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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.6 update for Headphones! Read the Latency R&D Article to learn more.

Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.6
Review updated Apr 15, 2021 at 10:49 am
Latest change: Test bench update Dec 12, 2023 at 09:20 am
Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 Picture
8.1
Neutral Sound
4.3
Commute/Travel
5.5
Sports/Fitness
5.7
Office
6.2
Wireless Gaming
8.2
Wired Gaming
7.0
Phone Calls

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 is a gaming headset with a great microphone performance. These headphones have a warm sound profile and the same comfortable and sturdy build of the previous-generation Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017. The look of the MixAmp has changed, but it offers the same multiple inputs and controls. Because of their open-back design, these headphones don't block out ambient noise. Although we managed to use our Xbox One model on the PS4 using PC mode, this may not work if you try using the PS4 variant on Xbox One, so be sure to get the appropriate console variant for your needs. Unfortunately, there have been user reports of significant issues using the software, and you can read more in the App Support box.

Our Verdict

8.1 Neutral Sound

The Astro A40 headset is good for neutral sound. These headphones have a great, spacious passive soundstage to help immerse you in your audio. However, they're prone to inconsistent treble delivery and have a warm sound profile. While it's not as bass-heavy as their previous generation, it may still sound a bit muddy and cluttered. They have companion software with a graphic EQ and presets, but some users have experienced issues using it.

Pros
  • Comfortable and sturdy design.
  • Open, spacious passive soundstage.
Cons
  • Treble accuracy out-of-the-box is just okay.
4.3 Commute/Travel

The Astro A40 headset is poor for commuting and travel. They're gaming headphones and aren't intended for this purpose. While they have a comfortable fit, they're bulky and don't fold into a more compact shape. They aren't very stable if you move around too much either. They don't block out any ambient noise, so they don't reduce the sound of a plane engine or background conversations. They also leak a lot of audio, so people nearby can hear your music.

Pros
  • Comfortable and sturdy design.
Cons
  • Bulky design.
  • Poor noise isolation, by design.
5.5 Sports/Fitness

The Astro A40 headset is sub-par for sports and fitness use. These headphones are designed for wired gaming and aren't intended for use during workouts. Even though they're open-back, they trap quite a bit of heat against your ears and may make you sweat more during physical activity. Their wired design may get in your way during exercise, and their bulky shape makes them less convenient to carry around. They also don't have the most stable fit and may fall off your head during more intense workouts.

Pros
  • Comfortable and sturdy design.
Cons
  • Bulky design.
  • No IP rating for water resistance.
5.7 Office

The Astro A40 headset is disappointing for office use. Because of their open-back design, these headphones don't block out ambient sound, so they won't isolate you from background conversations or other office-type noise. They also leak a lot of sound, so when you're listening to music it may be audible to people nearby. On the upside, as wired passive headphones, they don't have a battery life you need to worry about, but that also means you don’t get the freedom of movement that comes with wireless headphones.

Pros
  • Comfortable and sturdy design.
Cons
  • Bulky design.
  • Poor noise isolation, by design.
6.2 Wireless Gaming

The Astro A40 headset can only be used wired and isn't suitable for wireless gaming.

8.2 Wired Gaming

The Astro A40 headset is impressive for wired gaming. These headphones should be comfortable enough for long gaming sessions, and their wired connection means you encounter very low audio latency. Their microphone has a great recording quality and has no issue separating your voice from background noise. The MixAmp offers useful controls, too, like allowing you to adjust the levels of game and chat audio and select different EQ presets.

Pros
  • Comfortable and sturdy design.
  • Great microphone performance.
  • MixAmp allows you to mix game and chat audio.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation, by design.
7.0 Phone Calls

The Astro A40 headset is decent for phone calls. The microphone has a great recording quality and little trouble separating your voice from background noise, even in loud environments. Unfortunately, these headphones have an open-back design so they don't isolate you from any ambient sound. If you're talking on the phone somewhere noisy, you may not be able to hear whoever you're talking to. Also, they don't have any call management controls.

Pros
  • Great microphone performance.
Cons
  • No phone call management controls.
  • 8.1 Neutral Sound
  • 4.3 Commute/Travel
  • 5.5 Sports/Fitness
  • 5.7 Office
  • 6.2 Wireless Gaming
  • 8.2 Wired Gaming
  • 7.0 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Dec 12, 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.
  2. Updated Oct 23, 2023: We've added mentions of the Astro MixAmp M80 in the 'Differences Between Variants' section, as well as the 'Xbox Compatibility' and 'Base/Dock' test boxes.
  3. Updated May 12, 2023: We have updated Test Settings to reflect the EQ preset used for testing. After user feedback, we retested Passive Soundstage to ensure that our results were consistent. We've also provided a PRTF graph for passive soundstage when the side-plates are on versus off. However, there hasn't been a change in the scoring of this test.
  4. 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.
  5. Updated Dec 16, 2022: We've added a comparison between the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 and the Astro A30 Wireless in the Compared To Others box.
  6. Updated Oct 18, 2021: We've updated the 'Codec' in Test Settings.
  7. Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  8. Updated Apr 15, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  9. Updated Feb 23, 2021: Due to user feedback, we have tested these headphones' audio quality via wired USB on the Xbox Series X console. There has been no change in the scoring of this review.
  10. Updated Feb 14, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
  11. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
  12. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
  13. Updated May 17, 2019: Review published.
  14. Updated May 15, 2019: Early access published.
  15. Updated May 13, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
  16. Updated May 13, 2019: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  17. Updated May 07, 2019: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

There are a few different variants of the Astro A40. We tested the variant advertised as compatible with Xbox One and PCs, but Astro also sells a variant advertised as compatible with PlayStation consoles and PCs. We also expect our test results to be valid for that variant, except that it may not work with Xbox consoles. Astro also manufactures the MixAmp M80: a preamp with a smaller form factor that attaches itself directly to a controller. However, it's only compatible with Xbox series consoles and PC. These headphones are available in 'Black' or 'Blue'.

Compared To Other Headphones

While being almost identical to their previous generation, the Astro A40 set themselves apart with their unique design and great amp. However, they aren't as customizable as some other gaming headphones, like the Logitech G635 or the SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC. A closed-back alternative to the open-back A40 are the Astro A30 Wireless, which still have swappable speaker tags but won't leak as much audio.

For other options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best headsets for Xbox One, and the best headsets for PS4.

Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019

The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 and the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are both great gaming headphones. The A50 are wireless-only while the A40 are wired only and have an open-back design. The A50 have a well-balanced sound profile, but their soundstage isn't as spacious as that of the open-back A40. If you also don’t want to be limited by battery life, then the A40 are a better option.

Astro A30 Wireless

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are better wired gaming headphones than the Astro A30 Wireless. The A40 have an in-line amp that lets you configure your connection to your console, cycle between EQ presets, use surround sound and adjust game/chat volume. They also have an open-back design that makes game audio more immersive. However, the A40's open-back design won't block out any outside noise, and people around you will hear the game almost as well as you. The A30 are a solid choice if you're looking for wireless gaming headphones with low latency and a closed-back design that doesn't leak much audio.

Astro A10 Gen 2

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 Astro are simple wired headphones that work with most consoles via analog connection, so you might prefer them if you want straightforward headphones for gaming.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 have a slight edge over the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for gaming. The Astro are open-back headphones that are more comfortable, better built, and have a more immersive passive soundstage. Their sound profile is also more neutral, and the overall microphone performance is better. However, the SteelSeries have a more customizable performance, and their GameDAC makes it easy to adjust controls on the fly.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC and the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are both impressive headphones for wired gaming. The open-back Astro have a better mic and reproduce audio more consistently across users, but are a bit boomy in the bass. The SteelSeries’ audio reproduction depends a lot on who’s wearing them, but they come with a great onboard 10-band EQ, so you can quickly customize their sound to meet your needs on-the-fly.

Logitech G Pro X Gaming Headset

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 is a better-wired gaming headset than the Logitech G Pro X Gaming Headset. Both have a comfortable design, but the open-back design of the Astro yields a more spacious, immersive soundstage. The Logitech are much more customizable thanks to their companion software, but the Astro come with an excellent base station that allows for live channel mixing and more connectivity options.

Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are better open-back gaming headphones than the Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset. The Astro have more controls and better customization support via their app, which the Sennheiser lack. The Astro feel better built and have a great bass performance despite their open-back design. However, some people have reported issues using the companion software, which is a bit disappointing. On the other hand, the Sennheiser might offer better value if you don’t really have a need for an app, as they are quite versatile and work with every console that has the appropriate jack, while you need a console-specific model for the Astro.

Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 SuperAmp

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are better gaming headphones than the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 SuperAmp. The Astro have a noticeably better dock that offers more inputs and more controls like channel mixing, on top of having a more spacious soundstage as well thanks to their open-back design. The Astro also have a better companion app with more customization options, although users have experienced issues with the software. On the other hand, the Turtle Beach is Bluetooth compatible so you can stream music from your phone while playing on consoles, and they have a more secure and stable fit, but that’s about it.

JBL Quantum ONE

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are better wired gaming headphones than the JBL Quantum ONE. They’re very comfortable, well-built, and offer a high degree of on-the-fly adjustability when used in conjunction with the MixAmp remote, which offer physical controls for channel mixing, volume, EQ preset cycling, and surround sound activation. The Astro's open-back design also provides a far more immersive listening experience. However, that design philosophy means that the JBL are slightly more versatile, as they a much better job of blocking out ambient noise and don't leak nearly as much audio.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are better for most uses than the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO. The Astro are more comfortable and have companion software that offers sound customization features, though some users have reported issues using it. They also have a mic with a great performance and a better passive soundstage. On the other hand, the Beyerdynamic have a somewhat more neutral sound profile, with much better treble accuracy than the Astro's default sound profile. 

Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are better wired gaming headphones than the Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X. While both headphones are comfortable, the Astro have better controls, are better built, and are compatible with Astro Command Center software, which allows you to customize their sound using a graphic EQ and presets. Some users have reported issues when using the companion software though. They also have a virtual soundstage feature, although we don't currently test its performance. 

Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017

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 has a less bass-heavy default sound profile than the 2017 model, and they deliver sound much more consistently. Another improvement is that you don’t need to use the optical cable with the MixAmp, but that’s about it. Other differences are mainly aesthetic, like the Amp design or the color schemes of different model variants.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless are more versatile than the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 thanks to their wireless design. They also feature a useful dual-battery system that makes it near impossible to run out of power, and they can also be used via Bluetooth as well. The Astro, on the other hand, reproduce sound more accurately across different users and are slightly more comfortable.

Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are the wired variant of the Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017, so they are very similar. The A40 are open-back and their microphone is better than the wireless A50. Both can be used with PCs, Xbox One, and PS4, but you might have to play around with settings to get audio and mic support. The A40 have the same great build quality, and both can be used with the Astro Command Center software on PC, though some users have experienced issues when using it. If you prefer the freedom of a wireless headset, go with the A50. If you don’t want any latency and don’t want the hassle to charge your headphones, get the A40.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal or the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019. Thanks to their closed-back design, the Bang & Olufsen have better noise isolation and leakage performances. Also, you can use them wirelessly via Bluetooth or Xbox Wireless. However, the Astro are better for wired gaming, as they're more comfortable, have a more neutral sound profile, and better microphone performance. Also, their open-back design helps create a better passive soundstage.

EPOS Sennheiser GSP 600

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 is better for wired gaming than the EPOS Sennheiser GSP 600. The Astro are open-back headphones with a better soundstage, and they come with companion software that has a graphic EQ so you can customize their sound, though some users have encountered issues when trying to use it. They're also more comfortable, with a more neutral default sound profile and better frequency response consistency. That said, the closed-back EPOS have better noise isolation and leakage performances, and they're more stable.

HyperX Cloud Revolver

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are better wired gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Revolver. The Astro have a more comfortable design for long gaming sessions, and their open-back design reproduces audio more consistently across different users. They're also customizable through their companion software, unlike the HyperX, although some users have experienced issues using it. On the other hand, the HyperX's mic has a somewhat better recording quality, and their closed-back design means they leak a little less audio. 

Beats Solo Pro Wireless

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 and the Beats Solo Pro Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer either one. The Astro are more comfortable gaming headphones, have a virtual soundstage feature, and their boom mic offers better overall performance. Their companion software also has a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking. However, some users have encountered issues using it. Conversely, the Beats are better for casual use. They have a wireless design, have a more neutral sound profile that some users may prefer, and have an ANC system that can block out more ambient noise around you.

Razer Kraken Ultimate

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are much better wired gaming headphones than the Razer Kraken Ultimate. The Astro are more comfortable, have better controls that you can tweak on-the-fly, and they have a slightly better build. Their sound profile is also better balanced, they have a more consistent frequency response, and their detachable boom microphone has a better overall performance. However, the Razer have an adjustable surround sound feature.

Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are significantly better wired gaming headphones than the Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND. The Astro are more comfortable, and their MixAmp remote gives much better control options than the basic control scheme found on the ear cups of the Corsair. The Astro also have a more neutral default sound profile, more consistent audio delivery, a much better-performing microphone, and slightly better companion software. On the other hand, the Corsair have better noise isolation thanks to their closed-back design, as opposed to the open-back style of the Astro. 

Corsair HS70 Bluetooth

The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are better for wired gaming, but the Corsair HS70 Bluetooth are more versatile. While both gaming headphones have similarly great overall boom mic performances, the Astro are more comfortable and have a mixamp that allows you to adjust their sound on-the-fly. They also have a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. However, the Corsair support Bluetooth and have around 24 hours of playback time.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Open-Back
Wireless No
Transducer Dynamic

The style of the newest generation of the Astro A40 headset is practically identical to the previous model but comes in different color schemes. These headphones now have an all-black frame, while the color accent indicates the console variant. The biggest difference in style is the remodeled MixAmp that now sits horizontally and has a more premium finished look. The speaker tags can be swapped out to customize the look of the headphones, and the manufacturer sells them in plenty of different colors and design. The boom mic is also detachable for a more casual look.

8.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.82 lbs
Clamping Force
0.9 lbs

The Astro A40 headset is very comfortable to wear during long gaming sessions. Similar to the Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017 and the previous-generation Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017, these headphones have soft padding and very large and spacious cups that should fit comfortably on most ears. The headphones are a bit bulky, but the headband does a good job of distributing the weight.

6.2
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Good
Call/Music Control No
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control Mute/Unmute
Channel Mixing
Yes
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls Presets + Surround Sound

The Astro A40 headset has mediocre controls. These headphones are designed for gaming and don't include any call or music management controls. They come with an in-line remote that only has a mic-mute button. That said, their audio cable is connected to the MixAmp, which offers additional controls. You get a volume knob and a channel mixing knob, which has a notch in the middle to indicate an equal 50/50 mix between game and chat audio. The MixAmp also has buttons that allow you to cycle through the EQ presets and enable/disable Dolby Surround Sound. There's also a switch at the back to toggle between console and PC mode. The buttons are easy to use and offer good feedback, but the volume knob doesn’t feel as nice as the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 SuperAmp.

6.4
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 6.1 °C

The Astro A40 headset is passably breathable. Although they're open-back headphones, they trap a little more heat than the closed-back Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019. The overall difference in temperature isn't too drastic and shouldn't be much of an issue if you're sitting and gaming, though. However, they aren't intended for sports use and aren't an ideal option for working out as they may make you sweat more.

5.3
Design
Portability
L 7.2" (18.3 cm)
W 7.5" (19.1 cm)
H 4.0" (10.2 cm)
Volume 216.00 in³ (3,539.59 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

The Astro A40 headset has disappointing portability. These headphones are quite bulky, like most gaming headphones, and aren't intended for use when you're out and about. The headband doesn't fold into a more compact format, but the earcups swivel to lay flat, and the mic can be detached, which makes it a bit easier to slide the headphones into a bag. Also, unlike the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019, you can use them with their 1/8" TRRS cable without the MixAmp.

0
Design
Case
Type No case
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A
8.0
Design
Build Quality

The Astro A40 headset has an impressive build quality. These headphones are practically identical to the previous model and feel well-built and sturdy. The earcups are dense and should survive a few accidental drops without much damage. However, like the Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017, the headband is somewhat open and a little hollow with only the plastic midsection resting on the head. It's flexible but doesn't feel as resistant as a regular headband, especially ones with a metal frame. Although we don't currently test for it, they also lack an IP rating for water resistance, which is to be expected for gaming headphones.

6.0
Design
Stability

The Astro A40 headset has acceptable stability. These headphones should stay in place with no issue when you're sitting and gaming. However, they aren't intended for sports use. They don't fit very tightly on your head and have bulky, heavy earcups, so they sway around a lot during any kind of physical activity. Because they're wired, their audio cable could snag on something and pull the headphones off your head, but luckily the cable is detachable.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Astro A40 TR headphones
  • MixAmp Pro
  • USB to micro-USB cable
  • 1/8" TRRS cable
  • Optical cable
  • Daisy chain cable
  • Manuals

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
0.4 dB
Treble Amount
-4.2 dB

Using the 'Natural Bass' EQ preset, the Astro A40 has a warm sound profile. These headphones deliver a bit of extra boom, which can help emphasize sound effects in action games. That said, they have a balanced mid-range, so dialogue sounds clear, although a bit dark and veiled. While their companion software offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you customize their sound, users have encountered issues with it and you can read more in the App Support box. That said, you can see a comparison of the EQ presets here.

Some users have reported that, after a firmware update, their headphones' sound profile changed when used wired via USB on the Xbox Series X|S. We first ran a frequency response sweep with the new firmware update, but there wasn't much of a change. You can see the comparative results here. While we don't run sound testing on consoles, we also did a subjective sweep to compare audio quality between PC via USB and Xbox Series X via USB. We noticed that audio sounded tighter and sharper on the PC while audio from the Xbox was more bass-heavy. Unfortunately, we don't have a measurement of the Xbox's audio pre-firmware update to compare it to.

7.1
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.6 dB

The Astro A40 headset has decent frequency response consistency. These headphones have consistent mid-range delivery, but you may experience a drop in bass if the headphones don't fit flush with your head, which may happen if you wear glasses or have thick hair. Their treble delivery also varies depending on the fit, seal, and positioning of the headphones. However, if you can achieve a good fit, you should get a fairly consistent response each time you use them.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
8.5
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
2.21 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10 Hz
Low-Bass
-0.85 dB
Mid-Bass
1.51 dB
High-Bass
3.59 dB

The Astro A40 has great bass accuracy. Most of the range is quite flat and well-balanced, so audio has the right amount of thump, rumble, and punch. There's some extra high bass, which adds boominess to music and emphasizes sound effects in games. However, people who wear glasses or who have thick hair may experience a slight drop in bass.

8.8
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.62 dB
Low-Mid
2.46 dB
Mid-Mid
0.41 dB
High-Mid
-0.57 dB

The Astro A40 headset has excellent mid-range accuracy. The low-mid range is somewhat overemphasized, which is a continuation of the bump in high-bass. This makes vocals and instruments sound a bit muddy or cluttered. The rest of the response is flat, so instruments and voices are mostly clear and accurate.

6.5
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
5.08 dB
Low-Treble
-5.03 dB
Mid-Treble
0.02 dB
High-Treble
-12.78 dB

The treble accuracy of the Astro A40 headset is mediocre. The low-treble range is underemphasized, so lead vocals and instruments lack detail and sound veiled. However, sibilants like cymbals and S and T sounds should be bright and present. The treble delivery depends on the fit and positioning of the headphones, so your experience may vary.

7.1
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.04 dB
Dips
1.06 dB

The peaks and dips performance of the Astro A40 headset is satisfactory. There's a low peak in the high-bass range, which adds boominess, while dips in the low-treble veil lead instruments and vocals. A bigger peak in the mid-treble range makes sibilants like S and T sounds piercing.

8.4
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.17
Weighted Phase Mismatch
7.8
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.93
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.86

The Astro A40 headset has a great imaging performance. The weighted group delay falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in tight bass and transparent audio reproduction. Additionally, the L/R drivers of our unit are very well-matched in terms of amplitude, frequency, and phase response, so objects (like footsteps) and instruments are accurately located in the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our unit and yours may perform differently.

8.3
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
2.79 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
4.37 dB
PRTF Distance
16.94 dB
Openness
9.3
Acoustic Space Excitation
7.6

These headphones have a great passive soundstage with their side-plates on. It's very open and spacious, thanks to their open-back design. In addition, sound is perceived as coming from speakers in the room around you and not from inside your head, which is an improvement over the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017.

If you remove the side-plates, you'll experience a similar passive soundstage experience. Sound is able to activate your outer ear a bit more, but the effect is subtle. You can see a comparison between the side-plates on (in blue) and side-plates off (in green) here.

2.0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
On/Off
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
Dolby 7.1

The Astro A40 have a Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound feature, but we don't currently test it.

7.3
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.333
WHD @ 100
0.196

The Astro A40 have a decent weighted harmonic distortion performance. There's a minor peak in the low-treble at normal volumes, but it shouldn't be very noticeable to most. Otherwise, most frequencies fall within good limits, which results in fairly clear and pure audio reproduction.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
Unknown
Power
USB
Connection
USB
Codec
PCM, 16-bit, 48kHz
EQ
Natural Bass
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
Boom

These are the settings used to test the Astro A40. Our results are only valid when the headphones are used in this configuration.

Isolation
1.9
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-5.73 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
0.19 dB
Mid
-0.94 dB
Treble
-16.32 dB

The Astro A40 headset has a bad noise isolation performance, which is expected from open-back headphones. These headphones isolate you from virtually no ambient sound, including bus and plane engines and background conversations. They do a little better with high-pitched noises like humming from an AC unit, but it's not a very noticeable reduction, and overall they aren't really suitable for use in noisy environments. If you want gaming headphones with better noise isolation thanks to their ANC feature, check out the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal.

3.4
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
56.31 dB

The Astro A40 headset has a poor leakage performance. Because of their open-back design, these headphones leak a lot of audio from a broad range of frequencies. Someone in the room with you is likely to hear your audio, and it sounds full-bodied compared with the more thin-sounding leakage from in-ears or earbuds.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
In-Line
No
Boom
Yes
Detachable Boom
Yes
Mic Yes
8.3
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
20 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
1.46 dB
HFE
3,948.06 Hz
Weighted THD
0.238
Gain
28.71 dB

The Astro A40 headset's boom mic has a great recording quality. Your voice sounds deep and full as well as clear and easy to understand. However, it does lack some airiness, and your voice can sound slightly muffled.

8.3
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
41.84 dB
Noise Gate
On/Off Toggle
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
8.5
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
8.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The Astro A40 headset has an excellent noise handling performance. Even in a loud environment, the mic can effectively separate your voice from background sounds. This microphone uses a noise gate, which you can't disable, but you can choose between a few different sensitivity options.

Note: We tested the microphone with the noise gate set to 'Night' mode.

Active Features
0
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
No Battery
Continuous Battery Life
N/A
Additional Charges
N/A
Total Battery Life
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
Power-Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
Passive Headphone
Charging Port None
6.0
Active Features
App Support
App Name Astro Command Center
iOS No
Android No
macOS Yes
Windows Yes
Equalizer
Graphic + Presets
ANC Control
No
Mic Control Adjustable Level
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No

These headphones are compatible with Astro Command Center. However, some users have reported severe issues when using the software, which may be due to Astro moving the software download from their site to the Microsoft Store. Users can't update the headphones' firmware, which is necessary if you want to connect them via USB to newer consoles like the PS5. Users are unable to access any of the software's features too. Unfortunately, these issues can be a dealbreaker if you're looking to pick up these headphones.

When working correctly, the Astro Command Center provides a great graphic EQ that you can assign to the EQ button on the MixAmp so you can cycle between different saved presets. You can also create your own custom EQ presets. The microphone tab gives you control over the mic level and the noise gate. However, the EQ only offers five bands, so these headphones aren't as customizable as the Logitech G635.

Connectivity
9.7
Connectivity
Wired Connection
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
USB Type A
Detachable
Yes
Length
6.80 ft (2.07 m)
Connector
1/8" TRRS
Latency - Analog
0.3 ms
Latency - USB
10.6 ms
Recorded Latency
Recorded Latency Connection USB

The Astro A40 headset can be used with or without the MixAmp. These headphones have a typical 1/8” TRRS analog cable that provides audio and microphone support on all consoles when plugged into a controller.

0
Connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Bluetooth Version
No Bluetooth
Multi-Device Pairing
No
Quick Pair (Android)
No
Quick Pair (iOS)
No
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Latency - SBC
N/A
Latency - aptX
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)
N/A
Latency - LDAC
N/A
Recorded Latency
N/A
Recorded Latency Codec No Bluetooth Audio
AAC Support
No

The Astro A40 headset has no Bluetooth compatibility. If you want a Bluetooth-capable gaming headset, check out the Turtle Beach Elite 800 Wireless, the HyperX Cloud Mix Wireless, or the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless.

0
Connectivity
Wireless Connection (Dongle)
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Latency - Dongle
N/A
Recorded Latency
N/A
Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio + Microphone
Wired USB
Audio + Microphone
Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio + Microphone
PS4 Wired USB
Audio + Microphone
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
Audio + Microphone
PS5 Wired USB
Audio + Microphone
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio + Microphone
Xbox One Wired USB
Audio + Microphone
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio + Microphone
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
Audio + Microphone
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No

Update 02/23/2021: Some users have reported that their headphones' sound profile changed when used wired via USB on the Xbox Series X|S after firmware update 36797. While we don't run sound testing on consoles, we did a subjective sweep to compare audio quality when connected to a PC via USB and the Xbox Series X via USB. We noticed that audio sounded tighter and sharper on the PC, while audio from the Xbox was more bass-heavy. Unfortunately, we don't have a measurement of the Xbox's audio pre-firmware update to compare it to.

The Astro A40 headset is fully compatible with both the Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles with either the 1/8" TRRS cable plugged into the controller or the MixAmp connected to the console. Since the Xbox Series X doesn't have an optical port, you have to connect it to the MixAmp via USB. You can find more information about that here. Astro also offers an alternative pre-amp, the MixAmp M80, which connects directly to your Xbox Controller and allows you to connect the headset via a 1/8" TRRS jack.

7.8
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
Wired USB dock
USB Input
Yes
Line In
Yes
Line Out
Yes
Optical Input
Yes
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
USB

The Astro A40 headset has a very good USB dock with plenty of inputs and controls. These headphones have a regular line-in audio jack, an optical input, and audio via the USB cable when plugged into your PC or console. The manufacturer advertises them as either Xbox One or PS4 compatible, but we managed to get both audio and microphone support on our Xbox One model for both consoles. Xbox users also have the option to use the MixAmp M80, which plugs directly into your Xbox controller but has fewer controls and inputs. We used the PC Mode of the amp for the PS4 and the console mode for the Xbox One. However, we don't expect you to be able to use the PS4 model variant on the Xbox One. You can also daisy-chain multiple amps together in a tournament setting.