At $800, the Logitech G Astro A50 X (A50 X) is an expensive gaming headset. But its innovative multi-platform functionality, seamlessly connecting to PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, justifies its premium cost.
Being able to switch between gaming devices this easily is worth the price alone. Add to that the excellent audio capabilities, comfortable design and lengthy 24-hour battery life, and it becomes much more than just a headset for multi-platform gamers.
The A50 X is a top-tier choice for high-performance and groundbreaking multi-device integration. If you’re a gamer who owns multiple gaming devices, then this is the headset for you.
Pros
- Seamlessly switch between gaming devices
- Great audio quality
- Crisp, clear foldable microphone
- 24-hour battery life
Cons
- Complicated setup
- No HDMI cable included
Price
The A50 X costs $800. It’s an expensive gaming headset; however, it’s in line with the competition. The SteelSeries Nova Pro costs $800, and the HyperX Cloud Orbit costs $821.
It’s also important to know that the A50 X is compatible with all the major gaming platforms, including PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. The Nova Pro comes in two models, an Xbox/PC model and a PlayStation/PC model, meaning if you have an Xbox and a PlayStation, you’d have to buy two headsets.
Design
The Logitech A50 X boasts a similar design to its predecessor, the A50. The unique style is immediately noticeable. It’s chunky, sturdy and futuristic looking, particularly with the earcups attached to solid poles, but at 363g, it’s light and comfortable.
The earcups boast breathable cloth material, which I love. It’s soft, and the headset felt more comfortable than the faux leather earcups on my G Pro X 2 Lightspeed headset. The clamp force here is good as well. And if you don’t like the cloth, you can easily switch out the earcups for leather ones (not included).
The A50 X is easily adjustable. The earcups can rotate 90 degrees, making it easy to find the perfect fit and lie down flat if needed. Additionally, the permanently attached boom mic, which folds up neatly, means you don’t have to unplug it whenever having a drink or a snack. It’s a little difficult to slide the earcups vertically, but that’s more a testament to their sturdiness and wasn’t an issue once I found my fit.
Functionally, the A50 X is well-equipped. Controls include the power switch, Bluetooth buttons, PlaySync button (more below) and volume wheel, all located on the right ear cup with the face doubling as a voice/game mixer. It all works well. I didn’t have trouble finding the right buttons like I did with the Sony PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset.
The inclusion of a USB-C port is a nice touch, meaning you don’t always have to use the included dock for charging. If you opt for the dock, there are charging connections on the bottom of the headset. The dock has strong magnets that make placing the headset easy.
The headset comes in two colours, White and Black, and both look great.
Connectivity/Setup
The best thing about the A50 X is its connectivity. You can connect to a PC, PlayStation, and Xbox simultaneously, using the PlaySync button to switch between each gaming device. It’s an innovative and genuinely useful feature.
The one issue is the setup. You need a lot of cables, and it can become a mess if your room isn’t conducive to this arrangement.
In the box, you get the headset, the dock, a USB-C combo cable and a USB-C to USB-A cable. You need more than this to use the headset with multiple devices.
To connect the headset to all three devices, you need to connect them all to the dock. For Xbox and PlayStation, this requires an HDMI cable and a USB-C to USB-A cable each, and from there, you need to connect the dock to your TV via an additional HDMI cable. For PCs, you can connect the included USB-C combo cable to a USB-A port.
To put that into perspective, if you own all three gaming devices, you must purchase three extra HDMI 2.1 cables and one USB-C to USB-A cable. It would’ve been nice if the headset had an HDMI cable in the box because it’s just an ordinary headset without one. It means you must spend a little extra, to get the best out of the headset.
The multi-platform functionality works thanks to HDMI passthrough. This means the signals from your gaming devices run through the dock and into your TV. You’ll need HDMI 2.1 cables to support 4K/120Hz signals, and the dock supports Variable Refresh Rates (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) only if your TV supports it.
It’s a lot, and it does get confusing. Thankfully, Logitech has a few YouTube videos showing you what to do. You can use the headset with Bluetooth. However, your chosen device must be connected to the dock, and you will lose PlaySync functionality.
While it takes some time to set up, once done, it’s well worth it. Seamlessly switching between my PC and my PS5 at the push of a button is amazing. It’s the best example of this functionality I’ve used, and as much as it can be annoying having to buy extra cables and rearrange my gaming area to accommodate, it is a game changer.
To add to the functionality, if you’re using an Xbox and a PlayStation, the PlaySync button won’t only change the audio signal; it will change the video signal as well, meaning you don’t have to change between HDMI inputs.
Audio
The A50 X produces very good audio.
Boasting 40mm Pro-G Graphene drivers, the soundstage is big, the bass comes through strong without being overbearing, and the audio doesn’t rattle when large noises are occurring like explosions.
Treble sounds didn’t come through as clearly as I would’ve liked, but overall, the audio quality is some of the best I’ve heard in a gaming headset.
It’s compatible with PlayStation’s 3D audio and Dolby Atmos on Xbox and PC as well. The game/chat mixer works with Xbox, PlayStation and Discord as well.
If you connect the headset to a PC, you can equalise and alter the sound profile to your liking using the Logitech G HUB software.
Microphone
The A50 X has a folding microphone which is my preference. You can fold it up easily, which will put it into mute mode, and the clarity is very good.
This is an omnidirectional mic at 60 – 20,000Hz and a 16-bit/48kHz sampling rate, and I had no problems with teammates hearing me clearly.
Throughout my tests, the mic did pick up some of my breathing, but it wasn’t so much that it became a nuisance.
Battery
The A50 X boasts a 24-hour battery at 75dB, which is more than enough.
You can charge the headset via the USB-C port on the right earcup or by putting it in the dock, and it only takes 1.5 to 2 hours to charge fully.
Verdict
The Logitech A50 X headset, priced at $800, is a game-changer for those with multiple gaming systems.
Its ability to connect simultaneously to PC, PlayStation, and Xbox and seamlessly switch between them is unmatched in the market. This feature alone makes it a worthwhile investment for serious gamers.
Additionally, the A50 X boasts a long battery life of 24 hours and delivers great audio quality with its 40mm Pro-G Graphene drivers.
While the setup can be complex, the convenience and performance it offers are unparalleled. Despite the high price, for multi-platform gamers seeking long-lasting, high-quality audio, the A50 X is an exceptional choice.
