The new Astro A10 review has dropped, and we have been blessed to test it out. Previously we had 2 other headsets. One was more on the premium side while the first was entry-level. So where does the Astro A10 fit in the hierarchy? Well, I would place it on the entry-level category, but it does have a premium feel. It does sit on the slightly higher end of the tier though. The new kid on the block enters the battel arena dominated by Turtle Beach and HyperX. So how does it fair?
Well, it fairs pretty darn well if you ask me.
Sleek
The design is sleek yet rugged, which makes it both aesthetically pleasing as well as durable. The moment I opened the box I could already envision myself yelling at my friends while we battled each other in F1 or GT Sport. (hopefully GT7 soon)
The headset fits like a glove though my wife reckons it feels a bit on the snug side. Armed with thick padding on the ears it can get a little hot in there, but still more than comfortable for long use. This boils down to the Flexi joining arm. The arm also makes the headset much more durable. I pulled a 5-hour binge and the only drawback was a few minutes of flat ears which if you know me is an improvement.
Echo
The sound is solid on both high and low frequencies, so you will be more than satisfied whether you are on COD or Gran Turismo. Like always I compare it to my purely audio headsets as they tend to offer much more clarity. Putting it against the Beats Wireless Studio and it more than held its own. It won in the volume category but then again Beats tones down the volume for both clarity and ear protection. The only issue was the sometimes-clumsy wire. While this does not bother me during gaming it does become annoying when you try to bob your head to your favorite track.
The Astro A10 has a much wider compatibility range than the previous sets I reviewed. This time we could test it out on the X Box and while it does support Nintendo Switch, I did not have the resources to check how well it works. It is important to note that the Switch itself is not the friendliest device for 3rd party headsets. For my two consoles and PC, it does the job and does it well.
If you are looking for deep additional or premium features on the Astro A10, then you will be disappointed. While this is designed to feel premium, we need to remember that it is still an entry-level set. This does not mean it cannot function for more seasoned gamers. It simply means it keeps to having core functionality. Of course, this decision is made to keep a certain price point.
Encore
The bottom line this is a great headset to kick start your online gaming life. A big step up from the clunky earphone style sets received inbox with your console. If you are looking for maximum functionality then maybe look higher up the chain. However, I would recommend this as a perfect first headset to any gamer. It is durable and covers all the essentials and most importantly very affordable at R 1 199. 99
