2.4.2020

Build Quality 5/5All components are very strong and solidly constructed, I doubt if any of them will break. I gave the plastic a good squeeze and it didn't budge at all. They feel like something which was built in the USA rather than Japan if that makes sense, more materials have been used then are strictly necessary and everything is big.Environment 3/5The packaging provided is too big and bulky for the product. They have created a large display cabinet for them, which is very impressive but you won't be storing them in the box so what's the point? All the cardboard and plastic looks recyclable though which I like, there's just too much of it.Design 5/5I like the design overall.The great thing about USB headphones is that you don't have to keep unplugging them when you want to use your speakers. Having the controls in front of you is also a lot easier than trying to adjust controls you can't see. The magnetic cups for the ear pads are also very easy to use. The sliders for the headphones have lines on them so you can adjust them to a particular setting, and as you do the cable length will change inside them. The microphone and ear pads can also be removed and changed if needed. All these features are well thought out. The design is a bit too showy for my taste as it looks like it belongs in a sci-fi film.Mix Amp 4/5The "mix amp" is used for adjusting volume and also the balance between game sounds and voice communication. It also has 4 preset equalizer settings and a dolby source button. The dolby source button lets you switch between standard and passthrough for voice. At first this feature didn't seem to be working and when the dolby mode was active any sounds would sound very echoey but it seems ok now. It's a bit big overall for what it does, but the buttons on it are really nice.Connections - PCPC connection requires a USB micro cable (any cable works). You also need the special 3.5mm phono cable which comes in the box. One end of it is also larger than the other and it has an inline mute switch. No other cable will work but this one and if it breaks you will have to buy a special A40 cable as a replacement.Connections - PS4The connections are the same for PS4 except you will need to use the digital optical out.Headphones 3/5They are very comfortable and soft but they quickly become too hot to use. I can't leave them on for longer than 30 minutes. Not that they cause a lot of sweat, just a lot of heat. I think it's the materials chosen which seem to cause a buildup of microscopic friction. The ear cups are only just big enough and do seem to cause an abrasive effect on my ears as well. Adjusting them is simple but is easiest when you're not wearing them.The headphones can be tilted forwards until they both face forwards, and the ear pads also move independently for maximum ergonomics. But they do not fold up like more portable headphones and perhaps that is the point with them.Sound Quality 5/5The quality of the headphones for music is exceptional, it's easily some of the best I've ever heard. I like the choice to use wired which is definitely better for sound quality. The clarity is amazing and I hear new sounds in music I've not noticed before. The bass is not too strong but that is more to my taste.PS4 Usage ?/?I couldn't test with my PS4 as it doesn't have an optical digital output. Make sure you check this before purchasing.ConclusionsThe headphones are very high quality and well designed, but the heat and discomfort they produced on my ears made them unbearable to use. I have quite sensitive skin so if you aren't like me then you might not have this problem. It's difficult for me to give a star rating as a result.

2.8.2019

I was very excited to get these, as I spend 90 percent of my life wearing headphones and have sampled many sets over the years - but never such expensive ones as these. I was hoping they would show me what really top-of-the-range headphones can do, and they didn't disappoint.Well, truth be told, at first I was very disappointed, but that's because I'm a moron. I plugged the short jack into the headphones and then spent about 10 minutes trying to force the long jack into my laptop, getting increasingly frustrated that it didn't fit. It took an embarrassingly long time for me to consider the possibility that it might work better with the cable plugged-in the right way round. Doh!Once that little blip was over,and I'd thanked the gods of rock and roll for the fact that I hadn't phoned Astro to complain about their faulty jack plugs, I started the tests:First I tested the mic by recording myself performing a Shakespeare soliloquy at various input volumes to assess the crispness of the mic, and how much ambient sound it picks up. It actually sounded slightly better than my studio mic, but would not be appropriate for studio use as it also picks up lots of mouth noise (pops, clicks etc) and also nose-breathing sounds. However, it doesn't pick up any more unwanted background noise than my studio mic, which is surprising. Overall, the mic's quality is very good, certainly more than required for its primary purpose in gaming.Then I tested the headphones, and by golly they are good. Really, really good. Quite excellent, in fact. I listened to a variety of different music genres at varying volume levels, and could find no fault in any of the headphone's sound reproduction. They sound just amazing. It's hard to pin down exactly what is so different - and so much better - than any of the other headphones I use, because it's a combination of so many overlapping details. But I simply found their sound exquisite. And the games I like to play need it, as they all have very intense symphonic orchestral scores. This headset is definitely the best for the job.And I should also point out that it is - by a very large margin - the most comfortable headset I've ever worn. It is pretty heavy, being solidly constructed from top-quality materials, but as soon as it's on your ears it seems to disappear. You could easily forget you were wearing it. The design is simple, sophisticated, elegant, and intelligent, with swappable components and a pleasing aesthetic. I honestly can't praise it enough.I had hoped that a more expensive headset than my normal £30-50 variety would be noticeably better, but I hadn't expected there to be such a clear difference. (And I mostly use Sony headphones which are pretty darn good). Overall, this headset has blown me away. I'm a little ashamed that I recently gave 5 stars to a cheaper and inferior headset, which left me nowhere to go with these ones. So, to be absolutely clear, I'm awarding 10 stars to this headset, even though Amazon only has a maximum of 5.Brilliant product!

20.12.2019

I purchased the black/blue headset mostly for Xbox One without the MixAmp (the box prominently states for PS4 though, not sure why it is ‘made for PS4’).I think the sound is great for Xbox gaming, music and movie watching. I have an issue with comfort unfortunately. The headsets hurt both of my ears and head around the ears, mainly the left side one – I can feel my ear on yeh speaker driver. It seems like the headset is very comfortable at first and it takes maybe 30 minutes or so to begin to get painful. The top of my head also aches a little with the thin padding and I have no hair at all so that does not help. It also starts to give me a headache, I think.I had considered buying the mod kit but I don’t want to pay another £45+ ish for them when I will only really want to use the ear pads and the top cushion. Anyway, the leather pads do not seem that much thicker than the stock ones. I prefer open backed design and apparently the mic is not as good as the stock one so I expect I would not use the microphone of speaker tags.Speaking of the microphone. I think it sounds good and it’s useful that it rotates all the way around. I am not bothered it cannot be muted because I attached the headset to the Xbox stereo adaptor which makes it easier to adjust volume and mute the mic (It’s a very good ‘thing’ and if you don’t have the adaptor you should get one).The cable is rubbery, long and removable but at the top and where the main jack is, is quite long before the cable material starts and it can interfere with clothes I am wearing if they have a high collar. I If turn my head to the left the cable kind of gets in the way because it’s so stiff. I hope that explanation is clear. It’s not too bad though and I could live with that minor issue.The headset is simple and quick to adjust and finding the right position is easy and the ear cups move a little bit while on your head.The volume of the headset while listening to music is slightly less loud than HyperX headsets I have tried and I can increase the volume to maximum on my Android phone, but I’d not want to listen to music that loudly. In-game sounds are loud enough and I would not want to play games at max volume as that would be too high. I tried Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos on the Xbox and IMO Windows Sonic sounds betterI expect this headset will be returned to Amazon in the new year because of the comfort issue I have, if the pads were thicker or if there were third-party pads that would fit, I expect I would give them a go and hopefully that would mean I could continue using the headset.I am disappointed because the headset is pretty good otherwise. Definitely one of the best I’ve tried and I’ve tried a lot!Interesting fact, there are currently 58 ratings on Amazon and 16 of them are VINE.

26.3.2020

This headset and mixamp is designed for PC and PS4 gamers, and more so for the streamer in mind. The Mixamp and software makes it easy to get the volume and clarity right of chat, game noise, background noise and your microphone - for both what you can hear yourself, and what you would want streaming out. I'm also a big believer in respecting the sound design of games - like films, there's a whole craft and thought process in it as an experience, and you need great speakers or headphones to fully validate it.So I personally find the presets on this weird. They don't make much sense; the night setting sounds the same and the stream setting allows too much background noise in.

14.8.2019

For years now my son has been asking me to set up YouTube channel for him so I've decided I will start acquiring accessories slowly as we've decided that his 10th birthday will be good start.It took me a while to work these out to be honest, the instruction provided does not include any troubleshooting FAQs, which is a shame for somebody like me (beginner).First I had problem connecting them to PS4. Instruction says just plug into PS4 remote and you're good to go. Well you're not, what you also have to do is go to yourPS4 settings>Devices>Audio Devices>Output Device> headsetThen go to Output to Headphones>All AudioYou can also adjust the volume in this menu (it's a shame that you can't do that

5.8.2019

I took my time using these headphones before leaving this review as I wanted to make sure I'd tried them with a variety of audio sources.First, I want to say the presentation and quality of these is fantastic. From the second you open the box, your first thought is 'Wow, these are premium!'. The feel of both the headphones and MixAmp box is great using high quality materials. The headphones are lightweight and easily adjustable.I like the length of the usb cable going from the computer/xbox to the amp mixer. This means I can pull it all the way to my sofa and make adjustments to the audio levels without getting up during gaming. I do wish the audio cable going from the amp mixer to the headphones was longer,

8.8.2019

Unboxing/PackagingOverall the box and packaging arrived in mint condition. The box was a reasonable size for the headset, and was very slick in design. From the artwork on the inner box which contained the headset, to the secure plastic which surrounded the headset. The box was easy to open, and no time was wasted setting up the headset with the two cables that came with it - one for console, another for PC.General UseFrom the start, both headset and cables were easy to assemble and ready to use for gaming. I’m using this with my Xbox Console, and it worked straight away from plugging the cable from the headset to the bottom of the controller. Being a fairly frequent gamer,

22.3.2020

ASTRO Gaming A40 TR Wired Gaming Headset + MixAmp Pro Gen 4 for PS4 & PC - Black/Blue (with Dolby Sound)My husband has tested these as he's the gamer, not me!So this review is from him....Headset + MixAmp Pro TR Controller is a very nice gaming headset, even the packaging is has a certain 'wow' factor to it. Upon opening the box, it's clear that alot of thought was put into the design of this headset, both for style and functionality; it looks great and just feels well made. This headset is a bit heavier than my current Logitech set, but they're also quite a bit more comfortable. The extra padding on the earcups and headband go a long way toward that added comfort,

3.8.2019

I was very excited to get this headset up and running. Previous to this, I have never used a gaming headset and have always used the sound from the TV matched with one in ear headphone for chatting with those I am playing with online.I was very impressed when I was unpacking the headphones. They come beautifully presented in a well designed and interesting box that shows the care that is taken in presenting and packaging the headset and mixer.Setting up the headset is relatively difficult, but the instructions are easy to read with a key for all wires. I did set up the headset incorrectly at first but managed to solve this issue quite quickly with the use of the manual. The headset and mixer both look fantastic,

15.4.2020

ASTRO Gaming A40 TR Wired Gaming Headset + MixAmp Pro Gen 4 for PS4 & PC - Black/Blue (with Dolby Sound)In the box.The headphones, mixer console, leads, instructions and detachable boom mic.Set up.You can use these straight out of the box without the mixer as a wired pair of gaming headphones. With the mixer box wired between the headset and computer you get full customisation options.Build quality.They are superbly made and can take mod kits. They look the business and are built to last. They are very strong and fully adjustable for comfort.Comfort.They are really good to wear even for very long periods of gaming or music. The ear pads are soft and the band well padded.

23.7.2019

I got this headset for PC gaming and there's a lot to say so...Look, Feel and Fit: Everything from opening the box to handling and wearing the headset for the first time screamed quality. One of my first concerns was would the mix amp feel like a cheap plastic add on and I can gladly say it didn't. Everything was made from either very high quality plastic or what I assume is aluminium. I also really liked the styling as I'm not always a big fan of the scream in your face "Gamer" aesthetic. These felt mature and professional.The fit was perfect and comfortable thanks to the many levels of adjustment and the comfortable fabric ear cups and padding on the head strap.

16.4.2020

On it's own I'd rate the Astro A40 Headset as being good, but the addition of the Mixamp in this combined set takes it up a notch to excellent.PLUS POINTS* Excellent, punchy sound with Dolby, for immersive 3D gaming experience* Comfortable headset with generously padded cushions* Good adjustment range for different sized heads* Microphone performance is good* Mixamp gives easy, direct sound level control* Combined set saves £80 on individual purchase prices.MINUS POINTS* No Bluetooth, just cable fed* Headset is bulkyMy first impressions of the headset were of something slightly bling and a bit chunkier than absolutely necessary. This has a bit of an American look to it,

14.8.2019

The first thing that impresses you about this headset is the packaging. Sleek smart and sophisticated. It makes you know you have brought a quality product before you have even opened the box and plugged it in.The headset itself is very comfortable on the head and is easily adjustable to fit any shape or size. It covers the ears perfectly and doesn’t fall off or slip when you are moving your head around. It doesn’t sit too tight onto your ears which is perfect as you don’t get that sore ear/pinching feeling after an hour or so of gaming.The sound quality is crystal clear. Quite possibly the best sound I have had from any gaming headset. I would even put the quality up there with some of the big brand audio headphones.

24.3.2020

I am not tech-savvy in the gaming area but I have two grandsons who are and have a large range of gaming equipment so I passed this over to them and asked them to write their opinions. This is what my 15-year-old grandson said about these headphones"The A40’s sound quality is crystal clear with a huge depth range and very high definition. All sounds can be heard clearly, and the pan of the headphones is perfect. The earphone cups fit nicely around your ears making the sound precise and making them comfortable to wear. The headset also fits nicely around glasses stopping headaches which are seen to be a problem in many other headsets.The microphone quality is incredibly clear and accurate for a headset mic with zero feedback or extra noise.

6.8.2019

First things first the presentation in the box is a nice touch, functional too. As everything is well sectioned it made set up much easier. I was a little disappointed with the paper documentation, a little guide on what the settings on the mix amp actually do would save time looking up the information online or doing a bit of trial and error yourself. If I had a rough guide to the settings on the amp I suspect I would have had a better initial listening experience. That said the amp makes is very easy to adjust the sound while you are listening, things can sounds really good with just 20 seconds of fiddling.The headphones are not too heavy and comfortable enough to be worn for a long time.

Astro Gaming A40 TR (Gen 4) - Reviews

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