Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2 review

Our Verdict

The Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen ii sounds great and feels skillful, simply setup can be a existent pain, particularly when switching among systems.

For

Keen sound
Comfortable earcups
Articulate microphone
Reasonable cost

Against

Pairing tin be frustrating
Unappealing design

Tom'due south Guide Verdict

The Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2 sounds great and feels practiced, just setup tin be a real pain, particularly when switching among systems.

Pros

+
Great sound
+
Comfortable earcups
+
Articulate microphone
+
Reasonable price

Cons

-
Pairing can be frustrating
-
Unappealing pattern

Astro A20 Gen 2: Specs

Compatibility: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Drivers: 40 mm
Frequency Response: 20 Hz - xx kHz
Wireless: Yeah

The Astro A20 Gaming Headset has been around in some mode, shape or class since 2017. But with the PS5 and Xbox Series 10 on the horizon, this panel-centric wireless headset was near due for a refresh. I'm pleased to report that theAstro A20 Gen 2 is still a strong choice, and actually better than its predecessor in some substantial ways. Not but does the Astro A20 sound swell, but it'south besides uniform with every major panel on the market, and is less expensive now than when it kickoff debuted.

On the other hand, the A20 has a few significant drawbacks, particularly if you're looking to connect it to a PC, a PlayStation and an Xbox. The device has a surprisingly bad-mannered design that'south non exactly uncomfortable, but not visually highly-seasoned, either.

Encounter the best Xbox headsets...
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Our picks of the best wireless gaming headsets

While the A20 isn't the perfect console headset for every possible gamer, it's a relatively inexpensive fashion to get for wireless features — with great sound, to boot. Read our full Astro A20 Gaming Headset (2020) review to acquire why this could be the correct choice for your upcoming PS5 or Xbox Series Ten purchase.

Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2 design

The Astro A20 Gaming Headset's 2020 redesign isn't radically different from the 2017 version. Instead of a black chassis, this time effectually, it's white.

Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2 review — (Image credit: Astro)

The PS4/PS5 version has blueish highlights, while the Xbox One/Xbox Serial 10 version has green highlights. There are some technical differences between the two headsets, simply structurally, they're like otherwise.

Until I saw myself in a mirror, I didn't realize quite how strange the A20 looks compared to well-nigh other gaming headsets. Rather than adopting an oval shape, the A20 looks near rectangular, with a long, flat, cream-padded headband, and ii arms that move up and down, instead of notches on the headband itself. Not all of the headband actually sits on your head. It'due south an odd design, and doesn't fit also as more traditional headsets.

Beyond that, the Astro A20 is pretty light on bells and whistles. The right earcup has a ability push, an equalization manner button (there are iii, and yous'll hear a different tone for each), a book dial and a USB-C charging port.

On the left earcup, there's a boom mic. I still remember that whatsoever headset that costs more $100 should have either a detachable or retractable mic, simply if y'all put the mic in a vertical position, you can't actually see it, and then it'due south not a dealbreaker.

Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2 comfort

In spite of the Astro A20 Gaming Headset's unusual design, information technology'due south pretty comfortable to wearable. The black fabric earcups are costly and breathable, and the headband provides a fair amount of padding.

Even with my spectacles on, I could wear the Astro A20 for hours without whatsoever discomfort. On the other hand, I was never able to get a great fit, due to the anarchistic headband aligning. The earcups don't swivel, notwithstanding, and the arms don't have much requite, which could prevent some players from getting a good seal effectually the ears.

Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2 performance

I surface area where the Astro A20 Gaming Headset excels is in audio quality. The Astro A20 has a rich, vibrant soundscape across a variety of games, movies and music. And while gamers should expect good sound from headsets that cost more $100, I tin think of wireless headsets in the $150 range that don't sound nearly as good as the Astro A20.

I tested the headset with a variety of games beyond a variety of systems, including Genshin Bear upon on the PS4, Blasphemous on the Xbox One, Baldur's Gate III on the PC and Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition on the Switch. I was impressed with how the Astro A20 handled every genre, from crackling fireballs in Baldur'due south Gate, to spirited dialogue in Genshin Bear upon. I was fifty-fifty surprised to find that the bass was far more robust than in nearly gaming headsets, which was great for the ominous growls of Blasphemous or the resounding bomb blasts of Hyrule Warriors.

I can remember of wireless headsets in the $150 range that don't sound near as skilful as the Astro A20.

Similarly, the Astro A20 handles music well — provided you're listening on a figurer or panel, that is. Because information technology doesn't have a three.5 mm audio jack or Bluetooth functionality, this probably won't exist your everyday music headset. Merely I listened to tracks from Onetime Crow Medicine Prove, Flogging Molly, The Rolling Stones and Grand.F. Handel, and I was very pleased with both the bass/treble and left/right aqueduct balances.

Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen ii features

Arguably, the almost interesting thing about the Astro A20 Gaming Headset (2020) is that it works wirelessly with both the PS4 and the Xbox One — and, equally such, will work wirelessly with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X as well. This is a real rarity among gaming headsets, considering PlayStation and Xbox consoles use completely different wireless protocols.

The Astro A20 splits the PS/Xbox difference in a deceptively simple way: with an adapter. If you buy the PS4 version of the headset, it comes with a dongle that attaches to a PC, PS4 and docked Switch. If you buy the Xbox version, at that place's no adapter, considering it works with the Xbox's internal wireless systems. Only if you lot buy the PS4 version, you have the pick to buy a divide, detached Xbox dongle, and vice versa. The A20 USB Transmitter costs $xx, and finer doubles your A20'due south versatility.

At least, if you lot tin can get it to work properly. Frustratingly, Astro does not include instructions on how to pair the A20 with a new adapter anywhere. It's non in the quick-start guide; the A20 USB Transmitter doesn't come with whatever instructions; the website doesn't offer whatsoever kind of manuals or videos. As such, pairing the A20 with a new adapter is pure guesswork, and you have to exercise it each time you switch back and forth betwixt a PlayStation and an Xbox.

I somewhen (sort of) figured it out, simply by pressing various button combinations until something clicked. But later that, the A20 ofttimes forgot its connection profile upon startup, and I'd have to practise the whole process over over again. A lack of clear instructions coupled with a mercurial pairing process absolutely killed most of my enthusiasm for the very clever transmitter idea.

Beyond that, the A20 has three unlike equalization settings, but no software to customize boosted profiles. The mic sounds crystal-clear, and the battery lasts for up to fifteen hours, with no unnecessary lighting to drag that number down. In that location are no surroundings audio options, however.

Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen verdict

Our Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2 review discussed how this ambitious peripheral provides cracking sound and solid wireless connectivity, all at a reasonable price. Nonetheless, even though the A20 USB Transmitter is a totally optional feature, I couldn't help but experience disappointed by it. Bridging the gap between PlayStation and Xbox wireless headsets is a noble goal, and merely ane other company (SteelSeries) has pulled information technology off well before at present. The Astro A20 is a stride in the right management, simply information technology looks similar cantankerous-platform connectivity is going to exist a pain for at least i more panel generation.

Still, the Astro A20 sounds neat and feels comfy, and those are easily the two most important features in whatsoever gaming headset. Consider the Turtle Embankment Stealth 700 Gen 2 if y'all're willing to spend a niggling more than coin — but if you're non, you should be very pleased with the Astro A20.

Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom'due south Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a science writing groundwork, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of scientific discipline and applied science. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on archetype sci-fi.