Let’s find out the best between Astro A10 vs Astro A10 Gen 2.
DESIGN
Astro A10
The Astro A10 is similar to the Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017 but with a few brightly colored flourishes on the ear cups. They have a distinctive gaming-oriented design due to their boom microphone. Unfortunately, because the microphone cannot be removed, they do not lend themselves well to outdoor use. The microfiber-covered ear pads offer a more premium feel than the HyperX Cloud Stinger or the Logitech G430. The Astro A10 has a sturdy structure. They’re largely made of plastic, which feels robust and long-lasting. They lack the luxury build quality of the Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017, but their headband is more flexible and sturdy. The cable is robust, rubberized, and detachable, so it can always be replaced if it wears down due to normal wear and tear.
Astro A10 Gen 2
The Astro A10 Gen 2 looks identical to its predecessor, the Astro A10, with blocky ear cups and the manufacturer’s emblem on the headband. Nonetheless, there have been significant design changes. The headband is now wider, and the boom mic is shorter, which some users may appreciate because it doesn’t protrude as far. These headphones come in a few different colors to assist in complementing your style: ‘Lilac,’ ‘Mint,’ ‘White,’ ‘Grey,’ and ‘Black.’
The Astro A10 Gen 2 has a sturdy design. They’re generally made of plastic and have a detachable audio cord. They also differ slightly from the Astro A10. Their headband is somewhat thicker and has more padding than its predecessor. The textile padding is unique, and when you wear the second generation, it feels cooler against your skin. Another noticeable alteration is the shorter boom mic. The second generation is five centimeters shorter than the predecessor. They appear strong enough to withstand several inadvertent drops without suffering too much harm.
COMFORT
Astro A10
The Astro A10 is reasonably comfy. They have large ear cups that comfortably suit most listeners’ ears. They’re also well-padded and have a microfiber coating that feels great on the skin. They are, however, more snug on the head than the Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017, which might be tiring during long gaming sessions. The Turtle Beach Recon 70 gaming headphones are slightly comfier. The Astro A10’s slightly porous pads allow for some ventilation. However, because they completely envelop the ear, your ears may become slightly heated during extended gaming sessions. The Astro A10, like most gaming headphones, is bulky. They’re large and cumbersome, and they don’t fold into a more compact size. They also don’t come with a carrying case to keep them safe while on the go.
These headphones are reasonably well-balanced. They should be stable on your ears during casual gaming sessions but not during workouts. They may slide off your head during more strenuous physical activity.
Astro A10 Gen 2
The Astro A10 Gen 2 has a snug fit. Because of their distinct yoke and headband designs, they are lighter than the Astro A10 and clamp less securely. The cushioning is composed of a different textile substance than the previous version, which feels cooler against your skin, and there is more of it on the headband. Sadly, while they feel incredibly light on the head and do not exert pressure on your head, the ear cups are a touch small, which means they may not fit well if you have larger-sized ears.
The headband also has a restricted range of expansion, so they may not fit well if you have a huge head. These headphones aren’t particularly portable, which is typical of gaming headphones. They feature a large, thick design that cannot be folded into a smaller size. They don’t come with a carrying case to keep them safe while you’re on the go. The Astro A10 Gen 2 has a somewhat secure fit. They are not meant to be worn during physical activity and can slip off your head with low-intensity head motions. Whether gaming at your desk or on the couch, you shouldn’t have any problems.
CONTROL
Astro A10
The controls on the Astro A10 Headset are subpar. There are only two physical controls, which are somewhat restrictive. Because the volume wheel lacks defined points, it is impossible to achieve a consistent volume setting. When you reach the minimum or maximum volume, the wheel stops. When you put the mic upright, it emits a clicking sound to let you know you’re muted.
Astro A10 Gen 2
The controls on the Astro A10 Gen 2 are subpar. These, like the Astro A10, feature only two physical controllers. The in-line volume wheel features stops at the minimum and maximum volume levels. However, it lacks discrete points, making it difficult to achieve consistent volume settings. You may also mute the mic by flipping it upward, and a distinct clicking sound indicates that you’re muted. Sadly, we discovered that whenever we utilized our unit’s microphone, it began at a low volume, and we had to adjust the volume accordingly.
SOUND
Astro A10
The sound profile of the Astro A10 is inconsistent. While they add a bit of extra punch and boom to help emphasize sound effects, they push conversation and instruments to the rear of mixes and make them seem harsh. Unfortunately, they aren’t compatible with Astro Command Center software and don’t have any built-in EQ presets to help you personalize their sound. The Astro A10 has a reasonably consistent frequency response. While they are relatively constant in giving bass, they are less consistent in delivering treble. To have the same hearing experience, you may need to modify them each time you wear them. These headphones feature excellent bass fidelity. Because low bass is underemphasized, you may not hear the resounding thump and rumble in action-packed video games.
The mid-and high-bass overemphasis provides more boom and punches to your music. These headphones feature adequate mid-range accuracy. Because the low-mid is neutral, vocalists and lead instruments stand out. The mid-mid dip drives these sounds to the rear of the mix, while the high-mid peak makes them harsh and honky. The Astro Gaming A10 has only average treble accuracy. The low treble is understated, obscuring the upper harmonics of vocalists and lead instruments. The mid-treble, on the other hand, is more neutral, so sibilants like cymbals are brilliant but not piercing.
Astro A10 Gen 2
The sound profile of the Astro A10 Gen 2 is more balanced and warm than that of the Astro A10. While they don’t have a thumping low bass, they offer a little extra boom to assist in bringing out sound effects while gaming. The dialogue and instruments are distinct and present but lacking in detail. Sadly, unlike the HyperX Cloud Alpha S, they lack sound customization options that allow you to tailor their sound to your preferences.
The frequency response consistency of these headphones is poor. They feature a smaller clamping force than the Astro A10 and, as a result, do not deliver audio as reliably. In case you have thick hair or glasses, you may notice a decrease in the bass. Take the time to modify the location, fit, and seal of your headphones to ensure a more consistent sound each time you use them. The Astro A10 Gen 2 has good bass fidelity. Although they lack thump and rumble, they provide an added boost of boom and warmth that can help emphasize sound effects such as footsteps in first-person shooters. These gaming headphones have great mid-range accuracy. While the range is reasonably balanced, the conversation and lead instruments sound clear and present. Due to a mid-mid dip, vocals and lead instruments on songs like Lord’s Apparition from the Elden Ring soundtrack are pushed to the back of the mix.
ISOLATION
Astro A10
These headphones provide poor noise isolation. They don’t do an excellent job of blocking out background noises in the bass and mid-ranges so you can hear the deep thump and rumble of engines and voices from people around. On the plus side, they function well in the treble range, which means they may filter out some higher-frequency noises such as the hum of a neighboring AC unit. Check out the JBL Quantum 100 if you’re searching for a similar pair of gaming headphones that block out somewhat more background audio. The Astro A10 has average leakage. While the overall leaking isn’t particularly loud, it sounds more spacious than in-ear headphones. In a typical workplace atmosphere, listening to audio at high volumes may be heard by others.
Astro A10 Gen 2
The noise isolation performance of the Astro A10 Gen 2 is low, which is to be expected from gaming headphones. They don’t block out any of the low rumbles of bus engines and struggle to reduce ambient chatter. They can, however, shield you from the high-pitched hum of an air conditioner. The leakage performance of the Astro A10 Gen 2 is average. Most of their leakage occurs mid to treble range, making departing audio sound broader than in-ear headphones. Others will hear you if you play loudly in a reasonably noisy space, such as a living room.
MICROPHONE
Astro A10
The recording quality of the boom mic is outstanding. The recorded speech has a rich, complete, and detailed tone, but it lacks sparkle and airiness. The Astro A10 Headset’s microphone is excellent in noise reduction. Even in a noisy environment, it clearly conveys your voice.
Astro A10 Gen 2
The Astro A10 Gen 2 has good recording quality. It doesn’t perform as well as the Astro A10, which is likely due to the shorter mic. Because of its length, the mic does not sit as near to the mouth. Thus your voice sounds bright and genuine but lacks substance. The noise handling performance is adequate. Although the mic does not perform as well as the Astro A10 in this area, this is most likely due to its shorter length. Because the mic is farther away from your lips, the speech-to-noise ratio is lower because the mic captures some ambient sound and voice. Yet, even moderate background noise is insufficient to block out your voice. If you’re gaming near an open window with traffic outside, your voice is still audible above the din.
CONNECTIVITY
Astro A10
These wired headphones are not compatible with Bluetooth. Check out the Turtle Beach Elite 800 Wireless if you want a Bluetooth gaming headset. The Astro A10 Headset contains a 1/8″ TRRS wired connection and an in-line volume control. Unlike the Xbox Stereo Headset, the audio cord is also removable, making it simple to repair if broken. When you insert the Astro A10’s 1/8″ TRRS cable into your computer’s AUX port, you’ll get complete audio and mic compatibility.
With an analog connection, these headphones are fully compatible with PlayStation systems. With an analog connection, these headphones are fully compatible with PlayStation systems. When you insert their 1/8″ TRRS cable into your controller’s AUX port, the Astro A10 is compatible with Xbox One as well as Xbox Series X|S consoles. There is no dock with these headphones. Choose the SteelSeries Arctis 7 Wireless 2017 if you require a headset with a dock and a wired connection for gaming or for watching movies.
Astro A10 Gen 2
A detachable 1/8″ TRRS cable with an in-line volume wheel is included with these headphones. These headphones also include a Y-splitter for connecting to your Laptop. The Astro A10 Gen 2 can only connect to computers via its 1/8″ TRRS connector. These headphones have complete audio and mic compatibility and can connect to your PS4 console via analog. For full audio and mic compatibility, connect the Astro A10 Gen 2’s 1/8″ TRRS connection to your Xbox controller.
PERFORMANCE
Astro A10
The Astro A10 is unsuitable for office use. These rather comfortable headphones are wired, so you won’t have to worry about them running out of power. They do not, however, isolate themselves against background noises like chatting from neighboring coworkers, which might be annoying. They also emit some noise, which may bother anyone working nearby. Because the Astro A10 are wired headphones, they are not appropriate for wireless gaming.
The Astro A10 is adequate for making phone calls. Their boom microphone provides exceptional recording quality, so even if you’re calling from a noisy area, your voice will be relayed clearly. Nevertheless, these headphones feature poor noise isolation, allowing you to hear surrounding noises that could be bothersome during calls. The Astro A10 is suitable for wired gaming. For full audio and microphone compatibility, plug these headphones into your PC, PlayStation, or Xbox controller. Its boom mic allows for simple communication with teammates, and they’re reasonably comfy for long gaming sessions. They do not, however, provide any associated software or gaming-specific customizing capabilities.
Astro A10 Gen 2
The Astro A10 Gen 2 is unsuitable for office use. These headphones aren’t intended for this purpose because they don’t have a casual appearance and struggle to block out ordinary office noises like ambient chatting. Yet, if you don’t like their design or work in a quiet environment, they feature a comfy and well-built design. Whether you need to make conference calls or attend virtual meetings, their boom mic provides adequate overall performance, ensuring that you are clearly heard. The Astro A10 Gen 2 gaming headphones are tethered and cannot be used wirelessly. The Astro A10 Gen 2 is suitable for wired gaming. They offer a comfortable fit that is ideal for long gaming sessions, and their wired architecture assures virtually no latency.
If you want to play games with others, the mic has a good recording quality, which means your speech will sound clear even in relatively noisy surroundings. However, they lack companion software and an EQ for customizing their generally pleasant sound profile. They’re also prone to discrepancies in audio output, so making an effort to ensure a good fit is essential. The Astro A10 Gen 2 is suitable for phone calls.
CONCLUSION
The Astro A10 Gen 2 is the second generation of the Astro A10, with minor design and tuning adjustments. Some users may like the Gen 2’s lighter, more comfortable design and more neutral overall sound profile. Yet, because of their fit, they are more prone to discrepancies in audio delivery. Yet, because its microphone is closer to your mouth, the Gen 1 has a better overall microphone performance.
