Quantcast
Channel: A+E Interactive » Astro Gaming
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 3

Astro A38 turns mobile gaming headsets on its ear

0
0
Astro A38 turns mobile gaming headsets on its ear

A38_lifestyle_1 Astro Gaming, like the rest of the industry, has evolved with the times. Early on, it capitalized on the need for a set of cans aimed specifically for gamers. It found success with wired and wireless models and brought that brand into competitive gaming and the growing eSports sector. Now, the company is setting its sights on the mobile and casual space with the Astro 38. The device, which came out this month, boasts Bluetooth connectivity, so it will work with mobile devices such as the iPad, iPhone, notebooks, PlayStation Vita and Android devices. To keep up with the likes of Beats Electronics and Turtle Beach, it has active-noise-cancelling speakers and microphone. But what the Astro A38 apart is its design and focus on gaming. A38_FrontPerspective_White The Astro A38 is lighter than most of the headsets in its class. That's something that Astro has prided itself in and still remains in its core values even after the company was sold to Skullcandy in 2011. Aron Drayer, vice president of marketing, said, "Gaming will always be the edge we have." He envisions the Astro A38 as a headset that players will take with them when they're outside the living room. After they put down the A40 or A50 after a session of Titanfall, they'll pick up the A38 and their Vita or iOS device and head out. When it comes to performance, the Astro A38 performs well in the field. The battery life is fantastic and lasts the 15 to 20 hours that Drayer estimated. It's a device that you'll probably charge once every few days, and it has the staying power for long flights. The only issue with wearing them for an extended period of time is that they're not the most comfortable headset. They do tend to squeeze your head and the earcup cushioning feels thin in places. Something beefier would have been welcome, but that may have sacrificed the devices featherlike 6.63-ounce weight. Testing out the Astro A38 under a series of scenarios, it handles music like a champ. The bass isn't too overwhelming but still has that richness that audiophiles are looking for. The mids and highs are clear with the overall sound being more granular. You can hear the subtlety in the music, every note distinct, every beat accounted for. When it comes to the active noise cancellation, the headset does the job. It won't eliminate all the outside noise, but the Astro A38 does enough so that the music feels closer to you and the outside world feels farther away. A38 Lifestyle 1 The attacking zombies on your lawn will sound crystal clear on the Astro A38. On the gaming side, the Astro 38 can handle anything you throw at it. The headset will give players a distinct separation of sound. When playing titles like Resistance: Burning Skies, you can get a general sense of where bullets and explosions are coming from. The separation isn't as distinct as true surround sound, but it's functional. Beyond that though, the benefit in the headset comes from not dealing with wires while you play. That and the sound quality, which comes out crisp with a cutting clarity. The Astro A38's closest competitor is probably the Turtle Beach i30. Although I do like i30 when it comes to active noise cancellation and sound separation, the Astro A38 has it beat when it comes to battery life, comfort, ease of use and most importantly design. The device is sleek and light with foldable earcups that show off its removable tags that lets listeners add a personal touch. A38 Lifestyle Tags 2 Removable tags and other design features give the Astro A38 an edge over its rivals. And that's where the headset industry is going. With eSports and celebrity endorsements, a set of cans aren't just something where the best function wins the day. A huge draw of a device will be how it looks -- its style. Think of it this way, as eSports grows in popularity (ESPN broad cast The International and it featured Call of Duty in the X Games), what these emerging athletes use will be more important -- keyboards, mice and headsets, the most visible of all these peripherals. Essentially, headsets are the sneakers of eSports, and companies such as Kingston and Corsair are aiming to be the next Nike. Their devices are great when it comes to function, but they lack one important thing -- design. They have to make devices that are viewed as lifestyle brands (think Beats) and can be worn outside the living room, where the public can see them. And that's what Astro Gaming does so well with the Astro 38. It's a headset that looks as good as it sounds. The Astro A38 is on sale for $229.99 and comes with the headset, speaker tags, power cable and a hard case.
By: TwitterButtons.com Want to know what Gieson Cacho is playing? Follow him at Twitter.com/gcacho.

Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 3

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images