{"id":157446,"date":"2019-08-22T04:00:05","date_gmt":"2019-08-21T20:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geek.com\/featured\/-1800877\/"},"modified":"2019-08-22T04:00:05","modified_gmt":"2019-08-21T20:00:05","slug":"review-the-new-astro-a50-wireless-gaming-headset-is-a-worthy-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/test\/wordpress\/2019\/08\/22\/review-the-new-astro-a50-wireless-gaming-headset-is-a-worthy-upgrade\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: The New Astro A50 Wireless Gaming Headset Is a Worthy Upgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Players who take their hobby seriously are always on the lookout for newer and cooler gaming headsets. One company that specializes in such peripherals is Astro Gaming. One of their best-known products is the Astro A50 Wireless Headset + Base Station<\/a>. The company recently released the latest generation of the headset. I hand a chance to go hands-on (or ears-on) with the PS4\/PC\/Mac version of the device. Though pricey at $299.99, it is one of the best gaming headsets I’ve tried out.<\/p>\n

Out of the box, you get the headset and the base station along with optical and USB cables. With the exception of the aluminum beam which joins the headband to the ear cups, the headset is entirely made of matte plastic. This makes the A50 lightweight and comfortable to wear. Don\u2019t let the plastic fool you into thinking the headset feels cheap. It is very sturdy. The large fabric-covered earcups surround one\u2019s ears and feel comfortable resting on the head. The base station is a solid block of plastic used for charging the A50 and for transmitting the wireless signal.<\/p>\n

I have to note that there is a $40 mod kit available. This comes with leather-covered earcups and also has leather on the headband. The main benefit of leather earcups is that they cancel noise more efficiently than fabric. One could make the case that a $300 headset should come with both types of earcups. I won\u2019t go that far, but that\u2019s mostly because I prefer fabric over leather. I don\u2019t want background noise completely eliminated. Also, I find the fabric is easier for my head and ears to breathe through. But if you want leather coverings, the option exists. You can use the headset anywhere between 10-15 hours before needing to recharge it.<\/p>\n

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Using the boom mic is as easy as swiveling it down from its vertical position. If the mic is down, it is active. If it is up, it\u2019s muted. The mic\u2019s flexible design makes it easy to adjust its distance from one’s mouth. One interesting aspect is that you can slightly hear yourself when the mic is active. This is good for knowing how well your voice is coming through. It\u2019s slightly distracting but isn\u2019t a deal-breaker. The earcups turn 90 degrees should you want to lay the headset on a flat surface.<\/p>\n

Before using the A50, you\u2019ll have to update its firmware. I stress this because I thought I had a defective unit when I couldn\u2019t get it to work on either my PS4 or my PC. After updating, the headset worked as intended. Getting the A50 to properly charge isn\u2019t always as easy as dropping the unit into the base station. Unless you place it just right, it won\u2019t charge at all. This isn\u2019t a huge issue but it\u2019s something you\u2019ll want to keep an eye on. I\u2019ll discuss the Astro Command Center software shortly.<\/p>\n

It is simple to pair the A50 with your PS4 or PC. On PC, all you need to do is plug in the base station with the included USB cable. Your PC will automatically detect the headset. You\u2019ll have to download the Astro Command Center app through Astro\u2019s site<\/a> in order to update the firmware. When pairing with the PS4, you\u2019ll need to use the optical cable along with the USB cable. You\u2019ll have to enter the PS4\u2019s settings to make sure your console recognizes the A50 (this should happen automatically). The included instructions do a good job of walking you through the steps, though you will probably not need them. It\u2019s clear Astro wants players to plug in and play as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

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When it comes to gaming audio (i.e. the reason you\u2019re buying a headset), the A50 does a wonderful job of immersing players in games. For the purposes of testing, I played The Division 2<\/em><\/a>, Dragon Quest Builders 2<\/em><\/a>, and the Castlevania Anniversary Collection<\/em><\/a>. The A50 did a solid job of capturing the retro sounds of the original Castlevania<\/em> games. Dragon Quest Builders 2<\/em> has a mix of retro and modern sounds, which come through perfectly. Smashing rocks, cutting leaves, and hacking monsters all produced satisfactory sounds. The best test was The Division 2<\/em> since it has the most diverse array of audio. From the quiet sounds of nature to bombastic firefights, every single noise came through with crystal clarity. Even at high volumes, noise levels never overwhelm. Bass was appropriately bassy. Mids and highs came through great as well.<\/p>\n

Boom mics are always hit or miss with me. Most of the time, I find the voice quality of many headset mics too trebly or nasally. While the A50\u2019s boom mic won\u2019t blow you away with its audio quality, it does get the job done in terms of capturing one\u2019s voice. Whether you\u2019re playing with friends or recording yourself, you\u2019ll find that your voice comes through nice and clear.<\/p>\n

The A50 sounds great out of the box but you can fine-tune its audio output further. An equalizer button on the right earcup gives you access to three preset EQ settings. One setting emphasizes bass while the other boosts treble. The middle setting balances both lows and highs. If you want a higher degree of customization, you can adjust sound settings via the Astro Command Center. The app is relatively straightforward to use despite its wide array of options. Hardcore audiophiles can easily spend countless hours tweaking sounds to their liking. But if you\u2019re like me, you\u2019ll do fine using the A50\u2019s default sound settings.<\/p>\n