The Astro A50 headset has long been regarded as a standout in the gaming market, a premier choice for those seeking a perfect mix of high quality audio, comfort and functionality. Well the A50X takes all of what made the A50 special and improves upon it, by adding features such as the multi connection base station Logitech has taken an industry leading headset and given it a level up so to speak.
The Astro A50X offers a sleek and modern design with a build that feels like it will stand the test of time. The Matte finish and stylish accents really give it a premium look and feel. Solid in your hand, yet surprisingly lightweight, the A50X is a testament to thoughtful engineering. In terms of comfort the large well (memory-foam) padded ear cups ensure no head fatigue during long gaming sessions, while the breathable fabric covering ensures your ears stay cool and comfortable. The top headband is as equally padded and adjustable as the ear cups, providing a snug fit without too much pressure on the top of your head. I did find however that every now and then my hair would get stuck somewhere giving me the sensation of having my hair pulled from time to time.
This comfort is definitely one of the standout features of the A50X. Those memory foam ear cups really conform to the shape of your head while the large openings ensure no matter how big your ears are, I doubt they will touch the ear cups making it one of the most comfortable headsets on the market. Gamers with glasses should also find the A50X very accommodating as the materials and lightweight design ensure no discomfort when wearing glasses.
Sound quality is an area in which the Astros have shown for years. The A50X is truly no exception. It delivers rich detailed audio with a really well balanced all round sound profile. The bass is punchy to perfection, the mids are clear and the highs are crisp and chirpy. This ensures that no matter what you're playing, you'll be hearing the game just about how the developers intended. The biggest benefit in terms of audio however I'd say lies in the positional 7.1 surround sound that the A50X delivers. This 7.1 delivers near perfect pinpoint accuracy, this often saves me when playing games like COD by allowing me to accurately locate enemies footsteps, gun reloads and more. This added spatial awareness has often given me a competitive edge over others.
What makes the A50X truly stand out from the crowd however is the all new base station. The A50X is designed to provide seamless connectivity across all your platforms. This allows you to connect to multiple devices such as PS5, PC, and Xbox all at once via the base station switching between them instantly with the push of a button.
I currently have mine set up with all 3, PC, PS5 and Xbox. PC via USB-C, ensuring super low latency, high fidelity audio making it perfect for both gaming and media consumption, and powering the base station in the process.PS5 and Xbox using the base stations 2x HDMI. This setup allows for 4K 120Hz passthrough which delivers perfect visuals while routing the audio through the headset. This 4K 120Hz is especially important if you have a high end display and nextgen console as 120Hz will probably be a necessity these days so any limitations here would have essentially rendered the A50X irrelevant.
Once connected, the base station essentially serves as a central hub for all your devices, streamlining the process of switching between each by pressing a button on the headset to cycle between them. The base also features a clear visual indicator of both battery life and which device you're connected to to further streamline the process.
In case the base station didn't do enough already, like the previous A50 models, it also charges your headset while docked making sure you never run out of battery and are always ready for battle.
One area that the A50X does fall short due to compromise is in terms of noise isolation.This tends to happen in headsets with fabric ear cups as opposed to those with leatherette or leather coverings. As a result of this, sound can sometimes bleed into your listening experience. This design choice makes the A50X much better suited in quiet environments.
The A50X features a really high end flip to mute boom mic. This microphone delivers clear natural voice reproduction and sounds accurate to real life. This makes it ideal for in-game communication and even makes it very capable as a streaming mic if you don't want to invest in a high end dedicated mic.
Battery life is a strong point, while it's not the longest available it's over 24 hours so will last long enough for even the most marathon gaming sessions, which when you consider the headset charges while docked it will always be available for use as long as you can remember to dock it after every use.
Overall, the Astro A50X can't be understated. It's become my overall favourite headset due to its perfect blend of audio quality, comfort and versatility across all my devices. It has effectively replaced 3 or 4 headsets in my collection. The only real drawback is the reliance on the base station even for bluetooth connectivity meaning I can't take it anywhere more than a few metres away from the dock without losing connection. However as a dedicated gaming headset, the Astro A50X will revolutionise your setup. It is definitely my number one pick for a gaming headset in 2024.
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