![ASTRO Gaming - A40 Audio System, White - Xbox 360 [2013 model]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41+YMW6YwxL._SX342_SY445_.jpg)
Ok first off I'd like to point out that I've never owned any Astro product until the A40's. I'm a huge gamer and tech freak and know good product from bad. I've owned a pair of Turtle Beach X12 (entry level) headset for almost 2 years and prefer headphone audio for gaming over any other if you're a serious gamer (especially for online multiplayer aka.. COD, Battlefield, Crysis, Far Cry, Halo etc..) I love Turtle Beach headsets and in no way do I have a biased opinion, I just love great product that inhances my gaming experience. When I first heard about Astro headsets from a sales rep at a local Best Buy I had to check them out. When I first saw the design on the website, the quality and options delivered they had my attention.
So I started doing some research to justify spending the hefty $250.00 on a pair of headphones and the first thing I started seeing pop up under every review was: "Sound gate problem", "Mic stops working after firmware update", "Sound cuts out due to insufficient power from USB" and some that just said "Does not work after 2 hours, do not buy!!" There were so many negative reviews it naturally made me skeptical. I started wondering how a company would let a problem so bad persist for such an expensive (almost luxury) item, especially Astro of all who are known for their product and contribution towards gaming championships across the nation.
I've worked in customer service and retail for over 15 years and know that a customer expects perfect and will sometimes take that expectation of service for granted on a daily basis forgetting that the product or service is produced by us..Humans and we are far from perfect. On the other hand, an unsatisfied customer will go to great lengths to share his/her dissatisfaction with a service or product and an opinion lasts a lifetime when most else is uncertain.
I bought the Astro A40s' and let me tell you... Pros: They're amazing!! No broken mic, no sound cut outs, no sound gate problems or power failures. The design is modern and yells "I'm not just a gamer with style, I have taste and good taste at that"
The ear cups are crazy comfortable, as is the whole set. Some complained about it being hard to adjust the ear cups and they are stiff, not sure if the complainers ever thought maybe thats so they stay put and not un-adjust. So be thankful they dont slide up and down with ease. The sound is mind blowing compared to standard stereo headsets. Crystal clear sound not to mention Dolby Digital Surround Sound 7.1 (5.1 technically) if you have a surround ready device, if not stereo is an option as well and sounds great too.
I tested Battlefield 3 out for 3 hours straight with master volume set at about 68% (some reported very low volume levels and low voice chat levels aka hard to hear anything, which would be so if the mix amp knob is left positioned in the middle to pick up both voice chat and game volume, if you set the mix amp knob (bottom knob) closer to game volume or chat it WILL get loud and so forth with the game chat.) I was also in a chat party (xbox live) while playing BF3. I could hear the game and the people chatting in my party clear as day. With the Turtle Beach's their mic picks up in my opinion too much sound. My Astros on the other hand picked up my voice clearly and only my voice, no background sound WITHOUT sounding robotic or cutting in and out, according to my friends I was "Crystal Clear". Their feedback, not just mine :) (They're Turtle Beach fans BTW!) The mic out of the box is seperate from the headset and must be plugged/inserted into the side of the headset, yes that means its removable if you do not want to chat. I removed it again and again, adjusted it, twisted it and it still worked fine as day chatting away with my friends. The mute button (which looks awesome and does not catch on things as badly as people say. The turtle beach mic, volume, bass knob on their cord catches worse then any) is located on the stereo cable that connects the mix amp to the headset. If orange shows then the mic is muted on the mute switch for chat. If the mute switch is all black then you're ready to chat.
The box came packed with every cord you could ever need INCLUDING: A seperate USB power cable (Shipped in same box but seperate packaging at no additional charge) which is thicker then the stock USB included in the box and its gold plated (they do listen at Astro and have made the power failure rumor just that, a rumor) It also has a TOSLINK (fiber optic) cable for dolby digital SS, stereo cable for connection from mix amp to headset, pc splitter cable for hook up to computer, mp3 stereo cable to connect an mp3 player to mix amp to listen to music and xbox live chat cable to connect from mix amp to controller for game chat. There are 2 more inputs which are a stream input and a daisy chain input on the mix amp, if you do not know how to use these or what they're for just do not use them, they are for linking multiple headsets and voice playback etc.. You do not need them to properly use the headset for listening or chatting. This is the part I feel everyone is mistaking for problems like no sound or crackling or cut outs or too quiet: People! Read the instructions before connecting and using the headset and mix amp. If you plug the main stereo cord into the stream input or mp3 input or daisy chain input yeah your headset is not going to work and vice versa! Plug the right cords into the right input jacks on the mix amp/headset, follow the instructions and you're headset will work normally. If you're a hardcore gamer and know your headsets then just read a little, if any of this sounds like too much or too complicated then maybe a more standard entry level headset will suffice (like the Turtle Beach X12s or standard Astro A30s)
The mix amp has 4 preset audio setups you can select with the press of a button to fit your style and needs (like: progamer, Core gamer, sports, each sounds significantly different). The mix amp allows you to adjust the master volume of the headset (big knob on top). Choose priority of either game volume or chat volume if playing a game while chatting (smaller knob on bottom). select dolby digital mode (surround sound) or just stereo. The mix amp also has all of the inputs located on the top and bottom for connecting the cords that come included. The mix amp is about the size of an xbox controller but do not fret, Astro gives you plenty of cord length to sit back, get up, move around with out tugging on the mix amp if you prefer setting it on a table or keeping it by your console or computer, I keep mine right next to me incase I need to adjust chat volume. The mix amp itself looks awesome and parts illuminate with a cool blue light. The whole set is solid including the headset. Some also complained that the headset feels cheap, flimsy and they're afraid to drop it. They're stronger then they make them out to be and I don't know about anyone else, but I wouldn't wanna drop or throw around a $250 pair of headphones anyways. You wouldn't throw or drop your laptop, tablet xbox or ps3 would you? Take care of the product and it will take care of you.
Now for the Con: Really the only thing I can think of is the Astro packaging (retail box) that the headset comes in. Don't get me wrong, it looks sweet! It makes you feel like you're getting your moneys worth before you even open it, but thats the only problem I have I feel like a decent chunk of change could have been saved and shaved off the retail price of the product had they just packaged it in a normal snazzy box like everyone else. Your headset is plenty unique Astro, let your actual product do the shining (which it does, dont get me wrong) not so much of the box (packaging).
So there it is, my honest opinion and experience a full day after receiving my Astro A40's. They're great! Amazing! Best in house for the price, they work, sound and look AWESOME! No I'm not a sales rep, PR person or worker for Astro, just a very satisfied customer who thinks a good company deserves recognition for great product when so many other UNHAPPY people in the world live to write negative reviews only to try and justify their lack of know how or willingness to read and follow directions. Great Job Astro! I will recommend your product to everyone and continue to support your awesome product :) If you're still a little skeptical, just know, when you buy it, go to their website, register your headset and you'll have a year warranty right off the bat, not to mention they'll also give you 15% off the price for a second year of warranty just for registering it!!
Should you buy the Astro A30, A40 or A50?: YES!! Don't listen to the 1 guy that maybe got a defective product or just didnt read the instructions right and broke it him/herself out of the other 10,000 people that are happy with their product and just didnt think to write something good about it. This is worth every penny and you'll love every minute of them when you start playing with them with any game! They just make everything sound good! Get em! -Darryl aka BringSin (XBL Tag)
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Amazing Product, Would Recommend To Everyone And Fast Shipping. Don't be so skeptical from other reviews!! :)
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 8, 2013Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 17, 2014
Color: WhiteEdition: Xbox 360 - WhiteVerified Purchase
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