We are, as you can see, in front of headphones with a supra-aural design, which means that instead of surrounding the ear and resting on the head as it happens in circumaural design headphones, in this case the pads themselves are designed to rest on the same ear. , pressing her. In this type of headphone design, therefore, special consideration must be given to the pads and the design of the headband, since if they exert too much pressure on the ears they can end up being annoying.
For the rest, the headphones have 32mm neodymium magnet speakers, quite small compared to the 50mm that we are used to in this type of product, but beyond that they have the same frequency response and impedance as any of the gaming headphones of the range that we can find. This small size of the speakers, it must be said, helps to allow this reduced-size supra-aural design because, as we will see a little later in this analysis, the headphones are quite small.
It should also be mentioned that, compared to the first generation, ASTRO has substantially modified the design, in such a way that it has managed to reduce the weight of the device by no more and no less than 100 grams, among other things. They have achieved this not by reducing the size, which is the same, but by using lighter (and ecological) materials.
As you can see in the image above, the fabric earmuffs have also been modified so that in this case they are replaceable, a great advantage if you have had these headphones for a long time and they work well, but the wear on the pads has made them uncomfortable, since it will allow you to change them without having to buy new headphones.
Finally, the design of the headband also stands out, which now instead of being in one piece with a traditional design, ASTRO has incorporated a vertical design to modify the size, something that allows the headphones to be made larger without generating more noise. pressure on the head at the ends, a very important advantage given that, as we have mentioned before, in supra-aural headphones this can become quite a nuisance.
Unboxing and external analysis
When we attended the media presentation of this product, ASTRO insisted a lot that they have taken special care with the materials, always looking for the most ecological and recyclable ones that cause less environmental impact, and that of course also involves the packaging. Thus, ASTRO has modified the packaging of these second generation A10 headphones to make it smaller and made of recyclable materials.
On the front side we only see an image of the product accompanied by the brand and model, as well as a small blue box that indicates that they are compatible with the new SONY PS5.
On the back we have a diagram of the product in which its main parts are indicated, as well as a brief description of its characteristics. On the sides we do not find additional information, since on one we only have an image of the headphones from the side and on the other the manufacturer’s logo.
The box opens in the shape of a chest, and at first glance we can see that the product is covered by recycled paper with a rough touch. On the front of the main face of the box we have a connection diagram.
Let’s go first of all to see, as always, first the accessories. In this case, ASTRO includes with these second-generation A10s an informative pamphlet, another full-color pamphlet to inform us that if we have any problem, we should not contact the store where we bought them but directly with them, a sticker, the connection cable and a duplicator to be able to use the headphones on PC, which converts the combo mini jack into two independent mini jacks for headphones and microphone.
The main connection cable has a small control console that will allow us to modify the audio volume.
Now yes, here we have the ASTRO A10.
As soon as they were taken out of the box, the first sensation they gave us was that they were very light, especially because since the cable is removable and, as we have seen, it comes separately, we do not have it hanging like a dead weight when we take the headphones out of the box. At first glance, the plastics of the case seem to be of very good quality, as well as the pads, which are very soft to the touch.
In its most reduced position, the headphones feel quite small (so beware if you are a “prominent” head user) and with the ear cups quite diagonally, a fact that caused us some concern about comfort as this could cause them to squeeze us. too much against the ears.
On the outside of the earmuffs we can find decorations with the brand and model, as well as a network of black and yellow stripes as if it were a danger zone. On the side from which the microphone comes out, this is obviously less striking.
You will have already noticed that the headphones have “horns”, which are nothing more than the size adjustment of the headband, arranged vertically instead of following the circumference of it. This perhaps makes them a little unsightly to look at, but believe us when we tell you that they make them much more comfortable since making the headband larger will not cause it to tighten more on the ears or head.
At the top of the headband, made of black plastic, we have the brand’s logo. On its opposite side we find a generous pad of gray fabric that contrasts quite a bit with the black and looks very good, since it in turn combines with the yellow details that ASTRO has arranged in some parts.
The ear pads are made of the same material as the headband. They are vertically oval shaped, leaving a relatively small gap for the soundboard to do its job on the user’s ear. These cloth ear tips are quite soft and squishy, so they will fit any size and type of ear without any problem; yes, we have to say that the ears do not have too much “play” in terms of movement, and only allow to move a little to adjust to the shape of the user’s head.
The microphone is on the left ear cup, and of course it’s foldable. The rod is made of flimsy rubber with metal inside, which allows you to twist it to adjust it to the position you want without any problem and without damaging it. The microphone is unidirectional (thanks! what’s the point of putting an omnidirectional microphone on headphones?) and, let’s remember, when you raise the rod it has a function to automatically mute it.
Also in the lower area of the left ear cup is where we have the female connector for the 3.5 mm combo minijack that we show you along with the accessories, and it is logically where we will have to connect the cable for the headphones to work.
Having seen the device, we are now going to test it and tell you how it works.
Testing the ASTRO A10, how do they work?
Let’s start talking about ergonomics: as we mentioned before, the ASTRO A10 are relatively small for what we are used to when we talk about gaming headphones, since they are usually circumaural and these are supraaural. However, despite having a fairly large head size, the headphones fit perfectly and do not bother you at all, to the point that after a few minutes you almost forget that you are wearing them because they weigh quite little.
Thanks to the fact that the microphone is collapsible and that it can be easily bent and, even so, it maintains its shape, this element does not bother us at all and we can use it without bothering us to talk or even eat while wearing the headphones.
Even after a few hours of continuous use, the headphones are still quite comfortable, although it is true that when you take them off after several hours you do notice a little discomfort in your ears due to the pressure they put on them, which, although slight, is still a pressure on the ears that circumaural designs put on the head instead.
To test the sound quality of these second generation ASTRO A10 we have used a PS4 console, connecting them directly to the controller. By doing so, the console detects them the first time and automatically begins to output the sound for them (remember, however, that we can also use them on PC and even with mobile phones and tablets that have an analog connection via a 3.5 mm minijack).
As we mentioned at the beginning, ASTRO applies a somewhat peculiar customization and optimization, so if you were used to a game sounding one way, using these headphones will change the user experience a lot. It’s not that it’s better or worse, it’s just that it’s a bit different, but what we can assure you is that the audio is different from the one conceived by the game developers, and this is something that many may like but many others don’t.
In any case, the stereo sound is correct, with a good balance of bass (although bass power is lacking, due in part to those small speakers of only 32 mm in diameter), with fairly clear mid tones and treble sounds. rich in nuances, surely the strong point of these headphones. At maximum volume the sound does not distort at any time and in fact it is quite powerful, so we recommend using them with the sound at full volume because it could cause damage to the eardrums.
Conclusion and verdict
With this second generation ASTRO A10 headset, the Logitech G-owned manufacturer is once again at the forefront of audio designed for modern next-gen consoles. With a very comfortable and lightweight design, these headphones are ideal for those users who are looking for quality sound in a durable product that does not complicate their lives at all, thanks to its simplicity of operation and connection.
These headphones have a suggested retail price of €59.99, well above average for this type of product. ASTRO justifies it by saying that we are dealing with a Premium quality product, and that is something that in terms of robustness and quality of materials we are not going to discuss, but in terms of audio quality, which we repeat is not bad at all, it can that this aggressive optimization in the equalization penalizes them in the face of certain user niches.
All in all, we think they are an excellent option if you are one of those who play the console with headphones so as not to disturb others, and surely with these ASTRO A10 you will have headphones for many years as long as you take care of them a little. For all this, we give them our Gold award and our recommendation for their design.
