Blast
off.
If
you play console or PC online gaming, you'll know that what you hear
is just as important as what you see. To that end, it's no surprise
that a decent set of headphones should be on the Christmas list of
any serious gamer, and we've found a stellar pair from Astro. We
review the A50 Wireless Gaming Headphones.
The Astro A50 Wireless Gaming Headphones are over-ear headphones designed to be worn for long periods, complete with a built-in boom microphone. Comfort has very clearly been at the top of Astro's list here, as both the cans and the headband are heavily cushioned. In fact, the can cushions are attached by magnets, meaning they can be swapped out for different styles and sizes depending on what you want. Furthermore, the headset is fully adjustable, and everybody we gave it to to try found that it was comfortable and snug – even children.
The
headphones are wireless, but not Bluetooth as most headphones
labelled wireless are. The A50s use 5.8GHz WiFi to connect to the
included base station, which itself is then connected to your PC or
gaming console. Speaking of which, we were sent the set optimised for
PS4, but an Xbox One version is also available. Also, both versions
work automatically with a PC and even a Mac, so only console users
have to make the right choice.
That
wireless has a range of 30 feet, so if you play somewhat away from
you gaming setup, you'll be fine. The base station is also how the
headphones charge, and the onboard battery will keep you playing for
up to 15 hours. That's pretty impressive, especially considering the
headphones aren't all that heavy. To charge them, you simply place
them on the base and the connectors meet. Easy.
The
boom mic is also pretty sweet, because as well as having an actual
bend-and-hold boom (seriously, it magically stays wherever you bend
it), there is also a lift to mute function. Nudge the mic upwards,
and your gaming comrades won't be able to hear your mum/partner/kids
bugging you. Handy.
But
the sound... oh gosh, the sound. For a start, due to the over-ear
design, and the fact that they fit snugly, almost all outside noise
is blocked when you're in a gaming environment. Also, these babies
use Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround – something specifically
formulated for gaming so you can accurately pinpoint from what
direction a noise came. And it works so well, presenting a realistic
environment for your senses no matter what game you're playing.
As
well as that, the quality of the overall audio is spot on, with music
and scores sounding as if you're hearing them via extreme high-end
headphones. Voices, lyrics, and spoken words were also crisp and
immediate. The included software allows you to tweak the sound and
programme presets which can be accessed by a three-way switch on the
right-side can. Oh, and there is a fantastic switch to balance the
game/voice levels, so if you want to focus more on the sound of your
game-mates' voices than the gaming environment, you can.
These
are incredible headphones which actually seem pretty well priced for
what they are. Hours will go by and you'll hardly be aware of them on
your head, while the versatility of the presets, the wireless
connection, and the easy mic should win over even the most
experienced of gamers.
£250