The app is still not updated for retina displays, it still requires you to completely re-download the software with every update, and it's still prone to any number of awkward setup hiccups. The software experience has never been great, and very little has changed. If you're not getting the exact sound you want, you can download the free Command Center software and tweak just about everything. A 90-degree rotation would fix the problem: up for ear, down for voice. I'm doomed to eject when I mean to power down. It's the PS4 power button all over again. No number of mnemonic devices or forced repetition will ever make this make sense to me. "I couldn't get over the idea that voice should be in front – where the microphone is – and game volume should be in the back – where the headphones are." I've believed this is terrible design since day one, and I still find it just as frustratingly inscrutable. Got all that? Okay, which way do you press if your voice is too loud? By pressing the front side of the right ear cup, you can adjust the mix to have more of the game in it. If you've never used a pair of A50s, the MixAmp works like this: By holding the backside of the right earcup, you can adjust your mix to have more of your voice in it. Unfortunately, Astro hasn't redesigned the most confusing part of the A50s: the built-in MixAmp. It's surprising that Astro has locked so much information on a small LED strip when it’s built its tournament-friendly wired solution, the Astro A40 TR and Mixamp, specifically to help gamers navigate dials without ever needing to glance away from the game. The A50s also relegate a hefty amount of info to a small LED on the base station. There's a slider for power, a button for Dolby Atmos, and another to cycle through EQ modes. The A50's button layout has been streamlined. You might not be able to tell – I initially couldn't – but the headset is smaller too. The oblong base station has been shortened, and now occupies a much smaller footprint than its predecessor, which is a welcome addition for small gaming desks and TV consoles. Title=More%20Expert%20Tech%20Roundups&type=articles%2Cvideos&tags=tech-roundup&count=3&columnCount=6&theme=article In short, it's almost exactly like the A50s that came before it. The microphone is bendable, although it never stays in place after shaped. You can spin and contour the ear cups with a satisfying twist, or flip the attached mic up to mute it, which locks with a satisfying snap. But despite the plastic frames, the A50s are manufactured exceptionally well. In contrast, the A50s feel like, well, plastic. It felt like a steering wheel in a luxury car. I once owned a $300 headset that was made of metal and Italian sheep leather. I firmly believe a headset that costs $230 should feel elegant. There's no denying these are still clunky gamer headphones, but if you squint just right, they start to look like something you might find on an audio engineer's desk. It’s far more subtle than previous versions, which sported neon piping. The only noticeable difference between the two is small branding on the headset and base station. The A50s come in two similar colorways – a sleek black and gray for PS4 ( See it on Amazon ) and black and gold for Xbox One ( See it on Amazon ). But is that enough to justify its $239 price, a year before next-gen consoles? Astro A50 + Base Station – Design and Features This time around, the latest version of the Astro A50 Wireless sports a new base station, a 2.4GHz connection, and improved drivers. The sound quality is phenomenal, the build quality is above average, the software kind of sucks, and the price tag is still a bit shocking. While technology (and Marvel movies) keeps evolving over the years, the A50s have largely remained the same. For seven years, the A50 has occupied top billing as Astro's flagship headset.
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