Game like a pro with the award winning, state-of-the-art A40 headset and the new and improved MixAmp. Manufactured using the highest quality materials and finely tuned for optimal gaming audio response, the A40 Audio System produces an unparalleled gaming experience. Want proof? Give a read through the reviews or check out any MLG event in person and see for yourself.
Engulf yourself in uncompressed voice and game sound - The A40 Audio System includes the patent-pending external MixAmp, providing Xbox 360, PS3 and PC gamers with 5.1 Dolby Surround and combined voice audio - ideal for tournament play and discrete "midnight gaming" sessions.
Features Include:
Amazing sound quality - Astro A40 Audio System combines crystal-clear voice communication with pinpoint-accurate 5.1 Dolby and Dolby Surround Headphone to hear your enemies from every direction.
Fully configurable comfort and style - Adjustable headset, quick-disconnect cable, in-line mute switch, user-configurable microphone boom and Astro's patent-pending removable speaker tags allow you to game in comfort and in style. You can even design your own tag using ASTRO's Speaker Tag Customizer(sold separately)
Play on variety of systems - Whether it's your Xbox 360, PS3, or PC the new and improved MixAmp easily plugs directly into any system.
Voice and stereo at your fingertips - The MixAmp's discrete game/voice balance control allows you to adjust the settings to fit your needs.
Dedicated voice channel - Link multiple MixAmps together for a private, hands-free, full-duplex voice communication channel experience -- much higher-quality than VoIP systems, with zero network and system lag.
Inject your own soundtrack - Connect your mp3 player through the mixer itself with a 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cable (sold separately). Free up valuable system resources, and put your music within arm's reach.
Fully Loaded - The A40 Audio System comes with a quick-disconnect cable and multiple ends: a MixAmp cable (also compatible with portable audio players), a standard dual-jack PC connector with in-line volume and mute control.
Pricing:
A40 Audio System - $249.95 US - $253.65 AU
A40 Headset (Without Mix Amp) - $199.95 US - $202.90 AU
Optional MLG Speaker Tag Set - $20.25 AU
Rechargeable Battery Pack -$20.25 AU
TOSlink Optical Cable
- 6 Feet - $15.15 AU
- 12 Feet - $20.25 AU
- 25 Feet - $30.40 AU
Question 1: Are astro A40 headset any good?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
Pros:
- Very comfortable to wear
- Built in 5.1 decoding
- Adjustable mixing of voice chat and game sounds
- compatible to about every gaming system: xbox360, PC, PS3 (w/$10 adapter), etc.
- system comes with every audio cable you could ever need (minus fiber optic)
- Daisy chaining ability is useful for hardcore competitive situations
- durable
Cons:
- Pricey
- They're wired (for some this maybe a issue)
- doesn't work well with glasses
- bass is weak
- designed for gamers - poor option for music lovers
- doesn't compare to a true surround sound system
- too many wires
- length of cable from Mixamp to Xbox 360 controller isn't as long as headphone cables
(BXR EDITION)
Question 7: what edition of headset should i buy?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
It's completely up to you it all depends on what you like.
Question 2: Do i need the mix amp with my headset's?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
While the mixamp is a cool device, it's not really suited for gaming. Most PC games can't output more than 2 channels through S/PDIF, so the 5.1 to stereo mixing capability would be useless unless you play on a PS3 or 360. Even then, the difference between 5.1 and stereo on a regular stereo headset is negligible, because you're still only working with 2 channel output, and the sound depth and quality are entirely dependent on the game. Some games are designed to sound better with headphones, in which case the mixamp is useless, and others are designed to sound better with a surround sound system, in which case regular headphones would not be able to provide the same experience.
The only real reason for getting a mixamp is to take advantage of the digital outputs on PC's and game consoles without having to spend hundreds on an A/V receiver. But you're not going to really notice much of a difference unless you splurge on a nice set of headphones..
(headset only edition)
Question 3: Do Astros come with a mix amp included?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
There are two types of set's you can buy
1 - A40 Audio System
- Headset (included Cables)
- Mix Amp (included Cables)
- Set of Speaker Tag Set (3 tags, 2 with no mic hole, 1 with a mic hole)
- Detachable mic
- Headset Case
2 - A40 Headset
- Headset (included Cables)
- Set of Speaker Tag Set (3 tags, 2 with no mic hole, 1 with a mic hole)
- Detachable mic
- Headset Case
(Note This Pack Does not come with the mix amp)
Question 3: Do i need the Battery Pack? TOSlink Optical Cable? MLG Speaker Tag Set?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
Rechargeable Battery Pack? NO, not unless you want to save on batteries.
(As well as this, You can also use the USB cable that the Mix-amp comes with and you plug one end into the mix-amp and the other end into a USB port on a computer/laptop/xbox and this can be used to power it, Thus saving the need for batteries + the battery packs.)
TOSlink Optical Cable? YES, but can also be bought from Shop's and online saving you money.
MLG Speaker Tag Set? NO, not unless you want too waste you're money.
Question 4: whats the go with Postage?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
Price: around 20-30 dollars
Astro Gaming send you order the next day from when you place you order. Taking up too 1-2 weeks to arrive at you're house depending on where you live. They are sent via FEDEX and do not post to "POBOX'S" only residential address's. You are also give a tracking number where you can track you order via the fedex website. If you are not at home they will either return the next day or you will have to pick them up from the post office. (Note: they do not ship on weekends)
-PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR CARRIER UPS DOES NOT DELIVER ON THE WEEKENDS (SATURDAY AND SUNDAY) OR ANY PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
-ALL ORDERS RECEIVED AFTER 1PM PACIFIC TIME WILL BE PROCESSED THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS DAY. NEXT DAY AIR ORDERS PLACED BETWEEN 1PM PACIFIC TIME THURSDAY AND 1PM PACIFIC TIME FRIDAY WILL NOT ARRIVE UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONDAY.
-ORDERS WITH DIFFERENT BILLING AND SHIPPING ADDRESSES WILL NEED TO BE CONFIRMED BEFORE THE ORDER CAN BE SHIPPED. THIS MAY DELAY THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR ORDER.
Question 5: Can i get custom Tag sets?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
Yes you can you can either buy them from the Astro store, or create you own.
Prices ranging from 10-30 dollars
Question 6: Do astros work with other devices?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
Yes they do. Astros work with many different devices for example
- Xbox 360
- PS3
- PC
- Mac
- iPhone
- iPod
and more
Question 7: What headset is better?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
A40 vs. X41 vs. AX Pro
Question 8: Where can i buy Astro A40's from?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
There are many place "online" that you can buy astros from for example
SPOILER: Click to view How to set up your A40 Audio System to a XBOX360 using a TOSlink optical cable. (BEST)
How to set up your A40 Audio System to a XBOX360 using only the included cables. (BETTER)
(Playstation 3)
SPOILER: Click to view How to set up your A40 Audio System to a PS3 using a TOSlink optical cable. (BEST)
How to set up your A40 Audio System to a PS3 using only the included cables. (BETTER)
(PC)
SPOILER: Click to view How to set up your A40 Headset directly to a PC.
Question 10: If i have the new xbox slim would i need to still plug the optical cable into the Original xbox cables, or could i just plug it into the optical plug in the back of the xbox slim?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
No you dont. you can plug the optical cable into the back of the "slim xbox" ONLY, because it has it built in.
Located here.
Question 11: How do i stop a humming or buzzing noise coming from the headset?
Answer:
SPOILER: Click to view
My Solution, Buy a Phone charger with the same end as the input on the mix amp(Micro USB). plug it in the wall. (make sure its 5V or it might damage you're mix amp)
This is the one i have that works.
Astros solution.
SPOILER: Click to view A newly developed hum or buzz issue on a system that has been working correctly can be caused by a couple of things. If you have recently moved the location of your audio system, the gaming system it is used on, or have recently added any other electronic devices to the outlet that the system is plugged in to, try undoing those changes to determine if those have created an issue with "line noise" in your power configuration. If that does not help resolve the issue, here are some troubleshooting steps to help narrow down the source of the issue.
Try powering the MixAmp with 4 standard AA batteries. These batteries can be either disposable or rechargeable. Be sure to unplug the USB power cable completely from both the gaming system and the MixAmp during this test.
If available, you can use a cellphone charger or AC adapter for an MP3 player or audio device that fits into the mini-USB input on the back of the MixAmp. Be sure that it outputs a 5V / 500mA charge. Other power outputs from third party adapters may damage the MixAmp.
Verify that you are still using only the included or ASTRO recommended cables for both sound and powering the MixAmp. Third party cables and extensions may not appropriately power the MixAmp and/or cause line noise issues.
If none of those steps help to identify the source of the issue, you can perform some troubleshooting using a computer. Even though you may not use the computer for gaming, these troubleshooting steps allow us to accurately and quickly determine the source of the issue. For the best results, ensure that all of your software settings are correct by verifying that you are able to successfully record and play back your voice with an alternate headset/microphone before completing the following steps. For each of the steps, record and playback your voice using the included sound recorder program that comes standard on most Windows based computers. If you are using a Mac with a line level input, you will still be able to perform some of the tests, but only using the full system. Ensure that any "mic boost" settings are disabled for these tests.
Connect the headset by itself to both of the headphone and microphone ports on the computer using the PC Quick Disconnect(PCQD) cable that comes included with the A40 Headset. This PCQD cable has two plugs on the end of it that have pink and green identifying bands. The pink banded plug connects to the microphone port. The green banded plug connects to the headphone port.
Connect the full system, including the MixAmp, to your computer. If needed, use the setup guides that were included with your packaging for help in setting up this configuration to your PC. If you no longer have those setup guides, you can find them in PDF format located in the support section of our website. For this test, you will want to use the standard 4 Pole Quick Disconnect cable(4PQD) to connect the headset to the MixAmp. This 4PQD has a single plug with a gray band on it.
Remove the microphone from your headset, plugging it directly into the microphone port on your computer. Then complete the voice recording/playback test. If you are still hearing a hum or buzz, and have ensured that the computer settings are correct by successfully recording with an alternate headset/microphone, the issue is likely the microphone itself. If it records normally using only the microphone, and the hum or buzz is present when using just the headset, the issue is likely the internal wiring of the headset.
If the voice recording sounds fine with the headset alone, and you hear a hum/buzz when the MixAmp is attached, and you have verified that the software settings are configured up correctly, the issue is likely something with the MixAmp.
If all of the computer troubleshooting is successful and you can hear yourself without a hum or buzz present when using both using the A40 Headset alone and with the MixAmp on the computer, the issue is likely the controller cable.
Let us know what you are able to determine after completing all of the troubleshooting steps above. This will allow us to take the appropriate next steps towards resolving your case.
I got white normal astro ones. I would love some custom ones, would look sweeeeet.
Good thread by the way, stops all the pointless "HERP A DERP I NEED HEDSUT" threads.
Great write up. Would be good to see some content about the A30s as well but this is an amazing piece of work. Will be submitting as an article. Well done mate.
Just a question, how much does shipping cost for the Speaker Tags?
Thing is though, this is an amazing thread, but I doubt it will stop many threads, most of the people posting them don't know how to forum properly and just make a thread. Sad, but still an ub3r hread
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