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Astro A20 (Call of Duty Edition) Wireless Gaming Headset Review
The Astro A20 Wireless Headset
The Astro A20 Wireless Headset
Astro made a name for itself by creating high-end gaming headsets with audio quality and comfort that matched the accompanied asking price. Both the A40 and A50 models led that charge, but the company recently began to offer more budget-friendly products. The wired A10 was the first sub-$100 headset from Astro and caught our attention due to its unparalleled durability. Now we have a wireless iteration with the Astro A20.
This headset goes for $150 USD / £150 GBP / $250 AUD for the standard design, which is available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and come in platform-coordinated color accents. Here, we have the Call of Duty Edition for Xbox One and PC with a silver camouflage touch, which tacks on an extra $10.
Feel free to jump to breakdowns of specific aspects of the A20 headset or click through our gallery above.
What's In The Box?
What's In The Box?
In the package, you get the A20 headset, a wireless transmitter base station, two micro USB cables (one 20 inches, one 40 inches), and an optical cable.
Base Station Transmitter
Base Station Transmitter
With a closer look at the base station transmitter, you can see the switch for either PC or Xbox One, and all the inputs. The micro USB port works to connect the transmitter to whichever device you want to use the A20 for, while the USB 2.0 port offers the option to charge the headset--it's quite convenient considering the transmitter takes up a port on your Xbox/PC. You also have the choice of connecting through an optical cable, which provide slightly better audio.
A Closer Look At The A20 Headset And Battery Life
A Closer Look At The A20 Headset And Battery Life
The A20 sports a sleek, minimalist design and offers a solid feel when you pick it up and put it on. There aren't many moving parts, which reinforces the durable, flexible feel of the headset; structural integrity is an impressive aspect of the A20. Battery life is a big question since the A20 is wireless; thankfully, after charging it overnight, the A20 lasted the entire time we tested it (about 8 hours). Astro states that the headset can last up to 15 hours on a full charge.
On the outside of each ear cup, you can see the Call of Duty Edition artwork that features a faint digital camouflage pattern and the franchise name in its signature font style.
Comfort Is Key
Comfort Is Key
Foam-padded ear cups make the A20 easy to wear for long sessions and the velour upholstery mitigates the hot, sweaty feel you would get from the more common leather-like material. The headset does clamp a bit tightly, but it wasn't uncomfortable for a two-hour session thanks to the form-fit ear padding. Note that your mileage may vary if you wear glasses.
A Durable Headband
A Durable Headband
Under the headband is a bouncy, rubber-like pad that rests easy on top of your head. Above the headband, though, is the Astro and Call of Duty branding with the subtle camouflage pattern. While the A20 takes on a similar design to the wired A10, it doesn't share the same wild flexibility of the A10, but it still feels durable enough to safely bend.
Headset Controls
Headset Controls
On the right ear, you'll find the power button, a volume mixing wheel, the micro USB charging port, and an equalizer cycling button. The chat volume mixer is an extremely convenient way to adjust your audio balance on the fly if a teammates microphone is hot, or switch your focus between a conversation and heated in-game moments. Astro Command Center software allows you to customize audio equalization; you can set three different presets to cycle through with the EQ button.
Astro Command Center Software
Astro Command Center Software
Here's a quick look at the Astro Command Center software that lets you customize equalization, EQ presets, microphone behavior, and set different profiles. It's very simple to use and isn't bloated with unnecessary features.
How Does The A20 Sound?
How Does The A20 Sound?
40mm drivers push strong bass through this headset. Mid and high level frequencies also come out clear, but there's a big issue that compromises audio quality as a whole. The A20 emits a lot of static noise when it's active.
We used the A20 on PC by connecting the transmitter via USB and on Xbox One through the optical port. In both cases, noticeable static noise came through and ruined the more subtle, quieter sounds in games and music. This isn't much of problem with louder sounds at higher volumes, but it limits the range at which the A20 can deliver clean audio.
Microphone Quality
Microphone Quality
The microphone works on a swivel and stays muted when it's flipped up. Only when you bring it downward does it activate and pick up sound. As for quality, it sounds clear when it's very close to the source, but your voice may sound distant if it's not close enough. Background noise also tends to get in the mix when it starts to pick up your voice, but it's not a big problem. The microphone arm itself is very flexible and can be contorted so you can position it properly.
Overall Experience
Overall Experience
There's a lot going for the Astro A20 wireless headset. It's durable, comfortable, and doesn't have too many moving parts to get in the way of using it. The functions and software offered by the A20 keeps things simple, which is appreciated, and battery life isn't a concern as it lasted the whole time we used it. But while it provides great sound quality in terms of audio frequencies, the unavoidable static noise hinders its status as a recommendable headset at $150 (standard edition) and $160 (Call of Duty edition).
More...
The Astro A20 Wireless Headset
Astro made a name for itself by creating high-end gaming headsets with audio quality and comfort that matched the accompanied asking price. Both the A40 and A50 models led that charge, but the company recently began to offer more budget-friendly products. The wired A10 was the first sub-$100 headset from Astro and caught our attention due to its unparalleled durability. Now we have a wireless iteration with the Astro A20.
This headset goes for $150 USD / £150 GBP / $250 AUD for the standard design, which is available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and come in platform-coordinated color accents. Here, we have the Call of Duty Edition for Xbox One and PC with a silver camouflage touch, which tacks on an extra $10.
Feel free to jump to breakdowns of specific aspects of the A20 headset or click through our gallery above.
- Packaging
- Base Station Transmitter
- A Closer Look
- Comfort
- Durability
- Controls
- Customization Software
- Sound Quality
- Microphone Quality
What's In The Box?
What's In The Box?
In the package, you get the A20 headset, a wireless transmitter base station, two micro USB cables (one 20 inches, one 40 inches), and an optical cable.
Base Station Transmitter
Base Station Transmitter
With a closer look at the base station transmitter, you can see the switch for either PC or Xbox One, and all the inputs. The micro USB port works to connect the transmitter to whichever device you want to use the A20 for, while the USB 2.0 port offers the option to charge the headset--it's quite convenient considering the transmitter takes up a port on your Xbox/PC. You also have the choice of connecting through an optical cable, which provide slightly better audio.
A Closer Look At The A20 Headset And Battery Life
A Closer Look At The A20 Headset And Battery Life
The A20 sports a sleek, minimalist design and offers a solid feel when you pick it up and put it on. There aren't many moving parts, which reinforces the durable, flexible feel of the headset; structural integrity is an impressive aspect of the A20. Battery life is a big question since the A20 is wireless; thankfully, after charging it overnight, the A20 lasted the entire time we tested it (about 8 hours). Astro states that the headset can last up to 15 hours on a full charge.
On the outside of each ear cup, you can see the Call of Duty Edition artwork that features a faint digital camouflage pattern and the franchise name in its signature font style.
Comfort Is Key
Comfort Is Key
Foam-padded ear cups make the A20 easy to wear for long sessions and the velour upholstery mitigates the hot, sweaty feel you would get from the more common leather-like material. The headset does clamp a bit tightly, but it wasn't uncomfortable for a two-hour session thanks to the form-fit ear padding. Note that your mileage may vary if you wear glasses.
A Durable Headband
A Durable Headband
Under the headband is a bouncy, rubber-like pad that rests easy on top of your head. Above the headband, though, is the Astro and Call of Duty branding with the subtle camouflage pattern. While the A20 takes on a similar design to the wired A10, it doesn't share the same wild flexibility of the A10, but it still feels durable enough to safely bend.
Headset Controls
Headset Controls
On the right ear, you'll find the power button, a volume mixing wheel, the micro USB charging port, and an equalizer cycling button. The chat volume mixer is an extremely convenient way to adjust your audio balance on the fly if a teammates microphone is hot, or switch your focus between a conversation and heated in-game moments. Astro Command Center software allows you to customize audio equalization; you can set three different presets to cycle through with the EQ button.
Astro Command Center Software
Astro Command Center Software
Here's a quick look at the Astro Command Center software that lets you customize equalization, EQ presets, microphone behavior, and set different profiles. It's very simple to use and isn't bloated with unnecessary features.
How Does The A20 Sound?
How Does The A20 Sound?
40mm drivers push strong bass through this headset. Mid and high level frequencies also come out clear, but there's a big issue that compromises audio quality as a whole. The A20 emits a lot of static noise when it's active.
We used the A20 on PC by connecting the transmitter via USB and on Xbox One through the optical port. In both cases, noticeable static noise came through and ruined the more subtle, quieter sounds in games and music. This isn't much of problem with louder sounds at higher volumes, but it limits the range at which the A20 can deliver clean audio.
Microphone Quality
Microphone Quality
The microphone works on a swivel and stays muted when it's flipped up. Only when you bring it downward does it activate and pick up sound. As for quality, it sounds clear when it's very close to the source, but your voice may sound distant if it's not close enough. Background noise also tends to get in the mix when it starts to pick up your voice, but it's not a big problem. The microphone arm itself is very flexible and can be contorted so you can position it properly.
Overall Experience
Overall Experience
There's a lot going for the Astro A20 wireless headset. It's durable, comfortable, and doesn't have too many moving parts to get in the way of using it. The functions and software offered by the A20 keeps things simple, which is appreciated, and battery life isn't a concern as it lasted the whole time we used it. But while it provides great sound quality in terms of audio frequencies, the unavoidable static noise hinders its status as a recommendable headset at $150 (standard edition) and $160 (Call of Duty edition).
More...