Astro has always been synonymous with high quality audio for gaming. Not for this reason, historically, they have been the most used headphones in competition, and for a long time, the symbol of the CDL. However, the arrival of the new generation changed the audio landscape. The disappearance of optical audio greatly limited its compatibility with the new consoles, giving way to the popularization of other brands, such as the Audeze Maxwell (now owned by Sony), which in these first years of PS5 and Series competitive section.
Under the umbrella of Logitech G, Logitech’s high-quality gaming division, the company launched the Astro A30, formidable headphones, but far from the symbol that the A40 and A50 represented in the previous generation. Now, Logitech has put on the market what, on paper (and off paper) are the best gaming headphones on the market, and not only for audio quality, but also for features and compatibility: the Logitech G Astro A50X.
The Astro A50X are the heirs to the best headphones of the previous generation. the A50s. Same aesthetic proposal, but with enormous added value. Logitech has improved these headphones with the proposals that we have seen in the past in many of its products, and has also provided them with the best microphone integrated into headphones on the entire market.
Not only do they maintain the aesthetics of the old Astro, they also offer absolute compatibility with the PC, Xbox and PS5, adding support for Bluetooth. For all platforms, the integration is native: they are the only headphones with full compatibility with the PS5 chat/audio mix, and they are also offering 4K output at 120Hz, 24-bit audio, Bluetooth and real-time equalization.
A50X: headphones for the new generation
The secret of the A50X is in its base. In addition to charging the headphones, it serves as hub HDMI. You can connect all the consoles at the same time to its base, using a single HDMI port on your TV or monitor. The base does passthrough video through the HDMI and extracts the audio, without delay and no input lag. This allows maintain native video support for consoles, including ALLM, VRR, HDR and Dolby Atmos in the case of Xbox Series X, and 24-bit audio on consoles and PC. The user can choose, however, not to use the base’s video capabilities. The Astro A50X also allows you to connect the consoles simply to USB, but due to their limitations, the audio will be 16 bits and you will not have a chat/game mix in the case of PS5.
With a single touch on the headphones, You can switch between Xbox, PS5 or PC, and the base will automatically switch the video output corresponding to the source. In addition, it does not limit the capabilities of HDMI-CEC, so you can turn on your devices from the TV and vice versa, but not from the headphones when changing sources. Another benefit of connecting the consoles via HDMI is that it will allow you to configure the PS5 as 7.1, with a chat/game mix and offers full compatibility with Dolby Atmos in the case of the Xbox (the base includes a license to use the Dolby app completely free).
Neither the design of the base has changed nor that of the headphones. It is still one of the most comfortable on the market and with one of the most characteristic designs there is. By not changing its design, the A50X maintains compatibility with third-party magnetic pads such as Wicked that are used in competitive. Additionally, Logitech Fixed the issue that caused the top band to come off over time.
Dolby Atmos and parametric equalization
The removal of optical audio also says goodbye to the button surround audio from previous A50s. Now that button is for Bluetooth, with which we can connect the Astro A50X to any compatible device, from a smartphone to an Apple TV or audio equipment. In addition, it allows simultaneous audio: we can listen to the audio from the PS5 while answering a call on the mobile. Here’s an important note: the Bluetooth is not in the headphones, but in the base, so the listening range is limited to being relatively close. No taking them out of the house. The range is wide, but very focused on listening in the same room. It is more of a complement than a functionality that you will use all the time.
Its integration with the rest of Logitech products also says goodbye to the Astro Command Center. The headset is now configured and managed from the Logitech G Hub app, available on PC and Mac, as well as mobile devices. It offers the ability to modify every aspect of the headphones, from side tone to base lighting, and is the meeting point for all EQs.
Logitech G Hub allows you to add custom EQs, both for the microphone and for the audio itself, including advanced parametric equalization options for the audio or noise cancellation functions for the microphone. Regarding the Logitech G Hub, an important note: despite being available on both the PC and the mobile, the settings are saved in the headphones and it does not allow you to use both versions of the app at the same time: the Astro A50x will always use the last settings applied , so the mobile will overwrite the PC and vice versa.
Regarding the EQs, Logitech has confirmed to us that third-party EQs, such as those in the Dolby Atmos app on the PC or Xbox, do not override those of the A50X, but rather both coexist, so it is important to keep in mind if you are looking for a specific EQ for a specific game. On PS5 you don’t have to worry, since Sony does not offer Atmos compatibility for headphones on its console.
The Astro A50X offer outstanding sound and the best microphone on the market
As for the audio quality, there is little to object to. They are still tier S when it comes to audio quality for gaming, especially in competitive. The sound signature is more similar to those of the PRO x 2 from Logitech than the previous A50 or A4oTR with MixAmp. The sound is quite detailed at almost all frequencies, with good bass that offers great immersion, but which you will want to reduce if you play competitive FPS. Parametric EQ allows greatly customize the sound signatureand thanks to the quality of their graphene drivers, they open up a huge range of possibilities.
The sound right out of the box is very good, but we found its EQ to be quite flat, so you will want to spend some time customizing it to your liking, especially for games where audio is essential. If you play Warzone, start by adjusting the game mix to Home Theater, lower a couple of dB in the low range and adjust the 110-125hz frequency up (try +6 3.5 Q), you will see the difference compared to listen to the steps. If you use Dolby Atmos, be sure to use game mode, but leave the rest of the filters disabled within your app. However, we are preparing a list with the best EQs for the A50X to use in the most popular competitive games: Valorant, Call of Duty, The Finals, Tarkov…
Regarding the A50X microphone, Logitech has put on the market the best microphone available in headphones on the market. They have no competition. Neither the Audeze Maxwell nor any of the high-end headphones with console compatibility come close to the audio quality offered by the A50X microphone, and it is at the level of many dedicated microphones that cost hundreds of euros. In addition, it allows you to add filters to cancel external audio that may be inserted, such as that of the keyboard (the microphone is omnidirectional). It is perhaps the most surprising point of these headphones, and it sets the bar very high for anyone who wants to bring high-end headphones with an integrated microphone to the market. A huge 10 for Logitech in this section. Furthermore, being about A50, They include the automatic mute function when we slide the microphone up. Something that, by the way, is integrated into the headphones themselves and works on all platforms.
Regarding autonomy, Logitech promises 24 hours of audio, but depending on the volume and use of the headphones They are closer to 18-20 hours than a full day. However, they charge quite quickly from their base (without having fast charging), and generally I don’t think you will have any complaints with their autonomy.
Astro A50X: are they worth it?
The Astro A50X are, today, the best gaming headphones you can buy. Its native compatibility with PS5, Xbox and PC, as well as its support for the latest video standards and Dolby Atmos, make the A50X the best option if you play on more than one system. Bluetooth is a great addition, but it is undoubtedly its outstanding microphone where it stands out the most. The audio quality is magnificent, and its parametric EQ opens the door to unprecedented customization in headphones, not only from Logitech, but also from the entire gaming industry. Besides, If you play, it is PS5, they are the only ones that currently offer a chat/game mix natively.
Perhaps, one of the biggest drawbacks that we can take away from it is the absence of a 3.5mm jack and how complicated it can be to configure it together with a video capture device if you want to stream beyond the PC. Logitech has released a new app for this task called Mixline and that makes it much easier to choose the input and output source or mix audio from multiple sources. If you stream from a console, you may run into some issues depending on the capture model and how you have your system configured.
On the other hand, its configuration with PS5 must be followed closely if you want to enjoy all its options natively, but beyond these buts, Logitech has put an outstanding product on the market. Its price, on the other hand, is also very high on the high-end gaming audio scale: 399 euros.