Sony PS3 Slim 250GB

PS3 Slim 250GB: Overview

Even before the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim 120GB came out in September, there were rumours that a 250GB beast was on the horizon.

And here it is. You might not have even noticed it thus far – it slinked onto the shelves earlier this month without much fanfare and only a token PR effort from Sony.

However, despite the low-key launch, what we have here is the best PlayStation 3 system you can buy.

That said, it's essentially exactly the same as the 120GB version, but with 130 more of those precious gigabytes packed in for good measure.

That extra storage capacity is likely to become invaluable in the future. With the PlayStation Network (PSN) improving all the time, and with downloadable games, demos, movies and HD content becoming more mainstream, you could that you fill up a smaller HDD quite quickly.

But it depends on your usage of course, so if you can't see yourself downloading HD movies or buying games from the PSN, you might be better off plumping for the cheaper option.

It's worth pointing out that at the time of publishing, the 250GB PS3 Slim is retailing for around £270. That's £20 more pricey than the 120GB version - but with more than double the storage capacity, it seems like a good deal to us.

It's also available as part of an Uncharted 2: Among Thieves bundle at no extra cost, so be sure to snap that one up before they sell out.

PS3 Slim 250GB: Design

The first thing to note about the PS3 Slim is undoubtedly the design. It's split opinions in the office so far, and although this reviewer thinks the design is an abomination, others think it's actually nicer than the original.

The differences are: the design is very similar, but one third smaller. So it actually looks like something of a smaller brother to the original PS3.

Instead of a nice glossy finish, what we have here is a dull matte, flimsy plastic casing that neither feels classy nor sturdy.

Gone, too, is the sexy chrome trimming, with the silver 'PlayStation 3' writing being replaced by a lacklustre 'PS3' logo embossed on the top of the case.

The on/off and disc-eject touch-sensitive buttons are also conspicuous by their absence, and they've been replaced by real buttons that give way when you push them. How boring is that?

You've still got two USB ports round the front, and round the pack there's the usual HDMI, AV multi-out, optical-out and ethernet ports. The kettle power cable has been replaced by a slimmer two-pin cable.

The problem with the PS3 Slim is that it looks so cheap. Sony has taken the opportunity to strip out all of the cool, aesthetic design features from the original, in what can only be a cost-cutting measure.

We're not totally against this, although we'd have liked some more of these savings to be passed on to us - the PS3 Slim 250GB is still £70 more expensive than the newly-priced £199 Xbox 360 Elite, and £30 more than the PS3 Slim 120GB for that matter.

Consider also that the PlayStation 2 spent the vast majority of its life selling for $199 in the US and £199 in the UK. Nearly three years into its life, the cheapest PS3 still costs £250 – that's a lot of money in the scheme of things.

PS3 Slim 250GB: Performance

Once you get over the new-look design, and despite the slimmer, more power-efficient innards, the PS3 is still essentially the same beast.

Once you've turned it on, the differences end. The interface is the same. The controller is the same – although you do get a DualShock 3 controller instead of standard SIXAXIS – and the user experience is the same.

We did some very basic real-world benching and found that the PS3 Slim does actually boot a couple of seconds slower than our original 60GB PS3, although in practise that makes zero difference. The time it takes to load games and play DVDs are exactly the same.

Fan

One of the main gains you'd expect from a more power efficient PS3 would be that it would operate a lot more quietly. After all, with less energy being wasted as heat, the fan doesn't need to work so hard and thus pumps out less irritating white noise.

While we didn't measure the exact volume of the PS3 Slim's 17-blade fan, 95mm fan, it did seem to our trained ears to be slightly quieter when playing games. However – the PS3 has always been pretty quiet. Compared to the Xbox 360, the PS3 can be considered an extremely stealthy console.

The main noise actually comes from the disc drive. When you're watching a DVD, the spinning disc makes a lot more noise than the cooling fan. And this hasn't changed much – if at all. It's still loud enough to be annoying during those quieter scenes.

Home cinema

Of course, as before, the PS3's major trump card is its built-in Blu-ray drive which gives you the power to play back Blu-ray movies in glorious full HD 1080p.

The major new home cinema feature inside the PS3 Slim's new components, though, is its ability to bitstream Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio to a receiver over HDMI. This will seriously please the audiophiles, but for the rest of us it'll make almost no difference at all.

One slight disappointment with the PS3 Slim is its performance as a CD player. The original was a pretty decent CD and DVD spinner – but the Slim's thinner Blu-ray drive has proven to be a bit of a let-down.

Our colleagues at Home Cinema Choice actually measured the audio jitter of the slim – which returned a figure of over 460ps – a world apart from the original PS3's 138ps.

The audio in DVD playback was also disappointing from a perfectionist's point of view – with a measured high frequency response of -6.14dB. Will you notice this if you haven't got a top of the range hi-fi set up and a perfect set of ears? Probably not.

Still, though, the PS3's ability to upscale DVDs remains. The console uses its Cell processor to upscale DVDs to 1080p high definition, so even your DVD movies will look fantastic on an HD display. The Cell's enormous processing power can also be used to clean up fuzzy, blocky or grainy parts in DVDs or downloaded movie files.

PS3 Slim 250GB: Media and gaming

The PS3 is also compatible with a wide array of file formats which means you can play almost any media file – picture, video or music – without a problem. Popular DivX and Xvid video formats are supported out of the box so playing your digital movie collection is pretty straight forward.

And you can do that in two ways - you can copy them to a USB storage device and plug it in, or you can stream them from your PC over your home network either wirelessly or via Ethernet.

All media can be accessed in this way, which means if you've got a lot of photos, music and videos on your computer, you can view them on your PS3 as though they were stored locally.

Gaming

As a gaming device, the PS3 is arguably slightly more powerful than the Xbox 360. So technically, in terms of graphics, the PS3 is as good as they come.

However, three year's into its life cycle, the PS3 still lags far behind the Xbox 360 as a gaming device, and that's because of the games available.

The Xbox 360 launched over a year before the PS3, and so was able to build up a large catalogue of games before the PS3 even made it into one living room. And even since then, the Xbox 360 platform has seen more games launched.

And that's before we even mention the differences between Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network (PSN). Comparing the two services is like comparing a fine wine to a bottle of Lambrini. For multiplayer gaming then, the 360 has it.

But the PSN on the PS3 is catching up, with big updates expected very soon.

The PlayStation 3 does, of course, have plenty of gaming exclusives of its own. Series' such as Metal Gear Solid will only ever be available on PlayStation consoles, and then the much-mooted Gran Turismo 5 will be launched on PS3 this Christmas.

Back compatibility

You also need to remember that other than the original 60GB model, no PS3 is compatible with PS2 games. So beware if you're thinking of ditching your PS2 and upgrading - you'll need to hang on to your old console if you still want to play all your existing games.

So if gaming is your main consideration when buying a console – and it seems likely that it is – your best bet is just to look at the games available for each platform and make a decision from there. Who knows, maybe you'll realise that what you've wanted all along is actually a Nintendo Wii?

PS3 Slim 250GB: Graphics

While the nature of a console's 6-10 year life cycle means that they usually lag behind PCs in terms of graphical fidelity, that's not to say that the eye-candy on offer here isn't breathtaking.

The fact that the current generation of consoles heralded the jump to high-definition, means that while textures and models might be rendered at higher resolutions in games such as Crysis on PC, PS3 games can still look absolutely stunning.

Take two of the prettiest games around at the moment as examples; Dirt 2 (also available on Xbox 360) and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3 exclusive).

Both are at the cutting edge, and push the PS3 almost as far as it can go. Uncharted 2 in particular is probably the prettiest game ever made.

See for yourself:

Dirt 2

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See high-res version

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Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

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See high-res version

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PS3 Slim 250GB: Verdict

The jury is out on whether you should buy the new PS3 Slim. If you've already got a PS3 in either its 40GB, 60GB, 80GB or 120GB flavours, it's almost definitely not worth upgrading to this 250GB version.

Unless you're desperate for more storage, there's not much here to justify spending another £270 on the newer model.

However, as a games console and media device, the PS3 is an unbelievably powerful contraption. It's an unrivalled living room media machine, and a powerful games console.

We do have serious concerns about the price, though - £270 is a lot to spend these days, especially when you can get the 120GB Xbox 360 Elite for less than £200.

We liked

Even though we don't like the aesthetics of the design, the smaller size is great – at last, here's a PS3 console that isn't so big that it dominates any room you put it in.

Other than that, it's business as usual. We loved the PS3 before the PS3 Slim came out, and we still love it. The Blu-ray drive is great as ever, but what we really love is the ability to stream almost any media file format from your PC or memory stick.

We also like the fact that you can use almost any Bluetooth device with the PS3. You can use any Bluetooth headset to chat with your friends. And you can use Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to navigate the built-in web browser.

We disliked

Yeah, we think the design is ugly. But hey, you might like it – some do, some don't. But even if you do like the look of it, it's impossible to appreciate the general cheapness of its build. The original PS3 felt bullet proof. The new one feels like it might break if a moth landed on it.

Considering the reduced manufacturing costs associated with the PS3 Slim, and the horrible, cheap plastic it's encased in, we'd have expected a price closer to £200 – so cost is another big drawback.

Conclusion

Over all, the PS3 Slim 250B is a phenomenal piece of kit. It's amazing that something so small can do so much. And so if you've just bought a new telly, that extra £70 you'd have to spend over the cost of an Xbox 360 Elite will be worth it just for the Blu-ray player and massive storage drive.

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Sony Pulse Wireless Headset: Elite Edition

Until recently wireless audio for the Xbox 360 has always required...well...wires. Not so with the PlayStation 3. If there's one thing Sony did right it was designing their flagship console in such a way that it was compatible with any Bluetooth headset. That said, gamers wanna look like gamers and not all Bluetooth headsets are built the same.

Enter the Sony Pulse Wireless Headset: Elite Edition for the PS3. With an MSRP of around $149 (£90) the Pulse not only boasts the level of audio quality we've come to expect from a Sony headset, but it's also really comfortable. Even on some relatively large heads.

The Sony Pulse Wireless Headset: Elite Edition resembles its predecessor the Sony PlayStation 3 Wireless Stereo Headset that came out last year. The huge, comfortable earpieces are great for those long gaming sessions and both headphones boast the same virtual 7.1 surround-sound technology. While the Pulse looks much better than the original headset, anyone who already owns the original will be hard pressed to come up with a reason why to upgrade.

Where the Sony Pulse Wireless Headset: Elite Edition shines is in how easy it is to setup and pair with your PS3 or PC. As multiplatform gamers,TechRadar is currently enamored with the Astro A50, a device that works with anything you own with a power button. That said, you can't escape how easy it is to set this thing up. Shipping with a small USB wireless adapter that looks a lot like a USB memory stick, you simply plug the USB adapter into one of your PS3's USB ports (the process is the same when pairing the headset with a PC) and your PS3 will communicate with your headset as if it's just another controller.

This will give you onscreen information about the headset's battery level, the sound profile you happen to be using and whether or not your mic is on. As with the Tritton Warhead 7.1 Headset on the Xbox 360, all of this information is made available when you hit the PlayStation button on your controller.

The Sony Pulse Wireless Headset: Elite Edition ships with a 3.5mm audio cable that let's you use the headset with everything from an MP3 player to a smartphone or even a PS Vita. The versatile USB adapter gives you the option of even using the headset with a TV which means that, technically, you can use it with non-PS3 consoles by way of your standard TV audio.

While we welcome the ability to use the Pulse with any audio device thanks to the included 3.5mm cable, the cable feels super-cheap and delicate and we can easily see users wearing them out and needing a replacement. And while the Pulse's rechargeable battery uses the same USB cable that charges your Dual Shock controller, we don't understand why the unit doesn't ship with a USB cable of its own.

Since the Pulse acts like yet another controller, the headset itself boasts a plethora of controls. There's a button that lets you mute the mic as well as sliders on each of the cans that control things like volume levels and sound profiles. The Pulse sports seven audio profiles that range from "Music" and "Shooter" to "Racing" and "Movie" and use the headset's BassImpact feature to give you a different experience.

Obviously in "Racing" mode the motors inside the cans emulate the rumbling of engines while in "Music" mode they adjust for whatever the bass response is in the music you're listening to. There's also an option to just turn BassImpact off you'd rather not have your head vibrate for hours on end.

We tested the Pulse with Spec Ops: The Line, Madden NFL 13 and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and while the Pulse's virtual surround sound can't compete with true 7.1 audio, we still enjoyed the experience. Gunshots and explosions in the shooters sounded great and hits in Madden also proved thunderous.

The Pulse does away with the boom mic that adorned last year's version, opting instead for a hidden mic in the left earpice. We welcomed not looking like a telemarketer while gaming and in multiplayer sessions our "buddies" reported that they had no problem hearing our trash talk.

We liked

As a $150 wireless headset, the Pulse offers fine sound quality at a reasonable price. We especially liked how well it integrated with our PS3. Having the unit's battery life and mix settings displayed at the ready with just a press of the PS button is very convenient and makes for a nicely integrated experience. We also appreciated the hidden mic, which makes it a more compact device we'd never feel awkward wearing.

We disliked

The lack of USB cable is annoying, and we'll always prefer more versatile headsets that work with more than one gaming console. However, the Pulse makes up for it with a respectable price tag and by playing so nice with the PS3's interface.

Verdict

Simply put, the Sony Pulse Wireless Headset: Elite Edition is a great headset. If you're a PS3 gamer that's in the market for an affordable wireless headset that also works with a portable device, you'll be pleased with this unit. That said, if you're a multiplatform gamer your needs will be better met by a more versatile product like the Astro A50.

Related Stories

• Hands-on review: E3 2012: Astro Gaming A50 Wireless Gaming Headset
• Review: Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Headset for Xbox 360
• Review: Razer Tiamat 7.1 Gaming Headset
• Review: Astro A50 Gaming Headset review
• Review: Duo Gamer iOS Controller

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Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Headset for Xbox 360

Introduction and design

If you want to be rocked by airstrikes, trash talk opponents or just hear the footsteps of an enemy sneaking up for a melee kill, nothing can boost your online gaming experience like a quality headset.

Designed exclusively for the Xbox 360, the Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Headset has stereo sound that brings the battlefield into the living room. It's also the only way to get "truly" wireless chat on the 360, no Bluetooth dongle required.

Tritton's parent company Mad Catz won the exclusive rights to develop a headset for the 360 that's free from a mic cord tethering it to a controller or Bluetooth receiver. The Warhead headset is truly wireless, easy to sync, and ships with a combination docking station and battery charger that makes this stylish set of surround sound cans into a complete audio package.

There are also two high-capacity batteries to swap between, so you'll never be without a charge when the flak starts flying.

The Warhead's stellar interface and luxurious extras all seem to be "buttering" the consumer up in preparation for the stiff asking price of $300. It's among the heftiest price tags on the market, but is the Warhead immersive enough to be the go-to headset of Xbox gamers looking to really spoil themselves? We're glad you asked!

Design

With its sleek dark finish, the Warhead was surely designed with the matte black look of the Xbox 360 S in mind. The interior of the earphones is Tritton's signature bright orange, which makes for an eye catching combination.

Compared with other surround sound headsets, the Warhead is none too heavy. Its ear pieces are padded with imitation leather, and are designed to pivot slightly for a more comfortable fit. The headset's adjustable sizing is marked with numbered increments, so as to keep the size right where you like it.

The buttons on the headset are laid out practically, with the power and sync buttons hidden on the interior of the earpieces so users won't accidentally bump them. More frequently used switches like game and mic volume are placed on the left and right earpieces, which makes them easy to keep separate. There's also a big button for cycling through equalizer modes.

The Warhead's microphone is removable, you just snap it into the left earphone. It has its own on and off switch, so it's simple to mute yourself when you want to say something your team doesn't need to hear. There's even a red light to tell you when you're muted. The mic can rotate a full 360 degrees, making it easy to move out of the way when not in use, or you can just pull it right off to give your team the silent treatment.

Setup and audio quality

As an Xbox 360 exclusive device, setup with the Warhead is beautifully simple. The headset and accompanying base station click together with ease. The base station serves as a receiver, to get it going you just plug in its AC adapter and connect it to your Xbox via optical port (or through an included adapter if you're using an older model console.

Also, RCA cables are included for connecting directly to older televisions). Once that's done, connecting the headset works just like syncing a controller, just hit sync on the console and sync on the headset and you're ready to experience 7.1 sound.

Audio quality

With Dolby 7.1 surround sound and 50mm drivers, the Warhead produces wide and powerful audio. There are three equalizer presets, Games, Movies and Music, to help you get the most out of the headset's mixing capabilities. They're easily cycled through with a button on the right earpiece, and different colored LEDs on the base station denote each setting. Lighting up green, red and blue, they're easy to identify all the way from the couch.

To describe the Warhead's audio quality in broad terms, it's something of a Jack of all trades. Each preset performed admirably, proving the Warhead to be versatile enough for gaming, watching a DVD or Netflix or blasting your favorite album.

The 7.1 mix especially shined through, providing an immersive gaming and movie watching experience, and complex, layered sound for music. It has all the booming bass you need for a nuclear detonation or a classic hip hop track.

However, while it's capable of thundering, enveloping sound, it sometimes lacked fidelity. There were moments where dialog felt dampened, distant or not all that clear. We'd be tempted to forgive this, since the Warhead's wireless signal is so strong, but at $300 it's hard not to expect better.

The Warhead proved itself capable enough in the audio department. Its mix presets help it achieve a wide range of uses, something any user would want at such a high price point. While serious audiophiles won't find it good enough for music and movie watching, for the average user who wants to have a surround sound gaming experience, have an action movie rattle their dental work, or just stay up late watching Netflix without annoying their spouse or roommates will get their money's worth.

Microphone and docking station

While mic quality over Xbox Live is generally dependent on your internet connection, the Warhead provides excellent pick up and voice fidelity. It also did a good job of keeping out background noise, such as breathing.

Best of all, the Warhead separates game audio and your teammates' transmissions into two different audio channels, allowing you to tweak their respective volumes with two different toggles. This way you can still keep explosions nice and loud without having other gamers yelling in your ears.

Docking station

The Warhead's base station does triple duty as wireless receiver, dock and battery charger. It really ties the whole package together, giving you somewhere safe to keep your pricey headset when it's not in use. It takes a little manipulating to get the Warhead to rest in the stand properly, but it's an otherwise convenient, cool looking way to display your headset.

The base station features indicator lights for different types of sound: Dolby Headhphone, Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic IIx and standard Digital. This way you can tell exactly what type of stereo sound is being transmitted to your ears. There's also an Equalizer Mode Indicator, which tells you if you're on Music, Movie or Game mode.

Finally, there's a Ring of Light indicator, which uses a four quadrant read-out just like an Xbox controller, telling you which player the headset is paired with. This will come in handy if you ever sync more than one headset to the base station, which the Warhead system supports.

Charging a battery with the base station is very easy, just remove the magnetic face plate and pop the battery in. An indicator light will tell you the status of the battery's charge; red means it still needs time, greens tells you it's done.

Battery life, wireless range, and signal quality

The Warhead's battery life and easy charging system make it so you'll never need to worry about having enough juice to game with. The unit comes with two batteries, so you can always have one charging while the other powers your headset. Since the battery life is rated by Tritton for a minimum of 12 hours, a drained battery will always have ample time to charge back up while its partner takes over.

Tritton's 12 hour battery life claim is well-founded; it's even a tad modest. We enjoyed about 15 hours of gaming and movie watching before running out of power. Recharging a battery takes quite a while, but it's a non-issue since the system comes with a spare to swap in. They're even two different colors so you can remember which is ready and which needs to be charged.

Wireless range and signal quality

Broadcasting at 5.8GHz, well above the frequency of your average router or Xbox 360 controller, the Warhead is free from the interference and hiccups that mar lesser wireless headsets. Best of all, it does it with no mic cable or dongle sticking out of your controller.

Tritton rates the Warhead for 33ft/10m of radio frequency operating range, and once again the manufacturer's estimate holds true. Only a mansion fit for Bruce Wayne would have a living room big enough to flout the Warhead's wireless range.

We never suffered any interference from other devices, either. Standard household electronics, cell phones and other wireless gaming peripherals did not produce any noticeable issues. Nothing gave the signal any trouble, short of putting a wall between the headset and the base station.

Verdict

With its sleek design, 5.8GHz frequency and exclusive Xbox 360 compatibility, the Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Headset is for a gamer who wants a wireless audio solution he'll rarely need to think about. Short of turning the Warhead on and choosing an equalizer setting, this is a headset you'll never need to fool with. It delivers a great surround sound mix without annoying static or interference from other devices, and the two high capacity batteries ensure that you're always ready to play.

You can find a 360 headset with crisper audio than the Warhead, but you'd be hard pressed to find one with a wider mix, or a more reliable wireless connection. Having no receiver or cord plugged into the controller is a real luxury, but it's one you'll be paying well for.

More frugal gamers or serious audio enthusiasts won't like parting with $300 for this setup that can't really do it all. While it provides localized audio that's especially great for gaming, the lack of fidelity in certain quieter moments prevents it from being a true home theatre alternative.

Ultimately, it comes down to price. The occasional moment of muddy audio would be acceptable, given the strength of the Warhead's wireless signal, but at $300 it's hard to be forgiving. It's also annoying that such an expensive headset would be tied to a single device. I

f it had more versatile applications, like gaming on the PC or watching Blu-Rays on the PS3, it would be a better value. Still, it plays so nicely with the Xbox 360 we can almost forgive it for being a single console headset.

All in all, the Tritton Warhead is for gamers who will pay for wireless reliability at the cost of versatility and true audio fidelity. It's a great way to experience Gears of War 3 with friends online, just don't expect it to be the centerpiece of your home theatre setup.

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Duo Gamer iOS Controller

Everyone agrees that mobile gaming is the new hotness. Gameloft is on the forefront of this trend by creating iOS games that in many ways rival next-gen console titles. The one problem so far with playing games like N.O.V.A. 3 – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance or Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation is the control scheme that forces users to control the game via virtual thumb sticks on the screen of their iPad. While it works, it's not necessarily the best way to enjoy your gaming experience.

While controller options are already available for Android devices, in typical Apple fashion, it's taken awhile to have one available for iOS devices. Enter the Duo Gamer from Seattle-based Duo Games.

Designed to work with the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, the Duo Gamer sports dual analog thumb-sticks, six buttons, a D-pad and connects with your iOS device via Bluetooth. Shipping with two AA batteries, we powered up the Duo Gamer, turned on our iPad's Bluetooth and the two devices were immediately talking to each other.

Since N.O.V.A. 3 – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance is the Gameloft title we're most familiar with we decided to start off with that title. The game detected the controller immediately and playing instantly became more enjoyable.

The controller is solidly built and the recognizable button layout will be immediately familiar to anyone who uses an Xbox 360 or PS3. The Duo Gamer ships with a docking stand that serves the dual purpose of holding the controller when not in use but also propping up the iOS device during gameplay. Since most iPad owners already have a stand you'll probably just use that one instead of the Duo Gamer stand.

Seeing that the Duo Gamer turns your iOS device into a full-fledged gaming console, we connected our iPad to an HDTV via HDMI and actually played N.O.V.A. 3 from the comfort of a couch 10-feet away.

According to Gameloft and Duo Games the Duo Gamer is designed to work with several Gameloft titles including Asphalt 7: Heat, Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation, Order & Chaos Online, Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front, and N.O.V.A. 3 – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance. That said, during our testing we were only able to get it to work with N.O.V.A. 3 and Asphalt 7: Heat. We imagine that this will change as more users report issues with certain titles and updates are issued.

While we really enjoy using the Duo Gamer it doesn't come without some serious drawbacks. Most notably is the device's limited compatibility. The fact that it only works with Gameloft titles seriously limits its usefulness. Add to that, it's extremely expensive at $79.99 (£50).

We liked

The classic button layout makes the Duo Gamer instantly accessible, and using it immediately improves gameplay on all compatible titles. It's easy to sync, maintains a fine connection through bluetooth, and the inclusion of a stand and two AA batteries is thoughtful.

We disliked

The price, combined with the fact that it works with so few games. At $79.99 (£50), it's very tough to recommend given how few titles it supports.

Verdict

Simply put if you're a dedicated Gameloft fan then you'll probably be pleased with the Duo Gamer. That said, others will no doubt be put off by it's high price and lack of across the board compatibility.

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Review: Astro A50 Gaming Headset review

Introduction and design

Nothing enhances the gaming experience like a nice headset. Surround sound creates an immersive experience, and turns the footsteps of a foe into a dead giveaway of his location. Single player campaigns become journeys you won't want to back out of. Online, having a mic makes gaming into a social experience, letting you chat with your teammates, and coordinate tactics on the fly.

The Astro A50 is this kind of game-changing, experience enhancing headset, and at $300, it really should be. Thanks to Dolby Pro Logic IIx, it offers digitally mixed, 7.1 simulated surround sound. It's exactly what you need to feel enemy rockets rip past your face, and it's versatile enough to provide a good movie watching or music listening experience as well. Finally, the fact that it's compatible right out of the box with the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and any PC or Mac with an optical port, makes it more versatile than the Tritton Warhead 7.1, a comparable $300 headset that's Xbox-only.

Astro Studios is well known in the design space. In 2006 it spun off Astro Gaming, which has been competing with the likes of Turtle Beach and the Tritton brand from Mad Catz to produce the premiere gaming headset/home stereo alternative. While the Astro A50 isn't perfect, it's damn close, and the wide range of products it works with makes it a solid investment for tech fans with crowded entertainment centers.

The Astro A50 offers deep bass, crisp highs, and thanks to that Dolby Pro Logic IIx capability, software enabled sound mixing as good as any 7.1 headset on the market. Its only real flaws are a bulky design and a somewhat clumsy interface. You'll also need to pick up an adapter or two if you plan to connect to anything without an optical port, like a MacBook Pro. We also found that Astro's estimated 12-hours of battery life was a bit too generous, making a $7.99 Play and Charge Cable a must.

Also, there's an essential firmware update that fixes an issue with the A50s that causes an intermittent "pop" in the audio. If you purchased the A50s, make sure to download the update and install it.

Design

With great audio power comes a plus-sized headset; the Astro A50 is big and bulky, but still manages to be surprisingly comfortable. Every piece of the headset that comes in contact with your head, meaning the earpieces and the underside of the headband, is covered in soft, foam-like cloth. You'll definitely notice the weight of the A50s sitting on your head, but the gentle points of contact make it easy to wear. During long gaming sessions or while watching a movie we eventually forgot we were wearing it. You'd have to wear the A50 for a truly extended amount of time for it to become uncomfortable or tiring.

The fit of the A50s is not as snug as some headphones we've tested. It might feel a bit loose if you're used to something tighter, but we quickly go used to it. A more relaxed fit makes it easier on your ears, but it does mean the audio bleeds a bit. If you're cranking the sound, people around you will be able to hear it faintly. Just don't listen to any secret messages with enemy spies around.

Since the unit is large, Astro made a good choice in giving it a stealthy color scheme. The matte black finish is attractive and subdued; no need to draw any more attention to the oversized A50s. Red, semi-exposed cables running up the sides of the headband serve as an eye-catching highlight.

The microphone is super bendy and durable, and has one clever feature: pointing it straight up locks it in place and mutes it. It's a neat and convenient bit of design, but we still would have appreciated to option to simply remove the mic. Being able to tuck it straight up is a great feature for LAN parties or long gaming sessions, but makes you look like an unemployed cosmonaut when you're watching a movie. It would be nice if we could just take it off.

Setup and interface

Setup

One of the best features of the Astro A50 is how it plays nicely with so many different toys. As long a device has an optical port, the A50 will work with it right out of the box. Without an optical port, the A50 can connect to devices (like a MacBook) by plugging a standard 1/8th-inch speaker cable into the transmitter.

Once you've plugged in, syncing is relatively painless. Additionally, Astro includes a very simple Quick Start Guide that explains how to connect to a PlayStation 3, PC or Xbox 360S (an original Xbox 360 will require an AV adapter, component cable or use of your HDTV's optical port).

For most setups, the Astro A50 uses two connections: USB and optical. After plugging into those two ports, syncing is accomplished with by pressing a button on the transmitter and then the headset. LEDs flash for a second or two and then you're connected. When going between different consoles, all the plugging and unplugging can get annoying, depending on how accessible your home theatre is, but syncing is always reliable and easy.

However, on the Xbox 360, the A50 requires the dreaded chat cable to go between the headset and the controller. Unfortunately, since Mad Catz has the exclusive rights to true wireless chat on the Xbox 360 with its Warhead 7.1, this is just how it has to be.

Some devices, such as the PlayStation 3, need you to switch audio sources in the settings menu when going between the A50 and your television's speakers. This is easily accomplished, but may create trouble for other, less tech savvy members of your household.

Interface

Interface simplicity is key with something like the Astro A50 headset. When you're taking enemy fire in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or in the middle of an explosive cinematic climax, you don't want to be fooling with the volume controls. While we wouldn't call the A50's interface complex, it's not as simple as some headsets we've encountered, and its method of mixing game and voice sound took some getting used to.

The A50's master volume is controlled with a scroll wheel found on the lower part of the right earphone. It's easy to find at a moments notice, and not so loose that you'll flip it too fast and blow out your eardrums. However, the big Game to Voice balance button on the right earpiece can be a bit of trouble. Pressing the game side turns up the game volume and turns down voice, while pressing voice does the opposite.

We prefer headphones that treat game and voice sound as two individually adjustable channels, rather than the A50's method of adjusting one in relation to the other. It's by no means a deal breaker, but we suggest that you find a level you're comfortable with and then leave this big button alone in favor of the master volume.

Audio quality and battery life

Audio Quality

The Astro A50 is strong where it counts, and that's in the sound quality department, strong enough that it justifies its hefty build and heavy price tag. The A50 provides all around stellar sound, with the kind of excellent localization that will take your gaming experience to the next level. It's got a good amount of power and bass, but still retains great sound fidelity without undo distortion. While nothing can replaces a true physical 7.1 speaker set-up for watching movies in your home, the Astro A50 comes as close as we've seen at this price point (yes, headphones do get more expensive than $300).

Being a software-simulated 7.1 device, the sound mixing is very high quality. The mix is nice and wide, conveying the large sense of space that's key to games like Battlefield 3. In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, a game where localizing enemy footsteps is key to survival, we felt like we had an advantage, but no more so than anyone else with a good pair of surround sound cans. The mix on the Astro A50s is as good as that of the Tritton Warhead 7.1, another device that uses Dolby Pro Logic IIx.

The A50 has three equalizer settings: Media increases bass, Core evens out all levels and Pro turns up the treble for better gunshot and footstep detection while gaming. Media is great for movies and music, providing booming bass without overshadowing dialogue or becoming distorted. Watching Top Gun, we were rocked by the F-14A Tomcats screaming off the runway, but could still make out every lyric to "Danger Zone." While the A50 is a gaming headset first, stereo alternative second, you would not insult an audiophile by making him listen to his favorite album with these cans.

Core, by definition, was a little flat for gaming or music, but was a good balanced mix for general use like watching YouTube videos. Pro was our go-to choice for gaming. It made great use of the very wide mix the A50 provides. Character dialog was still discernable above the din of battle. However, we sometimes struggled to get the voice chat volume to a level that was easy to hear over explosions and gunfire. Chalk that up to the A50's method of mixing game and voice in relation to each other, rather than as two separate channels.

Battery Life

As a wireless device, battery life determines how long the Astro A50 can actually go without being tethered to a USB port for a charge. The charging cable that ships with the headset is only 3-inches long, so when the charge runs out, you're basically done playing, unless you pick up a $7.99 Play-and-Charge cable - sold separately by Astro. You can also use any USB to mini-USB cable of suitable length.

While Astro rates the device's battery life at 12-hours, we found it to be all over the map, sometimes lasting only half that time. Astro reps told us that this is because different devices, as well as use of the mic, drain the battery at different rates.

The Astro gets its best battery life when used with the Xbox 360, where it gets about 10-hours of use. Otherwise, we would say that 8-hours of battery life is a more accurate average, if you'll be using the headset across multiple devices. Thankfully the Astro can charge while in use, but during that time it ceases to be a wireless headset.

Also, the battery is embedded within the headset, and like all things lithium-ion, it will eventually burn out. This will be in a matter of years, but if you keep your A50 that long (at $300 you should), then be prepared to one day pony up for service to have it replaced.

Wireless Signal and Stand

Wireless Signal

As a 5.8GHz device, the A50 stands among the best in class when it comes to signal reliability. The device is rated for a distance of up to 35-ft, and if your living room is bigger than that, you probably don't need to consider a product review before spending $300.

In an average living room and in our office, a place filled with cell phones, routers and other wireless devices, we never had a moment of signal interruption. In fact, we had to put two walls between the A50 and its receiver before the signal was marred in the least.

Stand

The A50's come with a simple plastic stand that the headset hangs from, like a coat on hook. The stand comes out of the box in a few pieces, and clicks together easily. The stand is nothing fancy, just a way to keep your expensive headset above the table.

The stand feels a little flimsy as part of such an expensive package. While it does an ok job of providing storage for the A50, it doesn't display it in any grand way, like the stand for the Tritton Warhead 7.1. We also would have appreciated a clip or two to help keep cables looking neat.

However, unlike with the Warhead, the stand and the receiver are not one unit. With this design, you won't have to haul the stand with you every time you transport the A50s. The stand is inessential and can stay home.

Verdict

At $300, the Astro A50 is a big investment. That's roughly what an Xbox 360 or a PS3 costs these days! Still, we would recommend these pricey cans to anyone with multiple consoles in their home, or someone who likes to game on PC as well as enjoy stereo sound in their living room.

When going between different devices, the plugging and unplugging can get tiresome, but it's worth it. The A50s provide high quality sound and relative ease of use with a lot of different devices. They provide phenomenal in-game sound, handle team chat adequately, and are good enough for enjoying movies or music.

We liked

First, the sound quality was top notch. The Astro A50 has a great mix that provides the sort of sound localization that will change your gameplay experience. Other headsets, like Tritton Warhead 7.1, use Dolby Pro Logic IIx just as well, but the A50 provides better sound fidelity.

It also works on more devices, which makes the $300 purchasing price much easier to swallow. If you game across more than one system, this is the headset for you. It's also good enough for movie watching and enjoying music, which helps to further justify the price.

It's also surprisingly comfortable. You may look like spaceman when you wear this big headset, but you won't be uncomfortable. The soft foam on the ear cups and headband makes the A50 sit very softly, despite its size and weight.

We disliked

The game and voice mixing. We really would have preferred separate channels with individual volume controls, rather than having to adjust them in relation to each other. It was not exactly a deal breaker, but a bit of an annoyance. It was sometimes hard to achieve a good balance between game sound and voice chat, and when we did, we thought, "Ok, I'm never touching that button again."

The battery was pretty inconsistent, and Astro's claim of 12-hour battery life is not an accurate blanket statement. The performance of the charge varies, depending on what device you connect to and whether or not you enable to mic. Still, you should be able to get 8 or so hours out of it, which is nothing to sneeze at, but selling the Play-and-Charge cable separately is a tad insulting. It's not the $7.99 Astro charges for it (that's a good price, really), it's just that it will probably mean another run to the store. When we pay $300 for something, we expect to get everything we need in the box, especially something as essential as a charging cable of a functional length.

Verdict

We heartily recommend the Astro A50 to any gamer who wants a powerful, versatile headset. It offers excellent sound fidelity and mixing, and being able to use it on a PC, Mac, Xbox 360 or PS3 makes it worth the money. While going between multiple devices will always be an annoyance of plugging and syncing, the A50 provides sound quality that's worth the trouble.

We were slightly miffed by the variable battery life, but that issue is just plain overshadowed by the powerful sound and flexible options provided by this headset. If you game exclusively on the Xbox 360, you might prefer the Tritton Warhead 7.1 headset, which is better integrated with Microsoft's console than the A50 is with any single device. At the end of the day, however, we prefer a more versatile, jack-of-all-trades headset to an exclusive one, especially at this price point.

If you do decide to pick up an A50, buy a Play-and-Charge cable as well (unless you already own a long USB to mini-USB cable), and make sure to download the latest firmware update, which completely eliminates an issue with sound "pop."

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