About this deal
The padding is made of a different cloth material, which feels cooler against your skin than the previous generation, and there's more of it on the headband.
The plastic-covered headband is reinforced by steel, giving it impressive flexibility and sturdiness. One positive is that if you flip the microphone up it mutes itself - great if you want to talk without transmitting. The analog cable is thick, rubberized, and detachable, so you can always replace it if it gets worn down by regular wear and tear. The audio isn't fantastic, but these are for gamers rather than audiophiles, and it's something younger users won't care about as much. Unfortunately, they also don't block out the low rumble of bus engines, and they leak audio at high volumes, which can annoy others around you.That said, if you don't mind the design or if you work in a quiet place, they have a comfortable and well-built design. The Astro A10 and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are both budget-level wired gaming headphones, so deciding between them will depend on your personal preferences.
However, if you prefer wired gaming headphones, the Astro are better built and have a more neutral sound profile that some users may prefer, and their mic has a better recording quality. I guess that shouldn’t surprise me since that’s what other reviewers have said and shown, but it still did. However, if you have an older Xbox One gamepad without the headphone port, you'll need either Astro's Mixmp M60 attachment or Microsoft's headset adapter.It doesn't perform as well as the Astro A10, and it's likely because the mic is shorter and sits further away from your mouth. They're lighter than the original Astro A10, and they clamp less tightly due to their differently designed yoke and headband design.
The earcup backs integrate vertical arms that attach to the headband, and slide up and down for achieve a better fit, just like the A40 and A50. On the other hand, the A10 have a better-sounding microphone, and their wired design means you don't have to worry about battery life. Although there's a small peak between the mid to high-mid in the phase response, it isn't audible with real-life content. They're big, bulky, and don't fold into a more compact format, but this is expected since they're meant to be used at your desk or sofa rather than around town. Their boom mic makes it easy to communicate with your teammates and makes your voice sound full and clear.
However, since they're closed-back headphones, their soundstage isn't as open or spacious as that produced by open-back headphones.
The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless are wireless gaming headphones; you can only use the Astro A10 wired. The Astro mic offers better overall performance, and their ear cups don't get as hot as the Turtle Beach. This is typical for Astro headphones that we've tested and indicates the brand's quality control and ergonomics.If you need something to wear for a long time huddled over the controller of a Playstation 4 or Xbox One, or you want something for playing games undocked on your Nintendo Switch, this might be for you.