After reviewing some entry-level gaming headphones like Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 1 that cost almost $100, we moved towards the premium-level gaming headset. This is an Astro A50 wireless gaming headset Gen 4 with a Base station.
As I've mentioned many times, gaming headsets need to be different from ordinary headphones because gamers have different requirements. While music lovers care about lows and highs, gamers need great imaging, a big soundstage, a top-quality mic, and other necessary qualities to enhance their gaming experience.
In the past, we've reviewed some premium gaming headsets like the HyperX Cloud Orbit S and Audeze Mobius. These headsets initially cost over $300, but their prices have decreased over time.
Our today's audio gear Astro A50 Gen 4 had cost $300 initially, but now they are available at a slightly lower price. But the question remains the same. is it worth investing in Astro A50 Gen 4? Let's find out.
Pros:
Cons:
Sound
Build
Battery
Value
Whatβs in the box?
- A50 Wireless Headset
- ASTRO Wireless Base Station
- Micro USB Cable
- Optical Cable
- Dolby Atmos 2 year activation code
Who should get Astro A50 Gen 4 ?
- If you want more customization options Astro A50 can be a good choice.
- gamers who want solid connectivity can try this
Bottom Line:
Last week, I reviewed the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2, an entry-level gaming headset. I was impressed with the experience considering its $100 price tag.
but, when it comes to the Astro A50 Gen 4 wireless gaming headset, priced at $300, I expected something extraordinary, which I felt was missing. The build quality, although not bad, didn't feel like that of a $300 headset.
The sound quality is good in terms of bass, but it's slightly weak in the treble. The mic quality is decent but not perfect. Dolby Atmos adds value to the gaming experience.
The best thing about the Astro A50 Gen 4 is the Astro Software, which offers many customization options for gamers. Overall, I would say it's a good gaming headset, but not the best. Connectivity is great which is a must for any wireless gaming headset.
I would suggest checking out some other alternatives because I don't think they offer good value for the money.
How is the Design and Build Quality of Astro A50 Gen 4?
Let's start with the build. Astro A50 Gen 4 is completely plastic-built. Though it weighs 380 gm doesn't feel uncomfortable on the head. The headband looks hollow which helps in weight reduction (imagine a solid headband).
The headband and earcups are connected with an aluminium rod, which can be used to adjust the headphone's fit. A flexible boom microphone is attached to the left earcup, and other button controls are located on the right earcup.
On the right earcup, you have the power switch, Dolby On/Off button, EQ button, volume adjustment knob, and USB charging port. The earpads and headband are easy to replace, which is beneficial when they wear out.
In terms of the build quality, I don't find it durable enough for a $300 product. When paying $300, one expects premium build quality, so it's disappointing to receive such subpar construction.
Additionally, the Astro A50 Gen 4 is not portable and not designed for travel as they do not fold. The base station is not very compact, so I wouldn't recommend them for traveling. the outer part of the right earcup has a couple of buttons called game and voice chat.
bottom of the A50 has the contacts to charge the internal battery with the help of the base station but you can also charge it with the USB charging port. package includes an A50 wireless headset, Base station, Micro USB cable, and optical cable.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 features a replaceable headband and earpads, as well as swiveling earcups with evenly distributed weight, making it comfortable for long gaming sessions.
You can charge them in two ways. using the base station or the USB cable. Replacing the band cushion and ear pads with leatherette options can improve durability and provide better noise isolation. However, I can't give them a perfect score of 10 due to their non-compact design and less durable build quality.
How is the Sound Performance of Astro A50 Gen 4?
The Dolby Audio Astro A50 Gen 4 delivers better than surround sound which enhances your gaming experience. with the 40mm large neodymium drivers, you get punchy bass whereas trebles are slightly weak at least sometimes I felt so.
there is a wide soundstage and accurate imaging which are the most crucial qualities of any gaming headset. Overall, I don't find any bad in sound quality from the gamer's point of view.
the consistent frequency response across all frequency ranges so that it won't spoil your mood. The vocals were sharp and clear with balanced mids telling you that Astro seriously cares about the sound quality.
Microphone: Astro A50 Gen 4 has a 6 mm uni-directional voice-isolating microphone. These microphones have a general tendency to boost bass frequencies and produce warmer sound. though it works better when the sound comes from the front direction and is less effective for the side directions. Astro A50 Gen 4 delivers clear and natural sound with slightly downplayed bass frequency. neither something extra-ordinary nor bad, that's what I would say about the microphone of Astro A50.How is the Connectivity of Astro A50 Gen 4?
One area where Astro A50 Gen 4 shines the most is its connectivity. Connectivity is a feature that is a crucial factor for gaming. Sometimes you can adjust the sound quality of headphones but connectivity must be rock-solid and Astro A50 can be your choice for the reason.
Before knowing about how to connect A50 with PC or PS let me briefly tell you about the Base station of A50 Gen 4. It has a Micro USB port, a Charging port, an AUX port, an Optical in/out port as well as a PS/PC switching button.
to connect the A50 to the PC first you need to connect the Base station with the PC via USB cable.
keep the A50 on the Base station for the charging.
If you want to connect your A50 to the PC, toggle the switch to the PC mode if it's already switched to PS mode.
Download the Astro Command Centre for your operating system.
For the rock-solid connectivity, I would rate Astro A50, 9 out of 10. Astro claims that A50 can maintain the rock-solid connection up to 30 feet and they aren't completely wrong.
How is the Charging and Battery performance of Astro A50 Gen 4?
Astro claims that the A50 headset provides over 15 hours of playtime on a single charge, and they are correct. It uses a Lithium Polymer, single-cell battery. To charge your A50, connect the USB charging cable from the base of the MixAmp to the charging port of the Astro A50.
While charging, you will see an orange LED light, which will turn solid red once the battery is fully charged. It takes approximately five hours for a full charge. In terms of charging and battery performance, I would rate the Astro A50 7 out of 10 because I was expecting better performance considering its price point.
