Astro A50 Gen 5 vs A50 X
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Differences Summary
A50 Gen 5 (left) and A50 X.
There are two main differences between the Astro A50 Gen 5 and A50 X:
The A50 Gen 5 Base Station connects to Xbox Series S|X, PS5, and PC using USB-C only. The A50 X uses USB-C for all 3 as well, but it also has HDMI connectivity for Xbox and PS5. This lets the A50 X function as an HDMI switcher for Xbox and PS5.
The Game/Voice volume mixer on the A50 Gen 5 works completely on Xbox and PC, however it does not work on PS5. The Game/Voice mixer does work on the A50 X on PS5 thanks to the HDMI + USB-C connection.
Clicking the “Game” or “Voice” button allows for instant volume adjustment of game audio, Discord or in-game chat volume.
So… which one to get?
If you use both an XBox and PS5 on the same monitor, do you care about having your headset work as an HDMI switcher for them? Also, do you care about using a headset to adjust the voice chat and game volume on PS5? If the answer to those questions is yes, then I recommend the A50 X. If the answer is no, then the A50 Gen 5 will suffice.
Connectivity Differences Explained
Here’s a deeper breakdown of how both headsets connect and what the differences between them mean. First, what they have in common:
Both the A50 Gen 5 and A50 X are wireless only headsets. They charge by placing them on the metal prongs on their included Base Station. The Base Station must be plugged into the included AC adapter for the headsets to work.
These can be connected to Xbox Series S|X, PS5, and PC at the same time. However, audio only actually plays from one at a time. The “PLAYSYNC” button switches which system’s audio plays through the headset.
Now, for why that HDMI difference matters…
HDMI passthrough and Game/Voice Mixing
A50 X Base Station.
On the A50 X, the PLAYSYNC button also switches which HDMI input is passed through to the monitor. To get maximum compatibility with the HDMI passthrough and switcher functionality, HDMI 2.1 cables are required.
Additionally, outside of a few Sony branded headsets like the InZone H9, most headsets cannot adjust the game volume and voice chat volume separately on PS5. You have to use the system’s clunky menus instead. However, the A50 X Base Station bypasses this issue by allowing the game audio to be sent through HDMI and the voice audio through USB-C.
(I explain how to set this up at 1:18 of the video at the top of this article)
16-Bit vs 24-Bit Audio
Not only does the HDMI connection allow game/voice mixing to work properly on PS5, but audiophiles may enjoy the fact that the HDMI passthrough allows for 24-bit/48 KHz audio playback instead of just 16-bit/48 KHz on consoles. Normally, only the USB-C port labeled “PC” supports 24-bit audio and the other two are limited to 16-bit.
Does this actually matter in practice? I can’t tell a difference between 24-bit and 16-bit audio at all, and if you research what it does, it just expands the theoretical dynamic range between the noise floor and loudest sound in a mix. If that matters to you, the A50 X may interest you more. For most people, it doesn’t matter.
Similarities
Aside from the HDMI connection option on the A50 X, these are basically the exact same headset. The headphone audio quality, microphone audio, weight, etc. are all the same.
Each headset has a stated battery life of 24 hours, but this number doesn’t really matter if you put them back on the Base Station after each use. They both have Bluetooth audio that plays simultaneously with game and voice chat audio. You can even use the flip-to-mute mics via Bluetooth and on console at the same time.
Even though these headsets are basically the same in the aforementioned ways, here’s a quick rundown of how they perform anyway.
Headphone Audio Quality
Using the A50 Gen 5 in Halo Infinite.
The A50 Gen 5 and A50 X use 40 mm graphene drivers. They are similar to the Logitech G Pro X 2 in that they are very detailed, but these are much more bass forward. These have my favorite audio of any gaming headset on the market. They’re right up there with the EPOS PC38X using the velour pads.
However, if you aren’t into the default sound signature, the G Hub app on PC and phones will let you customize the EQ for the mic and headphone audio. These adjustments apply to console as well.
Dolby Atmos is available for both headsets., but it’s not available on PS5.
Logitech G Hub on PC. The phone app is required to make adjustments to console audio.
These don’t have quite the same level of sound separation as the Audeze Maxwell or Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro, but they have a very natural sound with the entire audible spectrum of 20 Hz - 20 KHz fully represented. Footsteps in FPS games are still very prominent, but they come off as more of a “thump” rather than a high heel “clack”.
Both headsets come with an automatically enabled license for Dolby Atmos on PC and Xbox Series S|X.
Microphone Audio Quality
These are two of the best headset mics out. They’re on par with the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro 2023. I join Discord calls often, and almost no one on the other end could tell the difference between this and my Shure MV7. Now I just use the A50 X for convenience.
The tonality is great and the plosive rejection is decent. The only real weakness is there’s minimal background noise rejection and there’s no dedicated noise removal filter in the software.
Comfort and Build Quality
The A50 Gen 5 and A50 X both weigh about 367 grams. They're mostly made of plastic, but there's a small amount of metal on the adjustment hinges. The plastic on the top of the handband doesn't peel as easily as the Gen 4, but I can already see a few tiny scuffs on my A50 X after just over a year.
If you liked the A50 Gen 4, these will feel almost identical and very comfortable. Personally, I think they're maybe a B or B- in comfort.
The main issue is they're straight up too heavy. Wireless headsets have been trending towards this for a while unfortunately.
Secondly, Astro no longer sells a "Mod Kit" which was an alternate pair of pleather ear cushions. The stock cloth pads are passable, but they can get irritating after a few hours and they don't trap in bass as much as I prefer.
Overall, the build quality is decent and they're somewhat comfortable, but I'd try them on inside of a store like Best Buy first if you have time.
Verdict
The A50 X gets my pick as the #1 best gaming headset from 2024 onwards. The A50 Gen 5 matches everything great about the A50 X - it just skips out on the HDMI connection.
If you need game/chat volume mixing on PS5 and want your headset to work as an HDMI switcher, get the A50 X. If you don't care about that stuff, I recommend the A50 Gen 5.
