Astro Gaming is well known for its high-end A40 and A50 gaming headphones, but the business also has more budget-friendly options. The Astro Gaming A20 is the company's budget-friendly wireless headset, which has been updated to work with the latest game consoles. These $119.99 cans are available in two versions: a PlayStation version for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and an Xbox version for the Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.
If you possess both next-gen systems, an additional transmitter may be purchased for $19.99 and used with both consoles. Overall, the A20 Gen 2 provides excellent wireless sound quality, especially considering its low price, although it may benefit from extra padding for added comfort.
The Design of the A20 Gen 2
The Astro Gaming A20 Gen 2 headset is similar to the A10, however it is wireless and somewhat bigger. Plastic struts link the square-shaped earcups to a broad plastic headband with a soft rubber underside, allowing them to swivel up and down. The earpads are made of soft foam that is coated in breathable cotton, resulting in a pleasant, snug fit that won't overheat during lengthy play sessions. However, it doesn't seem as substantial or as comfy as the more costly A50s, especially because the wide, flat headband provides minimal cushioning for the top of your head.
A power button, an EQ button, a volume dial, and voice/game audio balancing buttons are all located on the rear edge of the right earcup. The charging USB-C connector is located on the same earcup, facing down. The left earcup has a long, rubber boom mic that can be turned up to automatically muffle your sound.
Select Your Console (or PC)
The Astro Gaming A20 Gen 2 comes with a basic USB transmitter that works with both PCs and consoles depending on the version you bought. The transmitter is a small black stick with a pairing button and an indication LED. Additional transmitters (for Xbox or PlayStation) may be purchased for $19.99 if you wish to utilise the A20 Gen 2 with numerous devices.
It's simple to use the headset with a PlayStation 5 and the included USB adapter, but you'll have to re-pair with the proper console's adapter each time you swap the headset. Hold down the pairing button on the transmitter and the power button on the headset for 10 seconds until both flash rapidly. When switching between PC and console with the same transmitter, this isn't an issue, but if you add a second transmitter to the mix, you'll have to juggle them.
Don't anticipate any simulated surround sound processing trickery from the A20 Gen 2. There are no internal simulated surround effects in this stereo headset. You'll have to rely on each game's mixing or utilise an app like Windows Sonic for Headphones, Dolby Atmos for Headphones, or Razer THX Spatial Audio if you want directionality. In console-focused headsets, simulated surround sound is unusual, but it's fairly popular in specialised PC headphones.
Performance of the Microphone
Although I found some minor wireless flaws in the form of a faint hiss in test recordings, the headset's microphone is pretty clear and sharp. This is a typical occurrence, and it was slight; otherwise, my voice came through well. The mic works okay for voice chat, albeit it's not as clear as the Razer Nari Essential or Kraken Ultimate microphones. For serious streaming and recording, we always recommend a dedicated USB microphone.
Performance of Music
The Astro Gaming A20 Gen 2 is capable in terms of music, with a strong bass response. It handled The Knife's "Silent Shout" at maximum (and dangerous) level without distortion, while the bottom drum impacts produced a loud, rounded thud. It won't exactly rattle your skull, but it'll give you enough force to feel satisfied.
The opening acoustic guitar plucks on Yes' "Roundabout" sound great on the A20 Gen 2, with ample of high frequency clarity to bring out the string texture. It's a high-mids-focused sound that provides the bassline just enough low-frequency response to stand out in the mix while keeping the vocals in the foreground. The guitar strums fade towards the background of the tune, yet they are still audible in the crowded mix. The backbeat of The Crystal Method's "Busy Child" has lots of energy owing to robust high-mids, while the bass drum beats periodically extend down into the lower frequencies to sound appropriately scary and full.
Sound Effects in the Game
The A20 Gen 2 also has excellent gaming audio. When playing Yakuza: Like a Dragon on the Xbox Series X, the game sounds rich and clean. The fight soundtracks, which are laced with jazz and techno, are energising, and all speech and sound effects are clear.
On the headset, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla also sounds great. The in-game audio mix does a decent job of giving a sense of directionality for sound effects through the stereo headset, with snow crunches and wind gusts coming through loud and clear. The game's lengthy dialogue is also very well audible.
Finally, Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered performs admirably on the PlayStation 5. The tremendous thuds of encounter-ending blows carry a lot of weight, and the sweeping orchestral music is rich and grandiose.
Sound Quality for the Money
The Astro Gaming A20 Gen 2 is a powerful wireless gaming headset that is ready for the next generation of consoles. It sounds great and works with Xbox and PlayStation right out of the box (depending on the version you get). You can even secure support for both consoles by purchasing a $20 USB transmitter, though you'll have to go through the re-pairing procedure each time you switch systems.
The A20 Gen 2 isn't as comfy as it might be, but little padding and a hard feel are standard in this price bracket; if you want a snug fit and a velvety feel, you'll have to pay a little more than $119.99. You'd buy this headset because of its wireless versatility and full sound quality at a reasonable price.
Of fact, both systems' gamepads include headphone connectors, so you can acquire a better-feeling headset for a comparable price, such as our top selections Razer BlackShark V2 or Logitech G Pro X, which have USB sound cards for simulated surround sound for PC use. The Razer Nari Essential is a good Choice for its affordability, fit, sound quality, and mic if you only want a wireless PC headset.
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