AstroGaming’s Wireless MixAmp 5.8 – Review – Hardware

Written by Mark Gugler

I have always enjoyed sound in games more than the average joe, so when the market for individual sound systems started a few years ago I naturally was curious about them. I’ve had my fair share of crappy systems, ok systems with bad components, good systems with caveats, and am glad to say this year I have an audio system that works exactly as advertised. Before 2010 I would have said I was a Tritton fan and stayed away from what seemed to be a hardcore, professional gamer’s audio system. I wasn’t playing in any clans nor traveling to compete, so I didn’t feel Astro’s were for me. After having frustrations with voice chat problems I finally decided to invest in the Astro A40 headset and mixamp. I was glad I did and agree with Travis’s review of them wholeheartedly. Now I get to extend that review for an addition that is perfect for today’s gaming audience, and needed for a family where loose cords can seriously injure people. The Astro Wireless MixAmp 5.8 is an awesome solution to a problem many seem to ignore.

Build Quality: As with most products from Astro, these come in an excellent box, made to quickly familiarize you with the product and its components. Said components include a base unit that lives near or on the audio source, a receiver/volume controller, and the cords to make those systems work. Solid design with the signature black glossly finish provide what most expect from Astro, a great product.

Functionality: Setup was relatively painless with the base unit needing a power cord and the optical cable from my Xbox 360. There were also USB inputs giving us a hint there is more to come from Astro as well as an optical out port to continue the sound to another receiver. After turning on the unit and holding the button to enter “pairing mode”, I turned to the volume unit to hook up my A40 headset. Inputs for the volume unit are the same seen on other mixamp systems. One for the headset, one for the voice cable, and one to charge the battery pack which is sold separately but given to me for this review. Holding a similar button to put the volume unit into “pairing mode” quickly synced the two devices and I immediately started to hear audio from my Xbox 360. Voice chat also worked seamlessly and I have yet to find a “bad spot” in my house within the recommended range. I have been able to move from where I usually sit when I play games, I’ve been able to get up and truly rock out while playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band, and my wife has loved not tripping on the previous charge and optical audio cables on the living room floor. The best word for it, is feeling pure freedom, with a top end audio system that would rival most external 5.1 speaker systems.

Usability: Using the audio system feels the same as my previous system but the freedom of not being tied to the Xbox in my entertainment center makes me want to use it more often. There are a few nice features I’ve experienced such as the base unit automatically shutting off after a number of minutes without audio input. This of course saves power usage but exposes my one gripe with the system. When turning on my system I wish the base unit would automatically turn on when audio data is being passed to it. Instead you have to manually turn it on every time you wish to use it. This is a small thing to be negative about but for everyday use it was one of the few things I found I wish to improve. I would also recommend getting the rechargeable battery pack since none of us need another device in our living rooms taking up battery power.

Overall: Bringing everything together, I would highly recommend getting a pair of Astro headsets and this wireless MixAmp 5.8 audio system. It is a great alternative to buying a full surround system and provides the ability to play games at anytime without disturbing the rest of the family with the sound. The price for an entire package may turn a lot of people off but you can trust the lot of us that the price is well worth it. I have yet to regret paying for this audio system and have continued to be thankful for the improvements Astro makes.

Pros:
* Compact system
* Excellent Audio
* Easy setup

Cons:
* Another device taking batteries (can be fixed with additional purchase)
* Would be nice to have a remote to turn on from a distance.

Score:  9 out of 10

The headset used for this review was the Astro A40 system. I have used and loved this system for quite a while now and was extremely excited for the chance to remove the cords on my living room floor. If you want a review for the headset I used go here LINK.

A review sample of AstroGaming’s Wireless MixAmp 5.8 was provided to the reviewer from the manufacture for reviewing purposes.

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