The Astro A40 TR MixAmp Pro are great gaming headphones that are advertised as console-locked to either the PS4 or Xbox One. They are well-built and very comfortable for long gaming sessions. Their audio quality is good, with overemphasized bass. They have a great microphone for online multiplayer gaming and their dock gives good controls. Unfortunately, the headset is very bulky. Due to the open-back design, they won’t be ideal to use in a loud environment. Note that we tested the Xbox One variant of this headset, but we expect similar results for the PS4 variant. Unfortunately, there have been user reports of significant issues using the software, and you can read more in the App Support box.
Our Verdict
Good for neutral listening. The Astro A40 have a powerful and extended bass, a virtually flawless mid-range, but a just okay treble that is underemphasized and lacking in detail. Their bass is also prone to inconsistencies and noticeably overdone, but some may prefer the extra thump of it. However, they sound muddy and slightly cluttered. Overall, they will be better suited for bass-heavy genres and video games with lots of explosion noises. You can also easily cycle through EQ presets on the amp, which is useful.
- Comfortable and sturdy design.
- Good audio reproduction with EQ and presets built into the amp.
- Great microphone.
- Bulky design.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Sound delivery varies across users. Sensitive to glasses and fit.
Poor for commuting. These headphones are very bulky and hard to carry around. Also, they are open-back and barely isolate against ambient noise, which means all the ambient chatter and deep rumbling of engines will seep into your audio.
- Comfortable and sturdy design.
- Good audio reproduction with EQ and presets built into the amp.
- Great microphone.
- Bulky design.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Sound delivery varies across users. Sensitive to glasses and fit.
Sub-par for sports. These headphones are not designed for this use case as they are very bulky and trap a decent amount of heat inside their ear cups, which will make you sweat more than usual. They are not stable and will easily fall off your ears during physical activity.
- Comfortable and sturdy design.
- Good audio reproduction with EQ and presets built into the amp.
- Great microphone.
- Bulky design.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Sound delivery varies across users. Sensitive to glasses and fit.
Sub-par for the office. Their open design doesn’t isolate any noise, but it also means it will leak quite a lot, which can disturb surrounding colleagues. On the upside, you won’t have to worry about a battery life since they are wired and they are comfortable to wear during long periods of time.
- Comfortable and sturdy design.
- Good audio reproduction with EQ and presets built into the amp.
- Great microphone.
- Bulky design.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Sound delivery varies across users. Sensitive to glasses and fit.
This wired gaming headset can't be used wirelessly.
Great for gaming. The A40 are comfortable for long gaming sessions, have a great sounding microphone, and their sound quality is also good. Their wired connection means you won’t have any delay when playing games, which is great but may not be as convenient as the wireless design of the Astro A50. On the other hand, they come with a great dock with plenty of controls and inputs. You can also control and customize them a bit inside their software on PC, but some people have encountered issues using the software.
- Comfortable and sturdy design.
- Good audio reproduction with EQ and presets built into the amp.
- Great microphone.
- Bulky design.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Sound delivery varies across users. Sensitive to glasses and fit.
- Comfortable and sturdy design.
- Good audio reproduction with EQ and presets built into the amp.
- Great microphone.
- Bulky design.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Sound delivery varies across users. Sensitive to glasses and fit.
Changelog
- Updated Dec 23, 2022: Users have reported significant issues using Astro Command Center. As a result, we have lowered the App Support score from '7.5' to '6.0' and added information regarding the issue to this box.
- Updated Nov 05, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Mar 26, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Astro A40 are great gaming headphones that set themselves apart by their unique design and good amp. However, they aren’t as customizable and don’t offer as much controls as other gaming headsets with amazing software. See our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best PC headsets, the best headsets for Xbox One, and the best headsets for PS4.
The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017 and the Astro A50 Gen 4 are both great headsets, though their connectivity options differ. The A40 2017 can only be used wired, while the A50 2019 can only be used wirelessly. They otherwise perform quite similarly overall, though competitive gamers will likely prefer the wired A40 2017 since they have less latency and require no consideration for battery life.
There isn’t a big difference between the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017 and the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019. The newer model is a bit better, though. You don’t need to use the optical cable with the 2019 model's MixAmp, but that’s about it. Other differences are mainly aesthetic, like the Amp design or the color schemes of different model variants.
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO and the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017 are designed for different purposes but are both fairly versatile. The Beyerdynamic are simple studio headphones designed for critical listening, while the Astro A40 provide a customizable gaming experience. However, the Beyerdynamic can be a viable option for gamers who don't need a mic, while the Astro are also a decent choice for mixing podcasts or live streams. The biggest difference is in their sound profiles - the Beyerdynamic sound quite bright, even piercing to some, while the Astro sound less sharp but are also a bit dark. The Astro have many customization options, so you can more easily tweak their sound profile to better suit your tastes.
The Philips SHP9500 and the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017 are two over-ear headphones with different uses. The Philips are more designed for critical listeners as they have consistent sound delivery with an open-back design to help immerse you in your audio. The Astro, however, are designed for wired gaming, particularly if you prefer gaming with a built-in mic. They offer controls allowing you to tweak your sound experience on the fly, have an excellent boom microphone, and receive full audio and microphone support on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, whether using an analog or wired USB connection.
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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