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 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 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 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.
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You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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