What do you get the gamer who has everything? If you know (or are) someone who loves to play across multi-platforms and own PC, Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, then the Logitech Astro A50 X will be your idea of heaven.
In a world where you might struggle to tell some of the best gaming headsets apart, the A50 X has the unusual ability to not only to provide top-quality chat audio and game sound, but also to switch between different platforms at the touch of a button.
I'll be honest, if you primarily use one console, or have one in the living room and another in your bedroom, this isn't for you. You could get a similarly performing headset at half the price, but if you have a cushy games-room setup, it's the perfect partner.
Logitech Astro A50 X: PRICE & AVAILABILITY
This is the first hurdle to get over when it comes to the A50 X: it ain't cheap. In fact it will cost pretty much the same as your console. At £359/€399/$379 it's undoubtedly one of the most expensive headsets on the market.
For that price you get the headset itself, the base station, a power adapter, a USB-A to USB-C cable and a USB-C/Power Combo cable, as well as a Dolby Atmos activation card. You will, however, still need no less than three separate HDMI cables, so save some additional budget for that.
But as I have already mentioned, it does serve a rather unique purpose, and if you have two consoles and a PC, then you're pretty dedicated to gaming as a hobby. So should you invest? Let's find out.
Logitech Astro A50 X review: Design & Setup
It's fair to say that the Astro A50 X is easy on the eye. Available in either black or white, with a matching base station, this is one sleek-looking headset. It's not covered in needless RGB lighting or self-confessed 'gamer' decals. The word classy comes to mind, with a touch of Cyberman from Doctor Who.
With adjustable earcups, the fit is absolutely no problem. I found it comfortable and despite being securely on, my head never felt like it was in a vice. Obviously, it keeps the weight light, but for this cash outlay I was hoping for something slightly more premium than plastic.
The interface on the headset is one of its strongest features. I particularly love having a volume rocker between game and voice chat sound on the outside of the right earcup. Also on the right ear are the Bluetooth switcher, power button, a volume wheel, plus a rather pointless USB-C charging port. The microphone is the only thing on the left-hand earcup.
Why is the charging port largely pointless? Well, because this headset lives and charges from the accompanying base station. This trapezium-shaped home for the A50 X looks a bit like something from a sci-fi film, and it is indeed where most of the headset's magic lies.
This is where you want to plug in a separate HDMI cable for each console (or PC) you're using, plus a separate USB-C, plus (of course) the base station itself needs to be connected to a supply. It's all a bit complicated and requires some serious cable management, so my best advice would be to watch Logitech's own video tutorials and follow them step by step.
Logitech Astro A50 X: Features & Performance
Once you get past the cable spaghetti setup, the end result is very much worth it. Being able to switch not just audio but also video between consoles (you can only connect to PC via audio) will never get old and is quite a significant time-saver.
Audio-wise you're in for a treat too. Boasting Dolby Atmos certification should be enough to know what to expect, and the 40mm graphene drivers are the final clue. The Astro A50 X sounds excellent.
Whether you're looking for an immersive, cinematic single-player experience in the likes of Spiderman 2 or want directional sound and crisp callouts in a multiplayer shooter like Overwatch 2 then you've come to the right place. You'll sound great too as the microphone has an excellent input that might even tempt you away from a dedicated USB mic. It was a little muffled compared to the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro that I've previously reviewed, but defintely held its own with other leading headsets.
Battery life also pales to the Blackshark's stupendous 70 hour life, but in reality it's not an issue. You'll be returning the headset to the dock when not in use and it also doubles up as a charger so unless you literally play for 24 hours straight, you'll never hear the "Low Battery" sound from this Logitech set.
Logitech Astro A50 X: Verdict
Ultimately, the Astro A50 X is a great headset, but whether it's the right choice for you will come down to one critical question: do you own at least an Xbox Series X and a PlayStation 5 and preferably a gaming PC and/or laptop too? If the answer is yes then this might be the perfect accessory to your setup.
But if that's not the case, there's little reason to splurge nearly twice as much as equally well-sounding traditional gaming headsets for a dedicated system, which also don't require an engineering degree to set up.
Also Consider
Like I've mentioned, if you only have one console, I'd opt for a headset like the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro instead. It sounds great, has a massive battery life and is a fraction of the price.
If you want to go even cheaper we're big fans of the Trust Thian, which might not look like much but boasts a solid sound profile and comfy fit at a bargain price (it's like one sixth the price of the Logitech)!
