Some Quick Thoughts: Astro A50 Headphones
In modern times with game controllers having 3.5mm headset jacks, I have generally found the idea of dedicated “gaming headsets” unnecessary. Instead, I would opt for more premium headphones. This would net me a better quality/price ratio, as well as allow me to reuse headphones I already own.
But recently I saw a deal and purchased the Astro A50 (gen 3) headset. Even after impulse buying it, I considered returning it. Why do I want headphones that have very limited application? But after using it for awhile, the convenience of having a truly wireless headset is well worth the cost (at least the extremely discounted cost I paid).
The audio fidelity is good and the headset is comfortable. Those two things are important, but the ultimate factor in its usability is convenience. Being able to pick the headset up off the cradle, slide the power switch to “on” while simultaneously putting it on my head, and being done is fantastic. There’s no fiddling with untangling cords or fumbling to plug the cable into the controller. Awesome.
Perhaps my biggest gripe in the design is that the mute for the headset’s mic requires physically rotating the boom vertical. Would have much preferred a simple button press on the controller, though that is somewhat of a limitation of consoles (i.e. would require some kind of puck separate from the headset to attach to the controller). But that aside, I’m happy with the lifestyle improvements fully wireless grants.
It’s worth noting, that the headset require different base stations depending on whether you want to use the headset for PS4 versus Xbox One. Fortunately the headset itself is compatible with both platforms so to expand to a second console only requires purchasing a second base station rather than a second headset and base bundle. While supposedly a result of different console architectures, I question whether there couldn’t have been a single base station capable of both platforms. This would help reduce the overall cost of buying both bases (though probably raise it if you are a single console household) as well as help with maintaining a clean entertainment center.
After using the headset for several months I’ve noticed a defect in the headset. It’s happened several times and results in a dead headset. Very annoying. The problem arises immediately after removing the headset from the cradle sometimes (I have yet to identify the exact circumstances that cause it, or if it’s entirely random). The sequence of events is this: You use the headset as normal without any problem; you finish playing, turn it “off,” and return it to the base to charge; you recognize by the LEDs that the headset is correctly charging; a day or two later you go to use the headset again, turn it on, and find its battery is completely depleted. This is particularly frustrating as the headset lasts for a long time on a full charge. So you could even go several play sessions just turning the headset off in between, without charging it. But somehow, by placing it back on the base, the battery begins to deplete.
I’ve researched the issue and it seems I am not alone. Suggestions range from making sure the base is plugged into a USB port that continues to supply power, to doing a button combination to reboot the headset. The USB issue is frustrating because the base is plugged into the console for the headset to work so your only option is to make sure the console is in standby mode (not fully off with the USB ports disabled). The other solution I’ve tried, and though it initially seemed successful, several days later I still ended up with a dead headset. I don’t know what the real fix here is: whether it’s a user error or easy fix, or whether the headsets are actually defective. But what I do know, is for the price of this headset, one should never remove it from the charging cradle and find it dead.
