December 18, 2008 - As the gaming industry has grown and gained new ground in mainstream commerce, so has the marketability of accessory products. What was once a segment of the industry populated only by a few enthusiast developers has since expanded into a full-spectrum field of low-to-high end manufacturers. While this change has given consumers a larger selection of products, it has also stifled or distracted from the companies whose foundations were built upon the principles of delivering quality products to people who, like them, simply love video games. These companies still continue to thrive, but few seem to penetrate the market like mainline manufacturers. Occasionally, however, a company can break into the market with a solid, straightforward product, and the right ideals. One such company is Astro Gaming, who have developed a stellar reputation through their association with Major League Gaming.

We met with Brett Lovelady, CEO of Astro Gaming, on IGN Gear's Tech Fetish Podcast and learned a bit about the company. Astro Gaming stemmed from a product design firm, Astro Studios, which has worked on everything from sports watches for Nike, to the Xbox 360 for Microsoft. While the firm was closely tied to the gaming space, Lovelady informed us that Astro Gaming was developed in order to cut out the middleman; to bring Astro's designs directly to the consumers. The company's inaugural product was the Astro A40 Audio System, a surround sound headset designed specifically for gaming. While we are a bit late to the party for a review, we were given a sample of the A40 Audio System for evaluation. Does it live up to its reputation as the competitive gamer's choice or company's admirable intentions? Find out in our full review.


The answer, as you would expect, is not clear-cut. There are many things to like about the A40 Audio System, but it's not without its faults. But before we get into that, lets go over what the A40 System actually encompasses, which, as it turns out, isn't as simple as a headset and cable. While the A40 headphones can be purchased individually, the A40 Audio System incorporates the headphones and a dedicated mixer system. With the complete system, users can integrate the A40s with nearly every platform, including PC, Xbox 360, PS3, and a host of other media devices. The A40 Audio System's mixer, dubbed the A40 Mixamp, accepts optical audio connections as the primary input source from consoles and home theater systems. Additionally, the A40 Mixamp accepts stereo RCA connections, 1/8" audio cables, and digital coaxial inputs, which can serve as primary sources in the absence of optical digital or as simultaneous secondary sources.

The only way to achieve full Dolby Digital performance with the A40 headset is with digital optical connections, which can only be used with the A40 Mixamp. Both the A40 Headset and the A40 Mixamp can be purchased individually, $199.99 and $129.99 respectively, or they can be purchased in a bundle as the A40 Audio System, which retails for $249.99. Obviously the bundle is the better value, but it is still a hearty amount of cash compared to some products. So the question becomes whom exactly is the A40 aimed toward, and what do you get, performance wise, for your $249.99 investment?
First off, anyone considering spending $249.99 on a headphone system has to be in one of two camps: the highly competitive, hardcore gaming market, or the mature gamer market with more expendable income. In either demographic, the consumer is undoubtedly looking for performance and functionality, with a splash style.