We start with the bad news: the Astro A50 is not cheap. You have to invest around 250 euros for it. The manufacturer price is even 350 euros. For this you get either the version for Xbox One and PC or PlayStation 4 and PC. For this price, the headset should deliver a lot …
The actual headset and the associated base station can be found in the stable outer packaging of our test sample. This not only serves as a transmitter and receiver, but also as a charging cradle for the headphones. After about 12 to 15 hours, the device has to fill up with new energy. When "parking" you should exercise caution so that the thin contact pins on the charging socket are not damaged. A display on the front of the base station then informs you of the current battery level.
The electricity for this comes to the base via the included micro USB cable. A connection to the socket is not possible due to the lack of a power plug. Thus, the headset can only be charged when the USB port is supplied with energy – you should consider this when the console or PC are switched off. If you have a sufficiently long micro USB cable at hand, you can connect it and use the headset when charging.
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The audio from PS4 or Xbox One is transmitted using the included Toslink cable. On the other hand, a USB connection on the PC is sufficient. With a small controller on the back of the station you can switch between console and PC operation. If you also use an AV receiver or a soundbar, you can forward the sound from the base station to the corresponding device via a second Toslink output. An AUX input / microphone output is also available. The A50 can also be used as a USB sound card on a PC and supports the 3-D audio formats Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos.
Speaking of support: Somewhat surprisingly, we were also able to use our PS4 test pattern on Xbox One. After connecting via USB and Toslink, the A50 worked immediately. The three sound profiles were available as well as Dolby audio. You only have to do without the chat option.
Processing and comfort
After connection, the Astro A50 is ready for use within a few seconds. The on / off switch is located above the right auricle. Astro also integrated a sleep mode: if you put the A50 aside for a few minutes, it turns on. If you pick it up again, the headset will automatically activate.
In the middle of the right auricle there is a button for switching through the three sound profiles – we will go into this further below. Another button activates a Dolby-certified sound profile. On the outside there are two buttons with which you can quickly adjust the volume ratio between game and chat. On the underside of the right auricle is the wheel for general volume control. All keys are easily accessible and have a clear pressure point.
When you touch it, the Astro A50 leaves a mixed impression. Once again Astro on a sliding function for the size adjustment, which is fairly smooth and therefore quickly adjusted when putting on and taking off. In general, the entire temple construction, including various plastic elements, does not appear particularly resilient. So the A50 shouldn't fall on the ground.
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Once the A50 has arrived on your head and ears, you don't want to take it off. You hardly feel the heavy weight of about 365 grams. The soft fabric padding on the ears hugs without causing pressure or sweating. Even wearing it for hours does not cause any problems. If the fabric covering of the upholstery on the ear and head does not match, you can replace them with artificial leather parts with mod kits from the Astro Shop.
Sound and chat
Especially because of its tonal power, you don't want to drop the A50 anymore. Of the three presets, we like the first one best: Here, the high and low frequencies are present without sounding too dominant or distorted. The first-class dynamic is to be emphasized in general. The campaign and multiplayer mode of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare demonstrate this very well.
Gun shots sound crisp, thrown grenades explode with a dry bang and the voices of opponents and comrades remain clearly understandable at all times. In between, step noises crystallize, which is extremely valuable, especially in multiplayer mode. The A50 manages the clean differentiation of noise sources very well.
There is also no lack of space. The A50 clearly shows whether we fight on The Streets or in the buildings of Washington and New York at The Division 2. On a main street, shots and explosions echo from afar, while the action penetrates into rooms and sounds immediately. It is always precisely audible from which direction shots and other effects come.
The headset is also good for music and films. Thanks to the convincing pressure, loud action strips as well as powerful electronic music will please. Naturally, the 40 mm neodymium magnets cannot ignite a deep bass storm. Astro also created very useful presets for media use, of which we particularly liked the studio and media.
When receiving chat, the A50 plays other voices relatively naturally. Minimal noise and sometimes tinny sound are the exception. Conversely, our voice was described by the chat partners as subtly scratchy and sonorous. Occasional deterioration in transmission can also be due to the fact that the A50's microphone is somewhat stiff and cannot be optimally aligned with the mouth. Overall, however, the chat quality is at a really good level.
Sound tuning on the PC
The Astro A50 enables a number of individual sound settings. You can do this using the free Astro Command Center software, which you can download from the manufacturer's website. After installing and then connecting the base station to the PC, you can get started.
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The three equalizer sets can be exchanged for configurations from Astro. However, it is also possible to create completely your own profiles and save them permanently on your computer. Even players with little audio knowledge can experiment to their heart's content: every change to one of the controls has a direct effect on the sound, so that you can simply listen and decide what fits and what doesn't.
If you have made a mistake or want to start over, you can reset the respective profile to the factory setting or the last save status with a click of the mouse. Fine-tuning of the microphone and adjustments for use in streaming are also possible. If you are satisfied with everything, the new settings are synchronized with the headset within a very short time and the listening pleasure can continue.
