The Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless are the second generation of the Astro A20 Wireless. They have a reasonably well-balanced sound profile, low wireless audio latency with compatible devices, and enough battery life for long gaming marathons. Unfortunately, since they have a plug-in-and-play design, they also don't feature any virtual soundstage features and aren't Bluetooth-compatible. On the upside, even though they come in console-specific variants, you can always purchase an additional dongle for cross-platform compatibility.
Our Verdict
The Astro A20 (Gen 2) are decent for neutral sound. They have a slightly V-shaped sound profile that's still reasonably well-balanced overall. The overemphasized bass response adds a little more thump and rumble to mixes without overwhelming dialogue or lead instrumentals. However, the exaggerated treble range can make some notes sound piercing and harsh. They also feature three onboard EQ presets to adjust your listening experience.
- Consistent audio delivery.
- No physical playback controls.
The Astro A20 (Gen 2) are poor for commuting and traveling, though they aren't designed for this use. Since they aren't Bluetooth-compatible, you need an adapter to plug their USB dongle into your phone. They block out almost no ambient noise in the bass and mid-range, like the low rumble of bus engines and the chatter of other passengers. They're also quite bulky and lack any sort of carrying case. Thankfully, they're decently comfortable and will have enough battery life for long trips.
- Good build quality.
- Long battery life.
- Decently comfortable, stable fit.
- Bulky design.
- Terrible noise isolation capability.
- Lack of Bluetooth compatibility.
- No physical playback controls.
The Astro A20 Gen 2 are passable for sports and fitness, though this isn't their intended use. You need an adapter to plug their dongle into your phone, which isn't especially practical. They're also fairly bulky overall. That said, while they might fall off if you wear them while working out, their wireless design eliminates the risk of having an audio cable snag on something while you're on the move. They also feel quite well-made.
- Good build quality.
- Long battery life.
- Decently comfortable, stable fit.
- Bulky design.
- Lack of Bluetooth compatibility.
- No physical playback controls.
The Astro A20 (Gen 2) are middling for office use. They leak a lot of audio, so you may annoy people nearby if you listen to content at a high volume. They also let in a lot of ambient noise, meaning that you're likely to hear the chatter of coworkers nearby. Since they aren't Bluetooth-compatible, you can't stream music off your phone while remaining connected to your PC.
- Long battery life.
- Decently comfortable, stable fit.
- Terrible noise isolation capability.
- Lack of Bluetooth compatibility.
- High levels of audio leakage.
The Astro A20 (Gen 2) are decent for wireless gaming. They're decently comfortable and have very low wireless latency, so you won't miss a crucial audio cue or line of dialogue in the moment. They also have a fairly well-balanced sound profile with just a little added bass, which will emphasize sound effects without overwhelming more delicate audio. Unfortunately, while their boom mic is fairly effective at isolating your speech from ambient noise so teammates can hear you clearly in noisy environments, recorded speech sounds a little thin and muffled.
- Low wireless audio latency.
- Decent microphone noise handling capability.
- Mediocre microphone recording quality.
- Lack of Bluetooth compatibility.
The Astro A20 (Gen 2) are wireless-only headphones and can't be used via a wired connection.
The Astro A20 (Gen 2) are unremarkable for making phone calls. They let in a lot of ambient noise, so you may have trouble following what's being said on a call. Also, their boom microphone makes your voice sound thin and muffled. Thankfully, it does a decent job of isolating your voice from fairly loud ambient noise.
- Decent microphone noise handling capability.
- Decently comfortable, stable fit.
- Mediocre microphone recording quality.
- Terrible noise isolation capability.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 30, 2023: We've updated this review's text to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
- Updated Nov 02, 2023: The following test group has been updated following TB 1.6: Wireless Connection (Dongle). There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
- Updated Nov 02, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
- Updated Apr 22, 2022: We've retested non-Bluetooth wireless latency as our original results seemed to indicate a communication issue between our software and headphones, which didn't reflect real-life usage. The new measurements are a result of changes to our methodology, and the scoring of this test has changed.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Astro A20 (Gen 2) come in two variants: 'White/Blue' and 'White/Green'. We tested the 'White/Blue' variant, and you can see its label here. The 'White/Blue' variant is compatible with PlayStation consoles and PCs, while the 'White/Green' variant is compatible with Xbox consoles and PCs, so it's important to ensure you get the right variant for your needs.
If you come across a different variant, let us know in the forums so we can update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Astro A20 (Gen 2) are simple wireless gaming headphones. Compared to their predecessor, the Astro A20 Wireless, they have a longer battery life, more consistent audio delivery, and lower wireless latency, though they're similarly designed otherwise.
If you're looking for alternatives, look at our recommendations for the best PS4 gaming headsets, the best wireless gaming headsets, and the best gaming headsets.
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 A30 Wireless are better gaming headphones than the Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless. The A30 are better-built, have a better mic performance, thanks to their detachable boom mic, and have a significantly longer continuous battery life. They also have companion app support, so you can adjust their sound to your liking, and support Bluetooth, so you can use them casually or stay connected to your console and PC simultaneously. That said, the A20 Gen 2 have a more spacious and immersive passive soundstage.
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless are more versatile than the Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless. The Turtle Beach are Bluetooth-compatible, allowing you to stream music from your phone or chat with friends while gaming. They're also slightly more portable, better-built, block out more ambient noise, have a more stable fit, and offer superior microphone recording quality. Conversely, the Astro last longer on a charge and exhibit lower wireless audio latency.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are better for wireless gaming than the Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless. The SteelSeries are more comfortable, better-built, have a more comprehensive, easier-to-use control scheme, and offer superior overall microphone performance. They can also be used on a wired connection thanks to their included 1/8" TRRS cable. Meanwhile, the Astro deliver audio more consistently.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
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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