ASTRO A*STAR In-Ear Headset is the latest product from Astro, makers of the official MLG licensed video gaming headsets. This new headset is aimed at portable devices. It currently retails for $79.99 and is compatible with iPhones, smart-phones, iPads, laptop computers and hand-held video gaming devices such as Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portables. Basically any device with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
My disdain for the stock white iPhone headset/earbuds has had me on the lookout for a good headset for many months. I have found headsets are typically very good as a headset with a good mic, or just very good at playing music and almost never good at both. Having went through at least three pair of the white Apple headsets and a few cheap third party headsets I felt it was time to bite the bullet and invest in a serious pair. There is nothing worse than being stuck on an airplane or other scenario and your headphones short out leaving you with one ear working and the other dead. We have all been there and it sucks. Having been extremely pleased with the Astro A40 headphones I bought a few weeks back so I figured I would give these ASTRO A*STAR earbuds a shot. They do offer a 15 day refund (minus shipping) so I figured I would bite so that I could have a good headset for my holiday travels.
WHAT YOU GET
The A*STAR Headset comes packaged with a carrying case, the headset, and a set of replacement rubber seats for the in-ear part of the headset. My first thought was that I would never end up using the carrying case but I was wrong and found myself putting the headset in the case after every use. The case is an attractive soft neoprene material with a space invader design on it. It closes via Velcro on the back and has two small compartments inside. I still ahve not figured out what the slit at the top in the front of the case is for exactly though.
My first impressions with the headset were horrible. I was actually in shock as I plugged them into my iPhone and played some music. There was NO BASS. I could not believe I just dropped about $80 for some headphones that did not sound good. I then tried it with my PSP and PC and had the same result. After visiting the ASTRO website forums I read that the ASTRO A*STAR In-Ear Headset has to actually be pretty far in your ear for you to hear the full range. Not only that but in order for them to perform as intended they must fit snugly in your ear forming a seal. The rubber seals that shipped on the headset turned out to be too small and it caused the sound to escape. After switching through the enclosed rubber seals I found one that fit perfectly. After finding the right size the bass and full range of sounds were present.
If you are considering these be sure to think about whether you like or can deal with a true in ear style headset. These do not simply sit at the opening of your ears like most ear-buds. The A*STAR In-Ear Headset actually must reside inside your ear forming a seal akin to earplugs you would wear at a concert. This does have a noise canceling side effect though not all outside noise will be inaudible. If you are not comfortable with most earbuds in your ear this really may not be a product for you as it is slightly more intrusive than your typical earbud. Keep in mind though that the design does allow for great sound as a result of the in-ear seal it creates.
FORM FACTOR
The actual build quality of the headset does relate to the $79 price tag. They feel solid and the cords are a kind of flat ‘linguine’ style that seems to prevent tangles as opposed to the standard round ‘spaghetti’ cords that most headphones and headsets have. The ‘L’ shape of the outside portion of the in-ear speaker is also sleek and looks nice. There are small pixel designs on them. Matter of fact there are all sorts of small design details all over the ASTRO A*STAR In-Ear Headset. If you like in-ear style headsets then you will find these lightweight and comfortable in your ear.
The “Medallion” is the rectangular piece that houses the mic. There is a volume adjuster and mute switch. It also houses a button that is compatible with iPods and iPhones and can be used to answer and hang up calls. The button will also allow you to play and stop music without touching the Apple device.
SOUND QUALITY
Provided that you have them in correctly the sound is great. Nice bass, highs, and mid range sounds when listening to music. They do perform better than standard Apple branded iPod headphones and the standard iPhone headset.
As a headset it also performs well. There is apparently a wind shield over the mic which is great for outdoor use with cellphones. I tested these as a headset with my 5.8 Mixamp over a few games of Battlefield Bad company 2 on Playstation 3 and also over Halo Reach on Xbox 360. I was told that I could be heard very clearly. These are compatible for use with Astro mixamps for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
VERDICT
The verdict is that the ASTRO A*STAR In-Ear Headset is worth every penny. Its not cheap but if you want a solid product with very good audio quality then this is an viable option. If you add up how many pairs of other cheap headsets or headphones you have already went though you may have paid for these a few times over anyway. The ASTRO A*STAR In-Ear Headset is totally a recommended product.
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