ASTRO A40 TR Headset Review

For someone who isn't a huge audiophile, I end up using a variety of headsets any given year. I mean, sure, at full disclosure, most of them are sent to me for review purposes, so therefore it is my job to wear them and then write about them, but out of the many, there are only a handful I will go back to.

When it comes to headphones or headsets, I'm a big supporter of "less is more." I don't really like over-complicated wiring set ups with mixing boards and all that jazz. The less cables it takes to get me from enjoying my games and being able to chat with an online party, the better. Hence I tend to like wireless headsets or ones that simply plug in with a single USB or 3.5mm jack a lot more. The Astro A40s buck this trend for me.

That's mostly because it can be used in two different ways, the more bulky set up with the mixamp, and then the single-cable solution by simply plugging in a 3.5mm jack into your controller. I really like this, as it allowed me to fiddle around with the mixamp a bit for the review, get a sense of what it can do, how it works, but ultimately go to my simple set up while still enjoying the comfort the A40 TRs provide.

The Astro A40 TRs are first and foremost designed with customization in mind, though comfort surely comes in at a close second. These headphones are completely moddable with kits you can purchase separately. For example, a Black Ops 3 Mod Kit I was sent came with interchangable ear cups, a mic, speaker tags, and a Call of Duty branded strip that fits on the top of the headset. You can then freely change up any of these that you like. For instance, the Black Ops 3 ear cups were leathery, which provided amazing noise cancellation from my surroundings. Seriously, I couldn't hear a thing. But I had to forgo using them since the soft cushions that come standard with the headset are so much more comfortable for extended use. However, your mileage may vary. If you're used to leather ear cushions then investing in a mod pack that includes those might be a good idea, just for that noise cancelling feature alone.

The Mixamp is fairly easy to hook up. The unit I was sent was for the Xbox One, and with just a few cables I was able to hook it up to the console no problem. The Mixamp itself is primarily good for controlling volume as well as mixing game and voice audio in real time. However, it does have an equalizer shortcut as well as a Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound toggle. It's neat that it's there, but I barely used it. Normally, I wouldn't even hook the Mixamp up for personal use, but for the purposes of this review, I had to give it a shot.

It's also important to note that even though this headset was the Xbox One version, it does actually work with the PS4, if you're not using the Mixamp. The Mixamp worked, but for some reason whenever I would talk, everyone would hear me echo. As soon as I took the Mixamp out of the equation and simply plugged the headset into the controller with the 3.5mm jack, it worked like a charm, microphone and all. Likewise, the whole setup also works perfectly on the PC as well. So really, you're getting a versatile headset in a single package.

The sound quality is superb with the Astro A40 TRs, which at this point, sounds like a redundant thing to say about a company's headset that has historically made headsets with great audio. Though I will say a large part of my enjoyment stems not only from how great they sound, but how comfortable they are. A few years ago we've gotten the original A40s in the office and not only did they feel somewhat bulkier, even though I'm sure the build is nearly the same, but the ear cushions were complete sweat producers. I couldn't go for more than 30 minutes without my ears feeling cramped and sweaty. The new softer cushion on the A40 TRs don't have this effect on me. I've timed it and went four and a half straight hours of game time without any sort of discomfort or sweat. Well, maybe just a little sweat.

For those that want their listening experience more tailored and custom made, can download the software which allows users to set up their own EQ presets. Again, not something I personally used as much, but for tinkerers that prefer their sound tailored to their own specific needs, it's an appreciated feature.

Really, it comes down to how much you're willing to spend on a headset. Truth be told, the Astro A40 TRs aren't exactly cheap. The base set that comes with the Mixamp is $250, and $310 if you're planning on buying the base set with a mod kit. To put that in perspective, the Steelseries Wireless H headset that I reviewed two years ago is around the same price, but is free from the shackles of wiring. Or even the Logitech Artemis G633 which just uses a single wire or USB rod, or the G933 which is completely wireless retails for $150 and $200 respectively. However, if you're already a fan of the Astro line, then this iteration is undoubtedly the best, whether I'm talking about sound quality or overall comfort. Also, get the white ones. They're gorgeous!