Product test
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Astro A50 tested: still the most expensive, still the best
14.11.2019
Translation: machine translated
The Astro A50 makes improvements in all areas. It's not a really big leap, nor is it necessary. Only the price still hurts.
Astro refreshes the top models of its gaming headsets. The wireless A50 and the wired A40. I'm focussing on the former. It is now the fourth iteration. As always, the headphones are available in an Xbox One and a PS4 version. Both models are compatible with the PC. The PS4 model was available to me for testing.
Processing and wearing comfort
Astro has changed very little in terms of design. The same modular design is still used. If you want, you can replace the fabric ear and head pads with leather. The ear pads are magnetically attached and can be easily removed. Apart from the metal connectors between the ear cups and headband, everything is made of plastic. This means they are relatively stretchy and should survive the odd fall.
Both models have an open design, which allows you to see a lot of your surroundings. I like that because I'm not completely closed off and can still hear a bit of what's going on around me. Conversely, everyone around you can also hear when you're listening to louder music.
Operation and dock
The dock of the A50 has also been improved. The headphones now slide more easily into the charging cradle. With the predecessor, you have to place them correctly or they won't charge.
A nice feature is that the headphones recognise when you take them off or put them on thanks to integrated motion sensors. They then switch on or off automatically. This helps save battery power. At just under 15 hours, it lasts longer than its predecessor, but for some users even that is not enough. So far, I've only reached the limit at LAN parties. Thanks to the microUSB connection, you can also use them with a cable.
About microUSB: The dock itself is also operated with the outdated standard. At least it remains very easy to connect. Optical in and out, USB-A, AUX input/microphone output. That's what I call exemplary.
In contrast to its predecessors, the A50 works wirelessly via 2.4 Ghz and no longer via 5 Ghz. This significantly increases the range.
Sound and microphone quality
I also played the 7.1 video demo of "Soma" again, which is particularly useful for surround tests. The eerie underwater world with its constant splashing, hissing and hissing sounds pleasantly creepy. The ambient noises or when a monster stomps past you are relatively easy to assign to a direction.
The sound is slightly clearer than its predecessor. But they are no longer quite as loud. This is perhaps better for the longevity of my ears, but especially when I want to rock out to Rage Against The Machine (without Dolby Surround, of course), I would prefer it to be a little louder. Otherwise, the A50s deliver powerful bass, despite the open design.
The Astro A40 is practically identical in construction to the A50 and I couldn't discern any significant differences in the sound. Both headphones sound excellent for gaming headsets.
Conclusion: Buy new, yes. Upgrade, no
The Astro A50s are a worthy upgrade. The dock is finally designed so that the headphones slide in without much fiddling, the operation on the headphones is a little easier and the sound is a little crisper. The microphone quality has also been significantly improved. The rest remains at the same high level. However, if you already own the predecessor, I think the upgrade is too expensive.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chAs a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.
