The Astro A10 Gen 2 are the next generation of the Astro A10 and are basic wired gaming headphones. They have an updated, more lightweight design and clamp onto your head less tightly. Their boom mic arm is shorter, and its performance falls a bit short of the first-gen's. They have a simple design with basic controls and no companion app or customization features. However, they feel sturdy and have a detachable cable.
Our Verdict
The Astro Gaming A10 Gen 2 aren't intended for neutral sound. They lack thump and rumble but have a touch of extra boom and warmth that brings out sound effects in games. Their mids are fairly neutral, but their underemphasized treble veils vocals and lead instruments. Unfortunately, they're prone to inconsistent audio delivery, so you need to take the time to ensure a good fit each time you use them. That said, for closed-back headphones, they have an okay passive soundstage. Sound seems to be coming from speakers placed in the room around you, which can help immerse you in your audio.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- No customization features.
- Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
The second-gen of the Astro A10 are poor for commute and travel. They have a bulky, gamer-centric design and don't come with a carrying case to protect them when you're on the go. Unfortunately, they also don't block out the low rumble of bus engines, and they leak audio at high volumes, which can annoy others around you. On the upside, they have a comfortable and well-built design.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Bulky and can fall off of your head with moderate movement.
- No call or music controls.
The Astro A10 Gen 2 aren't designed for sports and fitness and aren't a good choice for that purpose. They have a bulky over-ear design and can fall off your head with moderate head movements. On the plus side, they have a detachable audio cable, so if it gets snagged on something, it won't pull the headphones off of your head.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Bulky and can fall off of your head with moderate movement.
- No call or music controls.
The second-gen of the Astro A10 are sub-par for office use. These headphones aren't designed for that purpose, as they don't look very casual and struggle to block out common office noise like ambient chatter. That said, if you don't mind the design or if you work in a quiet place, they have a comfortable and well-built design. If you need to take conference calls or attend virtual meetings, their boom mic also offers decent overall performance, ensuring that you're heard clearly.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- No call or music controls.
The Astro A10 Gen 2 can only be used wired.
The Astro A10 Gen 2 are decent for wired gaming. They have a comfortable fit suitable for long gaming sessions, and their wired design ensures a virtually latency-free gaming experience. If you like to game with others, the mic offers a decent recording quality, meaning your voice sounds clear, even in moderately noisy environments. Unfortunately, they lack companion software and an EQ to tune their otherwise warm sound profile to your liking. They're also prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, so it's important to take the time to ensure a good fit.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Decent overall microphone performance.
- No customization features.
- Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
The second-generation Astro A10 are okay for phone calls. They have a flip-up boom mic. It sits further away from your mouth than the previous generation's, but still offers a decent overall performance, so your voice sounds clear, even if you're talking in a moderately noisy environment like a busy office. However, they aren't designed to block out background noise, and if you're taking a call from somewhere noisy, like a busy street, you're likely to have a hard time hearing the other person.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Decent overall microphone performance.
- No call or music controls.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The second-generation Astro A10 are available in 'Lilac,' 'Mint,' 'White,' 'Grey,' and 'Black.' We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see our model's label here.
If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Astro A10 Gen 2 are the next generation of the Astro A10. These affordable wired gaming headphones have a lighter design than their predecessor and don't clamp as tightly on your head. They also have a shorter boom mic, and their sound profile leans a bit warm rather than uneven. They're still pretty basic headphones, and unlike the HyperX Cloud Alpha S, which are also budget-friendly gaming headphones, they don't have any customization features, so you can't customize them to your liking.
Check out our recommendations for the best gaming headsets under $100, the best headsets for PS5, and the best headsets for Xbox Series X/S.
The Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless and the Astro A10 Gen 2 have different strengths. The A20 deliver more bass, which can make game audio more immersive. They have a wireless design and a more comprehensive control scheme, including controls for channel mixing. However, you might prefer the A10 because they have a wired design and only come in one variant compatible with PlayStation, Xbox, and PCs. The A20 come in separate variants depending on your console, so they aren't quite as versatile.
The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are better gaming headphones than the Astro A10 Gen 2. They're much more comfortable and sturdy, and they have an open-back design that creates a more immersive passive soundstage. Their boom mic has a much better performance. They're much more feature-packed and have a MixAmp that puts controls within easy reach. However, the A10 Gen 2 are simple wired headphones that work with most consoles via analog connection, so you might prefer them if you want straightforward headphones for gaming.
The Astro A10 Gen 2 are similarly performing headphones to the Turtle Beach Recon 70, but the Astro have the edge for most uses. Both are wired headsets with bulk designs that lack portability. However, the Astro are better built and more comfortable. They also have a more prominent bass response, and their mic does a better job of separating your voice from background noise. That said, the Turtle Beach have a more consistent treble response.
The Astro A10 Gen 2 and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are budget-friendly wired gaming headphones with slight differences in performance. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Astro headphones have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their passive soundstage feels larger and more immersive. However, the SteelSeries headphones' mic has a better overall performance.
The Logitech G432 are better wired gaming headphones than the Astro A10 Gen 2. The Logitech's boom mic makes your voice sound more natural and does a better job of separating it from background noise. They work with a companion app that has a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. However, the Astro A10 feel well-built, while the Logitech have a plasticky, somewhat cheap feel.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are slightly better gaming headphones than the Astro A10 Gen 2. While both headphones are comfortable, the HyperX have a significantly better boom mic performance, and they're able to reproduce low-bass with more thump and rumble. On the other hand, the Astro have a better build quality.
The Astro A10 Gen 2 are better than the Turtle Beach Recon 200. The Astro have a better build quality and a more comfortable fit. Their boom mic has a better overall performance. Their warm sound profile emphasizes sound effects in game, but lacks some low-bass. You might prefer the Turtle Beach if you like a really bassy sound, since they have an always-on 'Bass-Boost' feature and add a lot of extra rumble and punch into your audio. However, despite being wired headphones, they have to be charged to work.
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless have a slight edge over the Astro A10 Gen 2. While both are wired headphones, the SteelSeries also support Bluetooth, so you can use them more casually or receive audio from your phone while simultaneously gaming. Their boom mic also offers a better overall performance. In comparison, the Astro are better built and have a more immersive passive soundstage performance.
The Astro A10 Gen 2 are the second generation of the Astro A10 and have slight changes to their design and tuning. The Gen 2 have a lighter, more comfortable design with a more neutral overall sound profile, which some users may prefer. That said, they're more prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery due to their fit. However, the originals have a better overall microphone performance as their mic sits closer to your mouth.
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II are slightly better wired gaming headphones than the Astro A10 Gen 2. The HyperX are more comfortable, are better built, and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also support Dolby 7.1, which can create a more immersive audio experience, and their boom mic offers a significantly better overall performance. However, the Astro can create a better passive soundstage that feels wider. Sound also feels like it's coming from speakers placed in the room around you, rather than from inside your head, which is outstanding.
The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE are slightly more versatile headphones than the Astro A10 Gen 2. You can use the Corsair wired or wirelessly, they have a better build quality, their boom mic offers better overall performance, and they're compatible with companion software, which offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound. However, the Astro are more comfortable.
The Corsair Void PRO RGB Wireless are better gaming headphones than the Astro A10 Gen 2. While both headphones are comfortable, the Corsair are wireless gaming headphones with low wireless latency, and they support Dolby 7.1, which is a virtual soundstage feature that can create a more immersive sound. They also have companion software that offers a graphic EQ and presets so you can customize their sound to your liking, and their boom mic offers a better noise handling performance. However, if you prefer wired gaming headphones, the Astro are better built and have a more neutral sound profile that some users may prefer, and their mic has a better recording quality.
Depending on your usage, you may prefer either the HyperX Cloud Flight S or the Astro A10 Gen 2. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the HyperX are wireless headphones with low wireless latency, have a better overall mic performance, and have a virtual soundstage feature. In contrast, the Astro are wired gaming headphones with a wired, more immersive passive soundstage.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
They look somewhat similar to their predecessor, the Astro A10, with squarish ear cups and the manufacturer's logo on the headband. That said, there are some updates to the design. The headband is thicker, and the boom mic is shorter, which some users may prefer as it doesn't stick out as far. These headphones come in a few different colors to help match your style: 'Lilac,' 'Mint,' 'White,' 'Grey,' and 'Black.'
They have a comfortable fit. They're lighter than the original Astro A10, and they clamp less tightly due to their differently designed yoke and headband design. The padding is made of a different cloth material, which feels cooler against your skin than the previous generation, and there's more of it on the headband. Unfortunately, while they feel very light when worn and don't exert pressure on your head, the ear cups are a bit small, meaning they may not fit well if you have bigger ears. The headband also has a limited range of expansion, and it can be difficult to get a comfortable fit if you have a larger head.
They have simple controls. There's an in-line volume wheel on the cable, and you flip the mic up to mute it. The in-line volume wheel has stops at min and max, but it lacks discrete points, making it a bit hard to find a specific volume setting. However, you hear a distinct click when you flip up the mic, so you know when it's muted. Unfortunately, we noticed that each time we used our unit's mic, it started at a low volume, and we had to adjust the volume accordingly.
These headphones aren't very portable, which is common for gaming headphones. They have a big, bulky design that can't fold into a more compact form. They lack a carrying case to protect them when you're on the move.
They have a good build quality. They're mostly plastic with a detachable audio cable design. They also have slight differences from the Astro A10. Their headband has more padding than the previous gen's and is slightly thicker. The cloth padding is different, and when you're wearing the second-gen, the padding feels cooler against your skin. Another notable change is the shortening of the boom mic. The second-gen is 5 cm shorter than its predecessor. Overall, they feel sturdy enough to survive a few accidental drops without taking too much damage.
They're fairly stable, so they'll stay in place when you're sitting still and gaming. However, they don't clamp onto your head very hard, so they can slip out of place if you tilt or move your head and are likely to fall off if you make more intense movements.
They have a more balanced and warm sound profile than the first-generation Astro A10. While they lack a thumpy low-bass, they have a touch of extra boom to bring out sound effects while you game. Dialogue and instruments are also clear and present but lack detail. Unfortunately, unlike the HyperX Cloud Alpha S, they don't have any sound customization features to adjust their sound to suit your tastes.
They have a sub-par frequency response consistency. They have a lower clamping force than the Astro A10 and as a result, don't deliver audio as consistently. It's important to take the time to adjust the headphones' positioning, fit, and seal to ensure a more consistent sound each time you use them. You'll especially notice a drop in bass if you have thick hair or glasses.
They have good bass accuracy. Although they lack thump and rumble, they have a bump of extra boom and warmth that can emphasize sound effects like footsteps in first-person shooters.
Note: Bass delivery varies depending on fit, seal, and positioning. Our response represents the average response, and your experience may differ.
These gaming headphones have excellent mid accuracy. The range is fairly balanced, so dialogue and lead instruments sound clear and present. There's a dip in the mid-mid though, so vocals and lead instruments in songs like Lord's Apparition from the Elden Ring soundtrack are pushed to the back of the mix.
They have adequate treble accuracy. It's underemphasized across the range, so dialogue and instruments are veiled, and sibilants like cymbals are dull.
Note: Treble delivery varies depending on fit, seal, and positioning. Our response represents the average response, and your experience may differ.
They have a good peaks and dips performance, so they control their sound profile well. However, some mismatch is present between the left and right drivers. A bump in the high-bass affects the left driver more prominently, adding more boom to mixes. A dip in the mid-mid nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix, while a peak in the high-mid makes their upper harmonics bright. A peak in the right driver's low-treble can further harshen vocals and lead instruments. Another peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants like cymbals piercing.
The second-generation Astro A10 have great imaging. This is typical for Astro headphones that we've tested and indicates the brand's quality control and ergonomics. Our unit's weighted group delay falls below the audibility threshold, which results in tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. The L/R drivers are also well-matched regarding phase and amplitude response, which helps ensure a balanced and stable stereo image. Although there's a small peak between the mid to high-mid in the phase response, it isn't audible with real-life content. The frequency mismatch also falls slightly outside good levels, meaning there can be small holes in the stereo image. Imaging can vary between units, so you may have a different experience.
These headphones have an okay passive soundstage performance. It seems somewhat small and unnatural, but sound is perceived as coming from speakers placed around you rather than from inside your head, which can help create a more immersive listening experience. However, since they're closed-back headphones, their soundstage isn't as open or spacious as that produced by open-back headphones.
They have a good weighted harmonic distortion performance. There's a spike in the low- to mid-bass, making your audio sound a little impure. However, this distortion can be hard to hear with real-life content. The rest of the frequency response falls within good limits, resulting in mostly clear and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when using these settings.
Their noise isolation performance is poor, which is normal for gaming headphones without ANC. They don't block out any of the low rumbles of bus engines and don't do much better with mid-range noise like voices. However, they're better at reducing high-pitched sounds like computer fans and A/C units.
They leak quite a bit of audio in the mid and treble ranges. If you're gaming at a high volume in a moderately noisy environment like a living room, others around you will hear some of your audio.
The mic has a decent recording quality. It doesn't perform as well as the Astro A10, and it's likely because the mic is shorter and sits further away from your mouth. It makes your voice sound bright and natural but is lacking in body.
The mic has a decent noise handling performance. The mic doesn't perform as well as that of the Astro A10, likely due to its shortened length. Since the mic sits further away from your mouth, it captures more ambient noise along with your voice. Still, moderate background noise isn't enough to drown out your voice completely. Louder sounds, like a bus going by outside, are audible to whoever you're speaking with but won't drown out your voice.
These headphones come with a detachable 1/8" TRRS cable with an in-line volume wheel and a Y-splitter to connect them to your PC.
These wired headphones are compatible with PCs via their analog cable.
The second-generation Astro A10 are compatible with PlayStation consoles if you plug their 1/8" TRRS cable into a controller.
You can plug their 1/8" TRRS cable into your Xbox controller for full audio and mic compatibility.