Astro A40 TR with MixAmp 2022 review: So close to greatness

The Astro 40 TR lineup is Astro'southward flagship wired headset product, completed with a revamped version of its excellent MixAmp. The new bundle would gear up you back a whopping $250, which isn't inexpensive by any stretch.

You can too purchase the headset for $150 and the MixAmp for $130 separately, however, if y'all don't fancy getting them both.

Like the previous generation, the Astro A40 TR MixAmp bundle is a killer combo that delivers piles of functionality and solid sound. In that location are a few downsides that prevent it from achieving perfection, but it comes closer than most.

Astronomical

Astro A40 TR with MixAmp (2019)

$250

Lesser line: The Astro A40 TR 2022 refresh represents 1 of the all-time wired headset bundles out there, only a few small criticisms prevent it from achieving total perfection.

Pros:

• Great sound performance
• Robust materials and good build quality
• Astro signature customizability
• Modernized pattern
• MixAmp adds tons of functionality

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Audio isn't much better than older version
• Ear cup gets quite warm
• MixAmp lost power button and LED controls

Astro A40 and MixAmp (2019): Spec canvas

Category	Astro A40 headset (2019)	Astro MixAmp (2019)
Audio features	40mm neodymium open-back speakers	Dolby Sound choice, iv configurable EQ presets
Frequency response	20 - 20,000 Hz	twenty - 24,000 Hz
Impedance	48 ohms	—
Features	Customizable speaker plates and earcups, detachable microphone, in-line mute controls	Digital daisy-chaining, 3.5mm input, output, aux, SPDIF optical audio, volume controls, volume mix betwixt chat and game, four EQ presets, Dolby Sound
Compatibility	3.5mm devices	Xbox One (USB, SPDIF), PC (USB)
Toll	$150 / $250 bundle	$130 / $250 bundle

Astro A40 and MixAmp (2019): Blueprint and features

Astro has modernized and refreshed its design language for the new A40, with metal accents and subtle red notes that really gives the headset a more "mature" veneer than its previous efforts. The Xbox version of the headset sports cherry-red accents, while the PlayStation variant rocks some ocean blue tones. I'chiliad non quite sure why Astro decided to go with blood-red for the Xbox version, unless they know something about the time to come of the brand nosotros don't. In any case, it looks great, with nice detailing on the speaker plates in articulate plastic that gives them depth.

As usual, the Astro A40 2022 version is highly customizable. All current "Modernistic Kits" are uniform with the headset, allowing you to swap out the speaker plates on the exterior and the cushions on the interior with a diversity of other colors and designs, available from around $60. It's a shame how pricey they are, considering I'm not a huge fan of the cushions included in the box. The textile Astro has opted for has a woolen feel and can get pretty warm and toasty afterwards a while, more similar earmuffs than headphones. I wish they'd gone for something less toasty, specially considering how expensive leatherette options are. They practise feel nice, though, but if you're in a warmer climate yous might discover them a fleck uncomfortable over time, oestrus-wise.

Disregarding the earcups, the headset overall is very comfy and well-built, with a generous amount of memory foam across the headband and earcups, perfectly suited to long sessions. The length betwixt the earcups and the headband tin can be customized generously to suit any head shape and size, with plenty of hard-wearing flexibility.

it looks great, with nice detailing on the speaker plates in clear plastic that gives them depth.

I've ofttimes found the Astro range to exist a lilliputian tight across the apex of my skull, just it's null game-breaking. They're congenital to fit and resist shifting even when you're particularly blithe over a clutch battle royale moment or light headbanging session.

Save for the color upgrades, the overall design seems practically identical to the previous generation, admitting with a much sleeker coat of paint. The bulk of the changes seem to have fed into the 2022 MixAmp, which has received a pretty broad design revision.

The MixAmp now has a horizontal design rather than a vertical one, with asymmetrical dials for volume and chat/game sound mix. Although Astro seems to accept addressed some criticisms of its previous MixAmp, namely that information technology was so light that it merely never wanted to sit however on your desk, the new ane has a bit more than weight to it. In that location are no rubber feet on the underside though, which would've probably helped farther with positioning, merely it'south a minor grip gripe.

On the reverse of the MixAmp are several ports for additional functionality. 3.5mm ports for aux sound feeding in from a phone or other external device, as well every bit a stream port for extracting sound if your set-upwardly calls for it. There are besides digital connectors to daisy chain multiple MixAmps together, ideal for LAN or tournament situations.

The MixAmp by itself is an awesome piece of kit for any gamer.

There's a SPDIF optical port for injecting audio from your Xbox or compatible audio card, otherwise, you tin just employ USB to hook it up to your PC. Finally, there's a switch to move the Mixamp between its Xbox and PC modes, consummate with an LED on the front end which lets you know which style you lot're currently in. On the front side, there's a toggle with four corresponding LEDs for the four EQ presets you can configure, as well equally a button to switch between audio pass-through and Dolby Audio processing.

The design of the new MixAmp is very attractive, syncing up with the black Xbox One X nicely. The dials as well accept LED notches which shine red when your headset is muted, which is a nice bear on brought across from the previous MixAmp. Annoyingly, though, Astro felt information technology necessary to remove the off switch entirely for the 2022 unit. There'south also no way to configure the LEDs to "time out" when non in use, unlike Turtle Beach's similar Tactical Audio Controller. The omission of a power button is, frankly odd, and worth existence enlightened of if you like to make sure all those blinking lights are completely turned off at dark.

Governing the employ of the MixAmp is an incredibly tidy UWP app for Windows 10 dubbed the Astro Command Middle. Honestly, it's one of the meliorate UWP apps out there and gives you a large range of command over the MixAmp. You can customize the four EQ presets far beyond similar products I've used, to the point where Astro actually warns against messing with the advanced settings unless you really know what you're doing. You tin also knock upwardly the volume of the sidetone, allowing you to hear yourself speaking while using comms, and adjust the noise gate level to adapt the amount of background sound in your play area.

I'd say even if you're not enticed by the headset, the MixAmp by itself is an awesome piece of kit for any gamer. For streamers, it lets you lot mix audio from your Xbox with comms conversation from your PC, giving you the ability to adjust the sound spread at arm's length, without taking yourself out of the game.

How does information technology all sound though?

Astro A40 and MixAmp (2019): Sound experience

When connected direct to an Xbox I via 3.5mm into the controller, the Astro A40 is a decent headset, but not what I'd call heed-blowing for $150. The open up-back design creates a wider sound stage than isolating closed-back headsets might, although the trade-off is leakiness. The "TR" in Astro A40 "TR" stands for "Tournament Ready," though, emphasizing that this bundle isn't necessarily aimed at users looking for something to employ in serenity public spaces.

The headset reproduces audio well by itself, with rich bass and tactical emphasis on loftier tones. Reverberating explosions audio corking with the open-back cups, and Dolby Atmos (bundled with the headset) can elevate the sense of positional awareness. Although, few games actually use Dolby Atmos natively, sadly, and adoption has been weak. The A40's loftier tones requite away enemy positions with footsteps and shuffling clothes very well, and I accept gotten a few kills in Battleground V because of it. The MixAmp takes the feel to some other level, though.

Armed with Dolby Audio 7.1 presets, a meliorate frequency response, and EQ presets, the MixAmp significantly boosts the experience across the entire entertainment spectrum. You lot can set the MixAmp to process using Dolby Sound or but have a straight laissez passer-through if you adopt to use Atmos processing on your Xbox. Dolby's MixAmp processing produces richer sound across the entire frequency range. Information technology's too great for music, with completely baloney-free bass, which sounds wonderful using the MixAmp's "Natural Bass" preset. I thought the highs and mids sounded a little muffled, defective the oomph of the bass, but that might be the gaming-oriented tactical tuning coming into play.

As smashing as it does audio, like the previous MixAmp, I plant the Dolby Audio setting to produce a strange, if subtle echo effect that is well-nigh notable on highs and pops, like navigating the Xbox dashboard. I frequently feel like turning it off just to go a more natural audio, but you terminate up sacrificing some of that Dolby depth and dynamic positional awareness that comes with keeping Dolby Audio turned on. It's hard to draw and it'due south very subtle, but when y'all've heard information technology, information technology's hard to ignore. I wouldn't say that it ruins the overall experience though, by whatever means, specially since you can just ready it to pass-through Dolby Atmos from your Xbox instead (even if the manual doesn't explicate how to do so).

On the microphone side, however, it's all positive. The sidetone is adjustable via the PC software, allowing you to hear yourself in existent time while chatting, although making it also loud beyond Astro's recommended setting will add an electrical hum to your sound mix. The microphone quality is excellent, too, with adaptable noise gate options depending on how noisy your environment is. While I don't think yous'll be using the microphone to create content, information technology's among the better gaming microphones out in that location.

With mountains of customizability, booming bass, and tactical sound, the Astro A40 TR MixAmp package is a winning sound combo, just, just shy of perfection.

Should y'all purchase the Astro A40 TR and MixAmp (2019)?

As good equally the Astro A40 TR headset is as a standalone product, the MixAmp itself is the stronger part of the package. Although I miss the power off button and accept some reservations about the Dolby Sound processing, the boosted control and audio mixing features you lot get are more worth information technology as a frequent streamer and co-op actor.

The blueprint of the Astro A40 TR headset has taken a spring forward, sporting a modernized chassis that looks great and feels comfy to article of clothing. However, while the microphone is swell, the audio experience depends on the MixAmp to compete with some of the cheaper mid-range headsets out there, similar the HyperX CloudX, Deject Alpha, or the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas. Simply put, I would normally look more of a headset asking $150 to be purchased separately, even if I tin can say with conviction you won't be disappointed with what Astro is offering hither.

Unless y'all are particularly fond of the A40 design, open-back format, or customizable plates, it may be smarter to simply buy the Astro MixAmp by itself, and pair it up with your existing three.5mm wired headset, or a cheaper selection.

Close to greatness

Astro A40 TR with MixAmp (2019)

Astronomical quality.

While there are a few imperfections, Astro continues to put out one of the best wired headset bundles in gaming. The MixAmp is practically a must-buy for game streamers and frequent party chatters.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/astro-a40-tr-pro-mixamp-2019-review

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