The initial pitch for the $380Logitech Astro A50 X Lightspeed headsetsounds like an infomercial.
Do you hate that its so hard to use the same headset across all your gaming devices?
Then strap these headphones on and quit the hassle.
The Astro A50 X is a quality, premium headset, but the extra base station might be a little too much hassle for what you get.Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
Play on your PlayStation 5.
Play on your Xbox Series X/S, then switch to your PC.
Its all there, no fuss, no muss.
Even without plugging in the Xbox wires, you’ll need to do a fair bit of cable management to ensure your TV cabinet doesn’t become a big mess.Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
Thanks, Billy, but does it actually work?
A new version of the Astro A50 headphones with a base station connecting all your consoles to one TV.
PRICE
$380
LIKE
The base station is effective at connecting all your devices.
Even without plugging in the Xbox wires, you’ll need to do a fair bit of cable management to ensure your TV cabinet doesn’t become a big mess.Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
The audio and mic quality are comparable to other headsets at its price point.
DISLIKE
The base station only makes sense if you have your PC located near your gaming consoles.
It’s a shame there’s not a port for a Nintendo Switch.
The Astro A50X has some extremely comfortable, plush headphone pads for extended play sessions. Still, you can easily remove them and swap them out for something more ambient and soundproof.Photo: Artem Golub / Gizmodo
If youre big into cable management, that shouldnt be too big a problem.
If youve ever used an Astro A50 headset, this is the same unit but with the extra setup.
That older headset cost $300 MSRP when it first hit store shelves.
Is the additional $80 worth having a single headset for all your game-playing needs?
For some, maybe, but for me?
No, probably not.
The system is a passthrough from your consoles to your TV for all intents and purposes.
The headset has one power cable attached to a split USB to plug into your PC.
If you dont, the audio will sound more washed out and tinny than it should.
After all that, using theA50 Xis a relatively smooth experience.
The system touts 40 Gbps bandwidth, and I noticed no lag from console to TV.
The headset handles all the controls, including the toggle to switch from one console to the next.
This works well enough, and its unlikely you were chatting up people through Nintendos console online.
The biggest issue comes when you want to run two machines at once.
To get around this, hook up the headset to your PC via Bluetooth.
Of course, the Logitech headset still feels premium.
The plush ear pads are incredibly comfortable.
I prefer these comfy covers far more than other noise-canceling devices, so the A50s fit perfectly.
The headset uses a rubberized top frame that allows the two ends to shift back and forth.
Other than that, I had no further issues with the build quality.
The microphone can bend backward but naturally reangle closer to where your mouth should be.
The buttons all have a solid, tactile feel.
Does it feel like a $300 or $380 headset?
Theres no swappable battery and retractable microphone like the$350 SteelSeries Arctic Nova Pro Wireless.
For instance, the$329 Turtle Beach Stealth Profeatures active noise-canceling, whereas the Astro conspicuously lacks it.
I dont know many people who have their computers in the same place as their gaming consoles.
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