We've tested 10 Astro headsets. While this brand was bought out by Logitech in 2017, and they don't make many products, they produce well-built and comfortable gaming-oriented headphones that are very popular in the console world. Be sure to pick the right variant for your preferred platform when choosing your headset, as most of their products are available for Xbox One, PS4, or PC. Unfortunately, many of their products are on the more expensive side, and their pads also don't block out much ambient noise, so they're best suited to quiet gaming environments.
Updates
- 03/15/2024 Astro A50 X Wireless reviewed
- 02/02/2024 Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 updated
- 01/24/2024 Astro A10 Gen 2 updated
- 01/15/2024 Astro A30 Wireless updated
- 11/30/2023 Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless updated
Best Astro Headphones
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Best Astro Headset
Neutral Sound8.2Commute/Travel6.2Sports/Fitness7.1Office6.9Wireless Gaming8.1Wired Gaming6.5Phone Calls7.0Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe best Astro headset we've tested is the Astro A50 X Wireless. These top-of-the-line cans are the successor of the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 and come with a wide suite of features to make the most out of them. The included base station supports HDMI 2.1 passthrough and acts as a charging dock for the headphones when not in use. Latency is also very low using the base station, so you won't miss a beat during the heat of multiplayer games. If that's not enough, these headphones support Bluetooth, and while this in itself isn't anything impressive, you'll be able to stay connected to your console and another device like your smartphone simultaneously for team chat via Discord.
The PLAYSYNC feature allows you to easily switch between three different systems, making this pick a fantastic choice for multi-console gamers. These headphones have a fairly flat sound profile out of the box, which helps ensure that explosions have just enough rumble and dialogue sounds life-like. The treble range is a little subdued, so if you like bright and shiny sibilants you might want to finetune these cans to your liking using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. They're also compatible with Dolby Atmos, PS5 3D Audio, and Windows Spatial Audio to help create a more immersive audio experience.
If you're a shot caller or like to game with friends, you'll appreciate the mic's excellent recording quality. You'll have no trouble being heard clearly by teammates and enemies alike. The mic has some trouble separating speech from background noise, but it won't be so much of an issue if you're gaming in a quiet place. With over 26 hours of continuous playback time, these comfortable cans will last through long dungeon crawls, and if you need even more battery life, you can use them while charging with their USB cable.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Astro Headset
Neutral Sound7.2Commute/Travel7.0Sports/Fitness7.1Office7.1Wireless Gaming7.5Wired Gaming7.6Phone Calls7.2Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe Astro A30 Wireless are a good choice for anyone looking to get a great gaming experience at a lower cost. They're similar to the Astro A50 X Wireless in looks but a bit less refined: they're less comfortable and not quite as well-built. That said, unlike our top pick, the A30 can be used via a wired connection, which adds to their versatility. Their microphone recording quality is only okay, so you'll be understood, but it won't sound especially true-to-life. On the plus side, the mic has great noise handling, so if you're gaming near an open window and a noisy truck goes past, the people on the other end of the line should still be able to hear you clearly. Unfortunately, you might not be able to hear them unless you turn the volume up, as these do a poor job of blocking out external noise. However, they don't leak much audio, so you can turn up the volume without disturbing anyone around you.
They have a well-balanced sound profile, with a bit of extra thump and boom that emphasizes sound effects in action games. The mid-range is relatively flat, so dialogue sounds accurate. That said, a big peak in the mid-treble can make sibilants like S and T sounds a bit piercing. Fortunately, you can tweak their sound to your liking via the 5-band EQ in their companion app. Like the A50 X, the A30 also support Bluetooth alongside their wireless dongle connection, so you can connect them to your phone to listen to music while you game.
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Best Mid-Range Astro Headset
Neutral Sound7.3Commute/Travel5.0Sports/Fitness6.1Office6.0Wireless Gaming7.2Wired Gaming5.6Phone Calls6.1Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesFor something less pricy, look at the Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless, the best Astro headset we've tested at this price point. These headphones are the next generation of the Astro A20 Wireless. Although they don't support companion software like the previous model or higher-end products like the Astro A30 Wireless, you can still expect a low latency gaming experience, thanks to their USB dongle. They also have over 19 hours of continuous playback time and have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when not in use. They're wireless-only headphones, and you can't use them wired at all.
These decently comfortable over-ears have an excited sound, which adds thump and rumble to the gameplay while dialogue and instruments are bright. That said, if you don't like their sound, they have three EQ presets built-in. They also have a decent soundstage for closed-back headphones that feel spacious and wide. Their boom mic can separate your voice from background noise, so you're heard clearly, even if a lot is happening around you. Unfortunately, the mic's recording quality is mediocre, and speech sounds thin and muffled.
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Best Budget Astro Headset
Neutral Sound7.2Commute/Travel4.3Sports/Fitness5.6Office5.6Wireless Gaming5.3Wired Gaming7.3Phone Calls6.9Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless NoTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesAlthough they don't offer the same level of features or customizability as more expensive picks on this list, the Astro A10 are a solid choice for anyone looking for budget-friendly Astro headphones. They're wired, so you can connect to most consoles via analog and don't need to worry about latency. Their boom mic has great performance, so your voice sounds clear and understandable when gaming with friends, even with some noise in the background. Even though they aren't as well-built as the more expensive headsets listed here, they feel sturdy and have a flexible design and a detachable cable that you can replace if damaged.
Their sound profile adds some extra body and boom to the bass range, which can help make action-packed games seem more immersive. However, it's somewhat uneven otherwise, so instruments and vocals lack some presence and detail. Unfortunately, they aren't compatible with the Astro Command Center software and lack sound customization features. They're also less comfortable than some other Astro headsets. The newest generation of these headphones, the Astro A10 Gen 2, have a looser, more comfortable fit. Their sound profile is more neutral, but they cost more and have a worse mic performance.
Compared To Other Brands
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Well-built designs.
Astro usually makes solid and durable products, especially their high-end headsets. Even their budget options have a good build quality with sturdy materials. -
Comfortable.
The padding on most Astro headphones is very comfortable and fairly breathable. They use fabric-like suede, which feels nice on the skin and is comfortable for long gaming sessions. -
Great microphone performance.
Astro headphones have very good microphone performance, and people you play with won't have trouble understanding you. Their recording quality is great, and your voice sounds full-bodied and clear.
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Expensive.
Due to their high notoriety in the gaming industry, their headphones are pricey; you can find better-performing products at a lower price, especially when looking at cheaper Astro headsets. On the upside, you still get a good product with Astro. -
Bulky, gamer-centric designs.
Since Astro makes gaming over-ear headsets with boom microphones, they aren't the most versatile as they aren't for day-to-day use. They can be hard to bring with you during your commute. -
No noise isolation.
While it's unusual for gamer-centric brands to feature active noise cancelling (ANC) systems, flagship headphones from competitor brands like SteelSeries do have it, and it can add to a pair of headphones' versatility.
Astro vs SteelSeries
Astro and SteelSeries are often together in the same gaming lists, as both have comprehensive lineups at different price points. That said, the best SteelSeries headsets have features like active noise cancelling, which is a bit unusual for gaming headphones, and some of their high-end models even have Bluetooth support. Their mics tend to have a better recording quality, which is important if you like to game with others. However, only Astro offers an open-back model if you want an immersive audio experience. Some of their headsets are wired only.
Astro vs Razer
Although Razer is often compared to Astro for gaming headphones, they also offer hybrid headphones designed for casual and gaming use. These headphones usually have noise cancelling and support Bluetooth. However, if you're looking for strictly gaming headphones, you'll find unique features like customizable RGB lighting and haptic bass from Razer. In comparison, Astro has headsets that include features like the MixAmp to customize your settings on the fly and an open-back design, which helps make your audio more immersive. If you want to check out more products from this manufacturer, check out our picks for the best Razer headsets.
Astro vs Logitech
Logitech bought out Astro in 2017, but you can find Astro-brand headsets through Logitech's storefront. The two brands offer both wireless and wired gaming headsets at different price points, but one of the key differences between them is that Astro offers more cross-platform compatibility, which is good if you want to game on Xbox or PlayStation consoles. Logitech focuses more on PC gaming. Some of the best Logitech headsets also have longer continuous battery lives and mics with better recording quality. Conversely, Astro offers the MixAmp Pro TR for wired headsets, which puts controls like chat-mixing at your fingertips. They even have an open-back model for a more immersive sound experience.
Overall, Astro headsets are sturdy and reliable. They perform well, and most people will be more than satisfied with their microphone quality. The cups are also very comfortable, and you won't feel uncomfortable playing games for a few hours. Due to their great reputation, their products might be slightly more expensive than those of the competition.
Lineup
Astro offers several main over-ear models and one in-ear model under a straightforward naming convention. On the lowest end of the lineup is the Astro A10, which are budget-friendly, wired over-ears with a simple overall design. As you climb up in number, you'll find over-ear models with more features at higher price points. At the top of the line are the Astro A50 X Wireless and A50 Gen 4 Wireless, which have wireless docks and app support. The only in-ear model is the Astro A03 In-Ear Monitor.
Each model is also available in Xbox, PlayStation, and PC/Mac variants, so it's important to ensure you get the right one for your console. Some, like the Astro A10, also come in several color variants.
Recent Updates
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The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 is becoming hard to find, so the Astro A30 Wireless are our new upper mid-range pick. We also edited the text of the Astro A50 X Wireless to reflect changes to our results from Test Bench 1.8.
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Sep 10, 2024: We checked that all our picks are still in stock and relevant, but haven't changed them.
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Jun 17, 2024: We've replaced the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 with the Astro A50X Wireless as the A50X have more connectivity options for different consoles and have a longer continuous battery life.
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Feb 20, 2024: We've updated our article to let you know we've purchased the Astro A50X Wireless and will update this review as soon as they're tested. We've also added a comparison between Astro and Logitech.
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Oct 25, 2023: We've checked to ensure that the products are in stock and added a mention of the Astro MixAmp M80 Preamp to our 'Best Upper Mid-Range Astro Headset' pick.
Conclusion
Astro is a gaming-oriented company that makes a lot of quality products, and their headsets are no exception. They have a good reputation across the community thanks to their comfortable design and great-sounding microphone, and they sound well-balanced. Their higher-end products are often noticeably better than their entry-level headsets, which are often too expensive compared to competing brands. Nevertheless, Astro makes great gaming headphones, and you'll find something that suits your needs if you're dead set on that specific brand.