What the Difference Between Astro A40 and Astro A50?
The big difference between the Astro A40 and the Astro A50 is that the A50 model is a wireless headset, while A40 is a wired headset. If you are interested in a wired headset that works with pretty much any device and is not too expensive, then you should go with the Astro A40. However, the Astro A50 is one of the best gaming headsets out there, and you can use it while charging. The battery life of the Astro A50 is an impressive 10 hours.
Astro has some impressive gaming headsets and if you are in the market for a new headset then you might be deciding between the Astro A40 and the A50.
If that is the case then you have come to the right place. Here we are going to look at both models and tell you which one you should get for yourself.
Astro A40 vs A50 Comparison
Before we into the details of both headphones here are some of the basics features of both Astro A40 and A50.
| Model | Astro A40 | Astro A50 |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Wired | Wireless |
| Boom Mic | Detachable | Flip-to-Mute |
| Surround Sound | Stereo | Dolby 7.1 surround sound |
| Dolby Atmos Support | Yes | Yes |
Now that we have gone over some of the features of both headsets, we can go into the details of each model. Here is what you need to know about each of the models.
ASTRO A40 TR X Edition
Astro is known for making some great gaming gear, particularly headphones. Here we have the A40 headset that is also available in the X Edition which is a special version that the company released for its 10-year anniversary.
The Astro gaming headset has a clean design and comes in Red and Black. The headset is adjustable. You have foam on the to and around the earcups so that it is comfortable to wear when you are gaming for long periods of time.
The headphone cable comes out which is great if you are traveling and need to take it with you. There arent many controls on the headset itself. You only get the mute button. This is a bummer but you might not use the volume and mic buttons, so whether or not this is a dealbreaker varies from person to person.
Wired Gaming Headset
The design is very traditional and if you have used Astro products in the past then this model is going to feel very similar. The side plates can be removed and swapped out which is great if you are interested in customizing your headphones. The boom mic comes off as well so you can use it with your phone for listening to music. This headset is very versatile and can be used with all kinds of devices. There is a single line0in cable and you also get a splitter in the box so that you can use the headset with your PC.
The earcups are like the standard one which pop right out and back in. They can be removed for cleaning or you can replace them if you want. The mic is decent and great for communicating with your team when gaming. It does not have a pop filter, so you will get that popping sound if the mic is too close to your mouth.
Audio is very clear and you can hear the small details such as footsteps and shots in the background. Astro has improved the microphones and they are much better than before. The headphones are flexible and work with all kinds of devices including smartphones, Xbox One, PS4, PC and Mac.
All things considered, this headset does feel like a special edition. There are minor changes to the look of the headset which makes it stand out and the mic has been improved as well which is a major plus point if you have used Astro headsets in the past and are interested in getting a new one. This model is highly recommended.
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Highly customizable
- Detachable mic
- Detachable cable
- Special edition design
Cons
- Mic does not have a pop filter
- Plenty of removable parts
- Customer support could be better
- No volume controls
ASTRO A50 Wireless Gaming
The Astro A50 is a premium gaming headset that is wireless. The headset is made of plastic for the most part but there are bits and pieces of metal here and there. The earpieces are made of cloth material which is very comfortable to wear on the sides you have the blue tubes that house the wires that go to each of the earpieces.
While the mic cannot be removed from the body of the headset, it does have a flip to mute function which allows you to mute the mic when it is flipped up. This is an interesting feature to have and no one can hear you when you have the mic pulled up.
The sound quality is very impressive and that is what you expect when you spend so much money on a gaming headset but you can make some tweaks in the software as well. Out of the box, some might feel that the bass is too much but that is a personal opinion plus you can change that in the software settings as well.
Wireless Gaming Headset
The headphones come with Dolby 7.1 surround sound which makes everything much better. You can hear enemies approaching you and their footsteps. This can give you a major advantage in competitive titles such as Apex Legends or Overwatch. The feature allows you to hear everything around you including shots fired in the background which you might not be able to hear when using other headsets. The level of immersion that this feature has to offer is very impressive indeed and it is a must-have in 2020 if you are willing to pay the price.
The headset comes with a mix amp that allows you to toggle between different audio sources and you can select which sounds you hear louder. When in-game and on discord, you can select to hear the chat on Discord much louder than then in-game sounds, or the other way around. Whatever your preference is, you can set it up. This is a great feature to have and is very convenient indeed.
This is a wireless headset and that means that you will need to charge it. It comes with a dock that is powered by USB. You can plug it into your PC or console. The dock has LED lights that tell how much the headset has been charged and how much battery is available.
All things considered, this is an impressive headset and I like the splash of Blue that it has. It has a stealthy design that is not very aggressive. If you are interested in getting a decent pair of wireless headphones for gaming and are willing to pay the premium then this is an option that you should consider.
Pros
- Charging station charges quickly.
- Great sound
- Very breathable materials
- Microphone bends and stays in position
- Comfortable
Cons
- Expensive
- The “hear yourself” feature can be annoying
- The audio turns off when the headset is put down
Astro A40 vs A50 – Which One Should You Get?
Both headsets are great and offer impressive audio. The mics on both are versatile and do the job just fine. So the question here is, which one should you get?
On the other hand, if you are interested in spending more on a premium pair of headphones that are wireless then you can go with the A50.
Read also: HyperX Cloud 2 vs Alpha
Wireless Vs Wired Gaming Headphones
Generally, wireless headsets are thought off as inferior products when it comes to gaming when compared to wired options. This is because of the potential for interference. The same is the case with pretty much any wireless gaming peripheral. It has been a long time since these products have been in development and companies have improved their designs and technologies to an extent that wireless options are not on par with wireless ones if not better.
In 2020 you can get a decent pair of wireless headphones that work for around $200. Price is going to be a major factor here as decent wireless headphones are expensive. If you get a wireless pair of headphones for around $50 then the audio quality is going to be bad and you are bound to get some interference. The Astro A50 that we have looked into here is a premium option that sounds good and does not have interference issues.
Wired gaming headphones are cheaper than wireless ones and are lighter and sleeker as well. Wireless headphones need the house the additional technology and the batteries so that makes them a bit bulky. Other than that the price is different as well. Wireless options are more expensive when compared to wired ones.
If you are interested in decent audio quality but are not willing to spend too much money on a pair of headphones then a wired option makes more sense. If you want a clean setup with no wired and are willing to pay the additional cost then you can go with wireless headphones.
Conclusion
The Astro A40 and A50 are both great options if you are interested in getting a new gaming headset.
You should go with the A40 if you are interested in decent audio for a fair price. They do not cost too much and offer a lot of customization for the price.
If you are interested in spending a fair bit more on a headset then you can choose the A50. It is an impressive wireless option that looks good and performs well.
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