Logitech has released the Astro A50 Wireless 5th Gen headset, an audio-based marvel that will sit atop a gamer’s head as if it were a crown. This versatile, sumptuous device offers unparalleled audio quality, stellar comfort levels, and intense customisation options – but all that is reflected in the price. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about this device because of the price point, hopefully, this Astro A50 Wireless headset review can set your mind straight.
Pretty Penny, Gorgeous Peripherals
The Astro A50 Wireless headset is now in its fifth generation, and this latest evolution is a superb one. Logitech has packed so many features into one device with the new Astro A50, allowing users to take advantage of the company’s proprietary LIGHTSPEED technology and PLAYSYNC Audio mechanics.
That means that the wireless connectivity of the Astro A50 is lightning fast, and thanks to the enhanced base station, you can connect it to three devices at once and switch between them at the tap of a tactile button – it’s brilliant.
It’ll run up quite a bill, though. The Astro A50 Wireless Gen 5 headset floats around $300, which makes it one of the most expensive gaming headsets on the market, but believe me when I say it’s worth every penny. From the broadcast-grade omnidirectional microphone to the Pro-G Graphene drivers, every inch of the Astro A50 Gen 5 headset is premium.
It comes in at just 363 grams, which means that the hulking frame of the A50 is decisively misleading. It looks like it should be much heavier, but it’s a wonder to wear it for hours on end without suffering from any fatigue. No matter what game you’re playing, you’ll be soaking up pinpoint spatial sound while taking advantage of phenomenally comfortable padding around the ears and the top of your head.
It has now been more than 12 years since the first Astro A50 headset was released, and from content creators to competitive esports players, it has become a firm favourite of so many gamers worldwide. The Gen 5 release represents the cherry on top; the icing on the cake in the form of a true multi-dimensional headset that’s a must-have for the multi-platform gamer.
Into the Performance
I’m in love with the Astro A50’s magnetic charging dock. As a forgetful gamer, I’ll leave wireless accessories out until their batteries run flat, but since testing the Astro A50, I haven’t once managed to leave it hanging on a monitor or sitting on my desk. It’s satisfying to click the headset into the stand and have it sitting in pride of place on a nearby shelf.
The status indicators on the base unit are super helpful, too. Even when you’re wearing the headset, a slight glance to the base unit will give you an indication of the battery level. With up to 24 hours of playtime on a full charge, you’ll find it hard to run the headset into the ground, which is fantastic.
The one drawback I have is that my PlayStation and Xbox consoles are across the other side of the room to my PC, so it’s almost not possible to have them connected to the base unit unless I use a really long USB-C cable. It means I can’t use the PLAYSYNC technology effectively, but it’s not a deal-breaker for me, as I’d have bought this to use it exclusively on PC games.
On all platforms, you can take advantage of the ‘mixamp-like’ audio mixing features, and on PlayStation and Xbox, you can use Dolby Atmos or PlayStation 3D Audio for better depth of sound.
The Astro A50 Gen 5 really shines brightest on PC, though. This is where you can utilise the G Hub software to fully tweak the device (G App is useful elsewhere), and you’ll get 24-bit audio by default without needing to worry about the HDMI 2.1 AV passthrough requirement.
I found that when playing a shooter like Escape from Tarkov, where every sound matters, I was picking up footsteps and audio cues much clearer, and the directional clarity was second-to-none. I’ve been around the houses when it comes to headsets, and the Astro A50 Gen 5 is without a doubt the cream of the crop.
Ultimately, Logitech’s Astro A50 Wireless Gen 5 headset is an audio experience in a tangible form. It sounds phenomenal, feels great on your head, and offers enough features under the hood to make the price point worthwhile. When you throw in the high-tech and attractive base unit, you’ve got one hell of a peripheral package that any gamer should be proud to own.
Astro A50 Wireless headset review over – let us know on the Insider Gaming forum what you think about this technology.
For more Insider Gaming Tech, check out our review of the G915 X Pro Lightspeed TKL keyboard from Logitech
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