The Astro A10 gaming headset is an economical yet straightforward headset with wired connectivity to all major consoles, PCs and Macs – without offering virtual surround sound functionality.

Its balanced sound profile features just enough extra boom to bring out sound effects without overshadowing dialogue or instruments, playing Richard Cheese’s “Bullet the Blue Sky” with powerful low end, but enough frequency shaping so piano notes and finger snaps remain prominent.

Sound

The Astro A10 is a basic plug and play headset without any bells and whistles that keeps its price affordable, as it works with most pieces of equipment that accepts 3.5mm cables. Ideal for younger gamers without needing advanced features or those wanting to avoid blowing out their eardrums while playing Fortnite, its design keeps its price reasonable while providing all you need for comfortable gaming sessions.

Its carefully crafted sound features a robust bass presence that outshines its affordable price point, with driving backbeats of The Crystal Method’s “Born Too Slow” being particularly resonant and full. Furthermore, first-person shooter games also benefit greatly from using A10 speakers as it delivers gunshots and footsteps without compromising clarity or range.

As I played Battlefield on PC, the A10 proved itself as an outstanding stereo headset with excellent separation of low and high frequencies, giving a satisfying boom of bazookas rumble convincingly while rifle fire could easily be heard despite helicopter noise overhead. Unfortunately it lacked directionality of larger drivers such as those found in headphones like the Roccat Cross and Cloud Stinger that provide surround sound simulation. Bass levels did occasionally drop though this may depend on fit/seal/position/wearing glasses/headphone padding/wearability/position etc.

Comfort

The second generation A10s offer increased comfort due to softer padding and a redesigned headband, though they still feel quite flimsy structurally and don’t come equipped with noise cancellation capabilities,

Although budget-oriented, the A10s produce excellent sound. Particularly in terms of bass and treble response. They’re capable of handling all sorts of sounds ranging from footsteps being heard while playing PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds to explosions at higher volumes.

These headphones are very comfortable to wear even for extended gaming sessions. Their light build is made for maximum ear coverage without much pressure being exerted upon your head; their headband, however, doesn’t offer enough padding and may press against your forehead after some time.

These headphones are more stable than A40s and A50s, so they won’t easily slide off your head. Unfortunately, however, their thin padding at the top of the headband may build up pressure over time and cause headaches; unfortunately this pad is so small compared with that found on A40s, A50s, Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE and other headphones; still it is better than nothing and you can purchase replacement ear cups if required; they’re relatively cheap and easy to replace.

Controls

Even as an entry-level headset, the Astro A10 delivers outstanding performance. Its expansive soundstage provides clear directional cues so that you can hear footsteps of other players nearby or an explosion occurring farther away, enabling quicker reactions and creating more realistic gaming environments.

Controlling both headphones and microphone is simple with an in-line volume dial built directly into the cable that only goes up to a certain volume limit. Furthermore, you have the ability to mute it simply by flipping up its arm – rigid enough that once done manipulating it will remain still when released from manipulation.

The microphone on this headset picks up your voice clearly even in moderately noisy environments. However, audio quality decreases dramatically when turned up to maximum setting – this was true across all headphones we tested in this category.

The Astro A10 is an easy and comfortable entry-level gaming headset, perfect for long sessions of gaming. While its earcups may be slightly smaller than on its predecessor (Astro A40), they still fit snuggly over your ears. Unfortunately, its only drawbacks include no carrying case and inability to fold. For those seeking something with more features such as wireless connection capabilities and sound customization features we suggest looking into HyperX Cloud Alpha S as wireless option with full customization features and sound customization features.

Design

The A10s are constructed primarily of plastic for maximum comfort. Their ear cups and headband padding can be replaced, unlike most budget headsets we test; thus giving it an extended lifespan than many bargain bin alternatives.

These headsets don’t squeeze your head tightly, which makes them more suitable for extended gaming sessions than some of the more aggressively designed options we’ve tested. Unfortunately, though, they may shift when tilted or shaken slightly; plus they may even come loose from time to time during more vigorous movements.

As with the previous generation, these headphones offer a relatively neutral sound signature that works well for gaming. Without thumpy bass tones and with just enough mid-range boost to bring out game audio. Their spacious soundstage accommodates multiple instrumentations options while voice clarity and detail for such budget headphones is quite good.

The A10s are an excellent budget solution that will be used across platforms – PC, XBOX and PS4. Their setup process is effortless – just plug the audio cable and microphone together and start gaming immediately! Furthermore, they may even work on Nintendo Switch when using third-party titles supporting native voice chat capabilities.