Logitech G Astro A50 X in the test – powerful sound, but also extremely expensive

Why make headsets for different platforms when everything can be done together? That's probably what Logitech thought with the latest version of its Astro headset series, the Astro A50 X. The headset supports wireless connections with both the PlayStation (5 and 4) and the Xbox (Series X/S and One) – and all at the same time, although PCs and mobile devices are of course not left out. A real all-rounder if you are well equipped when it comes to systems at home. However, that also has its price, because Logitech wants 400 euros for the Astro A50 X. Is it worth it?

Box & Accessories: In addition to the headset, you will also find an HDMI base station in the not exactly light box, which you absolutely need. There is also a USB cable (USB-C to USB-A), a USB combination cable and a power supply with a plug head for the socket.

Design and processing: There are no major changes to the design of the A50 X if you are already familiar with its predecessor. You have the choice between a black and a white version. The plastic ear cups are attached to metal side panels and the ear cups can be rotated 90 degrees. You can adjust the size by sliding the headband up or down the metal bars on the side. The headband itself is also made of plastic. There is comfortable foam underneath and on the ear cups with a pleasant, breathable cover.

All of this is quite flexible and sits comfortably on your head, so there is no uncomfortable feeling even after longer sessions. The microphone, which is not removable but can be folded upwards, is located on the left ear cup. All existing control options directly on the headset can be found on the right earcup. There we have the power button, a Bluetooth button and a volume wheel. You can adjust the chat game balance by clicking on the left and right sides of the outside of the right earcup.

There is also a USB port on the right. You don't necessarily need it to charge, because the Astro A50 X uses the built-in contacts to charge itself when you place it on the base station. And then there is the Playsync button. More on that in a moment.

Connection: To connect to the respective devices you need the said base station. It has three USB ports, two HDMI 2.1 inputs and one HDMI 2.1 output. This means you can connect your PC, PlayStation and Xbox at the same time and don't have to choose one device as the source. For this setup, however, the 3.5mm port, the optical port and the USB-A port are omitted, and you cannot charge any other device on the base station.

To play on the PC, you only need to use the cable with USB-A and USB-C ports (audio only). If you want to connect your consoles, HDMI comes into play. Fortunately, HDMI 2.1 and therefore 4K HDR is supported. You can of course connect your monitor or television via the HDMI output, the inputs are for the consoles. The base station becomes a switch, and at the same time an HDMI port on your monitor/television is freed up. Depending on the setup, setting up all of this requires a little fiddling with all the cables, but it is not an insurmountable challenge.

The base station gets the game sound from the HDMI cable and the voice chat via the USB connection. In the end, both come together and you can use the playsync button on the headset to switch between the individual sources at the touch of a button. This worked largely problem-free in my tests; there were no problems with either the sound or the video when I tried it out.

The disadvantage of the Bluetooth function is that the base station also has to be active. So you can't connect your headset wirelessly to your smartphone without this.

Sound quality and performance: One headset for everything, does this have a negative impact on the sound quality? No! The 40 mm graphene drivers that were already used in Logitech's Pro X 2 Lightspeed are also used here. They ensure clear, clear playback without losing much. The smallest details are shown to their best advantage, dialogues shine and the precision ensures that you can, for example, locate steps very precisely. Which is of course very useful for competitive games, I'm thinking of Battlefield, Counter-Strike and Co. Even when it's not really important, the drivers do an excellent job with music, dialogue and other noises.

At the same time, the Astro A50 X still supports 3D audio on the PlayStation 5 and Dolby Atmos on the Xbox. What can't it actually do? If there is reason for criticism, it is only slightly with the treble. Mids and lows sound excellent and no distortions disturb your listening pleasure. Explosions and gunshots in games or other powerful bass sounds in music, films and television delight your ears with great playback. There is no area that is in any way at a major disadvantage compared to the others. No matter whether you watch bright action films with constant crashes and rattles (Die Hard etc.), or more quiet things like documentaries (Our Blue Planet), you won't be disappointed. When it came to music, I was able to feed the Astro A50

The microphone of the Astro A50 X sounds similarly excellent. At least for headset standards. If you take streaming a little more seriously, you should still use a stand microphone, but for everything else – voice chats, video calls or telephone calls – Logitech's headset is sufficient and transmits your voice clearly and clearly.

Software: Using the Logitech software, which is available on the PC and via the app on smartphones, you can, among other things, make detailed settings on the equalizer and thus adapt the sound of the Astro A50 X to your own needs. There are even corresponding settings for the microphone, although it sounds pretty good out of the box. Nice: The settings you make apply generally to all systems to which you have connected the headset, not just to individual platforms.

You can buy the Logitech G Astro A50 X directly from Logitech pre-order.

Logitech G Astro A50 X – Conclusion

Who is the Astro A50 X worth in the end? I'd say it's well worth considering if you have at least both a PS5 and an Xbox Series X/S. And maybe a PC. That definitely justifies the 400 euros if you only have to buy a single headset for everything together. You shouldn't give it a thought if you only have one of the systems mentioned. Then you would be better off with a cheaper headset that is only intended for this purpose but is of a comparable level of quality. The quality of the Astro A50 For me personally, I just think it's a shame that the base station has to be active even for the Bluetooth connection. Otherwise, it's just super comfortable and spoils your ears with its sound. What more do you want?