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A40 Audio System on Game and Player
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A40 Audio System

Curtis Mettler  //  January 22, 2008


Crystal-clear game audio and voice communications in one package.

F

or those of us who live to play, and the extremely dedicated and talented few who play to live, hardware is king. We all know that the best software in the world is meaningless without the proper equipment to back it up. Even a universe as vast and deep as that in Mass Effect would be nothing more than a plastic disc in a box if we didn't have a machine to read the code, a monitor to show us the way, and controlling devices to translate our will into action. Because the games that are important to us are so dependent on the gear that actualizes them, every gamer is bound to enter the ever-expanding world of tech worship.

The first time it becomes necessary to replace a failed piece of equipment, one will find that he has myriad options and choices. Keeping track of all the possibilities is a task far too demanding for a single site or person to handle, but we here at Game and Player would like to do our part to further the cause of gamer knowledge. With that in mind, please accept this, the first in a long line of suggestions, recommendations and explanations through which we hope to improve the quality of your gaming experience.

The first product I'll present to you has great potential across multiple platforms — PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii or otherwise. Regardless of your personal preference, this item will raise the bar in both audio and voice communications. Ladies and gentlemen, rogues and paladins: allow me to introduce to you to Astro Gaming's A40 Audio System.

Astro Gaming is an ambitious new production company, dedicated to the development of high-quality accessories and equipment for the serious gamer. Their commitment is demonstrated in every aspect of the organization, from their friendly customer service staff to their immaculate product packaging, and ultimately in the craftsmanship and performance of their products. The A40 system is the first in Astro's future lineup, and it is incredible.

The A40 was designed to incorporate game audio as well as voice communications in a single, clean and compact system. The ability to maintain crystal-clear sound with the privacy of a headset is something beneficial to both you and your upstairs/downstairs/next-door/super-irritable neighbor. The voice capabilities are easily adapted to Xbox Live, LAN, or VOIP usage with optimum performance on each. The full system consists of a noise-canceling, muff-style headset with modular boom mic and the patent-pending MixAmp hub; designed to accommodate multiple audio sources, as well as handling volume control and balance between game and voice channels with full Dolby Digital or Dolby Pro-logic 2 finesse. Each unit is available separately, with the entire package coming in at $250.



Great on its own or combined
for team chat.
That may seem a bit pricey but considering the overall quality, and the inclusion of a complete set of cables to cover every conceivable integration scenario, you will find that every penny is put to good use. The headset alone, with its plush padded muffs and headpiece, is easily the most comfortable unit I've ever worn. The ability to add or remove an extra layer of muffling foam is a nice touch, as well as the option to connect the boom mic to either side. The 40mm drivers deliver subtly detailed sound reproduction regardless of your source. I've personally taken to using the headset instead of the TV speakers for everything I do.

As choice as the headset is, however, the real magic is in the MixAmp. It's a compact unit accepting inputs from optical, RCA and 3.5mm headphone jacks. The face of the Amp is clean and uncluttered with a large, smooth-action volume dial, and a smaller dial for fine-tuning channel balance. The connection of a single cable (included with the kit) from the Xbox controller to the Amp is all that is required to use the system for Live Chat and multiplayer. A second included cable can tie your PC into the system for VOIP usage.

The MixAmp is designed to work in conjunction with additional units. By daisy-chaining several it is possible to quickly set up a fully self-contained team chat channel that doesn't draw resources or processing power away from the gaming rigs themselves. Voice quality in any of these situations is excellent, though it must be noted that the low-bandwidth connection between the 360 controller and the console itself puts a bit of a damper on the possible performance of the system. Despite this limitation, you should still note a sizable improvement over the standard-issue Live headset.

Astro's attention to detail led to the addition of a few extra perks in the total kit. Most notable is the inclusion of a well-padded travel case designed to accommodate the headset, amp, and all necessary cables for maximum portability. All accompanying manuals are written in a casual tone, clearly explaining the usage of their product with a fair dash of geek humor. It's small touches like these that make plain the fledgling company's strong gaming heritage.

If you like what you've seen here, or if you have any tech recommendation of your own relating to the world of PC and console gaming, you are encouraged to share your thoughts with the rest of the class in the G&P forums.






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