Review: We look at a totally wireless console headset and mic system. And Astro Gaming's A30 is pretty sweet...
Astro Gaming is no strangers to catering for the needs of gamers, and it’s particularly proud of its new A30 Audio System, the cross-gaming headset based off the A40 Pro System, so we checked out what the fuss was about.
The headset encases the ears and feel a little firmer than some ‘phones, but with the softness of the material and the lightweight frame it was easy to forget they were on. The material was breathable and did not cause sweaty-ear-syndrome.
The detachable mic boom is sleek and unobtrusive and doesn't have any small detachable parts – you know, the kind that cats have a penchant to steal. The headband isn't as thick as some other headsets on the market, and combined with generous padding this minimises the head contact surface, which in turn reduces headaches.
The ear pieces fold inwards 90 degrees so they sit flush to the chest when worn around the neck. The headset looks snazzy in the black yet the design really exudes funk in the white, so it’s just a matter of personal preference. The A30s have removable plates called "speaker tags" that sit on the outside of the ear piece with non-disruptive magnets; the tags come in three designs for personalisation.
The A30 Headset is attached to a quick disconnect jack that connects to the quick disconnect (QD) cable via a mic and audio dual-jack connector. The standard QD is equipped with a 3.5mm connector, adaptable for standard electronic devices and the MixAmp 5.8 - PC and mobile QD's ship with the headphones.
The Mix Amp, which enables voice chat and 7.1 Dolby Surround Sound, features a micro USB port for recharge, a balance control for both game and microphone functionality audio levels, corded game controller jack, a master for volume and a bass expander on/off. Mixers can be 'daisy changed' together for private voice channel communication – perfect for big LAN events. An external audio source can be jacked into the MixAmp so you can listen to music as you game, too. It is no bigger than a bar of soap and has a clip-on attachment; just remember to attach it to your person to insure against making a spectacle of yourself. Like we did. Many times.
The headphones include a travel case with reinforced padding with room to include accessories, and while they don't fold up like a Transformer it's a good trade off as headphones with a lot of articulation have greater tendencies to break.
We played Call of Duty Black Ops to test the sound quality and mic. Voice chat didn't crackle or drop out, and it was sensitive to effects like distant enemy footfalls and the light clink of a grenade. Gun fire was succinct and explosions had body of a well rounded bass.
When we listened to a Frisky Radio podcast on a Cowon device, it was like listening to a new track; the audio had balanced range and great depth, effects had edge and the bass thumped without being overwhelming.
It was easy to forget that the headset was on and it kept firmly in place for a vigorous session of Dance Central – just to prove the point, mind. The range was enough that we could go upstairs and the sound would still be crystal clear, without interference.
Because of the 5.8GHz frequency there wasn't any audio interference from other devices as experienced with other gaming headsets – we’re looking at you Turtle Beach – even with a second system operating in the same room audio was clean and clear.
Beautifully absent were the painful clicks and pops when battery levels decreased or distance was increased, which break game immersion and have a tendency to trigger 'hulk smash' mode. Thankfully there was a ten minute (average) low battery warning that bleeped discreetly at long intervals.
There was some noise bleed, so just be conscious of noise levels when in public or sitting next to someone in a work environment. The added functionality of using the A30s as a VOIP headset is a welcome bonus but cost is already justified with game and music performance.
Issue: 137 | June, 2012