, you need to use the proper sound software. This headset deliverers high quality audio if you buy Dolby Atmos, Which you only have to pay once per device so if you buy another headset that supports the higher audio quality that atmos provides it will work with that too. There was also a review from someone clearly suffering buyers remorse, giving the product a 3 star review and the only bad comment was “the flip up mic probably won’t last”. For one the price is so high because you’re paying for premium build quality and comfort, Astro’s are built with that in mind. All the negative reviews I’ve seen on this amazon page are void, it is an excellent product but if you’re the kind of person who thinks it’s a steep price and thinks that it’ll be flawless because it’s so expensive don’t buy it. If you want one of the best wireless headsets that supports Xbox one and know not to expect something to be flawless just because it has an expensive price then buy it. The Astro headsets are the only headsets I’ve had that don’t break within a year, they are incredibly durable so you’re getting what you pay for.
Headset feels like quality but line-out sound is quiet and it needs feature upgrades to shine
The headset has the solid feel of a quality product, without being heavy. The styling is … meh. I guess the nineties stealth spyplane look is the unwanted guest who’s never going to leave.
I found the sound quality good, but not exceptional. Everything was clear and there was a definite sense of movement and direction.
I found the supplied foam pads perfectly comfortable.
I like on-headset controls, and the toggle switches for Dolby and equaliser are big enough to locate easily and have a solid click action. It shouldn’t take long for muscle memory to soak in the positions.
The problem is, the sound came in like a lamb not a lion. The line-out level is pretty low, maybe to meet health legislation, and until I realised I just kept pushing the infinite-scroll volume wheel wondering where the rest of my audio was hiding.
The problem then becomes, there’s no external noise cancelling. The supplied foam pads are perfectly comfortable but they’re not isolating. With the low sound level everything from neighbours’ kids to neighbours’ dogs to neighbours’ terrible taste in music that gets through the double glazing gets mixed into the audio.
I had to resort to software volume doubling to give it punch, which was really disappointing.
It also looks like you therefore need to buy the isolating ear-cup mod kit upgrade to get performance I’d expected out of the box at this price, which is also disappointing.
So, the headset works, but it’s mitigated by a “could do better”.
My son has been trying these headphones out as he is used to using quite expensive gamer headphones.
He said they are very comfortable, the connection to his PC was easy and quick.
The sound is very good with good volume. He also said the range is good as he was able to walk all over the house still connected.
My son had only very positive things to say about these so I would say I highly recommend.
The Astro A50’s are in my opinion the best true wireless headset you can get for the Xbox One, I will start off by saying this does not mean I didn’t have any issues it just means there are limited options to choose from with only three companies holding licences to make true wireless headsets for Xbox to my knowledge and I consider these are the best.
These arrived in a very slick Astro branded bespoke box with everything needed to set them up and have them working, the quality of the headset feels and looks really nice. After unboxing them I had a read through the manual for setting them up and I would suggest going to the Astro website and following the setup video’s or going to astrogaming on YouTube as the setup video’s are far better than following the manual.
The first thing I did after setting them up was to install the Astro command center software from the Astro gaming website and update the firmware, a very simple process and something I would always suggest doing as it helps to remove any bugs they find or are reported. The command center software also has some very good usage tutorials to follow and I found it more than adequate for small adjustments and for advanced user settings.
They seem to have taken great care with how these fit and feel when wearing them and they have a lot of easy adjustments from the slider on the sides to the movement in the ear cups so you can adjust them to exactly the position you want them on your ears. The controls are easily accessible with the voice balance adjustment being on the side of the ear cup this makes it really easy to adjust and get the right balance between game and voice chat volume.
The volume wheel I thought needed more resistance and it was too easy to accidently move, the microphone is good and mutes chat when you push it back up, personally I prefer a mute chat button but it works fine. The sound is really superb and as I have been using Turtle Beach headphones years I would say considerably better quality, I would like to have had your own voice feedback to the ear also from the mic which helps distract from the fact you are wearing a headset but not a big issue.
Overall the sound is really superb, they are way more comfortable than the Turtle Beach headsets, the build quality which is something that Turtle Beach don’t seem to even care about is very nice and well thought out not having high stress areas and using strong resilient lightweight material meaning they are not too heavy, the base station is very compact and works well both for storage and charging so overall I really like them.
Four-star headse
Four-star headset. These are the first pair of Wireless headphones I’ve had, I’ve always been hardwired kind of person when it comes to gaming, but I got the chance to try these and I’m glad I did. Firstly I am a PC Gamer so my experience with this headset is using the latest Windows 10, After unboxing and getting the headset plugged in via the supplied USB cable you quickly realise that you need to pay a visit to Astro’s website to download the Astro Command Centre software (this is done via Microsoft Store), once you have this installed and started up I was informed my headset needed a firmware update which it quickly did and all was good in the world.
The Astra Command Centre at first feels very basic and not feature rich like I’m used to with other headsets from other vendors but after a little digging around you really do get access to all the custom features that I’m used to though the pre-set offerings are rather good to say the least, after using the headset for a few days to listen to various types of music and a few gaming sessions the headset really does give the premium feel that you demand with headsets at the price point. The wireless range is good and so far I’ve not had any drop outs, the microphone is very good quality and the output you get from it is defiantly an improvement over any other headset I’ve tried before though I will say the headset comes with settings that should filter out any background noise but no matter what settings I chose it seemed to always pick up the same amount of background noise.
So the only bad points I would say about this headset is that it doesn’t quite allow my ears to go inside the cup of the headset, my previous headset would go fully around my ears (yes it’s probably because of my Dumbo ears) another thing I would point out is that when you are playing music other people that are close by can hear what you are listening to which if you’re in the same room as someone can be a pain. With all that said it’s a very solid product that feels comfortable to wear for extended gaming sessions and very good sound output.
I’ve had Astro A50’s since the gen 2’s first came out, I then ordered a pair of the green A50 gen 3’s when they came out and I’ve since brought myself a pair of these the gen 4’s for my Xbox one x. The sound from these is incredible.
I had purchased myself a pair of the Steel Series Arctis 9x’s, and although the sound was good they were let down by both depth of sound and low volume. Even with the volume at max the Arctis 9x’s sound was quite low. I’ve not yet been able to have the volume of my A50’s of Gen 2,3 or 4 anywhere near max volume.