The manufacturer Astro Gaming has been a well-known name among gamers for many years. For example, I can remember my first experience with the A40, which was almost 15 years ago. With the smaller A30, the manufacturer already offered a multi-platform headset with broad compatibility for around ten years, which they are now reissuing as a wireless variant. Our Astro A30 Wireless review clarifies how good it sounds and what the headset has up its sleeve.
Specifications
| Design | Over-ear |
| Driver | 40 mm (Moving Coil) |
| Frequency Range (Headphone) | 20 – 20,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 32 Ohm @ 1kHz |
| Sound pressure level | 105 dB SPL/mW @ 1 KHz |
| Microphone type | 2 microphones (integrated, boom) |
| Connectors | USB Type-C, 3.5mm jack, wireless (USB-A receiver) |
| Range (Wireless) | < 10 meters |
| Battery life | Over 27 hrs |
| Charge time | about 2 hours |
| Weight | 330 g |
| Compatibility | PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch Mobile |
| Price | UVP: 249,00 Euro (current: € 189.00 *) |
Astro A30 Wireless review: the scope of delivery
For the test of the recently introduced Astro A30 Wireless, the manufacturer equipped us with the white variant, but the wireless gaming headset is also optionally offered in black.
After opening, we are first greeted by a large and high-quality transport case, while the obligatory instructions and notes were somewhat uncharitably stuck to the bottom of the packaging.
Inside the travel case, the other contents are then found, well sorted. In addition to the gaming headset itself, Astro Gaming includes a USB-A receiver, the detachable microphone boom, and two cables: a USB-C to USB-A charging cable, as well as an analog 3.5mm jack cable, both coming to a length of 1.5 meters.
Design and finish
- High-quality, classy design
- Individualizable appearance through speaker tags
- Sensible, easy-to-reach controls
Let’s not beat around the bush: the Astro A30 Wireless is definitely one of, if not the nicest, gaming headset I could hold in my hands so far. Sure, design is a matter of taste and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, I personally like the look of the wireless model, especially the white version.
Visually, the new A30 is relatively simple and looks comparatively compact. However, the outer sides of the ear cups immediately catch the eye in terms of design. These are, typical for the manufacturer, equipped with so-called “speaker tags”. These are covers that you can replace and even personalize if desired.
From the factory, however, there are transparent covers on the outer sides with the manufacturer’s logo on the left and the product name on the right. Underneath the speaker tags, the gaming headset relies on a flip-flop finish, as known from the automotive sector.
Depending on the incidence of light, viewing angle and brightness, the color of the paint changes so that the underlying logo sometimes shimmers purple, blue, gold or greenish. A must-have? Nope. A playful advantage? Nope. But it certainly looks damn chic.
In contrast, the rest of the A30 Wireless is surprisingly discreet and restrained. Only the slightly curved headband stands out as another detail from the simple design.
Controls and ports are located on both sides of the headset. On the left side of the bottom, you can connect the boom microphone and optionally the 3.5 mm jack cable. On the outside, you’ll also find a switch that allows you to quickly mute the microphone.
The USB-C port for charging is located on the bottom right, and a square and grooved joystick is above it, which is responsible for adjusting the volume or controlling the music, for example. Above that, on the inside, the manufacturer places the Bluetooth pairing button, while the power button is at the very top.
Basically, the design, especially by Astro standards, looks much more restrained than, for example, still in the A20 Wireless (our review) and not quite as angular. In the curves, at least in my eyes, the design language of the Logitech G mother becomes a bit recognizable. The rounded edges are remotely reminiscent of those of the Logitech G435 (our review).
The workmanship of the Astro A30 Wireless
- Mostly made of hard plastic
- Still built to be valuable and sturdy
In terms of workmanship, the manufacturer once again relies predominantly on hard plastic. Nevertheless, the Astro A30 Wireless definitely feels high-quality and sturdy. The upper side of the padded headband also convinces with a pleasant, roughened feel.
According to the plastic construction, the headset naturally emits a slight material smell after the first use. However, this disappears very quickly. I also like the fact that the rotating mechanism of the ear cups and the headband are relatively stiff and thus cannot be accidentally adjusted or rotated.
Similar to the recently reviewed SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, the Astro headset also looks surprisingly robust and high-quality. This shows once again that it doesn’t always have to be metal or cool aluminum.
Comfort of the A30 Wireless
- High wearing comfort thanks to soft padding
- Relatively tight and rather unsuitable for large ears
With a weight of 329 grams, the A30 Wireless is slightly lighter than the SteelSeries model mentioned, but significantly heavier than, for example, a Corsair HS55 Wireless, which only weighs 266 grams.
The relatively small ear cups are also visually striking, but they are covered with a 2.4 cm thick and very soft leatherette pad. The headband’s padding is similarly soft, but not quite as generously proportioned at around 1.2 cm. Still, the combination makes for a good wearing comfort with a moderate contact pressure on the ears.
Personally, during the Astro A30 Wireless review, I was able to wear the headset for several hours without any problems, without it pressing uncomfortably or getting particularly warm under the pads.
Now, I also have relatively small ears. It could get a bit tight for larger ears. Inside, your ears have about 58 mm in height and 37 mm in width at their disposal – that’s below average, which is why the gaming headset is certainly not really suitable for really big ears. Sure: thanks to the soft materials, the space available when wearing the headset naturally increases, but most competitors offer much more room here.
However, the pleasant feeling when wearing the device should not go unmentioned. Due to the relatively compact design and the comparatively small ear cups, the A30 looks much less bulky on the head than the competition. Which, in turn, I also find very pleasant.
Practice and operation
- Wireless, Bluetooth and jack possible at the same time
- Widespread compatibility
- Requires own receiver for PlayStation/Xbox
In practice, the Astro A30 Wireless is a real jack of all trades and can handle just about anything you throw at it. Connect USB dongle to PC or PlayStation 4/5 (or optionally Xbox Series X/S and One, given the appropriate counterpart) and you’re ready to go.
Pairing via Bluetooth, for example with a smartphone, also works flawlessly and quickly. Alternatively, the headset can also be connected to almost all audio sources via a classic 3.5 mm jack cable.
However, there is one downside in terms of connectivity. In order to be able to use the A30 wirelessly with PlayStation and Xbox consoles, you need the appropriate USB transmitter from the manufacturer.
This means: If you buy the PlayStation version, you can only use the headset with the Xbox via cable if you don’t buy the corresponding Xbox USB dongle and vice versa. What the new A30 transmitter costs, I could not find out yet. The variant for the A20 is 19.99 euros and is exclusively offered via the manufacturer’s shop.
On the other hand, the dual connectivity is again convincing. The A30 Wireless can be connected via Bluetooth and the USB dongle at the same time, enabling playback from smartphone and PC or console. A third, simultaneously usable connection can even be added via the jack cable if desired.
You can also switch between the current sources at the push of a button and even adjust the respective volume between two audio sources via sound mixing. This works flawlessly in practice and proves to be very practical. Only Bluetooth Multipoint is (unfortunately) conspicuous by its absence. Two BT sources can thus not be connected simultaneously.
Precise operation
The operation also does an impeccable job. Here, the 4-way joystick comes into its own, which also functions as a clickable button. Pressing it starts or pauses audio playback, double-tapping jumps to the next song, triple-tapping to the previous one. Holding it down calls up the smartphone’s respective voice assistant.
Move the joystick up or down to adjust the volume. To the left and right, you can change the mixing of two connected sources. Everything is self-explanatory and precise. That fits (and pleases).
The headset also confirms most inputs with an audio cue that informs you, for example, when you mute the microphone or reach maximum volume. If desired, however, the acoustic cues can simply be turned off.
Battery life, charging time and range
- Around 27 hrs runtime (USB mode)
- Fully charged in around 1 hr 45 minutes
- Below average range (wireless and Bluetooth)
The manufacturer promises over 27 hours of battery life for the Astro A30 Wireless. Of course, this always depends on the source, quality and especially volume. In practice, however, this value seems realistic. Even when I prefer my games or music very loud, the battery lasted for about 26 hours.
And that’s in the almost latency-free transmission with the help of the USB receiver, which, by the way, uses Logitech’s LIGHTSPEED technology. If you only connect the headset via Bluetooth, you should get a few more hours of runtime.
Charging via USB Type-C is also fast. A full charge from 0 to 100 percent takes less than two hours. However, the A30 unfortunately weakens in terms of range, both via USB and in Bluetooth mode.
In any case, I couldn’t even come close to the promised 15 meters in the test. In USB mode, sound dropouts already occurred after about seven meters, via Bluetooth I lost the connection after just under nine meters.
Audio and microphone quality
- Very good audio quality
- Lush bass, pleasing mix
- Good for listening to music
Sound-wise, the A30 Wireless serves the usual standards, at least in terms of technical data. A frequency band of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz at an impedance of 32 ohms are on record, realized by 40 mm audio drivers.
Standard fare, yes. But Astro really gets a lot out of the installed hardware. The drivers are courageous and offer a coherent mix, where especially the powerful bass and the good three-dimensionality are convincing.
It’s definitely a pleasing sound that accurately portrays lush explosions and sounds without them coming heavily to the fore. The A30 Wireless also manages to differentiate the frequencies very well. The mids present themselves nice and clear, which also makes the headset quite suitable for podcasts or content with a focus on voices.
Especially with the trebles, however, a few problems reveal themselves, at volumes above 80 percent. These are displayed too shrill and sharp by default, which can sometimes be unpleasant. Fortunately, you can counteract this with the help of the companion app and significantly improve the sound.
How good are the microphones?
- Choice between two microphones (integrated and boom)
- Convincing volume
- Good, but not fully convincing quality
A special feature of the Astro A30 Wireless can also be found in the microphone. Or rather, in the microphones. You can either use the headset with the built-in mic on the inside, which is of course particularly suitable for on the go. Or you can plug in the 15 cm long boom microphone to improve the quality.
However, the “crystal clear” sound promised by the manufacturer is not achieved at any point. Although the quality of both microphones is on a good level, we have seen and heard much cheaper gaming headsets with better voice reproduction.
The voice reproduction of the boom microphone in particular is convincing with good dynamics and quite clear intelligibility. However, the user’s own voice sounds comparatively nasal, while problems with S and plosive sounds are especially audible. However, the volume is convincing.
Both microphones are sufficient for gaming and allow clear communication, but not much more. A less than half as expensive Corsair HS55 Wireless offers a much better microphone quality, but is at a disadvantage in terms of sound and playback quality.
Software connectivity: Logitech G mobile app
- Clearly designed and clearly laid out
- Only mobile app available, no software for PC/Mac
The companion software, or rather companion app, is the new Logitech G mobile app, which is free to download on iOS and Android. It is so new that the QR code in the headset manual currently leads to a 404 error page.
A fine-tuning on the PC is therefore not even possible. However, the app offers a variety of settings and the option to create and save your own profiles. On the clearly structured start page, you can, for example, directly view the battery status, change the mode or adjust the volume.
You can also access the advanced options here. You can add three levels of noise gate to the microphone and activate a side tone to hear yourself when you speak.
Regarding the sound, two presets are stored in advance. However, you can make and save your own settings using the 5-band equalizer. Lowering the bass and treble is particularly recommended to achieve the best possible sound. You can also download and install firmware updates, adjust the automatic shutdown timer when not in use, or increase or decrease the number of acoustic cues.
All in all, a clearly structured and comprehensive app. But why you don’t have to make any settings on the PC and necessarily resort to a mobile device is beyond me.
Astro A30 Wireless review: Conclusion
The Astro A30 Wireless does a lot right. First and foremost, it convinces with a very good audio quality, high-quality workmanship and a chic and simple design. The battery life is also more than impressive.
The extensive connectivity is also convincing and even allows connecting and using three different audio sources at the same time. Personally, I am also completely satisfied with the wearing comfort, but the offered space might simply be too small for people with large ears.
The microphone quality is good, but cannot keep up with similarly expensive and sometimes even cheaper headsets. The wireless range could also be a bit longer. Otherwise, there is not much to complain about. The mobile app does a good job of customizing the headset, although I would have liked to see settings on the PC. On the other hand, it is a pity that I need a separate USB receiver for wireless use on PlayStation and Xbox.
However, the current price is a bit too high for what is offered, since the competition in the segment around 250 Euros usually has even more to offer. However, if the price drops a bit or you value a multi-platform headset with a classy design, you can still buy it now without hesitation.
Astro A30 Wireless
Workmanship
Comfort
Sound quality
Recording quality
Features
Value for money
88/100
Very classy and high-quality wireless gaming headset with versatile connectivity, very good sound and long battery life. The microphone quality is not completely convincing, and the price is a bit too high.
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