An Audio Experience With Astro Gaming's A50 Headset, Hands On

[Guest]

We finally got our hands the second generation of Astro Gaming's its high-end A50 gaming headset.

An Audio Experience With Astro Gaming's A50 Headset, Hands On : Read more

 

[FITCamaro]

My experience with Astro:

While Astro makes great headsets, their support is terrible. They love to abandon their products without driver updates after a year or two. They also do not advertise that their headsets only work with Dolby Digital sources. So if you want to use one on PC, you must have a sound card capable of Dolby Digital Live output.

My main reason for buying one was comfort. It is very comfortable. But I won't be buying another one if I need to in the future.

 

[FITCamaro]

Let me also add that you must have a sound card capable of Dolby Digital Live output over optical as the transmitter does not have inputs for anything but that.

 

[Shrapnl]

The A50 does have a 3.5mm Aux input on the transmitter for non digital input if you are so inclined.

From their manual available online:
"AUX: Auxiliary In. Plug your media device into this port with an
optional 3.5mm cable in order to wirelessly stream audio to
your A50 headset. Intended for use with MP3 players, phones,
and PCs (when optical digital out is not available)."

 

[jrrdmchls]

Unless they upped their game on the "Mic Monitoring" Ill still pass.

I had bought the A50s for the Xbox one last December. Loved loved loved!!! the Quality of the surround sound.

But ultimately I had to return these because of the lack of mic monitoring. I got tired of yelling at the TV when chatting with my friends, because I could not hear myself with the headset on.

I did all the recommend firmware updates to the headset and mix amp but still had no mic monitoring. I agree with FITCamaro Astros Support is awful. I wish I would have kept the email they sent me after I contacted them about my issues. They came back with something like "our customers usually get "Used to" The amount of mic Monitoring their product has". I couldn't hear ANY mic monitoring.

My two cents... single player games = Awesome.
chat intensive games = Pass.

Unless things have changed..... PROVE ME WRONG ASTROS! LOL I want to love your product!

 

[DarkSable]

Wait, this is a hands-on? How?

You don't compare the sound quality to anything else in the price range, you don't talk much about the comfort... you don't even talk about the A50s vs the A40s, which is a large and important distinction in terms of ease of use vs comfort of use.

 

[Jeffrey Barone]

i have a pair of a50s also. top head pad and mic broke astro refused to help me out and i would have paid to get them repaired. i bought the turtle beach elite 800. the 800 has equal surround if not better, concierge line and dual hidden mics. turtle beach had a problem shipping free earplates, i called concierge line aand they said sorry for the wait and sent me a free pair of earplates. so i am very happy i didnt buy another pair of a50 and this attempt at repackaging the a50 is a joke. astro you dog your customers they dog you lol. i hope astro responds one day i did like the a50 5 years ago but they would have to give me a free pair of a60 to win me back.

 

[Straus]

I'd echo the same warning others have posted - I own a pair of A40's (2013 edition + mixamp, although the mixamp is now an expensive paperweight) and A50's (first gen), good sound, terrible support from "Astro" (Skullcandy). The one thing you should be able to rely on when over-paying for a "premium" product is half-decent after-market support.

There's still life in both my headsets but I'll never buy Astro again (A40's, developed vibration/rattle in left ear within 6 months of purchase, Astro wanted £100 to "service" them - fixed myself, currently developing the "loose microphone" issue that plagues their headsets - A50's, mic/driver fiasco, wireless connectivity issues, constant problems - awesome when they work but may as well flip a coin each time you pick them up).

Also should be noted, Astro Gaming is now just a brand name owned by Skullcandy (bought from Astro Studios in 2011) - Astro's good reputation entirely belongs to Astro Studios, Skullcandy are milking it dry.

 

[mRcORNY]

Astro mades some awesome gaming headset back in the day, but laterly seem to be lagging behind the competition. Your review solidifies that assumption. I've been looking for some good wireless gaming set around $300 max and can't decide between Logitech G930 or Corsair H2100, both of these are reviewed here http://headphonesaddict.com/best-wireless-gaming-headset/
Which would you pick?
Thanks for your help.

 

[FITCamaro]

I have the Astro Wireless A40s fyi.