Logitech G ASTRO A50X Wireless Gaming Headset + Base Station Review

TweakTown's Rating: 89%

The Bottom Line

As a flagship gaming audio solution, the ASTRO A50X Wireless Gaming Headset + Base Station doubles as an HDMI switcher. Even with a few design limitations, the star of the show is still the great comfort and audio quality you get from a high-end ASTRO product.

Pros

• + Great sound with depth and warmth to spare
• + Impressive broadcast-quality microphone
• + The base Station and HDMI switcher combo are unique
• + Comfortable and sturdy build
• + The mobile app makes console customization easy

Cons

• - All your gaming devices need to be in the same room
• - Bluetooth in the Base Station and not the headset limits portability
• - Three HDMI ports, not a single HDMI cable
• - Logitech needs to curate or highlight the best community presets
• - Pricey for a wireless gaming headset

Should you buy it?

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Introduction & Specification Details and Close-up

At the end of the day, sound quality, customization, and comfort will always be the big three when it comes to measuring the overall quality and value of a gaming headset. However, the Logitech G ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset + Base Station might be the exception to the rule because it adds an impressive (if niche) addition to the mix with one of the most advanced, feature-packed and impressive Base Station add-ons we've ever seen.

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Usually, when a wireless gaming headset ships with a base station, it's mostly there as a convenient dock and charger so you can put it down between gaming sessions and not have to worry about battery life as it'll always be topped up. The Base Station, as included here, has all of these features; it's a sturdy, robust, and stylish little unit that makes you wish all headsets shipped with a convenient way to store and charge the device while also being able to showcase its design.

There is, of course, the monetary consideration. A Base Station adds considerable cost to a gaming headset's development, manufacturing, packaging, and, ultimately, the price tag. And when you're talking about one of the most competitive markets vying for gamer attention, adding an extra cost for something that doesn't fundamentally change the audio quality or sound in any way can be risky.

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That said, the Base Station component for the Logitech G ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset + Base Station is a game changer. It allows users to seamlessly and instantly switch between PC, PlayStation, and Xbox sources for video and audio. The Base Station includes multiple HDMI inputs and full HDMI 2.1 4K 120 passthrough - a first for the company and gaming headsets.

This is the reason why the price tag sits at a premium of $379.99 USD - adding a HDMI 2.1 switch doesn't come cheap. So then, how does it stack up in the sound quality, customization, and comfort department? Very well, the sound quality here is excellent, warm, inviting, and booming when it needs to be. The real surprise is the microphone, which is just about broadcast quality and one of the best you'll find on a gaming headset. Let's dig in.

Specifications & Close Up

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• Product Type: Wireless Gaming Headset
• Product Name: ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset + Base Station
• Base Station HDMI Interface: 3x HDMI 2.1 ports 40 Gbps bandwidth, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Up to 24-bit Audio
• Base Station USB Interface: 1 x up to 24-bit/48 kHz (PC), 2x up to 16-bit/48 kHz (console)
• Wireless Audio Interface: LIGHTSPEED Wireless 24 bit/48 kHz
• Compatibility: Xbox, PlayStation, Windows, Mac, Mobile (Bluetooth)
• Form Factor: Over Ear Semi-Open
• Drivers: 40mm PRO-G GRAPHENE
• Headphones Frequency Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz
• Surround: Sonic Spatial Audio (Xbox, PC) Tempest 3D Audio (PS5), Dolby Atmos (Xbox, PC)
• Cable: USB-A to USB-C Cable, USB-C / Power Combo Cable
• Weight: ~ 363 grams
• Battery Life: 24 hours
• In the Box: A50 X Wireless Headset, A50 X HDMI Base Station, USB-A to USB-C Cable, USB-C / Power Combo Cable, AC Adapter + Socket Plug Heads, Dolby Atmos Activation Card

Kosta's Test System Specifications

• Motherboard: ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER Founders Edition
• Cooler: ASUS ROG RYUO III 360 ARGB
• RAM: 64GB (4x16GB) Corsair DOMINATOR TITANIUM RGB DDR5 DRAM 6000MT/s
• SSD: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus-G M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD 4TB, Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus Plus M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD 8TB
• Power Supply: ASUS TUF Gaming 1000W Gold
• Case: Corsair 5000D AIRFLOW Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX PC Case
• Display: MSI MAG 321UPX QD-OLED 4K 240 Hz
• OS: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 64-bit

Logitech G ASTRO A50X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset + Base Station

	Today	Yesterday	7 days ago	30 days ago
	$379.99	$379.99	$379.99	-	Buy
* Prices last scanned on 6/1/2024 at 5:23 am CDT - prices may not be accurate, click links above for the latest price. We may earn an affiliate commission.

Design, Base Station & Software and Support

Design

Before we take a closer look at the Base Station, which is an integral part of how the new ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming headset works, let's look at the headset's design. As a follow-up to the ASTRO A50 Wireless Headset (which we reviewed back in 2020), the overall look and feel and physical design haven't changed all that much, even though Logitech G has taken over the ASTRO brand and has packed the new ASTRO A50 X with its own hardware and technologies - like LIGHTSPEED Wireless and custom 40mm PRO-G GRAPHENE drivers.

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Although the 363-gram weight might be on the heavy side for a wireless gaming headset, the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset is still comfortable. You can game with it for hours without having to worry about fatigue. Part of this comes from the fabric cushiony cups, which feel like a cross between a warm blanket, pillow, and cozy winter hoodie for your ears.

They are magnetic and removable. However, Logitech doesn't include an alternative - a more traditional leather-style cushion that is less prone to audio bleed. The same fabric cushion can be found on the headband, and overall, there's plenty of flexibility here with 90-degree rotation for the cups, adjustable height via the metal rods on either side and high-quality bendy plastics and metal.

The tilt-to-mute microphone is not detachable but is highly flexible for the proper positioning. On-ear controls are plentiful, easily accessible, and well-thought-out. The volume dial is sturdy and has clear steps for incremental adjustments; there's a Bluetooth button, a button to switch inputs (which ties into the Base Station's main functionality), a Power button, and a game/chat audio balance (called voice and game here) built into the right earcup.

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With the robust and comfortable build and comfy earcups, the 40mm PRO-G GRAPHENE drivers deliver a warm, detailed, and mostly neutral out-of-the-box sound with some emphasis on the low-end for that immediate wow factor. The tuning isn't reference or balanced in the traditional sense but is chock full of detail and superb at capturing the immersion you want to feel when playing a game or listening to music. On PC, it supports up to 24-bit 48 kHz audio - for high-fidelity listening.

Although the build and sound quality of the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless put it on the high-end, the Base Station does account for quite a bit of the relatively high asking price of $379.99 USD. The powered Base Station connects to a PC via USB. However, it also features USB and HDMI inputs for Xbox and PlayStation consoles, with HDMI output to a gaming monitor or smart TV.

With full HDMI 2.1 support, the Base Station is an HDMI switcher, so you can instantly switch between audio and video from different gaming hardware. The PC side is strictly audio over USB. Still, the complexity (at least initially) of the Base Station does bring one fault or limitation of the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless to the fore - in that to get the most out of the headset, you'd want to connect it to at least two devices. And these two devices need to be in the same room.

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Unfortunately, the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Base Station isn't designed for those with a PC in one room and a console (or two) in another, which would be common for those who play on multiple devices. It would have been nice to see Logitech include a PC-specific dongle so the ASTRO A50 X could move between rooms.

Outside of this and the fact that you need to supply your own HDMI cables, the Base Station design is unique and forward-thinking in many ways - but not a perfect fit for all. If you're not using the headset, the audio gets passed through to your soundbar or TV speakers, which is a nice touch. It's seamless and convenient for the right setup.

Software and Support

Because of the Base Station component, setting up the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset does take a minute, but thankfully, the Logitech G HUB software and mobile app include plenty of information on the ASTRO A50 X's features and capabilities. Granted, as someone who has connected and reconnected countless HDMI devices for decades, setting up was easy - but it's still a more exponentially complex process than plugging in a USB dongle.

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Logitech G HUB on PC features a minimal design, with modules created for specific gear. The one put together for the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless is impressive in how easy it is to follow, with one of the best tutorials for learning a headset's capabilities and what all the physical controls do. After you complete the setup, there's not much to it, as you're left with equalizers for audio and voice chat and other options relegated to the settings page.

Stuff like sidetone volume, chat balance, firmware, and power management are weirdly relegated to the Device Settings page. This is weird because this icon is hidden in one corner and feels more like an icon for the app's settings than the headset's.

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The equalizer, by default, has two modes: Gaming and Media. You can create your own using the 10-band editor, which is nice, or browse through countless community-created equalizer profiles created for specific games or media. This is great to see, but Logitech needs to curate and offer some of the best options (vetted and tested) for various games and spatial audio. At the very least, a handful of presets that work well with the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless would have been nice because the alternative is do-it-yourself or browse through countless community-created options.

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Likewise, the equalizer for the microphone has only two options - Broadcast and competition - with the former adding bass and more depth to your voice and the latter purely focused on the mid to high-end where most of a vocal frequency sits. Having two options here, with the ability to create custom presets, is okay because they cover most situations where you'd use the microphone.

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The Logitech G HUB app for smartphones features an identical, simple-to-use interface. It is an excellent addition as it becomes the only real way to make adjustments when playing games on a console like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. In our testing, the app worked great, though interestingly, Bluetooth pairing happens with the Base Station and not the headset.

Performance & Microphone

Performance

How you use the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset and Base Station is entirely dependent on your setup. For me, testing required moving the Base Station from my office and PC gaming area to the lounge room, where my PS5 and Xbox consoles sit in a TV cabinet, and then back again. Supporting multiple gaming consoles (including the Nintendo Switch) is cool, but lacking a multi-room solution is disappointing. As great as the A50 X is when connected to my PC, the experience was incomplete without switching seamlessly to a console.

Suppose all of your gaming devices are in a single location. In that case, the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset and Base Station is something to consider, as the HDMI switching works great. Still, it's the overall comfort and audio quality that shines brightest. Playing No Rest For the Wicked, Diablo IV, DOOM Eternal, Forza Horizon 5, and some Deep Rock Galactic Survivor, the warm and rich sound of the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless is impressive. There is a notable sound bleed in that others can hear what you're listening to, but this isn't a big issue for a headset designed for one thing.

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As mentioned earlier, Bluetooth connectivity happens with the Base Station, not the headset, and without a wired option, the headset doesn't really do anything. It's not something you can take on the go or connect to a handheld device - which is an interesting design choice. When connected to a PC, you get the bonus of a higher fidelity audio signal, which comes through when paired with lossless music and high-quality recordings or audio - with a noticeable improvement to background detail, clarity, and depth.

Logitech doesn't offer its own spatial audio solution. Still, the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless does come with a Dolby Atmos for Headphones license when installing the app on a Windows PC or Xbox console. Dolby Atmos sounds great on the A50 X, and if you're a fan of spatial audio, it's worth enabling certain cinematic games and movies.

Microphone

The only honest criticism you can make about the microphone and chat component of the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset is that it's not detachable. But even here, the flexible arm and flip-to-mute design don't get in the way of pure single-player gaming, watching something, or listening to music. The microphone's audio quality is just about broadcast quality and good enough for content creators, streamers, and day-to-day Zoom meetings. The ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless has one of the best microphones we've experienced in a gaming headset, and it more than lives up to the premium price point.

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The in-built noise gate (which you can adjust in the G HUB software) does a decent enough job of cutting out background noise, with additional sidetone functionally. Overall, the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless microphone is good enough that you probably won't even need a microphone, which is high praise.

Final Thoughts

Logitech's new ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset + Base Station features a unique design that will transform the audio experience for several gamers. However, the HDMI switching and single-room approach do limit the setups where you'll be able to get the most out of it. For the price, pairing the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset with just a PC or just a PlayStation 5 console feels like a waste of its specific HDMI switching and passthrough design.

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The good news is that even if you limited it to a single device, you'd still be impressed by the warm and inviting audio, the supremely comfortable ear cushions, the robust and flexible build, and what is one of the best gaming headset microphones you'll likely find. There are shortcomings: Bluetooth being limited to the Base Station is a strange choice, and no wired or pack-in USB dongle limits the usability outside the Base Station's confines. However, if your gaming PC and PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch are all situated in the same room, this could be the ultimate solution for all your audio needs.