Astro A10 The Perfect Budget Headset

Whenever I think about Astro, high-end wireless gaming headphones that may cost several hundred dollars come to mind. Which is currently dominated by brands such as Turtle Beach and HyperX. The Astro A10 retails for $60. As it turns out, Astro can compete just as effectively with the smaller companies as with the larger ones; in fact, it's one of the finest Xbox Series X headsets currently available. The A10 has a stylish appearance, strong audio, and a dependable microphone at an affordable price. Its performance is astonishingly good overall. However, it may become a little cramped at times, and it faces some real competition from headsets that are both more comfortable and reasonably priced.

The Cost and Availability of the Astro A10

Although the price of the Astro A10 is subject to some degree of variation, the retailer Walmart now offers the best deal, which comes in at $35.

Design

Even though it is made entirely of plastic and only costs $60, the Astro A10 budget headset manages to be surprisingly sleek and durable despite its low price point. Its more costly siblings are made entirely of metal and have more elaborate features. It has ear cups that are large and boxy and a microphone that is flexible and can be flipped up to silence it. Essentially, it is a more affordable version of the premium Astro A50.

Although the blue, green, and red variants of the A10 are designed specifically for gamers on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC platforms, all versions are compatible with every other platform. The headset's cord is 6.5 feet in length and detachable, making it an excellent option for travel due to its convenient in-line volume slider.

Comfort

The A10 is one of the most perfect Astro headsets I've used, but it's also the first one that's required me to take regular breaks from wearing it. However, I like that the headset has a lightweight frame that weighs just 12 ounces and substantial ear cushions made of memory foam.

Audio Performance

The audio performance of the A10 is remarkable for an entry-level headset, producing powerful highs and a decent bass end for a wide variety of musical genres. During a tight fight in Overwatch, using Astro's headset made it simple for me to localize the footfall of the other team, and it added a lot of punch to the game's quick-firing firearms. I could figure out the small differences in tire sounds when I switched from driving on highways to coasting on the beach while playing Forza Horizon 3, and the game's screaming tires and roaring motors sounded realistic. Additionally, the A10 did a fantastic job keeping the wonderful sound design of Injustice 2. The A10, much like the vast majority of low-cost gaming headphones, isn't the best option for listening to music. This was the case regardless of the kind of music being played.

Microphones, In Addition to the Extras

In my testing, the microphone on the Astro A10 operated dependably, which allowed my buddies who play Friday the 13th: The Game on Xbox Live to hear me well despite the noises of us killing each other. The Competition. The A10 doesn't come with many flashy frills, but I liked that it had a volume slider on the 6.5-foot cord that you can remove from the headset. A splitter cable is included with the PC version of the A10, which you can use to connect the A10 to the microphone and headphone connectors on your computer.

If you possess an Xbox One, you can acquire a package for $100 that includes the MixAmp M60. This accessory, which connects to your controller and allows you to activate multiple EQ settings and modify the balance between game and chat audio on the fly, is available to users of the Xbox One.

Verdict

In and of itself, the Astro A10 is an excellent deal when it comes to a gaming headset. You get terrific sound, a robust design, a good microphone, and a set of largely comfortable cans for $60. However, Astro's headset that's easy on the pocketbook might feel a touch constricting sometimes, and it has some formidable competition in the price bracket of less than $60. The HyperX Cloud Stinger, which sells for $50, has a price reduction of $10 and provides improved comfort due to its reduced weight and swiveling ear cup design, which allows it to adapt to a variety of different head shapes. Another option to consider is the Logitech G231 Prodigy, which retails for $70, has a less bulky design, and is more perforated.