Applies to. Does not apply to. We updated Core5 this summer, and system requirements changed. Older versions of the Core5 iPad app were retired in July You will no longer be able to use iPad versions below 4.
Astro Gaming has been a popular gaming headset option for awhile now, offering comfortable headsets tailored to a variety of gaming needs. This is a premium wireless gaming headset , with thick and comfortable velour earpads, a very adjustable design, solid battery life, and a slew of features. In short, it should be very good, and on paper it is. In practice, not so much. The Astro Gaming A50 Wireless is unmistakably a gaming headset. It comes with velour pads, which is great for gamers with glasses.
Materials like leatherette offer better isolation overall, but you need something a little softer and more flexible to establish a decent seal around a pair of glasses. On first use, the headset seems well built. However, even after a just a little while the durability of the band seems pretty suspect. The headband cushion snaps into place, but after taking it out once, it now pops out almost every time I use the headset.
Nothing about the headset is bent or broken, the pad just has a very loose connection. This is, in a word, infuriating. I need to put a rubber band over the cushion to keep it in place. Having easily replaceable parts is a great idea, but here that interchangeability makes using the Astro Gaming A50 Wireless worse.
Apart from the band issues, using the headset is fine; but it takes a little getting used to. There are all sorts of on-ear controls, and figuring out which button or switch is where takes time. The right ear cup has buttons for adjusting the balance between game and chat audio. On the left ear cup, the microphone mutes when you flip it up. Connecting a headset that employs an optical cord to a PlayStation 4 is always a little more complicated than plug-and-play headsets.
The Astro Gaming A50 Wireless actually comes with quite a bit in the box. On top of the headset itself, you get the included wireless base station, micro USB cord for connecting it to your platform of choice, and an optical cable for playing on the PlayStation 4. The micro USB also works for directly charging the headset.
The base station connects to the headset using a 2. Despite the issues I have generally with using the Astro Gaming A50 Wireless, gaming with it is a completely fine experience. This headset offers Dolby Audio surround sound for gaming on both the PlayStation 4 and PC, and while it works well enough, the directional effect is definitely a little on the light side.
Gaming headsets often try to offer a pretty wide soundstage , so even a stereo signal sounds accurate enough. The Astro Gaming A50 Wireless sounds pretty typical for a gaming headset. The headset adequately emphasizes bass notes, and under emphasizes sounds in the highs. However, the sound of cymbals and some vocals may come through a little quieter due to the high-end de-emphasis. Expect the ability to filter out the whirring of a fridge down the hall, and not much more.
The Astro Gaming A50 Wireless features a pretty average microphone for a gaming headset. This means people with deeper voices will come across pretty distorted. The sporadic peaks in the high range will make hearing things like sibilant sounds F, S, and SH sounds easier, though. ASTRO Audio V2 provides a precise and smooth frequency spectrum for detailed, true-to-life imaging and localization of sound for a competitive edge.
This means crisp highs, controlled mids and distortion-free bass for balanced resolution. Immerse yourself with cinematic gaming audio that delivers clarity, sound directionality, and a competitive advantage. Low-latency voice communication, with Dolby Audio and optimized chat levels and game sounds with the built-in MixAmp technology.
Unidirectional mic and flip-to-mute functionality for clear, accurate communication. USB sound card functionality with Game:Voice Balancing, game and voice streaming delivered to more gamers. No Optical needed. For even more customization, the optional A50 Mod Kit allows users to add synthetic leather headband and ear cushions for improved noise isolation. Only compatible with A50 Wireless Headset, Gen 4. Spatial audio gives you full 3D positional audio support for an unprecedented competitive edge.
Browse the sections covering different levels of resources such as quick start guides and set up videos for all ASTRO Gaming products. A50 Base Station for PS4. Download Here. Dolby Audio Immerse yourself with cinematic gaming audio that delivers clarity, sound directionality, and a competitive advantage. Flip-to-Mute Microphone Unidirectional mic and flip-to-mute functionality for clear, accurate communication.
These headphones have an okay passive soundstage. These headphones have a Dolby 7. The Astro A50 have good weighted harmonic distortion performance. Audio reproduction is fairly clean and pure across the frequency spectrum at both moderate and high listening volumes. These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when they're used in this configuration.
These headphones have terrible noise isolation performance. The leakage performance of the Astro A50 is bad. They leak similarly to semi-open headphones, and escaping audio might still be noticeable in crowded settings. The boom mic has excellent recording quality. Your voice should sound clear, natural, and full-bodied. The boom mic has amazing noise handling performance. Teammates or those on the other end of a phone call should understand you clearly, even if you're speaking from a loud or crowded environment.
Note: There are four mic profiles inside their companion software with four different noise gate settings. These over-ears have very good battery performance. They supply over 17 hours of battery life, which should be more than enough for most gaming sessions, though this can vary with real-world usage. They can also be used when charging, which is useful. They only take about two hours to charge with the micro-USB cable, but more than four hours with the dock.
On the upside, this is still noticeably shorter than the older Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless They have an auto-off timer too, which turns off the headphones during periods of inactivity. However, it's rather short, which can be annoying if you're gaming and don't move too much, as it can still trigger even if audio is being played. The Astro Command Center is an easy-to-use and efficient support software that's missing a couple of features.
It has a graphic EQ that can be used to set up different presets, which you can cycle through using the EQ button on the right ear cup. You can also choose between four different noise gate settings for their boom mic to isolate your voice from ambient noise. They also have no surround sound effect menu or true button mapping beyond the EQ presets.
In this update, we made changes to the way we test latency. We now use a click track in our software and we measure latency three times and average the results. This new method has resulted in different latency values than what we had reported in our previous test bench. However, our results are still valid. These headphones offer excellent non-Bluetooth connectivity.
They have a base station that provides very low latency audio but has a somewhat short range. They also have an optical cable used for plugging in their base station. Since the PS5 doesn't support optical, you need to update the headphones to the latest firmware using the Astro Command Center to connect them to this console. This firmware lets you connect the base station to the console via USB. However, some users have reported that the audio quality drops when using this connection compared to using optical.
While we conducted our original testing using the base station connected to our PC via USB, these results should still be valid compared to the sound you get from the PS5 when connected via USB. Alternatively, you can purchase an Astro HDMI adapter for the PS5 directly from the manufacturer, allowing you to connect to the console via optical.
This adapter is advertised to enable the 'Game:Voice Balance' channel mixer control for this console. You can find more detailed instructions on how to connect your headphones this way here. These headphones have full mic and audio compatibility with PS4 and PS5 consoles when you connect their non-Bluetooth wireless transmitter to the console via USB. However, you may need a firmware update for this connection to work on PS5 consoles.
The Astro A50 can only receive audio when you plug their base station into Xbox One consoles. They don't function at all with Xbox Series X consoles. The Astro A50 's dock is great. It has a lot of inputs and acts as a charging station for the headphones. The base station is advertised as console-locked for either PS4 or Xbox One, but the headset can connect to both base variants.
Let us know in the discussions if you've come across a different variant of these headphones. You also need to buy the appropriate console variant for your needs. Thankfully, they're very comfortable and have a well-balanced sound profile that can be customized using the graphic EQ in their companion software.
They also come with a charging base that offers several inputs. See our recommendations for the best wireless gaming headsets , the best PS4 gaming headsets , the best Xbox One gaming headsets , and the best gaming headsets. Although the SteelSeries are prone to more inconsistencies in their audio delivery, their sound can be tweaked on the fly, thanks to the EQ on their wireless transmitter.
You can use their dock to store an extra physical battery while another is in your headphones, so you shouldn't have to worry about running out of power. They support Bluetooth, which is nice if you like to stream audio from your phone while gaming.
However, the Astro have the edge when it comes to wireless gaming. They have lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency, a more comfortable fit, and their boom mic offers a slightly better overall performance. The Astro are more comfortable as they have a more ergonomic headband design, and they deliver sound much more consistently than the SteelSeries.
They also have a better-performing microphone and come with a full-featured charging dock. However, the SteelSeries connect more conveniently via Xbox Wireless and support Bluetooth so you can mix in audio from your mobile device while gaming. The SteelSeries battery also lasts longer, and they charge much more quickly. The Astro are comfier, deliver a better-balanced sound profile more consistently, have a higher-quality boom microphone, and last a little bit longer on a single charge.
Meanwhile, the Turtle Beach have companion software with more configuration options, and block out more ambient noise. They're also Bluetooth-compatible, allowing you to chat with friends or stream music from your phone while remaining connected to your console or PC. The Astro are wireless gaming headphones that are more comfortable, have a better passive soundstage performance, and their boom mic does a significantly better job of recording your voice, even in noisy environments.
Their battery performance is better, and you can customize their sound profile to your liking using their companion software's graphic EQ and presets. However, the Beats are better for casual use. They have more versatile controls and have an ANC system to help block out a great amount of noise around you.
The A50 are wireless-only while the A40 are wired only and have an open-back design. The A50 have a well-balanced sound profile, but their soundstage isn't as spacious as that of the open-back A The Astro come with a wireless dock and charging station that provides a low latency gaming experience.
Their boom mic has a better recording quality, and their controls include channel mixing and an EQ preset cycle button. However, the Logitech have a longer continuous battery life. The Astro deliver audio more consistently and are compatible with Astro Command Center which has a graphic EQ and presets so that you can customize their sound profile. They can also receive audio when connected to the Xbox One via non-Bluetooth wireless, but don't have mic support.
However, the HyperX's continuous battery life is longer. The Astro come with a dock that also acts as a charging station. They're more comfortable, their boom mic offers better overall performance, and they have lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency. However, the Corsair have a better battery performance and support Bluetooth. They are quite similar, but the main difference is the small base station on the model and the fact that the battery now takes less time to charge while offering a bit more continuous playback.
Additionally, the microphone on the model performs better overall. The Astro are more comfortable, have a better-performing mic, and they come with a nice charging station. However, they take over four hours to charge with their base station and can't be used with a regular audio cable. The SteelSeries have a longer battery life, take less time to charge, and support passive playback.
The Astro are more comfortable, feel better-built, and are more balanced right out-of-the-box. They also support Dolby 7. However, the Audeze support Bluetooth. They're also planar magnetic headphones, which some users may prefer. The Astro are more comfortable and have a wireless dock with many inputs that also charges the headphones. They have a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer, and have a better overall performing boom mic.
The Astro are much more comfortable, have a better overall mic performance, and come with a wireless dock that provides a lower latency connection. Their continuous battery life is also longer. On the other hand, the Corsair leak much less and block out more ambient sound, although they still aren't ideal for isolating you from noise.
You can also use them wired with PCs. The Astro are more comfortable, deliver audio more consistently, and have a better performing boom microphone. However, the SteelSeries can be used both wirelessly and wired and have a better overall battery performance.
The Astro are much more comfortable and have a significantly more balanced sound profile. Their microphone offers superior recording quality and noise handling capability. Unfortunately, the Astro can't be used wired like the Corsair, meaning they don't work with Xbox One consoles. Also, unlike the Corsair, the Astro block out almost no background chatter and leak much more audio, meaning they aren't as well-suited for gaming with others in the room.
The Astro are more comfortable, better-built, have a longer battery life, and a better overall microphone performance. On the other hand, the Razer provide bass haptic feedback, which some users may prefer. The Astro are more comfortable, feel better built, have a more accurate and better balanced out-of-the-box sound profile, come with a wireless dock, and have a companion software with EQ settings. On the other hand, the HyperX have much better noise isolation performance and support wireless charging.
The A40 can only be used wired, while the A50 can only be used wirelessly. They otherwise perform quite similarly overall, though competitive gamers will likely prefer the wired A40 since they have less latency. The Astro are far more comfortable, better-built, and have a better-balanced sound profile that's delivered more consistently. They also have a companion app with a graphic EQ, lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency, and a better overall microphone. However, the Sony can also be used on a wired connection.
They also leak less audio and charge faster, though they do have slightly shorter battery life. That said, while they can access a graphic EQ and presets, this feature is only available on updated PS5 consoles. The Astro have lower latency, which is great for wireless headphones, and they are noticeably more comfortable and better-built.
They also have a microphone that delivers superior overall performance. On the other hand, the Turtle Beach are Bluetooth compatible and can also be used wired, so they are a bit more versatile than the Astro. The Turtle Beach also have a noise cancelling feature, although mediocre, that isolates more against ambient noise than the Astro.
The Astro are more comfortable, and they're compatible with the PS4, unlike the Corsair. Also, the Astro have a better-balanced sound profile and a more consistent audio delivery across users. However, the Corsair leak less sound, and their microphone is wirelessly compatible with the Xbox One, unlike the Astro.
The Astro are wireless gaming headphones with very low latency and over 17 hours of continuous playback time. They're significantly comfier, better-built, and can deliver sound more consistently. They also have a more immersive passive soundstage, and their microphone offers better overall performance. They have a haptic feedback feature, customizable RGB lighting, and robust virtual soundstage features. The Astro are wireless over-ear gaming headphones that are more comfortable, better-built, and have longer continuous battery life.
They have a boom mic that offers an overall excellent performance, support non-Bluetooth wireless for a low-latency connection, and are compatible with PS4s. The JBL, on the other hand, are better for casual use as they're in-ears, which makes them more portable.
They have a very good ANC to help block out background noise, have a more stable fit, and are rated IPX4 for water resistance, although we don't currently test for this. Get insider access. Best Headphones. Headphones Recommendations. View all headphones recommendations. All Headphones Reviews Beats. Studio Buds True Wireless. Fit Pro True Wireless.
Flex Wireless. Studio3 Wireless. Solo3 Wireless. Solo Pro Wireless. Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless. Studio Wireless. BeatsX Wireless. LinkBuds Truly Wireless. WF-C Truly Wireless. WHXM4 Wireless. WH-CH Wireless. Live BT Wireless. Reflect Flow True Wireless. Tune BT Wireless. Live NC Wireless. Tune NC Wireless. Quantum ONE. Sport Earbuds Truly Wireless. QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. Sport Open Earbuds Truly Wireless. SoundSport Free Truly Wireless. SoundSport Wireless.
SoundLink 2 Wireless. Grind Fuel True Wireless. Sesh Evo True Wireless. Dime True Wireless. Indy Evo True Wireless. Push Active True Wireless. Crusher Evo Wireless. Jib True Wireless. Hesh ANC Wireless. Dime 2 True Wireless. Elite 85t Truly Wireless. Elite Active 75t Truly Wireless. Elite 75t Truly Wireless. Elite 3 True Wireless. Elite 7 Active True Wireless.
Elite 7 Pro True Wireless. Elite 4 Active True Wireless. Talk 45 Bluetooth Headset. Elite 65t Truly Wireless. Elite 85h Wireless. AirPods Max Wireless. AirPods Pro Truly Wireless. AirPods 3rd generation Truly Wireless. AirPods 2nd generation Truly Wireless. AirPods 1st generation Truly Wireless. Barracuda X Wireless. BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless. Kaira Pro Wireless for Xbox. BlackShark V2. Kraken X. Hammerhead True Wireless Nari Ultimate Wireless. Kraken Ultimate. BlackShark V2 X. Kraken V3 Pro Wireless.
Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless. Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless. Galaxy Buds Truly Wireless. U Flex Wireless. Level On Wireless. Level Over Wireless. Level U Pro Wireless. Gear IconX Truly Wireless. Momentum 3 Wireless. HD BT Wireless. HD Pro As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Astro A40 is a wired headset while the A50 is wireless.
The A40 comes with a 3. Many of the A40 and A50 parts can be replaced with a Mod Kit. The Astro A40 TR is a wired headset that uses a detachable 3. For PC, you might need a splitter cable which only comes in the box of the A40 by itself not when bought together with the MixAmp. Additionally, laptops might not accept mic inputs through their 3.
On its own, the Astro A40 has no controls on it. You can also remove the mic entirely. The Astro A50 is a wireless headset that comes with the Base Station, but you can also buy the latter separately if you need to use the A50 on different consoles. The base station allows you to charge the A50 by setting it on the connectors.
There is no bluetooth functionality with the A50 - it only pairs to the Base Station. The controls of the A50 are on the right ear cup. They include:. Lastly, the A50 mic has a flip up to mute function which is not present on the A The MixAmp makes things louder, but it is not needed to get the best sound quality out of these. The highs and mids have good detail without being sharp. The sound is super full and bucks the trend of tinny, hollow headsets that are common on the market.
You can take things a step further with the Astro A40 Mod Kit which turns the A40 into a closed back design and adds pleather ear cups. Here is my full review of the Mod Kit. The overall frequency response curve is the same with very rich sound. However, the weaknesses that come with being a wireless device are apparent. The is a constant audible hiss in the A50 which is common in many wireless headphones. This gets louder the higher the gain is.
Ultimately, both the Astro A40 and A50 have excellent headphone audio quality for a wide variety of use cases. Watching movies, listening to music, and playing both immersive and competitive games were simply amazing with both headsets. Their premium pricing is justified. Both the A40 and A50 are just above average for headset mics. They have fuller sound than most, but the sound is still muffled and just not that detailed.
All the noise gates provided by the Astro Command Center are pretty brutal, so while they reject background noise quite well, they cut out your voice hard also. Red lights indicate no headset is connected. Allows you to adjust the gain of headphones connected to the device. The signal is clean, with imperceptible noise to my ears.
This can also be done on consoles. Allows you to swap between equalizer presets. There are 4 default presets that come with the MixAmp, but you can customize or swap them out using the Astro Command Center software. Access Astro Command Center software to make headphone adjustments, set mic side tone, and toggle between different mic noise gates. Enable or disable Dolby Audio.
This is really just an echo effect and bass reduction that applies to all sounds coming from the MixAmp. Overall, the MixAmp is useful and convenient. Is it necessary? Does it suddenly transform the audio quality of your headset or headphones?