Going to compare the Astro A50 to the PS4 Platinum headset since the Astro A50 was my main gaming headset prior to purchasing the PS4 Platinum Headset
--Sound Quality:
Astro A50s have better sound quality. Not that the PS4 Platinum is bad, there's not a massive difference in quality, but if you are an audiophile you will notice a difference.
PS4 Platinum gives off a more exaggerated sound while the A50 sounds more natural. A50 has a better range in terms of audio quality (does well in low, mids and highs) as the Sony Platinum is good at mid to highs.
PS4 Platinum has a better spacial awareness or where enemies and sound is coming from in game (especially with 3D audio*). So if you are a hardcore gamer and want a more functional headset (in terms of gameplay) compared to one that sounds better, the PS4 platinum is a better choice.
*3D audio is only present in a few games at the moment and it spacial awareness is amazing. The spacial awareness still works on titles that do not support 3D audio, but not as pronounced as you cannot hear what's above or below you. Both Astro A50 and PS4 Platinum you are able to hear what's going on around you (not top/bottom with non-3d audio compatible games for Sony Plat) but Sony Platinum does a better job. Hope this headset catches on as i like to see more games with 3D audio.
--Build:
PS4 Platinum has a weaker build as I say most of the cost went into the technology.
The PS4 platinum is able to fold up if you want to travel with it or put it in a compact storage space.
In general the Astro A50s has a more sturdy build, but not as portable.
Both are very comfortable to wear over extended periods of time
Astro A50 buttons are easier to press and is more user friendly especially with the analog scroll volume wheel . PS4 Platinum has most of the functions along the back side of the headset and most buttons have similar tactile feedback so it's hard to get a grasp at it at times.
--Visual aesthetic:
Exception of the metal band on top the PS4 Platinum looks very bland
A50 has a lot of going on especially with the spiral cords on the side of the headset
--Compatibility:
Right off the bat, if you want surround sound on the PS4 Platinum headset, it ONLY works on the PS4/PS4 Pro. If you want to use it on other devices it will only output stereo.
Astro A50 surround sound can be outputted on other devices like PC and XboxOne (if you have the adapter)
Both does not have bluetooth as they have their own receiver.
Astro A50 uses a mix amp while the Sony Platinum uses a USB dongle
With the Astro A50 there's more wiring as you have to connect it the PS4 via wired USB and an optical cable. PS4 Platinum just used a Wireless USB dongle, so you just plug and play instead of fiddling around with wires.
If you want to use your headset to connect to a device with a 3mm jack, the PS4Platinum as a dedicated 3mm headphone port on the headset itself, but know that it only outputs stereo. Astro A50 on the other hand, have no wired 3mm option to the headset itself as you have to connect via the mix amp which needs to connect via USB power source, and 3mm audio cable coming out of the mix amp. Sony Platinum is more portable in this sense as if you want to bring the Astro A50 out in public you have to connect the mix amp via power bank and deal with two separate wires
Both have custom software, but the PS4 Platinum is easily accessible via PS4 app if you play on the PS4. For the Astro A50 you have to set it up via PC then download the info to the headset before you can use a new custom preset.
The PS4 Platinum headset app has custom setting for specific games that the developers put in that take advantage of the 3D audio. As of this review only 4 titles are available: Uncharted 4, Watch Dogs 2, Last Guardian, and MLB The Show 16
--Mic Quality:
Both are about the same. Astro A50 is slightly better, but if you don't listen to them side-by-side and try to focus on the audio they're generally the same. You can hear each other person well on the other end and vice versa. Astro A50s you have to pull down the mic so it's in front of your face, but that's generally not an issue. It's easier to mute chat volume with Astro A50 as you just have to lift up the boom mic as i find that much faster than reaching back and hitting a dedicated mute button on the Sony Platinum
--Battery Life:
PS4 platinum has 2-3 times more battery than the Astro A50s depending on volume and chat settings
--Summary:
For the price I'd say the PS4 Platinum is a good value if you're on a budget (only if you play it on the PS4 as the surround sound doesn't work on any other devices) as the Astro A50 you'll be paying $100+ more depending on where you purchase it. If you can shell out more I'd go for the A50 if you want a more immersive audio experience
Astro A50 has better audio quality, but PS4 Platinum out preforms it in spacial awareness.
Astro A50 has a better build, but if you don't' toss your headset in the corner of the room each time, both should last a long time.
It's easier to access buttons with the Astro A50s even if you build muscle memory on the PS4 Platinum as the locations and tactile feedback of the buttons on the Astro A50s are more intuitive
Battery life on the PS4 Platinum is way better.
Personally I'm going to use both, now I can use the A50 as a PC only headset since before I have to keep moving the Mix Amp when I want to change console/systems.
If you have any questions or find this review helpful leave a comment. Hope this helps you in your purchasing decision. Thank you.
Summary:
This headset is light, comfortable, sounds good, sounds clear, good microphone, and has a surprisingly good surround (7.1). I did a 2 hours comparison with my wired Astro MixAmp... and I was surprised with the results... I highly recommended it.
About me:
I have been using flagship headphones for 7+ years for both music and gaming.
About my headphones:
Audeze LCD-2 (balanced) / Ultrasone Edition 8 LE / Beyerdynamic DT990 / AKG K702 / Creative Aurvana Live! / Astro Mixamp
Review:
I did my testing with Destiny 2 for 2 hours, and by chatting with another audiophile friend using the party chat.
- Microphone
The microphone sounds better than the earplug microphone that came with the PS4. Clearer and more natural sound.
- Separation of sounds
I had no problem listening to different sounds coming from different places. There is a scene with refugees after the initial invasion, and I could hear all the different things happening (people crying, people coughing, sparks)
- Sound quality
The sound was pretty good, sometimes I forgot I had the headsets on. I could hear the fire cracking, the explosions, shouting, rockets, etc.
- Surround sound (7.1 VSS)
In headphones there is no such thing as 7.1 or 5.1 because that is physically impossible. However, there are algorithms such as Dolby Headphone, DTS Headphone:X or Virtual Surround Sound that use the 5.1 signals and transforms the sound in a way that fools our brain into thinking we are listening from a 360 degrees.
I tested the following 2 rigs:
1) PS4 -> optical cable -> MixAmp Pro -> Creative Aurvana Live!
2) PS4 -> new gold headsets with VSS enabled
3) option 1) with dolby turned off
4) option 2) with VSS turned off
I tested in 3-4 places by closing my eyes and rotating the character to check how good the positioning of the sound were. I could hear a difference in both the gold headset and mixamp with their respective surround algorithms disabled (that's good isn't it?)
Now, comparing the gold headset and the mixamp... I listened almost the same positioning... honestly, they were pretty close to call a winner... I would need to use a different headphone with a wider soundstage to probably notice a difference.
Conclusion:
For me, is a pain to setup the cables and have cables everything every time I want to play. There is a beauty on just wearing the headset and that's it. Before getting this headset I considered Astro A50, HyperX Cloud II and SteelSeries Arctis 7 among others...
However, if you only care about having a good wireless 7.1 in your PS4 (and PS3), this headset is hard to beat.
I'm not saying they are better than the Astro A50 (I want to try them someday)... but for this price... is a really good deal.
My old Sony Gold headset finally bit the dust when the infamous hinge break happened on both sides. I needed another pair, and saw that these were now available. I haven't be able to find a decent headset that gave me independent volume access like the Sony PlayStation headsets where I can change chat volume independently over game volume and vice versa.
These new Sony Gold Headsets rock.
Pros
1. No hinges!!!!
2. Way better buttons. The buttons on the older model really sucked, and eventually recessed to far into the headset
3. I get the same nice sound quality, if not better (probably because they are new and my mind is tricking me into thinking they sound better).
4. Soft plush band
Cons
1. This is not really a con yet since it is too early to tell, but the ear pads might be the same material as the previous model. I can't really tell. I really hope it isn't. My old ones flaked off big time, and I would walk around the house and most likely in public with pieces of the ear pad on my face.
2. If you have a cone head or a tall head these might be a little uncomfortable since the bottom of the ear pads will dig in at an angle behind the jaw (You can test this by sliding the ear pads all the way down and wearing them. Obviously the band will sit way above your head, but you will get my drift)
This is definitely a much needed improvement over the older model, and I would highly recommend them. The sound is amazing, and the headset is comfortable. Please don't let this be the same material on the ear pads as the previous model.
My daughter has the Gold set while I just got the Platinum. I was able to switch back and forth to compare. The platinum is a great improvement. Clear and crisp. Good rich bass. Noise cancelling and surround sound is also great. I also find it more comfortable than the gold.(even 8/12" hat size head) I've worn it for 4 hours at a time and on one charge.
I am happy with it because it is quite noticeably a better product. It won't compete with BOSE or the like, but for under $200, they are pretty nice.
Bought for my boyfriend. The house is no longer filled with gunshots and police sirens. No more military comands followed by loud bangs. No longer do I wake up at 2am from the sound of a hooker's final scream or a tractor trailer truck exploding. There are no more voices of people who are simultaneously in my living room and South Carolina.
A+ product. Highly recommended!
Feature Product
- A Headset for Gamers: Experience everything from the big booms to whisper-quiet warnings in stunning 7.1 virtual surround sound and chat with friends through the hidden, noise-canceling microphones
- With the Headset Companion App, download custom audio modes created exclusively for PlayStation 4 systems by developers that are specifically tuned to enhance the audio in your favorite games
- Stylish comfort: slip into comfort you can Enjoy for hours and a look you can take anywhere. Further customize your look by swapping out the removable faceplates for something more your style
- Designed with PlayStation VR in mind: Explore the incredible worlds of VR with a headset to be worn comfortably along with PlayStation VR
Description
From the biggest booms to the quietest whispers, you'll experience every detail of your favorite games in stunning high fidelity 7.1 virtual Surround sound via the PlayStation.4/PlayStation.3/PlayStation. Vita/PC Gold wireless stereo headset. Plus, keep the chatter coming through the hidden noise-canceling microphone, and get access to Custom game modes created by Developers Exclusively for PlayStation. With the headset companion App. You can listen to both game audio and chat audio simultaneously. Use the sound / chat button to adjust the relative volume of game audio vs. chat audio
Background
So these are my fourth PS headsets after the last three broke on me. (Pulse Elite > Gold V1 > Platinum). I got these for $85 so I'm happy about that. Hopefully these dont break within a year like the previous ones or else I'll be getting a Platinum V2.
Pros
1. Doesn't apply a ton of force causing discomfort like previous PS headsets
2. Came with a code for one month of Spotify for free
Neutral
1. Doesn't fold meaning it's not as portable as the Gold V1 and Platinum, but this will reduce wear and tear. (A pro for me since I don't travel with headsets)
Cons
1. Still comes with a USB dongle. Wished I could just connect these headsets to any Bluetooth enabled device.
2. Not USB-C
Conclusion
For the most part these dont feel too different from the Gold V1 or Platinum headset.
TL:DR If you don't have a PS4 compatible headset(except that crappy one ear thing my dogs immediately ate) then yes, totally get these.
I've waited about a month to write my review since I ran into a bunch of problems with this headset(PC) that ended up not having anything to do with the headset at all.
Okay so here goes. The headset at the time of purchase was under 80 bucks. A wireless headset with 7.1 surround sound for under 80 bucks. I thought it was too good to be true but went ahead and purchased these based on reviews from many sources. My first impression was, "Whoa..."
I've been using a Bluetooth headset with regular surround sound. They were 30 bucks and I knew exactly what I was getting when I purchased them. They were great for PC gaming but they are incompatible with my PS4.
I plugged the dongle to these in and it immediately synced up and integrated into the PS4 popup menu(battery, mic, headset, surround sound icons). I log into Destiny:The Taken King and jump to the Dreadnaut and am blown away. Literally. There was a Cabal ship leaving the area that took a pot shot at me. I can hear everything. I mean everything. I didn't know that chests make their own noise, that resources have their own unique sounds, that gunfire that is happening in the distance can sound far away and not just quieter, the quiet pathetic whimper of the enemy right before they expire...
IT'S BEEEAAUUUUUTIFUUULLLLL!!!! HAHAHAHAHAH!! HahHAhAHhaHAhahHAhHAHAHHAHA!
Pros:
Wireless
6+hour battery life
Can use while charging
7.1 Surround sound
Downloadable sound profiles(PS4)
Dedicated controls for volume, game/chat volume, surround on/off, mute, two sound profiles via switch
Can use with PC
Good mic
Large cups fit over large ears
Comfortable with bulky plastic glasses on
The completely drown out your gf/bf husband/wife
You can pretend they are a tiny person giving you the hugs you missed as a child
Less than 100 bucks
Cons:
They are a little bit heavy/clumsy and can slide around your head but I quickly got used to them
The cups tend to get hot after a while so remember to adjust them once in a while to avoid swamp ear
The construction feels cheap but I suppose they had to cut corners somewhere
They wont lend you money(like ever)
Regarding the headset problems I mentioned earlier:
I ran into the snap crackle stutter problem some people have complained about on the internet on my PC. I've not had one problem when connected to my PS4. I almost returned these immediately after unboxing(some weirdos call this "opening") them and I am so glad that I did a little troubleshooting instead. I have a gaming laptop that I semi-built myself. It has an Haswell i7, a Geforce GTX850m and 16 GB of ram. I have everything on SSD drives and this thing handles anything thrown at it. So when I started getting stutter crackle problems I was like, "WTF?" I tried changing my routers channel, I killed processes. I ripped my hair out. I said a prayer to RNGesus. No solution, Turns out the culprit was GameScannerService.exe which is a useless piece of bloatware that everyone who has installed Razer software on their PC has running.
To disable it simple go to Task manager->services->[OpenServices] button -> find Razer Game Scanner on the list ->doubleclick -> Startup type-> set to disabled. (Thank you dark_skeleton). Don't furget to kill it in the running processes if you haven't restarted your computer. As a further precaution I suggest that no one ever buy from Razer. Their products are fraught with problems and their support is unsupporty.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. I hope it is helpful and anyone that has any questions or problems with their headset feel free to leave your question in the comments and I will do my best to help you out.
I bought these to replace an AG9 Afterglow headset.
The first thing I noticed was how light the box was and wondered if there was anything in them at all? The headphones are incredibly lightweight. The ear pieces lower from the band and there isn’t a hinge that the old reviews mentioned would break.
The really nice part is they are very comfortable compared to my AG9’s. The setup was easy and switching between surround sound was easy with a punch of a button.
Since these are designed by Sony the nice part is that you visually see a pop-up on the top corner of the tv screen when using the buttons to adjust the sound as well as mute, etc. I like that part since you can see as well as hear the changes. This lessens the guesswork when you hit the mute button.
I have had problems in the past with swamp ear and headset comfort. So far so good with this headset and no complaints.
Mic works very well and is much nicer than having a boom mic other headsets have.
The only con is the Sony app. There are only a couple of game sound settings you can download to the headset. I hope they increase that or at least allow the settings to transfer from the old Golds to this version.
As far as durability is concerned, if that affects the headset, I’ll update my review.
You can’t go wrong with this set. The sound is amazingly crisp and I’ve noticed some sounds and dialogue in parts of games I never heard before.
So I can tell you I have read probably over 500 reviews on different headsets and it seems like everyone has a certain flaw when it comes to connecting to the PS4. Well, I purchased one of these a long time ago and loved it so I have a second one now. For people who don’t read instructions I would say to skim through quickly with these. If you buy these and leave it on normal presets I would say they are just average. Preset 1 I think is normal sound and 2 has more bass. After I loaded the 2 presets god of war and I use the uncharted preset for my shooting games. Does very well with sound. You have chat vs game volume rocker. My friends have said they can hear me perfectly. If you crank these they are super loud. Too much for me. They have the feature where you can hear yourself but I wasn’t a fan of it so I turned it off. Some people might like that. Love when I turn the virtual surround sound on. Works great and for games like uncharted 4 where they have 3d sound it’s amazing.
So far I have two of these and they are great. Only issue I have is if you have two going on the same network it sometimes gives an echo but rarely and it seems to be better now. Haven’t heard it in a long time. There are a lot of presets you can put on it. They don’t update that to often but every now and then one comes out. Like the new god of war sound profile. I would recommend buying these over the golds. I did have the golds and the sound isn’t as good. It only has one preset. And it would cut out from time to time. I would definitely recommend these. I actually have to buy a throes PS4 since online gaming pretty much is only one person at a time on it and we have three gamers in the family. So I will be shopping another set. Hope this review helped.
They look awesome, I love the in-ear mic, and the sound quality is definitely better than the gold headset. The biggest item on my list coming from the gold headset is durability. Those stupid little plastic hinges broke even with careful use on TWO gold headsets. I figured it'd be cheaper in the long run to spend the money on the nicer headset. The durability is remarkable, these are much better built. HOWEVER, they are also remarkably uncomfortable. Whoever designed the headband tried it on for 30 seconds and decided they deserve a raise. It would be more comfortable to cut the headband off and rig up some bailing wire. If I were planning to buy these right now, I'd go into it with a plan for either padding or replacing the headband. I ended up buying the Steelseries Arctis 7 (great headband, go figure) after a few months and gifted these to my girlfriend who doesn't use a headset as often as I do. Also, my Arctis 7 headset has MUCH better connectivity, it'll work from anywhere in my apartment vs this headset which would cut occasionally at any distance and lose signal completely at about 15ft.
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