The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are premium wireless gaming headphones. They have a similar design to previous-generation Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017, but with slight improvements like a more compact base station and superior battery performance. They can only be used wirelessly with the base station, which offers minimal latency. While they have a great microphone, they won’t be the best option if you play in a loud or crowded environment, as they don’t isolate against ambient noise very well. Unfortunately, there have been user reports of significant issues using the software, and you can read more in the App Support box.
Our Verdict
The Astro A50 are great for neutral sound. They have a very good frequency response and have a well-balanced sound profile. Their bass is punchy and extended, while their mid and treble ranges are well-balanced and accurate. Their passive soundstage is also relatively open given their closed-back enclosure. While their companion software also features a graphic EQ that lets you fine-tune your listening experience, users have reported issues using it.
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Comfortable fit.
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Relatively open soundstage.
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Base station is required to make the headphones work.
The Astro A50 are poor for commuting and traveling, though they aren't designed for this use. They need their base station to work, so unless you travel with a laptop and want to connect the dock, you won’t be able to use them. Also, they have a quite terrible noise isolation performance.
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Comfortable fit.
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Bulky design.
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Base station is required to make the headphones work.
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Terrible isolation performance.
The Astro A50 are mediocre for sports and fitness, but this isn't their intended use. You need the base station to use them, so you won’t be able to bring them around for a run or at the gym. You need to work out at your home near the base station, and even then, they're quite bulky and not very stable. They also aren't very breathable, and your ears can sweat quite a bit more than usual while wearing them.
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Comfortable fit.
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Sturdy construction.
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Bulky design.
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Base station is required to make the headphones work.
The Astro A50 are sub-par for office use. Their battery life should last you for a whole workday, but if you work in a crowded office, they won’t be ideal due to their poor isolation performance. They leak a lot of audio, which can be bothersome to people working around you. You need their base station for them to function since they aren't Bluetooth-compatible.
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Comfortable fit.
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Base station is required to make the headphones work.
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Terrible isolation performance.
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High levels of audio leakage.
The Astro A50 are great for wireless gaming. Their wireless base station transmits audio with very low latency, and they feel comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time. Their boom mic yields excellent recording quality and does an amazing job of isolating your voice from background noise. They also feature on-board controls for volume adjustment, channel mixing, EQ preset cycling, and enabling their virtual surround sound feature. They have companion software too, but there have been reported issues using it.
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Comfortable fit.
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Excellent mic recording quality and noise handling capability.
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Terrible isolation performance.
The Astro A50 are wireless-only headphones and can't be used on a wired connection.
The Astro A50 are a satisfactory option for phone calls. Their boom mic makes your voice sound full-bodied and natural while doing an amazing job of isolating it from background noise. Unfortunately, the headphones themselves have awful noise isolation capability, so you may have trouble following what's being said on a call.
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Excellent mic recording quality and noise handling capability.
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Terrible isolation performance.
- 8.1 Neutral Sound
- 5.1 Commute/Travel
- 6.1 Sports/Fitness
- 6.5 Office
- 8.3 Wireless Gaming
- 6.6 Wired Gaming
- 7.1 Phone Calls
- Updated Dec 22, 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 Dec 16, 2022: We've added a comparison between the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 and the Astro A30 Wireless in the Non-Bluetooth Wireless box.
- Updated Sep 01, 2021: Retested PlayStation 5 compatibility.
- Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Mar 11, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Jan 04, 2021: We've updated the Wired test results.
- Updated Feb 14, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Oct 11, 2019: Review published.
- Updated Oct 09, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Oct 09, 2019: Early access published.
- Updated Oct 07, 2019: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Aug 21, 2019: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Astro A50 are available in two variants: 'PC/PS4' and 'PC/Xbox'. We tested the 'PC/PS4' variant, but can't confirm whether or not the other model performs similarly overall.
Let us know in the discussions if you've come across a different variant of these headphones.
Compared To Other Headphones
The Astro A50 are great gaming headphones but aren’t the most versatile as they can only be used wirelessly and you need to buy the appropriate console variant for your needs. Unlike the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox, they also don't support Bluetooth for more casual use either. Thankfully, they're very comfortable and have a well-balanced sound profile that can be customized using the graphic EQ in their companion software. They also come with a charging base that offers several inputs. See our recommendations for the best wireless gaming headsets, the best PS4 gaming headsets, the best Xbox One gaming headsets, and the best gaming headsets.
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.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better wireless gaming headphones than the Astro A30 Wireless. The A50 are better padded and more comfortable than the A30, meaning you can wear them during long tournaments without pain or fatigue. They also deliver audio more consistently, especially if you have thick hair or glasses, which normally break the headphones' seal on your head and cause a drop in bass. The A50's boom mic makes your voice sound more natural and full-bodied than the A30.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better gaming headphones than the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Wireless. The Astro are more comfortable, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their passive soundstage is a lot more immersive and open. Their boom mic offers better performance, and the headphones have lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency. However, the Turtle Beach are loaded with a lot of features like Bluetooth support, so you can stay connected to your console and smartphone simultaneously, ANC to help block out background noise, and even have an integrated mic in addition to a boom mic, so you can use them more casually if you prefer.
Depending on how you game, you may prefer either the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 or the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. The Astro are wireless gaming headphones that are more comfortable, better built, and have more consistent audio delivery. Their default sound profile is more neutral too, and the boom mic has a significantly better overall performance. However, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro are wired headphones that come with a GameDAC so that you can make control adjustments as you game. Their companion software offers significant customization features too.
The Auzede Maxwell Wireless have a slight edge over the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019. While both headphones are well-built, the Audeze have a significantly longer continuous battery life, and support Bluetooth. They have a slightly more neutral sound profile out of the box, which some users may prefer, and they can also be used wired via USB or analog too. However, the Astro are more comfortable, their boom mic offers a better overall performance, and have a more immersive passive soundstage. They also have even lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] have a few more features than the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019, which some users may prefer. While both headphones are well-built, the SteelSeries have ANC to help block out a fair amount of ambient noise around you, come with two battery packs, which offer close to 50 hours of total playback time, and have more robust customization features in their companion software. They also support Bluetooth and come with a DAC, meaning you can adjust your settings on the fly. However, the Astro are more comfortable, have a better overall mic performance, and their passive soundstage sounds more open and natural.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better wireless gaming headphones than the Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT. The Astro come with a dock that also acts as a charging station. They're more comfortable, their boom mic offers better overall performance, and they have lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency. However, the Corsair have a better battery performance and support Bluetooth.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better headphones for gaming than the Logitech G PRO X WIRELESS LIGHTSPEED Gaming Headset. The Astro come with a wireless dock and charging station that provides a low latency gaming experience. Their boom mic has a better recording quality, and their controls include channel mixing and an EQ preset cycle button. However, the Logitech have a longer continuous battery life.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II Wireless. While both headphones are very comfortable and well-built, the Astro deliver audio more consistently and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also have a more open and immersive soundstage, and their overall mic performance is better. However, the HyperX's continuous battery life is longer.
The SteelSeries Arctis 9x Wireless and the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are both very good wireless gaming headphones for the Xbox One, but the Astro perform better overall. The Astro are more comfortable as they have a more ergonomic headband design, and they deliver sound much more consistently than the SteelSeries. They also have a better-performing microphone and come with a full-featured charging dock. However, the SteelSeries connect more conveniently via Xbox Wireless and support Bluetooth so you can mix in audio from your mobile device while gaming. The SteelSeries battery also lasts longer, and they charge much more quickly.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better for wireless gaming than the Corsair HS80 RGB WIRELESS. The Astro are much more comfortable, have a better overall mic performance, and come with a wireless dock that provides a lower latency connection. Their continuous battery life is also longer. On the other hand, the Corsair leak much less and block out more ambient sound, although they still aren't ideal for isolating you from noise. You can also use them wired with PCs.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are considerably better for wireless gaming versus the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless. The Astro are comfier, deliver a better-balanced sound profile more consistently, have a higher-quality boom microphone, and last a little bit longer on a single charge. Meanwhile, the Turtle Beach have companion software with more configuration options, and block out more ambient noise. They're also Bluetooth-compatible, allowing you to chat with friends or stream music from your phone while remaining connected to your console or PC.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better wireless gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless. The Astro are more comfortable, deliver audio more consistently, and have a better performing boom microphone. However, the SteelSeries can be used both wirelessly and wired and have a better overall battery performance.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are way better wireless gaming headphones than the Razer Nari Ultimate Wireless. The Astro are more comfortable, better-built, have a longer battery life, and a better overall microphone performance. On the other hand, the Razer provide bass haptic feedback, which some users may prefer.
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless are more versatile gaming headphones than the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019, as you can use them wired or wirelessly. Although the SteelSeries are prone to more inconsistencies in their audio delivery, their sound can be tweaked on the fly, thanks to the EQ on their wireless transmitter. You can use their dock to store an extra physical battery while another is in your headphones, so you shouldn't have to worry about running out of power. They support Bluetooth, which is nice if you like to stream audio from your phone while gaming. However, the Astro have the edge when it comes to wireless gaming. They have lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency, a more comfortable fit, and their boom mic offers a slightly better overall performance.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless and their variants. The Astro headphones are more comfortable, better-built, and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. Their passive soundstage is more immersive, and their boom mic offers better overall performance. However, the SteelSeries support Bluetooth, meaning you can stay connected to your console and smartphone simultaneously, and they have longer-lasting continuous battery life.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better wireless gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. While both headphones are well-built and comfortable, the Astro have more consistent audio delivery, their passive soundstage performance is better, and they have lower wireless latency. Their boom microphone also has a better recording quality and noise handling performance. Their base station is also console-locked, but you can get a variant that works with either your PlayStation or Xbox console. However, you may still prefer the HyperX if you prioritize a significantly longer continuous battery life and more noise isolation. Keep in mind that users have reported high latency when using their companion software's features though.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are slightly better wireless gaming headphones, although you can use the SteelSeries Arctis 7X Wireless wired and wireless. The Astro are more comfortable and have a wireless dock with many inputs that also charges the headphones. They have a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer, and have a better overall performing boom mic. However, the SteelSeries have a better battery performance, and you can use it on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation consoles with either their wireless USB dongle or their 1/8" TRRS cable.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are much better wireless gaming headphones than the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless. The Astro are much more comfortable and have a significantly more balanced sound profile. Their microphone offers superior recording quality and noise handling capability. Unfortunately, the Astro can't be used wired like the Corsair, meaning they don't work with Xbox One consoles. Also, unlike the Corsair, the Astro block out almost no background chatter and leak much more audio, meaning they aren't as well-suited for gaming with others in the room.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better wireless gaming headphones than the Audeze Penrose Wireless. The Astro are more comfortable, feel better-built, and are more balanced right out-of-the-box. They also support Dolby 7.1, their boom microphone offers better overall performance, and their continuous battery life is longer. However, the Audeze support Bluetooth. They're also planar magnetic headphones, which some users may prefer.
The Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED WIRELESS and the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 have different strengths. While both headphones have a comfortable, well-built design, the Astro are wireless-only headphones with console-specific variants to suit your needs. They have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, their passive soundstage feels more immersive, and their mic offers a superior overall performance. However, some users have encountered issues when using their companion software, which is disappointing. On the flip side, the Logitech support wired as well as wireless connections but can't be used wirelessly on Xbox consoles. They have a longer-lasting continuous battery life and even support Bluetooth, though you can't use it simultaneously with an analog or dongle connection.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are slightly better gaming headphones than the Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017. They are quite similar, but the main difference is the small base station on the 2019 model and the fact that the battery now takes less time to charge while offering a bit more continuous playback. Additionally, the microphone on the 2019 model performs better overall.
The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017 and the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 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.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better for wireless gaming than the Sony PULSE 3D Wireless. The Astro are far more comfortable, better-built, and have a better-balanced sound profile that's delivered more consistently. They also have lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency, and a better overall microphone. However, the Sony can also be used on a wired connection. They also leak less audio and charge faster, though they do have slightly shorter battery life. That said, while they can access a graphic EQ and presets, this feature is only available on updated PS5 consoles.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better gaming headphones than the Turtle Beach Elite 800 Wireless. The Astro have lower latency, which is great for wireless headphones, and they are noticeably more comfortable and better-built. They also have a microphone that delivers superior overall performance. On the other hand, the Turtle Beach are Bluetooth compatible and can also be used wired, so they are a bit more versatile than the Astro. The Turtle Beach also have a noise cancelling feature, although mediocre, that isolates more against ambient noise than the Astro.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7 2019 Edition Wireless are very good wireless gaming headphones, but the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are even better for most people. The Astro are more comfortable, have a better-performing mic, and they come with a nice charging station. However, they take over four hours to charge with their base station and can't be used with a regular audio cable. The SteelSeries have a longer battery life, take less time to charge, and support passive playback.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better gaming headphones than the Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense. The Astro are wireless gaming headphones with very low latency and over 17 hours of continuous playback time. They're significantly comfier, better-built, and can deliver sound more consistently. They also have a more immersive passive soundstage, and their microphone offers better overall performance. However, the Razer are wired gaming headphones with a USB-A connector. They have a haptic feedback feature, customizable RGB lighting, and robust virtual soundstage features.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are better wireless gaming headphones than the Corsair HS75 XB WIRELESS. The Astro are more comfortable, and they're compatible with the PS4, unlike the Corsair. Also, the Astro have a better-balanced sound profile and a more consistent audio delivery across users. However, the Corsair leak less sound, and their microphone is wirelessly compatible with the Xbox One, unlike the Astro.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are much better wireless gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Flight S. The Astro are more comfortable, feel better built, have a more accurate and better balanced out-of-the-box sound profile, come with a wireless dock. On the other hand, the HyperX have much better noise isolation performance and support wireless charging.
The Beats Solo Pro Wireless and the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are for different uses. The Astro are wireless gaming headphones that are more comfortable, have a better passive soundstage performance, and their boom mic does a significantly better job of recording your voice, even in noisy environments. Their battery performance is better too. However, the Beats are better for casual use. They have more versatile controls and have an ANC system to help block out a great amount of noise around you.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 and the JBL Live Pro+ TWS True Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer one over the other. The Astro are wireless over-ear gaming headphones that are more comfortable, better-built, and have longer continuous battery life. They have a boom mic that offers an overall excellent performance, support non-Bluetooth wireless for a low-latency connection, and are compatible with PS4s. The JBL, on the other hand, are better for casual use as they're in-ears, which makes them more portable. They have a very good ANC to help block out background noise, have a more stable fit, and are rated IPX4 for water resistance, although we don't currently test for this.
Video
Test Results
The Astro A50 look very similar to the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019. They have a fairly conservative color scheme, with little in the way of adornments other than a slightly contrasting model logo on the ear cups. Still, their bulky design and non-removable microphone make them stand out in most environments. The plates on the other surface of their ear cups can also be swapped out if you want to individualize your headphones a little more, and you can purchase mod kits from the Astro website.
These are comfortable headphones. Their ear cups are spacious and deep, which should suit most ear shapes and sizes. They don't clamp the head as tightly as the Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017. Their headband does a good job of distributing their weight, too. The coating on the padding is also quite soft and feels nice on the skin. However, they're quite big and heavy.
The Astro A50's control scheme is acceptable, though it's better suited to the needs of gamers rather than casual users, as they lack any onboard controls for music playback or call management. Their mic is flip-to-mute, you have a volume wheel, an EQ preset cycle button, and a button to disable or enable Dolby Digital Surround Sound. They also have two additional buttons on the right ear cup that lets you control the mix between in-game audio and audio from another device. They differ from the Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017 by having a button to cycle between EQ presets instead of a switch, and the base now has a screen that shows you which preset you're on. There’s good audible and tactile feedback and all the controls are easy to use.
These headphones are passably breathable. Heat can be trapped inside the ear cups since they create a tight seal around your ears, restricting airflow. These headphones aren't designed for sports, and you may sweat more than usual if you're using them when working out. This shouldn’t be an issue during casual gaming though.
These headphones aren't especially portable. They're very bulky and don’t fold into a more compact format, though their ear cups swivel flat to reduce their footprint. They also need to be within range of their stand to work, which further limits their portability.
These over-ears are very well-built and feel durable. The ear cups are dense and made from solid plastic, so the headphones feel like they could handle a few accidental drops without too much damage. The hinges are sturdy and made out of metal, but their headband seems to be the weakest point of their construction.
The Astro A50 are reasonably stable. They don’t clamp your head tightly, and head movement can easily make them sway off your head, though this shouldn't be a problem if you're using them for gaming.
- Astro A50 Gen 4 headphones
- Base station
- Micro-USB to USB-A charging cable
- Optical cable
- Manuals
The Astro A50 have a well-balanced default sound profile. In-game sound effects, dialogue, and music should be delivered with mostly equal emphasis, though fans of more action-heavy genres may want a little more thump and rumble. That said, while their companion software features a graphic EQ that you can use to generate presets, some users have reported issues using it and you can read more in the App Support box. You can still customize their sound using their onboard EQ preset cycling button though.
Note: These headphones were tested with the 'Studio' EQ preset.
These headphones have great frequency response consistency. This means that they deliver audio relatively similarly across different users and between reseats.
These headphones have great bass accuracy. Their low-end bass response is slightly underemphasized, so sound effects in action-heavy games might lack a bit of thump and rumble. A small bump in the high-bass range adds a bit of boom to your mix.
The Astro A50 have excellent mid-range accuracy. Vocals and lead instruments should sound full-bodied and clear. However, a small dip in the mid-mids can nudge them to the back of the mix.
The Astro A50's treble accuracy is great. Voices are reproduced clearly and in detail, while sibilants, like S and T sounds, should be bright without being piercing.
These headphones have good peaks and dips performance. A bump in the high-bass range results in some boominess while a dip in the mid-mids nudges vocal and lead instruments to the back of the mix. The adjacent peak in the high-mids can make them sound a little honky and harsh. The peak in the mid-treble range can give sibilants a somewhat piercing quality.
The stereo imaging of the Astro A50 is very good. The weighted group delays falls beneath the audibility threshold, which results in a tight bass and a transparent treble reproduction. Additionally, the L/R drivers are well-matched in regards to phase, amplitude, and frequency response, meaning that objects like footsteps and instruments are located accurately within the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.
These headphones have an okay passive soundstage. They have a fairly open soundstage, but it might sound unnatural and located as if inside the listener’s head rather than in front of them.
These headphones have a Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound feature, though we don't currently test this function.
The Astro A50 have good weighted harmonic distortion performance. Audio reproduction is fairly clean and pure across the frequency spectrum at both moderate and high listening volumes.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when they're used in this configuration.
These headphones have terrible noise isolation performance. They don’t really block out any ambient noise in the bass and mid-ranges, like the rumble of bus engines or background chatter. They also don't block out much in the way of higher-pitched ambient noise, like the hum of an A/C unit.
The leakage performance of the Astro A50 is bad. Even though they're closed-back headphones, they aren’t the best to use around people in quiet environments. They leak similarly to semi-open headphones, and escaping audio might still be noticeable in crowded settings.
The boom mic has excellent recording quality. Your voice should sound clear, natural, and full-bodied.
The boom mic has amazing noise handling performance. Teammates or those on the other end of a phone call should understand you clearly, even if you're speaking from a loud or crowded environment.
Note: There are four mic profiles inside their companion software with four different noise gate settings. We tested the microphone with the ‘Streaming’ setting, as it has the lowest noise gate, though you can also select 'Night', which has the least aggressive noise gate setting, 'Home', which is the default, and 'Tournament', which is the most aggressive setting.
These over-ears have very good battery performance. They supply over 17 hours of battery life, which should be more than enough for most gaming sessions, though this can vary with real-world usage. They can also be used when charging, which is useful. They only take about two hours to charge with the micro-USB cable, but more than four hours with the dock. On the upside, this is still noticeably shorter than the older Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017. They have an auto-off timer too, which turns off the headphones during periods of inactivity. However, it's rather short, which can be annoying if you're gaming and don't move too much, as it can still trigger even if audio is being played.
These headphones are compatible with Astro Command Center. However, some users have reported encountering severe issues when using the software. They are unable to update the headphones' firmware, which is necessary if you want to connect them via USB to newer consoles. Users also can't access any of the software's features. These issues may be due to Astro moving the software download from their site to the Microsoft Store. However, all of this poses a significant drawback if you're looking to pick up a pair of these headphones.
When working correctly, the Astro Command Center offers a wide array of features. It has a graphic EQ that can be used to set up different presets, which you can cycle through using the EQ button on the right ear cup. You can also choose between four different noise gate settings for their boom mic to isolate your voice from ambient noise. Unfortunately, you can’t control the mic’s frequency response like it on the Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017. There’s also still no option to extend or disable the gyroscope auto-off timer feature, which is frustrating. They also have no surround sound effect menu or true button mapping beyond the EQ presets.
Update 07/07/2021: These headphones have been updated to test bench 1.5. In this update, we made changes to the way we test latency. We now use a click track in our software and we measure latency three times and average the results. This new method has resulted in different latency values than what we had reported in our previous test bench. However, our results are still valid.
These headphones offer excellent non-Bluetooth connectivity. They have a base station that provides very low latency audio, but it doesn't have as long of a wireless range as other headphones in the Astro range, like the Astro A30 Wireless.
The Astro A50 can’t be used wired. They come with a USB-A to micro-USB cable, which is only for charging. They also have an optical cable used for plugging in their base station. If you want a gaming headset that can be used wired with console controllers, check out the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE.
Update 09/01/2021: Due to user feedback, we have clarified the Astro A50's compatibility with PS5 consoles. Since the PS5 doesn't support optical, you need to update the headphones to the latest firmware using the Astro Command Center to connect them to this console. This firmware lets you connect the base station to the console via USB. However, some users have reported that the audio quality drops when using this connection compared to using optical. While we conducted our original testing using the base station connected to our PC via USB, these results should still be valid compared to the sound you get from the PS5 when connected via USB.
Alternatively, you can purchase an Astro HDMI adapter for the PS5 directly from the manufacturer, allowing you to connect to the console via optical. This adapter is advertised to enable the 'Game:Voice Balance' channel mixer control for this console. You can find more detailed instructions on how to connect your headphones this way here.
These headphones have full mic and audio compatibility with PS4 and PS5 consoles when you connect their non-Bluetooth wireless transmitter to the console via USB. However, you may need a firmware update for this connection to work on PS5 consoles.
The Astro A50 can only receive audio when you plug their base station into Xbox One consoles. They don't function at all with Xbox Series X consoles.
Note: While the 'PC/PS4' variant of this headset isn't fully compatible with Xbox One or Xbox Series X consoles, the 'PC/Xbox' variant is. You can connect the 'PC/Xbox' variant of this headset to your Xbox Series X console by following the steps outlined on the Astro Gaming Blog.
The Astro A50's dock is great. It has a lot of inputs and acts as a charging station for the headphones. This variant is fully compatible via USB on the PS4, PS5, and PC. The base station is advertised as console-locked for either PS4 or Xbox One, but the headset can connect to both base variants.