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We generally enjoyed the virtual surround sound prowess of Astro Gaming's A50 wireless headset when we reviewed it back in July, but you'll recall it had one especially glaring issue: the audio would frequently cut out. At the time, the company informed us that a fix was on the way via a firmware update, and now it's recently arrived with a few other goodies. To refresh your memory, the A50 headset relies on a MixAmp TXD wireless transmitter, so you'll actually be dealing with a duo of updates to get your system on the straight and narrow: A50 Headset Firmware v1.1 (Build 2856) and A50 MixAmp Tx Firmware v1.1 (Build 2855).
On the headset side, notable changes include "various audio and volume leveling tweaks," a decrease in background noise and enhancements to the noise-gate for voice chat across platforms. Better yet, volume and game / voice chat balance levels will now stay as you left them upon powering it down. The Tx itself haa been deemed the culprit behind the audio problem, as Astro notes that it's "fixed [the] occasional optical audio drop" -- where "occasional" is putting it nicely. Beyond that, both units should now have better success pairing up, and further compatibility with KleerNet-enabled wireless devices.
We tried out the firmware refreshes with a few sessions of MW3 and can happily report that the audio issues do seem to be resolved. Now, installing the update is simple, if a bit tedious. First we had to hook up the headset via USB into the TXD, which itself connects your computer via USB as well. From there, we downloaded and ran Astro's Device Manager for OS X and 32 bit Windows (available at the source below), prompting us to install the updates. Lastly, we re-paired the two and were back to our virtual fragging sans the audio hiccups -- hopefully you'll have the same results. Need all the details? Hit up the source link below.
Filed under: Gaming, Wearables
Astro Gaming's firmware update v1.1 for A50 wireless headset fixes 'audio bug,' enhances functionality originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Companies are no strangers to superlatives where new kit is concerned and Mad Catz is definitely no exception. With the release of its newest flagship, the Tritton Warhead 7.1, the outfit's claiming a novelty in the Xbox 360 space, labeling these cans as the "first... to deliver two-way communication" without the need for wires or controller adapters. Made specifically for Microsoft's green X gaming platform, the pair of 50mm drivers pump out Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound over a 5.8GHz channel for up to 33ft of interference-free smack talk. The headset also offers gamers the ability to monitor their in-ear voice levels (SVM), control the volume of other players, as well as select EQ presets for a variety of media playback. And just so you never have to press pause to keep the friendly banter (read: cusses) flowing, the company's bundled in a dock and pair of of Li-ion batteries for "hot-swappable" recharging. These over-ears are available now for a cool $299 at BestBuy and the company's own site, so if you take your first-person action seriously, prepare to part with a few Benjamins. Official presser after the break.
Continue reading Tritton Warhead 7.1 two-way headset for Xbox 360 now shipping
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Tritton Warhead 7.1 two-way headset for Xbox 360 now shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 05:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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This is for sure: if you're a gamer seeking a primo wireless surround sound headset, now is a very good time to buy. It's been less than two weeks since Astro Gaming's A50 wireless surround headset impressively traversed the Engadget review gauntlet, and now the crazy kitties that are Mad Catz and Tritton are up for a turn. It's taken the duo well over a year and a half to get its full range of Microsoft-licensed Xbox 360 headsets off the ground, with the flagship Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Sound Headset set to hit shelves in just a few days.
Aside from packing some innovative and exclusive features for Xbox 360 users, it stands as the only totally integrated wireless headset for the system -- for the first time you won't need a pesky controller-to-headset cable or a controller-mounted Bluetooth dongle for voice chat. We've been fortunate enough to get an early look at this $300 Dolby Headphone-enabled headset, so join us past the break and we'll let you know whether it's been worth the wait -- or whether it's too much, too late.
Continue reading Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Sound Headset for Xbox 360 review
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Wearables
Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Sound Headset for Xbox 360 review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Alright, so you've been successfully pwning n00bz in Battlefield and Call of Duty, but lately you've decided your rig could benefit from one of those surround sound headsets that everyone says will make you so much better at first-person shooters. You might remember Astro Gaming's latest offering from E3, the A50 Wireless Headset -- it's the company's second try at a wireless Dolby Headphone-enabled 7.1 surround sound system. Its previous attempt, the MixAmp 5.8 (sold alone and bundled with the $229 A30 / $280 A40 Wireless Audio Systems), was a solid solution for folks wanting traditional MixAmp controls and enough versatility to use with any pair of wired headphones. (What's up, audiophiles?) However, it didn't provide as seamless a setup for gaming on the couch as headsets with embedded wireless radios like Turtle Beach's X41. So, does essentially shoving the MixAmp 5.8 into an A40 make for a better living room-geared solution? Does it manage to retain that MLG-bred DNA Astro is famous for? Does it trump headsets in its range like the $270 XP500? Most importantly, should serious gamers consider dropping 300 bones for it? We'll explain it all after the break.
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
A50 Audio System review: Astro Gaming's latest wireless headset (mostly) pwns in 7.1 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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If you're serious about your sound when it comes to gaming, chances are you've at least heard of Astro Gaming. Back in 2008, the company introduced its pro gaming-focused headset solution, the A40 audio system, and since then it's been actively adding to its lineup with lifestyle headsets like the A30, and various improved refreshes of the A40 itself. In the lead-up to E3, the company announced the $300 A50 wireless audio system, marking its second major push away from the competitive gaming scene and into the living room. If you'll recall, Astro first dabbled in specifically bringing its tournament headset chops to the living room last year with its first wireless solution, the MixAmp 5.8.
Although we were pleased with the 5.8's performance and versatility -- namely that it worked with any 3.5mm-equipped headsets across the Xbox, PS3 and PC like the wired MixAmp Pro -- we worried some users would be put-off with having to deal with the three-piece setup. Basically, you had a wired headset that plugging into a belt pack, which wirelessly connected to a transmitter base. It appears that Astro took note as well, opting to get rid of the belt pack and cram its controls and radios inside of an A40, along with some other tweaks, including KleerNet lossless audio, to create the A50 -- something we'd been hoping to see for a very long while. We spent some time with Astro's Marketing Director, Aaron Drayer, to talk about the headset and try it for ourselves, and you'll find it all detailed just past the break.
Continue reading Astro Gaming A50 wireless surround sound headset hands-on (video)
Astro Gaming A50 wireless surround sound headset hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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