Astro A50 Wireless Headphones Review

Recently, the world is familiar with the term wireless. Almost everyone has been using wireless devices of any shape and type. This time we will discuss about a wireles headphones called the Astro A50. Unlike previous models that still use the Astro A40 plug into a separate MixAmp.


Define "Wireless"

The receiver will need to be plugged in to at least two ports (TOSLINK cable for audio, USB for power) at all times. The headset doesn’t need to be plugged in to the receiver though. But Xbox usage is especially messy, requiring you to plug your headset into your controller to experience Xbox Live chat audio, which sort of defeats the point of “wireless” headphones. If your console is out in the open, those cords will add up, all wiggling around like snake spaghetti.

There's no way to "fix" this, as wires are our necessary evil, but if you're hoping for an entirely cord-free setup, bad news: it still doesn't exist. When your headphones are charging on the included stand, they're going to be more wired than a robot ferret drinking Mountain Dew.

If you’re an Xbox-er who abhors wires as much as I do, you might want to wait for the Tritton Warheads, which are releasing soon and feature wireless game chat – even on Xbox.


What makes the A50s wireless is the subtraction of the worst of all cords - the one that winds from your headset to console. This is, indubitably, the one you trip on as you tumble into your candle collection and burn down your house.

Unless your living room is the size of the Taj Mahal, these things will transmit audio flawlessly. With a direct line of sight to the receiver, the Astro A50’s can transmit to about 30 feet without jeopardizing the sound or dealing with significant audio dropout. Even so, they have a tendency to dip audio intermittently for a fraction of a second. Astro tells us it’s is in the process of addressing this glitch, which should be fixed soon in a firmware update.


The Hardware

Of course, all this wireless stuff might not even be the A50’s biggest triumph. The most significant change in the A50s isn't the elimination of a single cord, but rather an entire mixer. Miraculously, the folks at Astro found a way to jam the A40's voice/game mixer into the headset without making the A50s significantly heavier or bulkier. Tapping on the front of the right headphone increases the game volume, tapping the back increases voice volume.

This will seem backwards for some. For the longest time, I couldn't get over the idea that voice should be in front - where the microphone is - and game volume should be in the back - where the headphones are. Changing the master volume is done by a spinning an easy-to-find dial that sits parallel to your right ear. Fortunately, after a week or so, you'll memorize what's what and always know what to hit.

This volume mixing is slightly less precise than that found on the A40 amps, but it’s arguably faster, and never requires you to take your eyes off the game. Though at times confusing in their placement, whether you’re adjusting game volume, voice volume, or muting your own voice, every feature is easily accessible. Speaking of muting, this is done by simply swinging the microphone to the upright position. In order to keep the A50’s as small and light as possible, Astro had to remove the ability to detach the mic and the option to add custom tags.

Perhaps more devastating is the non-removable lithium-ion battery. While it will last for hundreds of charge cycles (each good for about 8-10 hours of use), if the battery finally burns up you’ll need to send your $300 headphones in for work at Astro.

At 364 grams, the A50s are heavy (the A40s are 324 grams), but they're also supremely crafted. After hours of use, you rarely experience wearer fatigue. This is in part due to the extra padding in the headband - a soft foam that keeps the weight of the headset dispersed across the top of your head instead of a single spot.


The big, black, and plastic design of the A50s may well be a source of contention for many.. Comparably-priced headphones outside of the gaming sphere are usually much smaller and much sleeker - but those don’t have a mixer and microphone built in.

Finally, there’s the transmitter – a dead-simple black box with a power button and a Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound button. Both light up red when activated. Astro has opted for high-tech KleerNet 5.8GHz, which, besides enabling crystal clear audio, has the added bonus of making the Astros incredibly easy to pair with other wireless KleerNet hardware.


The Sound
None of this would matter if the headset didn't sound great, of course. But the A50s live up to the hype - and the price tag. The custom 40mm drivers can produce excruciatingly loud, pristine audio. Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound gives better directional audio than many speaker setups (though a physical surround sound speaker system is still the best).

While the A50s rock much of the same hardware as their predecessors, the redesigned cans offer a fuller sound, with less audio leak. There is no noise cancellation, besides what the puffy earcups block out - which is just about everything. While playing a game of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD on the couch, I was completely oblivious to my friends talking to me.

The 50s come with three EQ Profiles: “Flat,” for undistorted audio, “Astro,” for gaming, and “Media” in case you want to make your audio sound awful. It's just too punchy and distorted for most content. While we don’t recommend using Media for just about anything, Astro has outlined plans for custom profiles, which will be downloadable online. This will allow people to upload their own, allowing you to find one that best suits your ears.

Closing Comments
At US $300, the Astro A50s are pretty damn expensive. This is especially true considering that, at the basest level, the main difference between the A50s and the 40s is the design, which may not be enough to provoke a purchase from A40 owners.

But if you’re not already gaming with an Astro headset, you should consider picking up the 50s. They feature currently unparalleled audio, incredible surround sound and a no-brainer setup. While we wish they were a little sleeker and a bit better suited for music, the A50s are astronomically well built for gaming.

If you’re a serious gamer hell-bent on making your game experience better, your money is safe with the A50s. They’re worth every penny, assuming you have all the pennies.

~taken from: Nic Vargus~


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