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A50 Wireless + Base Station Xbox One Setup Guide. Posted on October 28, 2016 by ASTRO Gaming. This guide will provide you will all of the information you will need to setup your ASTRO A50 Wireless + Base Station with your Xbox One. Xbox One Setup. Micro USB Cable Optical Cable A50 Wireless Headset Base Station. Before you begin, make sure the console, and A50 Wireless + Base Station are fully updated. To update the A50 Wireless + Base Station firmware: Connect the Base Station to a PC or MAC using the Micro USB Cable that was included Place the A50 Headset in the Base Station and make sure the charging lights turn on. Switch the Base Station to “ConsolePC Mode” Download and install the ASTRO Command Center You can find the ASTRO Command Center Software here: ASTROGaming.com/acc Run the ACC software and follow the onscreen instructions to update your A50 Wireless + Base Station firmware Once your ASTRO A50 Wireless + Base Station has finished updating, unplug the USB cable from the PC and switch the Base Station back to “Console Mode” To connect your A50 Wireless + Base Station with an Xbox One. Step 1. Plug the Micro end of the Micro USB cable into the back of the Base Station in the port marked “USB” Step 2. Plug the other end of the USB cable into one of the USB ports on the Xbox One. Step 3. Plug one end of the Optical/TOS Link cable into the back of the Xbox One in the port marked “S/PDIF” Step 4. Plug the other end of the Optical/TOS Link cable into the back of the Base Station in the port marked “Optical in” To Setup your A50 Wireless + Base Station on your Xbox One. Step 1. Put the Base Station into Console Mode. Step 2. Assign the A50 Wireless + Base Station to the desired account. Step 3. Turn on your Xbox One and navigate to the settings screen. Step 4. From settings menu select “Display and Sound” and select “Audio Output” Step 6. Select “Optical Audio” and then select “Bit Stream Out” Step 7. Select “Bitstream Format” and then select “Dolby Digital” Step 8. Navigate back to the “Display and Sound” screen and select “Volume” Step 9. Select the “Party Chat” setting, and select “headset” Your Xbox One is now setup for use with your ASTRO A50 Wireless + Base Station. Copyright © 2018 · All Rights Reserved · Astro A50 Wireless (Xbox One) Review. Astro A50 Wireless (Xbox One) Rich, detailed surround sound Comfortable and lightweight design Reliable wireless performance Long battery life. No controller-based chat controls Lacks detailed equalizer. The Astro A50 delivers excellent comfort and rich wireless surround sound for serious gamers. While many gamers prefer wired headsets that avoid issues like low battery life and interference, the Astro A50 ($299 on Amazon) proves that a good wireless headset doesn't have to compromise. This sleek, over-ear Xbox One headset delivers rich 7.1 surround sound complete with the high frequencies that competitive gamers crave, and has enough range to be used anywhere in your playroom. Factor in a cushy design that can be worn all day and a battery life that lasts just as long, and you've got a headset that delivers top-level performance for its premium price. As a headset built for pro-level gaming, the slick, compact A50 certainly looks the part. Available in black or white (or as a special, military-green Halo edition), the headset's slim, soft-touch plastic frame is accented by touches of neon green on the band and outer earcups. The A50's headband and earcups are held together by small metal bars on each side, which allow you to easily slide the band up and down depending on your comfort zone and reveal the headset's neatly coiled neon wires. All of the A50's controls and inputs are found on the back of the earcups, with a controller port and microUSB input on the left ear, and a power button, volume slider and mode select switch on the right. The outer left earcup hosts the headset's long and fairly bendable microphone, while the outer right earcup can be clicked for switching between chat and in-game audio. If you want to show off the sleek A50 when you're not fragging friends, there's an included triangular stand that houses both the headset and the MixAmp transmitter that delivers the A50's wireless sound. Thanks to the A50's lightweight, 13-ounce frame and cozy construction, it was easy to forget I was even wearing the headset in the midst of a heated firefight. I found the cans to be just snug enough to keep sound sealed in, and the thick layers of plush around the earcups and inner band meant that I could game for hours without getting uncomfortable — or sweaty. In order to accommodate various head sizes, the A50's band can slide about an inch and a half up or down. I had a co-worker with longer hair and glasses test the A50, and while he considered the band a bit weighty, he agreed with me on the headset's excellent on-ear comfort. Gaming Performance. Packing Dolby Digital 7.1 speakers, the A50 squeezed a ton of sonic detail out of every game I tested it on. I traded some blows in Dead or Alive 5 Last Round, engaged in a few firefights in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and explored Sunset Overdrive's mutant-filled world all with the headset on, and became thoroughly immersed in each experience. The A50 made every punch and kick in Dead or Alive 5 sound supremely satisfying, and performed just as well when my opponent and I crashed through windows or fell down stairs. During each battle, I was able to easily tell whether my character was performing a combo on the right side of the screen or getting pummeled on the left. A good headset needs to deliver accurate directionality for competitive shooters, and that's where the A50 shines. When playing Halo: The Master Chief collection, I could easily tell where enemy gunfire was coming from, in terms of both direction and distance. The sounds of grenade explosions were especially thunderous, and I was able to hear each map's environmental ambiance clearer than I ever have. I enjoyed a similar level of immersion when moving to the single-player, open-world Sunset Overdrive. The A50 allowed me to hear background noises such as wind, birds chirping and radio chatter that I had never noticed before. Once I got into it with a few mutants and enemy gang members, I could clearly tell where each baddie was coming from. As with Halo, explosions sounded awesome. The A50 offers three usage modes. Media mode delivers enhanced bass for movies and music; Core mode is optimized for single-player gaming; and Pro mode provides boosted high frequencies for competitive play. I initially found the modes to differ mostly in overall volume (with Pro being loudest), but after switching modes mid-game, I noticed that the Pro mode highlights many background noises that are hard to hear on the other settings. Microphone. The A50's microphone is ideal for chatting with teammates, though I wish it had better built-in controls. The rubber, flexible mic was long enough to reach just in front of my mouth, and you can rotate about 130 degrees from the top to the bottom. If you flip the mic completely upward, it will lock in place and automatically mute itself, which is a nice touch. The headset includes a chat cable that connects to your controller so you can talk to friends, but, unlike the default Xbox One headset, the cable doesn't add any headset controls to the bottom of your gamepad. I also found the cable to be a nightmare to remove — getting it out of my controller took just about all my strength, and I was constantly worried I was going to damage either the gamepad or the wire. In addition to a master volume rocker, the right earcup has a clickable outer shell that lets you balance out your game and chat volumes (click left for louder chat audio, click right for more game audio). It works just fine when you get used to it, but I prefer to have those controls at my fingertips. If you want to make that happen you'll need to pick up a $24.99 Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter and connect it to the A50. Fortunately, the A50's mic excels where it matters most: clarity. When chatting with a friend over Skype, she was able to hear my voice clearly regardless of whether I used the built-in chat cable or the Xbox One headset adapter. While the microphone's 6-millimeter multidirectional noise cancelling wasn't enough to drown out my dog's rowdy barking a few feet away, my colleague noted that the noise wasn't nearly enough to overpower my voice. Multimedia Performance. If you choose to take a break from gaming with some music or movies, the A50 serves as a quality multimedia headset. Pop songs such as Taylor Swift's "Style" packed loud, satisfying bass and clear vocals on the A50, and the big rock guitars and bouncy drums of Taking Back Sunday's "MakeDamnSure" were equally punchy. Watching a few scenes of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with the A50 on was just as enjoyable. The headset's 7.1 surround sound allowed me to hear everything from crackling footsteps to the thwip of Katniss' bow and arrow with extreme clarity, and the movie's ominous orchestral scores sounded extra full and haunting. My only gripe with using the A50 for entertainment on the Xbox One is the lack of a true equalizer. While the headset's Media mode comes optimized for music and movies, there's no clear way to specifically adjust parameters such as bass and treble on either the headset or Microsoft's system. MixAmp and Wireless Range. The A50's audio is powered by the included MixAmp transmitter, which takes just a few minutes to set up. Once the transmitter's microUSB and optical cables are connected to your Xbox One, you simply need to power on the device (as well as your headset, which comes paired out of the box) to start receiving audio. In addition to a power button, the MixAmp has a button for switching Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound on and off. On the controller end, you'll need to update your gamepad firmware via the Xbox One settings menu and plug in the included chat cable. There's no built-in option for syncing the headset to the controller wirelessly, so you'll have to keep your controller in-hand if you want to step away from your Xbox and keep chatting. I never lost the A50's wireless signal when walking around the entirety of my small apartment, which measures about 20 feet end-to-end, meaning I could listen to music in my bedroom while my Xbox One sat in my living room. When I came into the office, the headset's signal finally gave out at the end of my 15-foot walk from my cubicle to the vending machines. Battery Life. A top-of-the-line wireless gaming headset is useless if it doesn't have the juice to get you through a tournament. Fortunately, the A50 is as long-lasting as it is powerful. On a full charge, the A50 lasted me through a combined 8 hours and 30 minutes of gaming, listening to music and watching videos over the course of two days. The A50's long battery life is complemented by its automatic power-down feature, which will shut the headset down after a few minutes of inactivity. Bottom Line. The Astro A50 justifies its $300 price tag by offering stellar wireless gaming performance on Xbox One. The headset's 7.1 surround earcups helped me stay extra-aware of my surroundings in competitive games, and fully immersed during cinematic experiences. The lightweight A50 is cozy enough for marathon sessions, with battery life that can get you through a day of play on a charge. While I would have liked better chat controls and more equalizer options, the Astro A50 is a sexy, comfortable and great-sounding headset for serious gamers. If you can afford its hefty price tag, the Astro A50 Wireless' excellent surround sound, cozy design and long battery life make it one of the best high-end gaming headsets available. Mike Andronico is an associate editor at Tom's Guide. When he's not writing about mobile tech and gaming, you can usually catch him playing Street Fighter, devouring Twitch streams and trying to convince people that Hawkeye is the best Avenger. The Astro A50 delivers excellent comfort and rich wireless surround sound for serious gamers. Video Game Reviews. Review: Astro A50 Wireless headset for Xbox One is for the gaming purist. For the past year or so, I’ve using Turtle Beach’s Elite 800x Wireless headphones for Xbox One almost exclusively. However, when it came time to hop on a raid in Destiny or any other multiplayer game where communication is required, I had to switch to the Turtle Beach XO Four Stealth wired headset so my team could hear me properly. While I came to the conclusion of this was how life was going to be for a while, Astro just released their new Astro A50 Wireless Headsets for Xbox One (or Gen 3 A50) and I got a chance to check them out. Astro_A50_3AS52-XOW9W-508_primary_3.jpg. The Astro A50 Wireless Headset come in two flavors, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and they both work for PC. I chose the Xbox One version because that’s the console I game on the most and it’s also the console where I use the Turtle Beach Elite 800x, the A50’s main competitor. Both versions of the A50 come with a headphones stand and transmitter that charges the headset and plugs into your console via USB and digital optical-in. The headphones offer Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound with 5Ghz wireless technology and come with a built-in MixAmp, Astro’s technology that allows you to control the volume of the game versus the volume of the voice chat on the headset. The headset also has general volume control and the option to turn off Dolby Digital sound. The along with the Digital Optical-In port, the stand/transmitter also features an Optical Digital Out port, an AUX port and USB port for other audio sources like a phone, and a mode switch to switch the transmitter from Xbox One to PC. The A50 also has programmable EQ settings. While the headset does come with a switch to select between three pre-programmed EQ settings, you can change those using the Astro Command Center Software. You have to connect the transmitter to your PC, with the headset in the stand, to assign your EQ setting to the switches. Compared to the Turtle Beach 800x’s 18 programmable presets, the A50’s three programmable presets don’t seem to offer much variety. Looking at reality, however, I really don’t use that many presets. I have a general preset I like using for music and movies, and one that’s good for most of the games I play. 3AS52-XOW9W-508_primary_1.jpg. If I’m being honest, I’m not that big of a fan of the design and look of the headset. It’s a bit too gaudy for my tastes and I prefer a removable or hidden boom mic when I’m not using it as opposed to just flipping it up on the side of the headset. That’s just my personal taste, as I have some colleagues who really like that sporty, industrial type of look, color, and design. One of the cool things about the A50, however, is the option of changing out of the cup cushions and headband with an Astro A50 Mod Kit. The Mod Kit cushions are a soft synthetic leather that offers more of a noise-cancellation experience and also comes with a matching headband. If there is a setback, the Mod Kit comes with a separate $40 price tag. One of the things I liked the most about the new A50 headsets is how comfortable they are. They headset is super light, the ear cups, both the fabric and synthetic leather, are super soft and feel great resting on my head. There was a point I even forgot I was wearing them on my head. Performance. Straight out of the box, the headset sounds superb. I used them playing some Titanfall 2 , Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare , Destiny , and I also went back and played some Alien: Isolation, and the sound was incredible. Alien: Isolation in particular is a game that you really can’t fully experience without a headset. Television speakers does not do the game justice. The game heavily relies upon the player listening to the alien hunting you, or androids patrolling, or humans looking for you. Using the A50 headset, every step, every buzz, every electronic spark, growl, grumble, and breath was crystal clear. The surround sound was so good, that I actually had to pause the game to see if someone was actually in the room with me, realizing that it was the game. There are also points in the game where the music accompanies some of the intense moments of the game and it’s crisp and riveting. When playing Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare ’s single player campaign, the sound felt like I was playing in a movie theater. All of the action, explosions, music, and yelling was captured in a way that I’m sure the sound directors meant for them to be heard. 3AS52-XOW9W-508_primary_2.jpg. When playing games like Titanfall 2 and Destiny, I was able to hear my squad mates and fireteam pretty clear. The Mixamp that allows you to separately control the volume of the game and voice worked great. On the other side, my teammates could hear me fine, although they said sometimes that was a bit of muffle when I spoke. There was still a delay in our communication, but that just seems to be the deal with voice communication over Xbox Live. I can also confirm that the headset sound great on PC. I plugged it into my MSI GS60 Pro and listened to some music, watched a movie and played Mafia III, which is the perfect game for an immersive audio experience. And just for kicks, I also plugged in the A50 headset into my HD television and they actually worked there too. Of course, the sound quality wasn’t as high as the Xbox One or PC, but still a solid option if you want to watch something without waking up family members or roommates. In addition, the battery life is amazing. The headsets are advertised as having a 16-hour battery life, however, when you take off the headset, it goes into a sleep mode to save battery power, which makes the battery life seem to extend even longer. The bottom line is, I never had to worry about battery life the entire time I was using the headset. All in all, the Astro A50 Wireless headset for Xbox One is made for pure gaming. The headset doesn’t offer that many bells and whistles like Turtle Beach 800x headset, like Bluetooth capabilities and more programmable EQ options, but what the Gen 3 A50 headset does offer is perfect sound quality for gaming. Sure, I won’t be able to go beyond 30 feet from the headset transmitter (the 800x headset lets you use them as headphones when traveling with your phone), but you’re not supposed to. When it’s time to immerse yourself into any game world, the Astro A50s are an excellent choice. The A50s don’t have all the bells and whistles as some competing high end headsets, but what it offers for the pure gaming experience is what every gamer needs. I wasn’t a big fan of the look and design of the headset, it was a bit too garish for my tastes, but it’s not like I was going to wear them in public anyway, right? I’m sure a lot of people will dig the style though. The headset is incredibly light with super soft ear cups and headband. Sometimes I forgot I had on headsets. I wore them for hours without a bother. The headset sound quality is perfect. From games to movies to music, the Dolby Digital sound made it feel like I was listening to games in a nice surround sound theater system. Disclaimer: GameCrate reviews represent the opinions of the GameCrate writer who wrote them, and not necessarily those of Newegg. In most cases, GameCrate reviews are performed using products or samples provided by the manufacturer/producer of the product. Astro A50 Gen 2 Wireless Headset for Xbox One Review. When you think hard about it, there’s really no rhyme or reason to buy a luxury sports car. After all, a cheaper economy car can still get you to the same place minus the crazy hit on your wallet. Then again, there’s just something satisfying about the experience of driving a nice automobile. Whether it be the zippy acceleration, quality interior or just the performance bump overall, an upscale, sporty car makes driving a fun experience instead of just something you do to get from point A to point B. It’s the exact same feeling I get when using the second-generation A50 Wireless Headset for Xbox One from Astro Gaming. At $300, the Gen 2 A50 goes above and beyond what seems to be a reasonable cost for a gaming headset. Just like the sporty luxury cars I mentioned earlier, however, the Astro tries to justify the A50’s astronomical price tag — pun so totally intended — by providing the equivalent of a premium experience. The more high-end vibe starts with the exterior of the headset, which sports a more solid-looking feel than flimsier-looking headsets. Despite using a fair amount of plastic, for example, it doesn’t look as plasticky as the Turtle Beach Ear Force PX22 or the Skullcandy PLYR 2. The A50 achieves this with its use of a smooth, matte-type plastic similar to the SMS Street by 50 ANC boutique headphones, as well as accents such as metal cylinders and logos. The nice design cues extend to its accompanying MixAmp Tx transmitter, which combines a matte finish with glossy accents as well as a grippy neon green bottom for preventing slippage. Admittedly, the stand looks plasticky and flimsy, especially compared to the headset itself. It still gets the job done, though, and houses both the headphones when not in use as well as the MixAMp Tx. The Xbox One A50 does not come with the same MixAmp Pro setup you get from other Astro headsets such as the A30 Crossgaming headset. Instead, those features are built into the headset itself, which allows you to adjust chat and game volume balance by pressing on different sides of the right earcup plus overall volume via a knob. It’s not as easy to adjust as the knob dials of the MixAmp Pro but it also puts the controls within easy reach while getting rid of one more extra piece of gadgetry. Chat can be turned or muted simply by flicking the mic stick down or up, though this also comes at the expense of not having a removable microphone attachment. Battery life on a full charge for the headset is about eight to 10 hours, though mileage will vary based on your usage of chat. Unlike the ROCCAT Kave XTC headset, you can’t manually fine-tune the audio on the A50 for a custom setup, unfortunately. Instead, the A50 comes with three audio presets. First is “Media Mode,” which features more punchy low end for bass lovers. “Core Mode” has a more balanced audio profile while “Pro Mode” emphasizes higher frequencies for competitive gaming. Overall, the Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound is excellent, allowing you to hear certain audio nuances that you normally wouldn’t hear without the use of a good stereo setup. There’s nice separation between the lows, mids, and highs, and it makes gaming truly feel like a cinematic experience. It even makes games you don't normally enjoy feeling like a good time because of the pleasant audio. Chat also worked well and provided a solid experience. About the only audio issues I experienced was during the first time I turned on the device. At the time, I noticed a hissing sound in the background and the mic also was incredibly sensitive, picking up ambient noise around me and any contact with the surface of the headset. It went away eventually, though, so I’m not quite sure what was going on. Meanwhile, connection with the Xbox One controller is done via a wired setup, which defeats the purpose a bit for a wireless headset. Also, note that the MixAmp Tx does not come with its own power adapter but takes up one of the USB ports on the back of your Xbox One. The included charging cord is pretty short, by the way, so you’ll need to concoct an alternative microUSB charging option while playing if you don’t want to be gaming within a foot or so of your TV. Overall, however, the A50 wireless headset provides one of the best audio experiences I’ve had from a gaming headphone, and I’ve certainly tried out my fair share of headsets for gaming. Add the fact that the Xbox One version is quite versatile — I verified with a source from Astro that the A50 also works with other systems such as PS4, 360, PS3, PC, Mac and mobile — and you’ve got a setup that does not tie you down to one device. As long as you can swallow the $300 price tag, the Astro A50 Wireless Headset for Xbox One is one of the best gaming headsets available. For more reviews and articles about portable audio devices, visit the Headphones and Speakers hub. Xbox One Setup Guide. Posted on December 5, 2013 by Ben noonan. Next Gen is now current gen, and we want to make sure that the ASTRO community knows exactly how to take full advantage of their ASTRO Gaming products with the new Xbox One. We spent some time in the office playing with our own Xbox One, shooting these photos and writing up some simple step by step instructions for everyone to enjoy. Please keep in mind that while these instructions will allow users to take advantage of our MixAmp Pro’s Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound encoding they will not allow them to enable voice communications through his/her headset, which requires a chat adapter which Microsoft will be releasing in early 2014. A50 Wireless Headset. Downloading the latest firmware update for your A50 Wireless Headset. 1) Connect the A50 MixAmp TX to your computer using the included USB to USB-Mini cable. 2) Download and run the A50 MixAmp TX Firmware Updater V4193 which can be found by clicking here. 3) Follow the on screen instructions to update the A50 MixAmp TX. Once completed, you can close the program. *If you own the A50 Wireless Headset Battlefield 4 Edition, please do not install the firmware for the headset as you might lose your Battlefield EQ mode, please skip to step 7! 4) Connect the A50 Wireless Headset* to your A50 MixAmp TX using the included short USB to USB-Mini cable. 5) Download and run A50 Wireless Headset Firmware Update V4142 which can be found by clicking here. 6) Follow the on screen instructions to update the A50 Wireless Headset. Once completed, you can close the program, disconnect everything from your computer and reconnect everything back to your Xbox One following the instructions below. 7) Make sure to hold down the power button on both the A50 Headset and the A50 MixAmp TX until they both blink white. This will repair the A50 System.* Connecting the A50 Wireless Headset to your Xbox One. 1) Connect the included USB to USB-Mini cable to the USB-Mini input marked “PWR” on the A50 MixAmp TX. 1) Connect the included optical cable to the optical input on the A50 MixAmp TX. 3) Connect the free end of the included USB to USB-Mini cable to one of the USB ports on the Xbox One. 4) Connect the free end of the included optical cable to the optical output on the Xbox One. Make sure that the cable is plugged into the correct slots, failure to do so will result in loss of all game audio. A30 & A40 Audio Systems. Downloading the latest firmware for your MixAmp Pro. Before you begin connecting your MixAmp Pro to the Xbox One be sure to update your MixAmp Pro to the latest firmware to ensure the best performance. 1) On a Windows based PC download the latest MixAmp Pro Firmware Update V3374 which can be done by clicking here. 3) Connect the included USB to USB-Mini cable from the USB input on the MixAmp Pro to one of the USB ports on your PC. 4) Run the ASTRO Gaming firmware update and follow the onscreen instructions to update your MixAmp Pro. Connecting the A40 or A30 Audio System to your Xbox One. 1) Connect the included USB to USB-Mini cable to the USB-Mini input marked “USB” on the MixAmp Pro. 2) Connect the included optical cable (mini-toslink) to the optical input on the MixAmp Pro. 3) Connect the free end of the included USB to USB-Mini cable to one of the USB ports on the Xbox One. 4) Connect the free end of the included optical cable to the optical output on the Xbox One. Make sure that the cable is plugged into the correct slots, failure to do so will result in loss of all game audio. 3) Connect either the A40 or A30 Headset to the headset port on the front of the MixAmp Pro. Configuring the Xbox One settings. 1) On the Xbox Live Dashboard hit the start button on the controller go to Settings. 2) > Navigate to Display and sound > Optical audio > Select “Stereo Uncompressed”. 2) Go back to the Settings menu from Settings > Kinect > Select “Use Kinect mic for chat” and make sure it is checked. – These settings will allow you to take advantage of the ASTRO Wireless MixAmp and MixAmp Pro’s Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound encoding but will not enable the chat functions of our headsets. Chat can only be enabled via the chat adapter Microsoft will release in early 2014. And as always you can you can find more information on all the ASTRO Gaming social networks: One Comment on “ Xbox One Setup Guide ” What is the best eq settings on the mixamp for this setup? Copyright © 2018 · All Rights Reserved · The new Astro A50 adds customisation to an already great headset. 1 Related Model. The popular Astro A50 gaming headset, first released in 2012, is getting an upgrade, with the company bringing the customisation from the A40 to the flagship headphones. The originals were extremely comfortable but at the time I called out the slightly flimsy stand, and the revamped version does away with it entirely, replacing it with a base station that handles charging, transmitting and pairing. It's got Dolby 7.1 and three EQ presets that can be personally customised via the Astro proprietary software. And of course they're still light, and in the short time I played with them they felt very comfortable. The A50s use the 5GHz spectrum and have a range of 30 feet. The other big difference is the removable earcups and headband, similar to the Astro A40 TR . This lets you customise the headset for comfort and colour. Unlike the A40's however, the speaker backs can't be swapped -- Astro says it's because of the wireless technology not playing well with the magnets used to snap the customisable bits in play. Other key features: Battery life: The A50s promise a 15-hour battery life and have a standby mode for additional lifespan. An accelerometer can tell when the headset is lying flat and will hit standby mode to save battery life. There's also a Micro-USB charging option allowing you to charge and play if you need. Console and PC: There are two main models of A50, one for PS4 and one for Xbox One. Both play well with PC, but the Xbox One version does specify "for Xbox and Windows 10" on the box. New mic technology: The boom mic has enhanced noise-canceling tech and an auto mute when you flip it up. It can't be removed or replaced, however. It's all arriving in late August for $299 or AU$479, with UK pricing yet to be announced. About The Author. Nic Healey is a Senior Editor with CNET, based in the Australia office. His passions include bourbon, video games and boring strangers with photos of his cat. ASTRO Gaming A50 wireless (Gen 2) Xbox One headset review. A few months ago I put ASTRO Gaming’s A40 + M80 MixAmp Xbox One edition to the test, and boy was I impressed. Now it’s the turn of their prized headset, the ASTRO A50, but will the 7.1 Dolby Pro Logic IIx headset live up to its £250 price tag? Like the A40, the A50 comes exquisitely packaged in a high quality gloss box that is clasped shut by magnets and wrapped with a cover sleeve. Within the box the contents are proudly displayed in molded plastic, but like the A40, there’s no hard case included, however, the A50 does come with a neat stand that, although tricky to assemble, looks great, proudly displays your A50 and houses the Tx MixAmp neatly beneath it. The headset is of the same quality build and style of the A40, with soft touch plastic, shaped cushioned earpads and unidirectional swivel meaning the headset can be adjusted for maximum comfort, giving my ears that same feeling of being “hugged”. The non-removable mic boom is attached to the left ear and when in the upright position, the mic is muted. The left side is also where the charge and audio cables connect; unfortunately the A50 isn’t completely wire free. A micro USB (that’s included) can be connected to charge the non-removable lithium-Ion battery, although the cable is rather short, perfect in length for charging when stowed but not so good should you run out of power mid-game – during which time I used my Xbox One controller play and charge cable. When low on power, the headset will give you several warning beeps before cutting out, with the battery life at around 8-10 hours – considerably less than the awesome battery life of ASTRO’s A38. For voice chat, you need to plug the audio cable into the left earcup and connect the mic puck to your controller. Like the A40, the wire connecting to the back of the puck is at a slight angle and should it need replacing, you can swap it with the official Microsoft adaptor. The connection into the headset is well positioned and unlike the A40, it doesn’t catch against my shoulder when I turn my head. The mic fidelity is double that of the A40, and at 48MHz you would expect it to perform far better, and it does, although I did find that I needed to position it closer to my month to be heard more loudly. The clarity of the mic is superb, with no static surrounding my voice and very little background noise coming through – my friends could tell when I was using the A50. The moment I stop talking, the mic cuts straight out, whereas with some mics there is a pause of white noise. My only criticism is that if you are in a party chatting with a friend with no audio playing, the headset won’t recognise there is any audio and turn off to save power. The right earcup is home to the A50’s audio controls, with a nifty rocker switch built into the earcup plate that allows you to adjust your sound in favour of game or voice – there’s a helpful audible beep when you hit 100% game or voice volume, or the optimum 50/50 split. The right earcup also has a small dial that allows you to control the master volume, and a switch that can be set to one of the three EQ settings – Media, Core or Pro. Like the A40, I ended up favouring the Pro EQ setting, which boosts high frequencies – ideal for hearing someone sneaking up behind you. I also favoured this setting more than the others because the A50 is rather heavy on the bass, switching off the Dolby Digital sorts this, but you lose all of the enhanced depth that the Pro Logic IIx gives. With this in mind, and having used a similar headset from a rival brand, I must admit to being slightly disappointed that there isn’t an option to customise your own unique EQ – what a feature that would make if you could use the ASTRO app to control each EQ level! I also found switching between EQ settings rather tricky, particularly as the switch is so close to the headset’s power button. The rest of the audio controls however are perfect – particularly the ability to mute the mic just by flicking up the boom, but by having the audio balance control as part of the right ear plate and a non-removable mic on the left, it does mean that the A50 isn’t compatible with ASTRO’s speaker tag system, which is a real shame, but there are several colour combinations to choose from, all of which look really smart, particularly the Halo 117 edition! The audio magic happens within the A50’s tiny MixAmp – the Tx. The USB powered box connects to the Xbox One via an optical cable and can also be used on a PC via USB. The unit itself simply has two buttons – one for power and one to turn the Dolby Digital on/off. Unfortunately the unit doesn’t power down/up automatically when you turn the Xbox off/on and I would have liked the option to control Dolby Digital as part of the headset – not all games sound great in glorious 7.1 virtual surround sound. Telltale’s Game of Thrones was one such game that sounded better in stereo, you just need to get off your backside to see whether you prefer stereo or surround sound for each game you play. As with the A40, the stereo sound is incredible but once you hit that Dolby Pro Logic… wow… the depth to the sound is incredible – audio swirls around your head – when switching to stereo you can certainly hear how the sound changes to be more direct, coming in straight to your ears rather than sounding like you’re engulfed in it. The clarity that the A40 introduced me to suddenly opened up, giving my audio a depth to the space it filled, immersing me even more in the sound. Rather than being able to point at enemies left or right, the sound that the A50 pumps out gives greater accuracy to directional sound and it works superbly well. My audio was alive, it felt real – living in its own space, almost like I could reach out and touch it. The A50 has given me a whole new experience to my audio, everything from menu selection sound effects to how a gun sounds as you unload a clip into an enemy, ambient noises in the world of Tamaria to the hustle and bustle of a busy Los Santos street corner. I’ll be honest, some sounds actually made me jump because I wasn’t used to hearing them behind me, hats off to ASTRO and the virtual 7.1 surround sound because it works a treat! I’ve even begun to play my music through Dolby Digital, which gives it a nice spatial depth, making the stereo option almost sound flat in comparison – both options are of course great, with a crispness and presence to the sound. If you are after quality and an audio experience that you won’t be disappointed with, then I highly recommend you look at ASTRO Gaming’s range of headsets – but which one should you go for? The A40 or the A50? It’s difficult to recommend one pair over the other because they are both such great headsets, it really comes down to personal preference – do you want the depth of Dolby Digital, the bass of explosions and to be able to pinpoint sounds to a higher degree of accuracy or do you just want a high quality stereo headset – I would be happy with either! So what’s next for ASTRO? On my ‘would like’ list would be the option to create my own EQ settings, and after using the A38, I’d love to get the noise cancelling technology into my gaming headset for the ultimate immersive audio experience. Thanks to ASTRO Gaming for their support and supplying TiX with a review unit. Related Items. Am I able to listen to my music from my pc/mac when gaming? And hear both so I hear the game sound of the xbox one and my music from my pc/mac at the same time? Possibly, you could use the Aux port on the transmitter with a 3.5mm cable – probably better if you use a phone or tablet as it will be easier to connect it – you’d probably need a long cable to go to your PC unless it’s near to your setup. Yeah it’s near my setup, so that isn’t a problem for me. Also do you know if it’s still possible to also chat at the same time? Some people have problems with that. Thanks for your reply. Tied it last night, and I was able to chat in a party on the Xbox, play a game and listen to music with my tablet connected via the AUX port. Alright awesome thanks for trying:) where can i buy this headset for the best prize? 🙂 Where can i buy this headset for the best prize? 🙂 Do you recommend the AG1 adapter over the Microsoft stereo adapter with the a50s? I would assume the ag1 works better with the a50s. I would assume so too – but both would work just as well if you have the right audio lead – the AG1 has a built-in cable to the adaptor that connects into the headset. Comparing Astro Gaming A50 and Xbox One Chat Headset. Astro Gaming A50. Xbox One Chat Headset. Astro Gaming A50. Xbox One Chat Headset. A50 Wireless Headset Mix Amp Tx, AG1 and Display Stand Headset Cables 0.5M Micro-USB Cable Mix Amp Tx Cables: 1.0M Micro-USB Cable, 1.0M TO Slink Optical Cable Please refer Product description for trouble shooting steps Read more. Compatible with the original Xbox One Wireless controller and the new white Xbox Wireless Controller - no batteries needed. Chat privately with your friends while gaming in crystal-clear digital audio Lightweight and comfortable for long gaming sessions Responsive microphone with adjustable boom Mute and volume controls at your fingertips Read more. PlayStation 4 Xbox 360 PlayStation 3. Price Range: Astro Gaming A50 is a very popular option at the top of the price range. It's in the top 3 bestselling xbox one headsets and has doesn't have many popular alternatives in the same price range. Astro Gaming A50 was released in 2014. There are dozens of newer xbox one headsets on the market. Show newer Xbox One Headsets. Astro Gaming A50 is $239.99 more expensive than the average xbox one headset ($34.99). Xbox One Chat Headset is a very popular option at the bottom of the price range. It's in the top 3 bestselling xbox one headsets and has dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as PowerA Chat Headset or Tritton Kama Xbox One . Xbox One Chat Headset was released in 2014. There are dozens of newer xbox one headsets on the market. Show newer Xbox One Headsets. Xbox One Chat Headset is $20 cheaper than the average xbox one headset ($34.99). Popular Lists. Most Popular Xbox One Headsets. ASTRO Gaming Xbox One Headsets. Microsoft Xbox One Headsets. Turtle Beach Xbox One Headsets. Questions about Xbox One Headsets. There are 6 questions about Xbox One Headsets. Ask a question Show all. Show all questions about Xbox One Headsets. Astro Gaming A50 vs AudioMX HS-9S. Xbox One Chat Headset vs Xiberia K9. Latest blog posts. Top 4 Pressure Cookers to Save Time and Space. Top Qualities of a Good Espresso Machine. What You Should Know Before Buying a Keyboard. Page Navigation: This website displays data from third party public sources. We do not endorse or disapprove of any products presented here. The data presented is for information purposes only. All Trademarks and Copyrights belong to their respective owners. This website is an Amazon Affiliate. Astro A50 Review: The Ultimate Gaming Headset Just Got Better. Astro A50 Headset (2016) Rich surround sound Extremely lightweight and cozy Modular components Useful base station Strong battery life. So-so microphone Companion app can be overwhelming. The Astro A50 is one of the best premium wireless gaming headsets out there, packing rich surround sound and intuitive controls into a cozy and lightweight design. The new Astro A50 is a perfect example of "If it ain't broke, just make it a little bit better." This premium wireless gaming headset retains the superbly comfy design and satisfying surround sound of its predecessor, while introducing the feature-rich Base Station and some neat software tools for casual gamers, streamers and competitors. It even has modular ear cups this time around. Although its microphone and companion app could use some improvement, the Astro A50 is still the best high-end wireless gaming headset you can buy. Design: Now with more Base. The Astro A50 has a premium look and feel worthy of its $300 price tag. With a curvy headband and ear cups, industrial-looking components, and bright-green ( Xbox One ) or blue ( PS4 ) highlights, the A50 finds a middle ground between heavy-duty and sleek; between screamingly loud and stylishly subtle. The headset is a bit too ridiculous to be something I would wear in public (not that you can use it that way anyway), but I personally love the look. Photo: Astro Better yet, the design is practical. The external MixAmp from the previous A50 has been built right into the right ear cup, allowing you to quickly adjust the balance between the game and the chat audio. Most of the other controls you'll need (volume, power, EQ, surround sound) are in an easy-to-reach spot behind the right ear, though I occasionally confused the power switch for the EQ one. The latest A50 is powered by Astro's new Base Station, which is a slick piece of plastic that doubles as a charging dock for your headset. Setting up the headset is as simple as plugging the Base Station into your console's USB and optical ports. (On PCs, you just need to plug it into a USB port.) From there, the dock instantly transmits audio to your A50. The MixAmp is now built right into the right ear cup, letting you quickly adjust the balance between game and chat audio. Once plugged in, the Base Station displays the headset's battery life and whether surround sound is activated. There's even a 3.5-mm jack in the back that lets you do things such as plug your phone in for background music or output your game audio to a capture card. If you want to use your PS4 A50 on your Xbox One (or vice versa), you can simply buy that console's Base Station for $100 starting this December. It's pricey, but not as pricey as buying two $300 headsets. Comfort and Mods. Plenty of headsets promise all-day comfort, but the Astro A50 truly delivers it. Thanks to the device's lightweight 13.4-ounce frame and plush, wonderfully soft ear cups, I often forgot I was even wearing a headset while binging on Titanfall 2 for hours. Photo: Astro If the default cushions aren't your thing, you can purchase and swap in new ear cups and headbands, thanks to the A50's Mod Kit support, which Astro carried over from the lower-end Astro A40 TR. Swapping out the parts was a breeze; the A50's ear cups attach and detach magnetically, and the headband simply needs to be popped out of a small groove at the top. Plenty of headsets promise all-day comfort, but the Astro A50 truly delivers it. Within seconds, I replaced the headset's plush cushions with a set of faux-leather-coated ones, which are sold separately for $40. The pleather ear cups were very cozy and are better for noise cancellation, but they weighed on me in a way that the feathery plush ones didn't. Based on the kits available for the A40, I'm hoping that the A50 eventually gets more mods, including game-specific ones. Audio Performance. Featuring Dolby Headphone 7.1 surround sound, the A50 delivered crisp, immersive audio during my time with it on Xbox One and PC. The headset offers three EQ modes: Astro is the most balanced; Pro doubles down on bass and Studio seems to emphasize treble. All three modes are satisfying, although Studio occasionally overwhelmed me with the low end. I spent most of my time with the A50 while playing Titanfall 2, which made it incredibly easy to pinpoint the soft footsteps of enemy soldiers and the clackety stomps of rogue robots. That same strong directionality translated just as well into Battlefield 1, in which the deep bass of explosions and the punchiness of rifle shots made me feel like I was truly fighting in the trenches during World War I. I always appreciate when a headset can make Mortal Kombat X sound appropriately disgusting, and the A50 did not disappoint in that regard. Punches and kicks had a nice oomph to them, and I could hear every cracking bone and tearing flesh of the game's disturbing fatalities. My only gripe was with the Studio preset, which made the action sound unrealistically bass-heavy. Astro's headset was just as reliable for the decidedly less murderous racing action of Forza Horizon 3. I could clearly hear the satisfying "woosh" of every car and obstacle I sped by, and could make out the finer details of every road I drove on, whether I was racing down pavement or destroying a small forest with my Lamborghini. The deep bass of explosions and the punchiness of rifle shots made me feel like I was truly fighting in the trenches during World War I. The A50 also doubles as a dependable pair of multimedia headphones. I was sufficiently immersed in the big TIE Fighters vs. Millennium Falcon chase scene in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, thanks to how full the film's iconic blaster and ship sounds came across from all angles. When I flipped on the moody alternative rock of Balance and Composure's latest album, I enjoyed rich bass and soothingly crisp guitars. Microphone. Unlike the rest of the headset, the Astro A50's microphone isn't a complete all-star. My Xbox Live friends had little trouble hearing me, but they noted that I sounded pretty distant, even though the mic was right next to my mouth. I listened to a recording I had taken of my voice on the A50, and although the quality seemed perfectly fine for game chat, there was a fuzziness to it that would keep me from using the mic for a podcast or stream. Fortunately, Astro did fix one of my biggest issues with the previous A50 by making chat fully wireless on Xbox One. Despite delivering wireless audio, the A50 previously required you to plug a cable into your controller to talk to your friends. On the new model, however, I was able to chat without any pesky cords. Battery Life. The A50 promises up to 15 hours of battery life, which seems in line with my testing. After using the headset on and off over the course of two days, it kept ticking with no sign of a low battery warning. The A50's endurance is likely due, in part, to its brilliant built-in accelerometer, which automatically powers the headset down if you lay it down for about 20 seconds, and turns it back on once you pick it up. Astro Command Center. You can customize the A50 on your PC or Mac via the Astro Command Center, which is an impressively robust app that's also a bit overwhelming. You can toggle and create custom presets for the A50's three EQ modes and sync them to the headset, allowing you to enjoy your settings even when you're not on your PC. Photo: Astro The problem is, the presets have labels such as "A50 Mod Kit," "Astro" and "Pro," when I would have appreciated presets for specific genres or use cases. You can fiddle with an equalizer and make your own presets, but the process is more cumbersome than I'd like it to be, especially considering how easy it is to tweak sound on apps such as Razer's Synapse. Once you get past the EQ settings, however, you'll find a wealth of useful microphone settings. You can toggle among different noise-cancellation settings built for streaming, competing and playing at night, as well as flip among bright, airy and warm voice filters. You can also adjust mic monitoring here, if you want to hear yourself while you speak. The app's Stream Port tab seems like a dream for broadcasters, as you can easily set a volume balance between game audio, chat audio, your microphone and whatever other audio sources you have plugged in via the auxiliary port. Bottom Line. The Astro A50 retains the excellent sound and top-tier comfort that made previous models great while addressing some of the biggest quirks that used to hold the headset back. Wireless chat is no longer a problem on Xbox One, and although the companion app could use some work, there are finally plenty of ways to customize the headset's sound if you're willing to get your hands dirty. Its modular components could help you keep the headset fresh for years, as long as Astro provides a healthy selection of Mod Kits. But more than anything, the A50 simply sounds and feels fantastic in a way that simple specs can't express. It's one of a few headsets that I can actually wear all day, and its battery life makes it easy to do so. If you care enough about game sound to spend $300 on a headset, the Astro A50 is far and away your best option. Get the Astro A50 if you're willing to splurge on a premium wireless headset that offers satisfying surround sound, supreme comfort and lots of neat extra features. Mike Andronico is an associate editor at Tom's Guide. When he's not writing about mobile tech and gaming, you can usually catch him playing Street Fighter, devouring Twitch streams and trying to convince people that Hawkeye is the best Avenger. The Astro A50 is one of the best premium wireless gaming headsets out there, packing rich surround sound and intuitive controls into a cozy and lightweight design. xboxone. 2 345 пользователей находятся здесь. МОДЕРАТОРЫ. 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