Sound is generally the most overlooked aspect of gaming. We really undervalue how much it adds to the experience just as we overlook how much it can add to our performance while playing. Today’s games take advantage of surround sound, but if you don’t have the right equipment you are missing out on the directional audio you should be hearing. Not only does this take away from our participation in the in-game world, but it can really hurt your kill-death ratio.

Serious gamers looking for great surround sound (without annoying their neighbors) have taken notice of Astro Gaming. See, it’s not as easy as just getting different headphones–proper headphone-based surround sound from a gaming console requires some setup. Initially it’s actually a bit of a pain, but then you’ll have a system that is both high-performance and portable. The Astro A30 surround sound system for consoles and PCs sells for $229 and it includes headphones, a mix amp, a boom mic, and the cables you’ll need to get going (well, most of them, depending on your home theater setup).

The features include (from Astrogaming.com):

* Astro MixAmp for Xbox360 & PS3 compatibility, featuring Dolby Digital, Dolby PLIIx, Dolby Headphone, voice/game balance & daisy-chain connections for LAN setup.
* Frequency response boosted at lower & upper ends for richer bass and piercing highs – more traditional audio tuning.
* Supra-aural, “on-ear” cushion design.
* Closed-back construction enhances a deep bass response and passively isolates listener from external sounds.
* Left side boom mic only, removable. Additional in-line mic embedded in Quick Disconnect connector.
* Patent-pending A30 Speaker Tag system for customization and personalization.
* Astro Quick Disconnect (“QD”) cabling system with three QD cables – Console (1.5 meters), PC (1.5 meters) and Mobile One-Click PickUp (0.5 meters)

With all the components in-house and all the cables, you just need to get everything connected. This is actually a bit confusing because of all the options you are given–for a Xbox 360 connecting to a television you can connect your mixamp to a headphone jack (good), your HDTV audio jacks (better), or your optical jacks (best). The setup is about the same for the PS3. PCs are similiar and will use a USB connection as well.

All told the setup is relatively painless, if you know a thing or two about home theaters and you have the right cables. I ended up using optical to go between my television and mixamp as it provides the best quality and requires the fewest connections. With that done, connect your headset and controller to the mixamp and you are set. Your controller needs to be connected if you want to chat.

The mixamp is the heart of all this–it bridges the television and headset plus it provides your main volume controls. It is also used if you want to bridge setups for LAN gaming (the red bridge piece is included). It’s nicely constructed with a soft-touch rubber back and packed into a reasonable size. It runs off of its own batteries so it’s fully powered and provides 5.1 Dolby and Dolby Headphone surround sound. The $129 device works with a PC, Xbox 360, and PS3, but can also be used by MP3 players and other devices if you have the right cables.

The A30 headset is a portable, lightweight product–for the full-on tournament edition Astro make the A40 ($199 instead of $149). The headset isn’t really the most interesting part of the audio system though. It’s a nice headset with a removable boom microphone (as well as a second in-line mic), solid sound quality that works well with gaming, movies or audio,

As far as fit goes, the A30 headset does well, but is not great. This is a lightweight headset aimed to combine portability (the earpieces fold sideways for safe traveling) with fit, not maximize comfort. There is padding across the top band, but no adjustments up there, these are limited to adjusting earpieces up and down. The earpieces are padded and do not compress your ears, despite these being on-the-ear headphones. The cord is quite long, but it can be split in the middle, at the in-line controller (which houses its microphone). To put it briefly–the headset sounds quite good. It’s balanced, so it’s not just for gaming, and music and voices sound quite clear. I enjoyed gaming with the A30 and it held up well during explosions and directional sounds (especially for games like Modern Warfare 2).

This last point brings us back to what the A30 system is all about: surround sound. Here Astro’s system does its job extremely well. It crams 5.1 surround sound into a headset. This means no messy installation, no wires running to the back of your room, and easy portability (not just from place to place, but device to device). Sure you need the mix amp and you need to dust off that optical connection, but when the surround sound does come through you will immediately realize what you’ve been missing. The headset does a very good job with directional sound and it will give players a distinct advantage as you’ll have a much better idea as to where the action is happening (and if anyone is sneaking up on you).

The Astro A30 audio system has enough components that it really needs to be looked as a single product, not just a headset and mix amp. After all, a well-outfitted kit isn’t just those two, it will probably include a rechargeable battery pack for the mix amp ($20), an optical cable ($15), maybe some custom speaker tags ($20), a PS3 mic adapter ($10), and so on. This brings up two points–one is that the $229 price point is pretty solid considering you are getting a nice headset, a mix amp, and some accessories, but also that you can expand to your heart’s content. Pricing can spiral out of control, but only if you let it. And the A40 is $199 on it’s own, so the A30 looks like a great deal, especially considering some keys things 1) the headset works with lots of products, including your iPod 2) the audio system works with your PC in addition to your consoles and 3) you can use a different headset with your mix amp if you’d like.

The Astro A30 is an impressive audio system. It takes something that should be simple, but is actually rather complex, and makes it painless. It’s hard to swallow the fact that you have to pay $230 to get your console’s built-in surround sound abilities into a headset, but hopefully this will be easier in future consoles. Until then Astro has you covered.


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Astro makes professional gaming products and they are good at it. Their work can be seen in millions of living rooms because they worked on the controller for the Xbox 360. From that alone, it is clear they have a knack for design, but pleasing aesthetics are only a fraction of the story.

I am always on the quest for "the" pair of headphones. Earbuds are nice for convenience but I find them uncomfortable or fall out. The kinds that go over the head and around the ears usually get too bulky or weighty. As a glasses wearer, I need the ear cups to be large enough that my ears don't get squashed but small enough so I don't feel like the product is swallowing my head. I'm a picky guy that has a lot of engineering demands. This doesn't even include my requirements for how things sound. The Astro A30 Cross-Gaming Headset deftly covers all these bases to offer one of the best audio experiences for gaming. I've spent about two weeks with the product and I can't stop showing it off to people.

Presentation goes a long way with me. I'm pretty sure it is a trait common with many gamers; otherwise there wouldn't be entire internets full of graphics debates. This applies to the A30 in a number of ways. Opening the box is a fun experience. Once the lid is lifted on the treasure chest, the gold inside really sparkles. The headset is made of sturdy plastic. It isn't a hard plastic, because that would make it more susceptible of breakage, so it has some give to remain flexible. The ear cups are on a swivel so they can lay flat around a neck or store them in a backpack for travel. Also on the ear cups are customizable "tags" that magnetize on the left and right. Astro gives the option to not only buy predesigned tags, they allow for owners to customize their own. Little features like that go to show the A30 is a cut above other headphones.

The first thing I noticed is how light the headphones were. They snugly wrapped around my head, but I didn't feel like I was weighted down. The padding is soft and dense enough that I might as well wrapped my head in a cloud. It fit perfectly over my ears, which provided great noise reduction. I'm not an entire expert on the matter of sound, but I was more than pleased at how well these things sounded. The cool thing is that the A30 is so versatile, it will plug into nearly every device imaginable. I was surprised at how crisp and clear all the sounds came through, and this was even before I plugged in the MixAmp.

The MixAmp is a box that comes separately from the headphones. It essentially turns the A30s into a personal Dolby 5.1 home theater audio system that can act also as the Xbox Live headset. It takes the already incredible headphones to new heights. The downside to the MixAmp is the cable management. I already have a problem with my wires because of what is already hooked to my TV, but to add more wires that stick out in front of the TV is somewhat of a mess. That still didn't stop me from being totally thrilled with how the sound of games changed when these were attached to my head. It's a transforming experience for gamers who haven't been able to experience their games with surround audio.

The box is easy to use with all the inputs and outputs clearly labeled. There are two knobs that adjust volume and how the sound is distributed between the surround sound and voice chat for games. The ability to adjust it on the fly really helps dial in the right audio experience for any game. I found myself turning up the voice chat for multiplayer games since weak voices don't always come over clear versus booming explosions, music and ambient noise.

Pricing of the headphones plus MixAmp is pretty high at $229.95. However, the value for that price is clear as the sound coming from the headphone speakers. If there is a desire to invest in some professional gear to give a better gaming experience, the A30 is the ideal product to get. Gamers serious about getting a seriously awesome piece of audio equipment need to check out the A30.

I cannot say enough good things about these headphones. They are the best solution to so many problems I had and they sound fantastic.


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I’m a sucker for headsets, especially since I do most of my gaming late at night. With a good headset, I can crank the volume to the max without waking up the wife at 2 AM and spare myself a slap up-side the head in the morning. I recently reviewed the X41 Wireless Headset from Turtle Beach and even though my experience with it continues to be a positive one despite its nitpicks, the ASTRO Gaming brand has been teasing me for quite some time.

While the California-based company offers two models, it’s the A30 cross-platform audio system that we’ll review today. Intended for more of an on-the-go use, is this bad boy worth the investment?

The first thing you should know is that ASTRO offers two options for their A30 model: either you buy the standalone headset for 150 dollars or the complete audio system kit for 230 dollars. The full kit includes the slick and comfortable on-ear headset and the ASTRO MixAmp, which allows you to get 5.1 Dolby Surround out of your gaming and the ability to use your headset as an Xbox Live/PSN communicator as well. Our review will focus on the latter.

The biggest upside of the A30 headset is its versatility. Not only you can plug it to your PC to use for gaming or voice chat (I’ve used it recently to record a podcast via Skype) but it can also be used with any device that has a 3.5mm stereo output such as MP3 players, iPhones and your handheld gaming devices among others. It comes with a removable boom mic but there’s also an inline microphone (located on the upper part of the removable quick disconnect cable) for a more discreet method communication. Speaking of “removable”, these headsets are highly customizable. Aside from the aforementioned removable boom mic, the package comes with three swappable cables for mobile, console or PC setups. The mobile cable features a control button to answer or end calls but it also works with iTunes to start, stop, jump forward and jump back. You can buy custom speaker tags (also removable) or even make you own design. In our case, we had the opportunity to review the MGS Peace Walker headset model so the green MGS tags were included. And if you buy now, ASTRO will throw a copy of the game too.

Versatility is great and all, but what about the sound? While the performance of the normal stereo sound isn’t what you REALLY want to know (as that tech has been pretty much perfected by now, right?), you’ll be happy to learn that when paired with the MixAmp, (priced at 130 dollars if you decide to buy it later instead of saving a few bucks when buying the entire audio system out-right) the A30 headsets sound quality is phenomenal. Now, I prefer a circumaural headset over anything else out of sheer comfort. Having to deal with an on-ear set-up rather than the circumaural I prefer did become a small nuisance, but not big enough to actually dislike the ASTRO’s. The 5.1 Dolby Surround effects are amazing but some might not feel the same level of immersion that a full over-ear headset will give. Of course, their other model - the A40 - could solve this problem, but you’ll be sacrificing the on-the-go side of things and the lightweight feel.

On the other hand, since these are wired headsets, you won’t have to deal with the hisses and small interference noises you would get with a wireless headset. One of the things that struck me was how annoying the sound on my X41 can be when I plug the Xbox Live Chat communicator into the headset. With the A30’s, you won’t have to deal with it

Conclusion

To be honest, once I’ve tasted the joys of a 5.1 Dolby Surround wireless headset, it was hard for me to back-peddle to a wired set-up. However, what ASTRO offers here is one of the best audio experiences I have had in the past few years. Now, the price might be a little hefty and there are other premium wired options on the market (of which I have yet to sample) but beware, if you pay less, you might not get the whole package ASTRO is offering. Personally, I think that you’ll be pleased with the investment.


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A common trend that I’ve noticed in the gaming community is that when asked “who makes the best headset”, the answer is almost always unanimously “Astro does”. Now, I’m not new to the gaming scene by any means, but it always intrigued me as to how this was the case. Never one to really delve into the depths of high-performance audio equipment, I never realized how the right headset could single-handedly transform an ordinary gaming session into an experience. The Astro A30′s do just that.

While the industry consensus is that the A40′s are the best headset for gaming, my eyes were focused on the newer A30′s. The reasoning behind this is because the A30′s are touted as the perfect cross-gaming headset and highly mobile. This seemed to suit me perfectly as I do my share of console gaming, but I also listen to my mp3 player a lot on-the-go. Ideally, the A30′s would be my new solution for everything audio, no matter the circumstance. I’m oh-so happy to report that this is exactly the case.

Upon unboxing the headset, the first thing I noticed is that taking apart the Astro packaging is an experience in itself. All of the boxes were incredibly well-presented, and after opening the contents of one, I was like a kid on Christmas morning – eager to open the next. The second thing I noticed is that it comes with a lot of stuff, however, part of this is because of the Mixamp which I’ll touch on in a bit.

After attaching the speaker tags, I had to take these babies for a quick test run. I found the proper cord, and fired up my iTunes. Before I knew it, I was picking my jaw up off the floor. The Astro A30′s hit me with sound quality that I had never experienced before. I’m not much of an audiophile in regards to the specifics of audio settings, but I do know that never before have I listened to music where the vocals are as sharp, the guitars ring out as clear, and the bass and kick are as crisp. Simply put, I’ve never really been able to pick out the different layers of a song as easily as I can with the A30s on.

Since that first experience, I’ve had the A30s at my side (or rather, around my neck) almost constantly. I’ve had stretches where I’ve worn them for hours straight with absolutely no discomfort. In fact, sometimes I forgot they were there altogether. The A30s sit on-ear, as opposed to the A40s which are circumaural. Some people may have a problem with this, but I experienced absolutely none. Additionally, when worn around the neck, you can always find a comfortable position, mostly due to the fact that the earpieces swivel almost a full 180 degrees.

As we all know, gaming headsets have two primary qualities – the audio, which we’ve covered, and the communication/mic. Not at all surprisingly, Astro gets high marks for this, as well. To cover all bases, the A30s come with two different microphones. The first is the detachable boom mic. This is for dedicated gaming sessions when communication is paramount. It works wonderfully, with all parties being able to hear me clearly when it was tested out. For more mobile purposes, the A30s come equipped with an in-line microphone. This way, you can take calls from it if you wish. Personally, I don’t have a lot of use for this mic, but I did test it out in party chat just to see how it worked. The consensus is that it’s a little quiet, probably because it hangs down a bit, but other than that it performs just fine. To toggle between the two microphones, there’s a switch on the in-line mic. Certainly easy enough to use, but if all the features of the A30s ever have you confused, they come with a manual that is remarkably simply to understand.

Now to the bread and butter of the Astro Gaming experience. One thing that all owners of an Astro headset had told me is that I need to get a Mixamp if I get a pair of A30s or A40s. I didn’t really understand why, up until I actually played around with the Mixamp. If this were The Big Lebowski, the Mixamp is the Dude’s rug – that is to say, it really ties everything together.

The purpose of the Mixamp is simple, really. It lets you control the level between the game audio and voice communication, tailored specifically to your liking. On top of this, it lets you control the master volume of your game. While this all may sound very basic, it’s an absolutely critical piece of the puzzle. Let’s take Left 4 Dead 2 as a quick example – to play L4D2 at the highest level, you need to be able to hear your teammates, yet also be able to hear the boomer that’s right around the corner. It’s no coincidence that the ones to first call out where the special infected are, are always the ones wearing the Astro products. With the Mixamp, you can find the perfect balance to allow you to excel. Also, it’s worth noting that the Mixamp is actually required for use with consoles.

Right out of the box, the Mixamp comes with a bevy of wires that will have you ready, regardless of your situation. It’s equipped with the cords to hook up consoles, PCs, mp3 players, and the audio cables to run from the Mixamp to your tv. However, if you want the absolute best sound, you’ll want to buy a TOSlink Optical Cable. The only real drawback to this headset is that once you’re completely connected, it feels like there are cords everywhere. Less importantly, it seems that the Mixamp may go through batteries rather quickly (4 AA’s at a time), so it may be a good investment to pick up some rechargeables. Fortunately, both of these issues are pretty minor once you hear the audio infiltrate your ears.

After spending less than a week with my new Astro A30s, I’m completely sold on them. Actually, I was sold immediately, but the rest of the time did nothing but solidify my opinion. Whether it’s a mobile, high-quality, stylin’, headset you crave, or one that helps you game like a professional, the A30s deliver on both accounts. While the price for both the headset and the Mixamp may be a bit high, you get exactly what you pay for. Besides that, I guarantee you won’t feel a bit of buyer’s remorse, as it will probably be the last headset you will ever want to buy.


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Since the very first time I walked the hallowed hall of PAX West in 2008, I was amazed by the quality of Astro's headsets. Playing Halo 3 at the show with those headsets on gave the game superior sound quality reserved for home theaters while also giving oustanding comfort which is much better than the cheap headsets that came with my Xbox 360. Recently, I sat down and tried out the new Astro A30 headsets with some of my favorite games. After countless hours of playing, I truly realize why I enjoy Astro's products so much.

So let's talk about these awesome headsets. Let me first say that the A30 is very lightweight and very flexible. When your not using them and your wearing it around your neck, the ear pieces fold and rest over your shoulders which take away the blocky look of headsets on your neck. This is a big plus because I wouldn't want to walk around looking like someone from the 1980s. The earcups are also amazing. They're very comfortable like heaven on the ears and practically block out all other noises. This is something I really like because when I'm playing games, I want to concentrate on all the action and not the sounds of constant whining and nagging from other people.

The Astro A30 also features a MixAmp (Sold seperately) which is a great addition for those who are playing on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The MixAmp gives you full control over your sound quality along with volume and balance control. The MixAmp is on a rechargeable battery which means no needless plug-ins. Just remember to charge the battery when your done using them. I learned this lesson well when I was playing Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and the the amp ran out of juice. If the power is low, just connect the USB to your game console and your good to go.

Since one of the main reasons for anyone wanting to buy a pair of headsets is for sound quality, I decided to test out the Astro A30s on some of my favorite games. First up was Battlefield: Bad Company 2. As I started playing the game, I never really wanted to stop. The sound quality is top notch! You can hear everything going on including distant sounds as well as the approaching footsteps of anyone looking for a cheap knife kill. That's right suckers...I can hear you now! Let's just say that with these bad boys on, I was abIe to increase my kill/death ratio by leaps and bounds. I also played Left 4 Dead 2 and was able to hear the distant sounds of special infected well out in the distance which allowed me and the rest of my party to prepare early for any surprise attack. The A30s also have a detactchable mic for games that require communication like Halo 3, Modern Warfare 2, and more.

Of course, the Astro A30s can be used more than just playing games on your Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, you can also use them to listen to your music on your iPhone, Zune, and more. Better than placing earbuds in your ears, the Astro A30 can make for some much needed down time and listen to music, watch movies, or play iPhone and Zune games whenever you want. They're great for long road trips an even on airplanes. The CD sound quality is amazing as each song I jammed to sounded crisp along with the extra bass boost which means that I don't have to turn the volume up really high where other people can hear what I'm listening to.

Like any gaming headset, the Astro A30 is not cheap. The headsets alone will set you back $149. Get the complete bundle with the MixAmp and get ready to spend $229. Sure it may sound like a lot, but the audio quality and the expressions of your friends when they notice that they can't cheap kill you will have them wanting one too. The sad part for me was that I enjoyed these headsets so much...I didn't want to give them back. Astro once again hit a home run with thew A30 so get these headsets now!


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It's been a while since I've reviewed a pair of headsets, in fact it was over a year and a half ago. While the set has served me well, it was PC only, and a recent change in life situation has found me needing a solid headset for my console gaming - one capable of both voice and Dolby Digital playback. There's a wide range of options out there with a wide range of prices, but one of the premier companies known around the gaming circles has been Astro. Enter the recent Astro A30 headsets - a smaller and lighter version of the popular A40 cans, designed not only for consoles and PCs, but for use in portable gaming. Lets take these for a spin, shall we?

The first thing you'll notice about the A30's is the incredible build quality. Actually the first thing you'll notice is just how well everything is packaged, the presentation will remind you of an Apple product with your product laid to rest in quality boxes and padding. The headset itself comes with a hard zip up case with a pocket to hold cables. I've never seen a headset that felt so solid - there's no cheap plastic like material anywhere on it; the piano black finish of our headset oozed style, while the overall size and curves of the pair of cans making it easy to wear. The outside of each ear piece has removable "speaker tags" which allow you to customize the look of the headset. It ships with default Astro branded ones, but you can order custom tags on the website for $20 a pair.

Everything in the package with extras including: optical cables, rechargable battery, and extender cable adapter.

The cushions, which let in very little outside noise are incredibly well put together and comfortable. It's not that cheap fake leather feel of other headsets, the material feels like a high quality cloth. Your ears will never tire wearing them with the material being very breathable, and there's plenty of padding across the top adjustable band.

What's odd is you'll notice there's only a six inch cable off the headset, certainly not long enough to plug into any device. This breakaway adapter takes different style cables that are included for different purposes. You can plug the headset directly into a portable device like an iPhone or PSP, hook it up to the Astro MixAmp, or plug it directly into your PC via one of the included cables. As you can see, versatility is key in the Astro A30's, allowing them to be your go to headset in any device - even the cable to hook up to portable devices as a built in inline microphone, so you can use it with an iPhone to make and receive calls. After spending $150 on the headset, you'll probably want to use these as much as possible, so the versatility and portability is definitely nice.

To use these on your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 with voice you're going to need a device called the MixAmp. Bundled with the headset it'll run you $229 for the package. The MixAmp is where all the magic happens, providing Dolby Digital processing and giving the headset simulated surround sound. To co-op gamers the headset provides a really important piece for communication - and that's direct control of chat and game volume via a balance dial. We've all been in a situation where the game is simply too loud for us to hear our friends crying for help while under siege, and this option is a savior. I found myself keeping the balance about 3/4 of the way towards the voice side in my Xbox 360 and PC use of the device. In use the boom microphone, which is detachable on the left side, easily picked up my voice with consistent results.

More interesting is just how powerful the MixAmp is - it's basically a portable home theater receiver going as far as providing multiple inputs including Optical, Digital Coax, 1/8" mini and and analog A/V. Hardcore gamers can even daisy chain the mix amps together for a private voice channel during LAN parties. Of course, this is also a small problem in that there's simply way too many cables to deal with, and for the average user, it may be a daunting task to set up. For instance here's what you'll need to do hook up your 360 with voice chat

* Optical Cable from Xbox 360 to MixAmp
* Breakaway Cable to the Headset
* Microphone Cable from Controller to MixAmp
* Optional USB Cable to MixAmp (this charges and/or powers the device if you aren't using batteries)

It's a minor annoyance really, and almost no different than a typical home theater set up, but perhaps by bringing that out of the cabinet and into your lap it makes it a bit more unsightly. The headset ship with excellent documentation with clear instructions on the best ways to hook up your new investment, as well as all the alternative options.

Again, I can't say enough at just how versatile the MixAmp is when combined with your headphones. Hooking it up via USB to your PC gives you an external sound card with full Dolby Digital support - and you can either run a cable from your existing mic in to the MixAmp's for full balance control, or use it as is sacrificing that. PlayStation3 owners can hook up via USB as well to get full chat support through the A30 headset.

So how do the headsets actually sound? The best way to describe the experience is to say while wearing them I completely forgot I actually had headsets on and at times felt like I was in a theater. I used the A30's to play 360 and PC games, I watched movies in Dolby Digital, and listened to music while programming. In every case sound was rich and dynamic with excellent bass reproduction. They simply performed in every situation extremely well.

I can honestly say the A30s are the best quality headsets I've ever used. Combined with the MixAmp they become the most versatile. While definitely not the cheapest combo, the investment in these devices are for the serious gamer looking for something to last a long time.

What's Good?

+ Extremely Good Build Quality
+ Comfortable, even in long sessions
+ Different cables for different devices
+ MixAmp provides options for numerous devices
+ Excellent Sound Quality

What's Bad?
- May be too expensive for some
- Lots and lots of cables
- Would like the breakaway cables to be a bit longer

Score: 5

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Astro Gaming is widely known for creating excellent gaming headphones and mix amps for PS3, Xbox, etc. Their new A30 headphones are no exception, but I’d like to talk about everything else they can do.

After I received my review unit in the mail from their friendly staff, I was initially impressed by the slick packaging. But of course I had to immediately try them on and see how they felt. Until they come out with a pair of headphones that massage your neck while you listen, the A30’s are as comfortable as it gets. You can honestly forget you’re wearing them sometimes.

a30While the A30’s are not marketed as audiophile music headphones, they still sound very nice…I’d say about up to par to the Sennheiser HD 400 series. They carry ample bass and perform well through all music genres. I also used them with my Yamaha electric piano and Roland electronic drum kit, and what a surprise…they worked great there too!

I work with Skype on my PC all day, and we even record our Music Forte podcasts through Skype…and the A30’s are the only headset I’m using right now. There is an in-line microphone near the cans AND a detachable boom mic for extra noise cancellation when you need your voice to sound clearer. As a PC headset they perform way better than a set like Logitech’s Clear Chat Pro’s which sell for around $50.

The included cables are a godsend…a refreshing change from the all-too-often incompatibilities with so many other headphones. The PC cable has separate headphone/mic jacks and a volume scroll wheel (yeah!). There is a short and long mobile/music cable, both with 3.5mm jacks, and one has a multi-function button for taking calls and skipping/pausing music. I would love to have a volume control button on the mobile/music cables, but part of me is glad it’s not there…because if it was I may leave my job and start selling these out of my trunk for a living.

So if you’re in the market for a top notch gaming headset, a PC headset for Skype calls, some portable headphones for music/calls on the go, or even a nice comfy set for music and podcasts at home….and you have $150 budget for all of that, then there is simply no better option than Astro Gaming’s A30’s. It’s their strength in versatility that give them such a high score.

4.5/5


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Coming off a bad experience with the last 5 or so different gaming headset, I had good hopes for this headset. Opening the box made me wonder is there really a reason for 7 different cords? Looking through all the equipment that was sent to me, I noticed that there was something that looks like it comes from an old school gaming system or a thermostat. I am deeply interested at this point.

Presentation And Build Quality: The gaming setup comes in 2 larger boxes and 2 smaller, for the other cords. The headset also comes with a carrying case. The other box contains the MIXAMP. The headset is lightweight compared to the A40. At first I feared that I might break it, since it was somewhat flimsy, but as I wear it more, I have changed my mind. The MixAmp is quite bulky, compared to others it is about the same size or a little smaller.

Features: Ear-cups that rest easily on the ears, rather then over them. 2 microphones, one that is detachable the other built into the cord. Detachable speaker tags to customize and personalize your headset. Bigger bass boost compared to the previous versions.

Setup: There are 4 cords that come out of the MIXAmp (Optional box to allow you to use a gaming system other then the PC). One to the Optical port of the TV, one to the headset itself, one to the microphone port of your xbox controller, and one to the PS3 USB port. Of course some of them are optional if you don’t have the system listed. The USB cable also can act as a battery charger as there is no AC cable to have a source of on-going power. The cords are quite long, but the only cord that I really had problems with would be the one connecting the MIXAMP to the headset.

Sound Quality and Feel: The MIXAMP allows you to gauge the amount of sound between gaming and voice, if you aren’t chatting with anyone you can turn it to the gaming side of the unit or vice versa. You also have a volume control. Compared to other headsets I have seen, the loudness seems to be a little softer.

Overall, I really like this headset. Looks can be deceiving and you shouldn’t really take your initial reaction to unpacking the headset. Its sound is crystal clear, its lightweight, its price is reasonably cheap, but really? Its definitely worth the money spent.

9/10


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Fans of console and PC gaming headsets know about Astro. Even though they may not have the market share of their larger competitors, they have a large and dedicated following among gamers and arguably some of the most versatile headsets on the market. Last month Astro unveiled the A30 Cross-Gaming Headset, one of the first headsets available designed to be portable, and complete with an in-line microphone for telephone calls as well as a boom mic for gaming sessions. The A30 is also designed to be used with consoles and PCs and doesn't require driver installs or custom hardware to work.

Astro sent us an A30 to test, and it's as versatile as they say. The A30 performed well as a general use headset to wear connected to an mp3 player on the go, or connected to a cell phone to take a call using the in-line microphone. It also worked just as well when connected to its boom mic and a PC for multiplayer gaming or everyday applications like listening to music or watching video.

The Astro brand has a culture behind it that breathes indie cred, but gamers know that Astro headsets generally perform well and offer decent quality for the price point. While many people default to companies like Logitech and Razer for their gaming peripherals, San Francisco-based Astro makes gaming gear for a dedicated base of fans. The A30 is their newest headset to market, and designed to be flexible and used for console or PC gaming, and for stationary and mobile use.

Astro - A30 - AirplaneThe A30 comes in white and black with a glossy bezel, and includes a carrying case you can use to store your headphones when not in use. The headset itself is well built, if not a little light, with the earcups firmly mounted into the headband with a swivel-bolt that lets you twist the earcups into place without worrying about breaking them off. The cushions on the earcups and at the top of the headband are thick and plush, meaning they stay comfortable even after hours of wear.

Personally, I normally prefer circumaural headsets as opposed to supra-aural ones like the A30, but I found that even though the earcup doesn't totally surround my ear, the headphones were still comfortable enough to wear during long gaming sessions without that nagging pain that comes from something pressed against the cartilage of your ear for too long.

Astro - A30 - MixAmpAudio quality using the A30s was good; they support a 14Hz - 28 kHz frequency response, which is perfect for music and most PC gaming. If you want the full Dolby 5.1 surround sound experience, you'll have to pick up the Astro MixAmp, which was included in the package that Astro provided, but not tested at the same time as the headset.

I found the A30s performed just as well in multiplayer games as it did listening to music on my smartphone, and the boom mic performed just as well using voice chat while gaming as the in-line mic did taking calls while walking around my apartment. The in-line mic disables itself when the boom mic is attached, so you don't risk feedback. The boom microphone is both noise-cancelling and uni-directional, so the boom mic is ideal for gaming. The in-line mic is omni-directional, so it is ideal and inconspicuous for mobile phone calls. Both microphones provided decent voice quality, but the boom mic was noticeably better than the in-line mic.

The A30s are also designed to be highly portable. They come with three audio connector cables that connect to the headset for different uses. For example, if you plan to use the A30 for audio only, there's a single audio connector so you don't have an extra cable unattached somewhere. If you're connecting your A30 to a mobile device like a cell phone, there's a shorter cable that supports the in-line microphone. The unit also comes with a longer version of that same cable for connection to a PC or gaming console so you can sit and game without worrying a quick head motion will pull the cable out of the audio and microphone jacks.

One nice thing about Astro gaming headsets is their customizability, and Astro ships the A30 with Astro-branded or Major League Gaming (MLG) branded speaker tags. The speaker tags are decorative plates that attach magnetically to the outside of the A30's earcups. You can even create your own tags using the Astro's customization tool. Granted you can't see the speaker tags once they're mounted, but they do add an element of personalization to your headphones.

Astro - A30 - SubwayOne note of warning: The Astro A30 works great for PC gaming and mobile use out of the box, but the connectors are standard analog audio and microphone 3.5mm jacks. If you want to plug the A30 into your XBox 360 or PlayStation 3 for online use and gaming, you'll need to couple the headset with the Astro MixAmp, which will cost you an additional $129.95 on top of the cost of the headset, and can come with an optional optical audio cable for an additional $19.95.

All in all, the Astro A30s were fun to use, comfortable to wear, and felt sturdy and up to the task of repeated use. They sound great, and friends reported I sounded great while gaming online. Since the A30s use standard 3.5mm audio jacks, there are no driver installs required in order to use them with your PC. If you're shopping for premium gaming headsets, the A30s aren't the cheapest you may look at and they may not be the most bang-for-your-buck, but they offer premium quality that's up to the price point and they're definitely worth a look. They'll set you back $149.95, and they're available now.


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After the A40s, we were not sure how Astro could make another headset that is as unique, stylish, and well made as its predecessor. In-fact, before we got our hands on their new A30s, we would have bet on it. Now, we are happy to say that we were wrong as Astro Gaming’s all new A30 cross-gaming headset has just made us eat our words. Not to say that their A40s are obsolete because they are far from it. The A30 is an all new genera of headphones, it is a cross gaming-headset or in other words it is a headset designed to be used for both on the go devices and stationary consoles – which in our opinion is pretty cool.

Boxing Perfection

Apple is known for how well they pack their products, even to the point where we are forced to keep the box just because it is so beautiful. Or is that just us? Any how, Astro has joined that parade with the way they package their products. Each box has Astro’s personal touch implemented which is their well known logo, a pimped-out global map, and a few special extras (check out their website’s background for an idea). Even the speaker tags have their own box with a concealed magnetic strip holding it closed. Though it is a bit difficult to explain how a product is packed so we mine as well show you:

New Features

Since the A30s were designed for being on the go, they have added a few features that appeal to iPhone owners. For one, the A30s come with a cable that has the same inline controls as Apple’s headphones allowing you to control music as well as answer the phone. And with their built in mic (inline) you can talk on the phone from your headset even with the the boom mic detached (there is a small switch on the inline controls with the option to use the boom mic or the inline).

Design

Though the A40s and A30s have completely different layouts, their designed to have many similarities. For one, they both feature Astro’s well known speaker tags (Side note: A40’s tags are not compatible with the A30) which allow the user to customize their headset with their own image and design. In addition, both work with Astro’s MixAmp which is used to activate 5.1 Dolby and Dolby Headphone surround in the headset. Another Side Note: both inline control adapters work for both headsets

Unlike the A40s, the A30s boom mic is attached through a small silver adapter at the bottom of the left ear cup. This, to us, would have been better served on one of the sides of the headset as it does look a bit off center when the boom mic is not attached.

An important thing to beware of is that the A30s do not have the ear-cups of the A40s, they are actually on-ear headphones which means your ear will not be in a cup, but they will be completely resting on your ear. This is something many people prefer over the over-ear headphones, though a fraction of people do not. Like iPhone cases, this is solely preference. We found them different, but comfortable – especially the soft ear-cups.

Sound

Sound-wise, whether you are playing games or listening to your iPod the A30s sound great. There is no substantial difference between the sound quality of the A40s and the A30s. Both allow for great gaming as well as listening to music. The A30’s bass is actually very impressive, more so than the A4os, which stunned us when playing action shooters like Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and Battlefield Bad Company 2. And with the MixAmp, you can hear audio direction leading to improved gameplay as well as the ability to locate the sounds you are hearing.

Inline and Boom

A very unique feature we mentioned earlier was that the A30 has two mic options. One being the boom mic which is the removable more sensitive mic that is aimed to be used during online gaming. The other is an inline mic which is designed for mobile devices such as the iPhone and the PSP. Out of the two, clearly the boom mic picks up the most sound, though the inline seems to work very well when used to talk on the phone and play online games.

The Mixamp unleashes the beast

Astro’s updated MixAmp is nothing far from brilliant. It allows for the use of Dolby technology as well in-game communication on game systems. Unlike most other systems, the MixAmp’s sound control is very unique. Instead of two completely different controls, by turning down the voice, the in-game volume increases and vise-versa. By turing down the master volume, everything is turned down and by turing it up all the audio volume goes up.

Cost

To get your hands on the A30, you will have to spend $149 for just the headset or $229 for the headset and the mixamp.

Conclusion

Astro’s prices are not cheap, but the product you receive, whether their bags or their headsets, will be created in such a fashion, anyone and everyone will envy them. You will be amazed every time you put them on, and that is why we recommend the Astro A30 cross-gaming headset. Now we face ourselves with a very difficult decision; the choice between the A40s and the A30s.

The A40s are designed for stationary console gaming. If you do not plan to use these on the road or with your mobile game system the A40s are for you.

If you are looking to play games on your PSP, talk on the phone (with the A30s), and play console games, the A30 is right for you. As we said above, the true decision lies with preference.


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When we reviewed the Astro A40 Audio System, we felt Astro Gaming set the bar pretty high for not only for the gaming audio accessory industry, but for themselves. Though not without its faults, the Astro A40 system proved to be an incredibly versatile and high-performance gaming audio solution. Despite praises from us and much of the gaming press, Astro has been working diligently to expand upon the A40 headset and this week unveiled the fruits of their labor -- the Astro A30 headset.

One of the most common criticisms of the A40 was that it was bulky and came with an even heftier price tag of $199 for the headset alone and $249 for the complete MixAmp system. For the A30 headset, Astro has sought to trim sizable fat from both the price and the form factor, while adding a few new features to appeal to new audiences and target on-the-go consumers.

In terms of the design, Astro seems to have ditched the blocky, road-ready aesthetic of the A40 in favor of a sleeker, sexier frame that more closely resembles traditional headphones. While still incredibly unique, the A30's design is far less noticeable when being worn or resting on the shoulders of the user. The A30's framework is in many ways a unibody design; while the headband can be extended and earcups rotated inward for resting around a user's neck, it is expertly constructed to feel like one solid piece.

In addition to the drastic size differential between the A40 and A30, the weight difference between the two headsets is staggering. While the A40s are comfortable, they are pretty weighty, the A30s, on the other hand, feel almost weightless. Part of this experience is due to the A30's on-ear earcup shape, as opposed to the over-ear padding of the A40s. Unless you've got exceptionally large ears, the A30's earcups should rest comfortably on the furthest edges of your ears, with no gaps for sound to get in or out. The earcups of the A30s are closed-back for further sound isolation.

But the Astro A30s aren't all form; a few functional improvements have been made as well. The quick release cord, which extends only a few inches below the headset and can be connected to included cables of varying length and output, now incorporates a built-in microphone. The built-in microphone provides a nice alternative to those who'd rather not to deal with a full-on boom microphone. This is especially useful for using the A30s with the iPhone or other smartphones with all-in-one audio cables. Furthermore, the inline connector now features a play/pause button for iPod and other media player control. For smartphone use, this function can be used to answer or end calls.

The inline microphone seemed to pick up spoken dialogue fairly well, but with a natural level of distance between the user and the microphone, it's not nearly as clear as the A30's detachable boom microphone. The A30's boom microphone, unlike the A40's which popped into either the right or left earcup, is fixed on the left side. The connection port is seamlessly integrated into the frame of the headset. Unfortunately, the boom microphone is permanently in the extended position unless it is completely removed. It can, however, be bent to be less intrusive when not in use.

As for audio performance, Astro has tweaked the equalization of the A30s to be slightly bassier while maintaining strong mids and crisp highs for better performance in multimedia applications; however, we found the boost to be beneficial in gaming applications as well. In fact, we found ourselves favoring the A30s for their beefier tone, especially when playing audibly-rich shooters like Battlefield Bad Company 2. As we mentioned before, the headset can be purchased with the MixAmp system, which is the only way users can get full simulated surround processing and integrate with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Since the surround sound processing is taking place in the same product whether you purchase the A40 or A30 headset, our multi-channel audio experience was virtually identical. We were still able to locate sources of audio in a wide sound field, which is essential for gaming use.

It is important to note that Astro has revised the MixAmp hardware since we first reviewed the A40 Audio System to incorporate integrated USB connectivity with PCs and the PlayStation 3. Otherwise, users can still connect multiple devices via optical toslink cable, USB, stereo headphone jack, COAX, or RCA. Also, for those concerned about whether Astro's customizable speaker tag system is still a key feature on the A30s, the answer is yes, however, they are of a different shape and size than those used on the A40s. You will be able to buy and create your own speaker tags, but existing pairs for the A40s will not work on the A30 headset.

At $149.99 for the headset by itself and $229.95 for the MixAmp bundle, the Astro A30 is by no means a cheap endeavor, but in our opinion, every dollar spent is matched with high quality components, top-tier audio performance, and a level of unique style seldom seen in gaming headphones.

IGN's Ratings for Astro A30 Gaming Headset

Rating (out of 10) - Description

9.5 Build Quality - (A solid, unibody-like design that seems built to last.)

9.5 Audio Quality - (An impressive tonal range with a little extra bass, ideal for music, shooters, and action titles.)

9.0 Features - (The new built-in mic and media playback controls are perfect for gamers on the go.)

8.2 Ease of Use - (Like the A40 Audio System, it's still a bit of a tricky setup.)

9.2 Value - (While still expensive, the A30 system is cheaper and, in many ways, preferrable to the A40s.)

10 Comfort - (The headset is practically weightless and the earcups breathe exceptionally well.)

9.7 OVERALL (out of 10)


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WHAT: Astro A30

PRICE: $150 ($230 bundled with mixamp)

COMPARE TO: Tritton AX 720, Turtle Beach Ear Force X41

WHY COMPLEX IS CO-SIGNING: Astro is already known for its hardware design (they’re the firm behind the Xbox 360 and Alienware rigs) and its headphones (the A40 is at the top of the heap for MLG gaming cans), but with this “cross-gaming” unit they take aim at the casual/commuter market. The result? +10 for headshot…

Gaming headphones are great, and really do make a difference in online multiplayer, but they suffer from a few problems: cord overload, aesthetic concerns (really, those joints are HUGE), and maybe most importantly Single Use Syndrome. Sure, they’re great for gaming, and maybe watching movies, but there’s not a chance those things are leaving your living room. And that’s what Astro’s looking to change with these. The A30s use an ingenious “QuickConnect” system that lets you swap out cords so that you can use them for console or handheld gaming (Xbox360 or PS3), or with iPhones and MP3 players.

By using Dolby Headphone sound instead of full 5.1 sound, they no longer need to cram four speakers into each earpiece, making for a much more streamlined profile: the A30 look more like Skullcandy or WESC phones than studio-quality engineer cans, and clock in at just about half the weight of the A40s (188g vs 324g) (plus actually look better than most regular headphones). Interestingly, the smaller on-ear fit, rather than an over-ear/circumaural one, means that sound leakage is all but obliterated; we’ve been around someone wearing these playing PS3 at deafening volumes without anything trickling out from their headphones.

The design legacy of Astro Studios comes into play as well. Just like the A40s, the A30s have magnetic plates that are swappable, and even fully customizable a la Nike iD. They’ve already done artist series with Upper Playground, but we have to admit we’re not even mad at the unadorned Space Invader-esque design.

But how does it sound? Surprisingly rich, to be honest. Despite the good things we’d heard about Dolby Headphone, we didn’t expect them to deliver a full gaming audio experience, but playing through Battlefield Bad Company 2 with the audio set to “War Tapes” was insane. At one point, we were running through an abandoned rebel camp and were able to track down an annoying radio that was behind us and to the left. They’re great for multiplayer, with individually adjustable game and voice volume meaning you can hear (and be heard) crystal clear, even over the ruckus of a tank. If you’re using them as subway headphones, the foam fit means that you can zone out without blasting your eardrums out (but if you want to, no one’ll know you’re doing it with a Hell Rell mixtape). As we write this, they’re plugged into a laptop for Itunesy goodness, and beat out our usual headphones for sound quality.

Are there downsides? A couple—they’re not quite perfect. Gaming with them requires Astro’s mixamp, which delivers great sound, and cuts down on the cord overload of the Trittons—but does so at the expense of running on battery power, which it sucks down like Divine Brown (word to outdated ’90s references). Four AAs that need to replaced every 8-10 hours or so means rechargeables are all but a must. And while they’re extremely comfortable, the on-ear fit means they can feel a bit snug after a couple of hours. (Of course, if you’re gaming for more than a couple of hours at a stretch, you should probably take breaks anyway, so who knows, maybe this is a public service.) For what they deliver, though—top-tier gaming audio that’s versatile enough to work as amazing street and work headphones—it’s a small price to pay. Whether you’re in the market for gaming cans or just a new set of general-use ones, these are worth the price.

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As a gamer, every little advantage you can get, you’ll take it. In the past, it didn’t really matter what kind of headset you were using or what kind of audio system you were using with you gaming system because games in the just weren’t as audio-immersive as games are now in the present. You used to be able to get away with just experiencing your games in stereo, but no more. In an age when everything is about being immersive, stereo output is no longer an option. In-game audio these days are usually all coded in 5.1 Surround Sound and now with online gaming being even more popular then ever before, if you aren’t using a headset that has at least 5.1 Surround Sound, you will find yourself at a serious disadvantage. Up until a few weeks ago, I was using a pair budget headsets that only outputted in stereo and thought they were “good enough.” I won’t mention what they are in this review but when I had first bought them, I thought they made my gaming experience much better as I could finally hear things that I could never hear before through my television speakers. Well, that was then and this is now. About 2 weeks ago, I received what is now my go to headset for everything, not just gaming.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had a chance to try out Astro Gaming’s newest “budget” headset, the new Astro A30 Cross-Gaming Headset. When I say budget, I mean that in the loosest of terms because these really don’t seem like budget headsets. At MSRP $149.95, the quality of the build is top notch and materials used are do not seem cheap at all. On top of that, these are some of the lightest and most comfortable headsets I have ever used.

SPECS & FEATURES:

* Balanced, Dynamic Audio Quality – Tuned for a variety of usages including gaming, music and movies, with crystal-clear voice communication and precise surround-sound performance.
* Dual Mic System – Removable boom mic for console and PC gaming and Skyping, wired inline mic for taking calls on-the-go.
* Incredibly Stylish and Comfortable – Lightweight, on-ear design fashioned to move easily from the office to the living room to the street.
* Quick Disconnect System – Ships with 3 swappable cables for mobile, console or PC setups. Mobile cable features a control button to answer or end calls and also works with iTunes to start, stop, jump forward and jump back.
* Interchangeable Speaker Tags – Choose from a variety of collaborative tags or create your own with the online ASTRO customizer (sold separately).
* Carrying Case – Every ASTRO headset purchase comes with a complimentary, high-quality ballistic nylon travel case to protect your investment.
* Optional Upgrade – The A30 headset works great by itself on PC and mobile devices, but needs to be teamed with a MixAmp for online console play.

DESIGN:
Unlike Astro Gaming’s A40 Audio System, the Astro A30 Cross-Gaming Headset is simpler in design. That doesn’t mean it is any less functional. It just means that Astro Gaming probably did this so they could offer a more cost effective headset that still doesn’t skimp on audio quality. I”m glad they took this route instead of offering a cheaper A40 with only stereo output. The Astro A30 Cross-Gaming Headset I received came in “Astro White.” Don’t fret though if you aren’t into white. The Astro A30 also comes in a nice shade of “Astro Black.”

The way the Astro A30 is designed, all the wires are hidden within the headset except for the initial 1 cable coming form the left of the headset. This is also the side you would attach the removable boom mic when you are using the headset for online gaming or PC online chat. The headset is very minimal in design much like the Astro Scout backpack. There are only a few points of adjustment on the Astro A30 still makes for a pretty configurable headset. The earphones are able to rotate a full 90 degrees on the y-axis and about 5-10 degrees on the x-axis. This allows for a pretty wide range configurations right there and because they also rotate to 90 degrees, it allows for easy storage later. Where the earphones attach to the top of the headset there is also an adjustment for height, about 8-clicks for each side. On my head I have to extend the headset out to the full 8-clicks per side. At that point, they fit just perfect. I’m wondering however if someone with a bigger head then I would find that there is not enough height adjustment. I almost wish maybe that Astro would add another centimeter or so per side just to widen the range a bit more. That is just a small issue some might have although I did not.

As with the Astro A40, the A30 also allows for custom speaker tags. This is one of Astro Gaming’s biggest selling points with their audio systems because it virtually allows anyone to really have their own unique pair of the Astro A30. The Astro A30 comes with a default pair of speaker tags but you can order a custom set for as little as $19.95 for pre-made designs or a little bit more for custom one-of-a-kind designs. This is a great option for those who maybe want to display their clan logos on their headsets. In fact, because the speaker tags are detachable from the Astro A30, you could in essence modify your existing speaker tags and customize them yourself if you are brave enough or confident enough in your skills.

The Astro A30 Cross-Gaming Headset also features the same break-away cable system as the A40. My Astro A30 came with a variety of extra cables that allowed for it to be hooked up to almost any device. I am able to use the A30 on anything from iPhones, BlackBerry devices, Computers, and video game systems, although in order to connect it to your gaming console, you will need to purchase the optional Astro Gaming MixAmp either in a bundle with the A30 or as a separate unit. The break-away portion of the headset, which Astro calls the “Quick Disconnect System” sits only a few inches away from the left speaker. This is because there is an inline mic that is part of the “Quick Disconnect System.” This portion has a handy mute switch as well as an A/B switch which selects your mic preference. “A” is for the boom mic and “B” is for the inline mic.

COMFORT:
Great audio quality is worthless without comfort. If you can’t keep a pair of headsets on for longer then 30 minutes before they become unbearable, then they aren’t worth the money you paid for them. So how does the Astro A30 stack up? Well, unlike other headsets I’ve used in the past, the cans on the Astro A30 are a bit smaller than some of the others. While most other headphones have the foam padding that goes completely over your ears, the A30 is smaller and the foam pads actually fit right on top of your ears. Does this make them any less comfortable? No. The A30 is padded with probably some of the softest material I have felt on any headset. They also seemed wrapped in the same soft suede-like material as the Scout backpack. I had the Astro A30 on a good solid 2-3 hours per game session and never once did they ever feel uncomfortable or painful. In fact, with my old gaming headset, my ears used to get really sweaty and hot because they would enclose my entire ear. Now, I’m not sure if its because these sit on your ear instead of around them or if its the material that is used, but I never feel as if my ears are getting hot or sweaty. Just a small observation. Also, the A30 is not overly tight around your head. Some headsets are so tight that after a while, they really start to get uncomfortable. On the Astro A30, there seems to be just the right amount of springiness where they are not very tight or overly loose. In fact, there were times when I would forget that I was even wearing them when I would disconnect them to go somewhere else away from my TV.

AUDIO:
I am basing my audio impressions here mainly with my experiences I’ve had using them for gaming. To be exact, most of my time spent with the Astro A30 was used playing Battlefield: Bad Company 2 on the Xbox 360 in combination with the Astro Gaming MixAmp which we will cover in a separate review.

When it comes to online gaming, being able to hear everything around you is a big key to winning. Not only must you be visually aware, but you must also be aware of your surroundings based on your sense of hearing. We will use Battlefield: Bad Company 2 as an example here. Using only the speakers from the television, I am only really able to hear background music from the game as well as the usual weapons fire, explosions and noises my character makes as I run from point to point. This might have been sufficient in the past, but not if you are a competitive gamer and especially in game such as BF:BC2. Next up was to test out the game with the Astro A30 Cross-Gaming Headset. What a world of difference this makes. Because the Astro A30 outputs in 5.1 surround sound, not only are you able to distinguish left and right channels, you are also able to tell where noises are coming from in a 3D environment. To test this, I had a friend of mine circle me in the game while i closed my eyes and I could literally hear him running around and could tell exactly which direction the noise was coming from.

In actual game play, this is a huge advantage. I could hear where shots were coming from at a distance. I could hear when enemies would sneak up behind me or if they were any where near me from the rustling of leaves or disturbance of grass. It really is something that everyone should experience, especially if you want to experience full immersive gaming. Nothing beats having 5.1 channels for gaming.

I should mention that audio quality on the Astro A30 is excellent. Audio is clear and crisp. There is just the right amount of treble without it being piercing and the bass is nice and deep. It’s hard for me to describe just exactly what my listening experience is to you because everyone’s tastes are different but in my opinion, what I heard was very clear and clean. I did not notice any distortion at all in any of the audio.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
There is really so much I could continue saying about these that I could really go on and on but to get straight to the point, you can’t go wrong purchasing the Astro A30 Cross-Gaming Headset. Each Astro A30 Cross-Gaming Headset comes with a ballistic nylon travel case that helps protect your A30 during transport as well as a bundle of cables that will allow you to connect the A30 to a myriad of devices. The Astro A30 also lets you to connect them to a mobile phone while allowing you to chat with them which is something I have not seen before on anyone else’s headset. What exactly is “Cross-Gaming” that I keep mentioning and what does it mean? Astro Gaming describes the Astro A30 as a “Cross-Gaming Headset” because ” it is the first audio equipment designed specifically to move freely between mobile, console, and PC gaming platforms across all forms of digital entertainment.” Well, I can surely say that the Astro A30 does indeed live up to the title of “Cross-Gaming Headset” thanks in part to their Quick Disconnect System and the fact that Astro Gaming saw fit to include an inline mic with the Astro A30.

There are only a few gripes I have with the Astro A30. First, the finish on the headset itself. The top portion of the headset is a matte white while the bottom of the headset where the speakers are are painted a shiny glass white. Not really too sure what the reasoning is for this but I”m assuming that maybe since the top portion is so flexible, they didn’t want any of the paint to start chipping off if they had painted it as well? Also, some of you might not like the on-ear design of the A30 but I found them to be quite comfortable, even during long sessions. One final gripe that some may have is that fact that you will need to purchase the optional Astro MixAmp in order to use these for online play with Xbox 360 or Playstation 3. There is no getting around that. The Astro MixAmp by itself is a $129.95 option that some may not be willing to spend, however, if purchased as a complete Audio System with Astro A30 the total price of ownership becomes only $229.95 which saves you quite a bit of money. I suggest that anyone who wants the Astro A30 for gaming, the MixAmp really is a necessity for anyone who is serious about their gaming and want to experience true immersive gameplay.

In the end, the price of entry really is not such a big deal especially considering the quality of the headsets and the quality of the audio. These are really the lightest and most comfortable headsets I have used and the fact that I can basically just unplug from any source quickly and easily and then take them on the go is a major plus for me. I’m the type of person who loves to take my gadgets with me and the fact that I can use the same headset on all my devices now is a huge value added plus for me. I definitely recommend these to anyone, even if you aren’t a gaming geek, to buy these.

SECOND OPINION:
Our very own Jason Anderson also got a chance to spend some time with the Astro A30 Cross-Gaming Headset but instead of using them purely for gaming, he had a chance to make use of them with different devices. Here is his take on the Astro A30.

Day 1 First thoughts:
Didn’t think I’d be one of those big headphone on the train wearers but I got over that. Bass on these are GREAT. I love bass and these deliver. Played songs like Kanye West Love Lockdown and the bass sounded wonderful. I really like the pause/unpause button, makes for quick stop/go when I need to listen to a train announcement.

Day 2 – Set up
Set up could of gone easier if my receiver had a TosLink. Since I didn’t, it took me a little bit to figure out. If you aren’t Tech Savvy, using the Mixamp might take you a little time to figure out. But if you are looking to Astro Gaming for your headphone needs, then I’ll assume you know what your doing, unless your a poser lol.

Got the audio to play just fine after I connected the Mixamp to the PS3 via the RCA connection. Took me a little bit to get the mic working, but only because I didn’t realize how to turn the mute off. Kept looking for a “red light” but it was just a red thing on the inline mic.

Day 3 – Game Time!
When meeting with the team from Astro Gaming, while they was telling me their history, told me one of the stories from when they first brought their gear to the gaming league. They told me how at first they got banned with the team they were working with because they kept winning because they had an advantage because of the headphones.

I’ll say the same thing when I’ve played. Currently I’ve been playing Modern Warfare 2 and these headphones have definitely given me a advantage. When playing I would literally hear people coming and turn in time to get them before they got me.

Plus it has definitely been a help when I didn’t want to hear the useless conversation of other gamers and just focus on the game. It has also come in handy when I’ve wanted to play late night or early morning without disturbing the family. They don’t hear a thing and it sounds loud to me. The Surround Sound was great. It is to the point where, I prefer to play games with the headphones, even if I’m not talking with someone else.

Final Thoughts -

These have literally become my main headphones. I use them for everything. When I listen to music to/from work on my Blackberry I’m using these headphones. When I’m playing a game on my PS3, it is with them. I haven’t done any online chat with Skype or anything, but I can imagine I’ll be using the headphones as well for that.

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Not many people outside of professional gaming have heard of Astro, but it's a design firm with notable clients (Microsoft and Alienware among them) that has focused on gaming audio for the past several years. The Astro A40 headset, a large set of over-the-ear phones used in Major League Gaming tournaments, is a solid if pricey solution for PC and console gamers that debuted several years ago.

The A30 headset, now available for sale on Astro's Web site, is a more compact version of the A40 intended for use as a cross-purpose device for mobile music, gaming, and laptop users. While the headset is far larger than a set of earbuds, the detachable boom microphone and additional in-line mic with call answer/music pause button let the A30 double as a smartphone headset.

For $149, the A30 comes with a pair of white or black headphones and three different cables, one length ideal for music phones, another that's better for TV gaming, and a third with dual jacks for laptops with separate mic and headphone inputs. For seriously hard-core gamers, the A30 headset has removable and customizable magnetic headphone gamer tags, although we don't think we'd ever consider investing in customization.

The A30 is advertised as a headset that works for console gaming, but to use it with a PS3 or Xbox 360 you'll need to buy a separate MixAmp with appropriate input jacks. The MixAmp also decodes 5.1 data into simulated two-channel surround and can custom-mix the levels of headset audio and in-game audio, but it also brings the cost of the headset package to $229, which might be more than many are willing to spend.
Astro A30 cross-gaming headset (photos)

We tried out a pair of A30s for a good week and a half, and even without the MixAmp the audio quality was better than expected, and certainly good enough for use with an iPhone or other player. As opposed to the open-backed A40 which let in background noise, the A30 seals off a little more for privacy, although it's not as effective as a good pair of in-ear buds. Astro claims the bass has been boosted a little in the A30s as compared to the "level accurate" A40s, and to our ears it sounded nice both with music or when playing rich, environmental games. With the MixAmp, the A30s become a much more complete set, and we appreciated the variety of MixAmp inputs for Toslink and other audio cables.

The cables on the A30 are a little thick, and the dual-jack cable connectors are pretty beefy, too, but the headset felt comfortable and sturdy when on. All the cable bulk, combined with a large included zipper case, makes these better travel headphones than quick commuters.

While the jury may be out on whether the A30s are worth the investment for regular headphone users, as a gaming headset they were compelling and comfortable enough to use whenever we booted up our PS3 or 360. And, despite the extra wiring with the MixAmp configuration, setup is relatively easy.

Fellow CNET colleague Dan Ackerman has also been trying them out, and says, "Having previously been forced to buy a bunch of expensive, and otherwise incompatible, hardware to set up headphones for console use at home, I appreciated the ability to hook these up to multiple sources. And as someone who knows the horrors of headphone fatigue from working for long hours on music projects (mostly wearing AKG K240s), I also thought these were surprisingly comfortable." You can see him wearing a pair on the Digital City podcast as of late, FYI.

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I've spent the past month putting Astro's new A30 headset through its paces. You may know of Astro's work from their first release, the A40 headset. Originally designed for professional gamers, the A40 is a high-end headset solution that may be great for a LAN party but isn't really what I would call portable or mainstream. After all, they're kinda enormous. The A30's go in another direction entirely.

Design
In an attempt to court a larger audience of every day, un-sponsored gamers, Astro has released the A30 headset. The biggest difference is clear from the get-go. The A30 is much smaller than its professional cousin. It's designed in such a way that you could walk down the street with them and no one would bat an eyelash. I daresay they actually look cool, which makes sense considering Astro started off as a design company whose most notable work comes in the form of Microsoft's 1st party 360 controller.

The A30 comes in black and white varieties, but those Astro logos over the ear cups are actually replaceable magnets which allow for a level of personalization through Astro's online store. The cups also rotate, allowing you to store the headset flat or wear it around your neck with the cups resting against your collarbone.

Comfort
Although they're smaller, the A30s are still very much designed with the gamer in mind. Thick, high quality padding on the headband and ear cups allow you to wear the headset for hours on-end. That's probably true for most people, though I started to feel some discomfort after about an hour and a half as the headset was pressing on the thick, plastic arms of my glasses. My head is also a bit on the large side, and, even though I had to adjusted the headset to its maximum size, I still felt pressure above my ears. People without glasses or with thin-ripped glasses probably won't have any issue at all, but just something to take note of for the Tina Fey's and Buddy Holly's out there.

Sound
I'm not an audiophile, so please excuse my lack of scientific specifics, but the A30's sounded excellent in every instance I used them in. Astro ships a wide array of wires to adapt the headset to any possible situation, from a short one for use with an iPod while you're walking down the street, to a medium one for use on a computer, to an even longer one for a home media set-up. In each instance, the sound came through crisp and clear on both the high and the low levels, with plenty of bass and power where needed.

If you're looking for some additional fidelity, you can buy the A30's in a package which also includes Astro's MixAmp (pictured on left). This allows for Dolby Digital sound where available, and comes with a massive volume knob and a handy dial to modify chat audio versus game audio.

Worth noting that once you bring the MixAmp into a picture, the number of required cables does start to get a bit unwieldy, especially if you plan on using the headset for chat (with the included mic). On the 360, setting up chat requires no fewer than four different cables going into the MixAmp (on the PS3 and PC it's only 3), so if you're a nut about cable management you may want to just stick with the headset.

The Verdict
There's no question that the A30's are extremely well-designed (assuming you lack a huge head with equally huge glasses) and great sounding. There aren't many high quality headset solutions out there designed with gamers in mind, so Astro is left standing mostly alone in this field, and does an admirable job.

The A30 headset is available from Astro's online store for $149.99. If you buy the headset and the MixAmp in a bundle, that'll run you $229.99.

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