As a wireless headset for the PS5, the ASTRO A50 has a lot to offer. Comfort is on a whole nother level, and sound quality hits all the right notes, which the built-in MixAmp takes up a notch further.
However, there are a few caveats that make or break it. For starters, it’s on the expensive end of the spectrum. In addition, the aforementioned MixAmp and, by the same token, Dolby Surround need an adapter that’s purchased separately to function. That about sums things up, and whether or not it’s worth getting for the PS5 simply boils down to weighing the features against the cost.
ASTRO A50 PS5 Review & Specs
| Model | ASTRO A50 for PS5 |
| Price | |
| Frequency Response | 20 – 20 kHz |
| Drivers | 40 mm neodymium |
| Microphone | 6 mm unidirectional, flip to mute |
| Battery Life | 15 hours |
| Wireless Range | Up to 30 ft |
| Weight | 0.83 lbs |
Design
The ASTRO A50s are hard to beat in terms of comfort.
There’s no denying that the ASTRO A50 is a looker. For one thing, it has a sleek coat of paint and a solid build. Just by picking, it up it’s easy to tell it’s a premium piece of work that’ll last for years.
There’s a bit of heft to it, but despite that, it’s comfortable to wear even for long gaming sessions. The soft ear cushions definitely help in that regard, as well as the rotating ear cups that conform nicely to the shape of the skull.
The ASTRO A50 is also Mod Kit ready. That means it has interchangeable components, particularly the ear pads and headband. The kit includes noise-canceling synthetic leather ear cushions that improve sound isolation and a padded headband to go with them.Â
One issue is it charges via the base station, which in and of itself isn’t a bad thing. However, the pins are tiny, and actually charging the thing needs a bit of tinkering, overall making for a wonky setup.
Performance
As expected, the ASTRO A50s boast rich and powerful bass.
Among the strong points of ASTRO headsets is their strong bass, and the A50s are no exception. While that might not be the best for certain genres, a booming bass can really liven things up in gaming. At any rate, highs and mids come through with clarity, so audio isn’t muddied and sounds pretty balanced in general.
The microphone is a flip-to-mute affair, which comes in handy at times. It won’t win any awards in quality, but it’s decent enough to pick up your voice cleanly.
Now the ASTRO A50 is easy to set up, if you’re using it as an ordinary wireless headset (read: no MixAmp features). Just plug the base station into the PS5’s USB port, and voilà , you’re ready to go. On top of that, it only takes about two seconds to pair successfully, so you probably won’t notice any waiting times even when you turn it off and on again and again.
Setup isn’t as simple if you want to use the built-in MixAmp since you’ll need the HDMI adapter for the PS5 in the mix.
Features
MixAmp features are hard to pass up.
The ASTRO A50 features an integrated MixAmp and Dolby Surround, paving the way for equalizer profiles, game/chat volume balancing and positional audio. But as noted, you’ll need a separate adapter to access these features. If you don’t want to spend the extra cash, the PS5’s 3D audio is serviceable for surround sound, and it’s accurate enough to give away opponents’ locations during games.
All things considered, you can’t maximize the full potential of the A50s without the MixAmp features, making the adapter more of a necessity. In other words, you don’t have much of a choice other than springing for the adapter if you want to get the most out of the headset.
Speaking of limitations, the PlayStation variant of the A50 doesn’t work on the Xbox, just in case it isn’t clear. It does work on the PC, though, so there’s that.
Battery Life
The gaming cans live up to its 15-hour battery life claim.
The ASTRO A50 promises up to 15 hours of battery life on a single charge, and it works as advertised. There’s a battery indicator on the base station with four LEDs that represent 25 percent increments. If the headset is running low on juice, it emits warning beeps to let you know it needs to be charged soon.
Verdict
So much potential hampered by a high price tag.
The problem with the ASTRO A50s is you’ll have to spend extra for the adapter to get access to all the features, and the headset isn’t exactly that affordable to begin with. That said, the entire setup costs a pretty penny, and if it weren’t for that, it would’ve been easy to recommend to PS5 owners.
If money’s no object, then the A50s are an excellent pick. They’re comfortable for extended gaming sessions, deliver top-notch sound quality tuned for gaming and last long between charges.
FAQs
Yes, you can connect the ASTRO A50’s base station to the PS5 via USB and use the headset right away. However, you’ll need an HDMI adapter for the PS5 if you want to use all the gaming cans’ features.
Even though it’s expensive, the ASTRO A50s are worth getting. They’re really comfortable to wear, and they also sound great and last for years with proper care.
The A50s are ASTRO’s flagship headset, and they’re the best in the sense that they’re packed with a ton of features such as a built-in MixAmp and Dolby Surround. However, they don’t stand out from the competition, mostly set back by their high price tag.
The ASTRO A50’s Mod Kit lets you swap the ear cushions and headband with counterparts made with synthetic leather. In particular, the ear pad replacements can improve noise isolation, though they might not be as comfortable as the ones that came with the headset.
Last update on 2022-08-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API