Xbox Wireless Headset vs. B&O Beoplay Portal vs. Astro A50 Gen 4

[@MrExtremeElmo]

THANK YOU! Finally some real unbiased opinion regarding the xbox wireless headset. Yes great build quality and sound for a great price. But the fit is just not good. I usually play an hour or two/three with friends and most of the time after an hour or so they start to hurt a bit. After the gaming session I’m really happy it’s over and I can take these things off. The rest of it is good. With the 40mm bass sounds a bit too try hard at times and imho I think my Astro’s A50 3rd gen did a better job for some reason at that particular area but the rest is good. And again especially for the 100 bucks it’s good. But the fit on top of the head and also my ears don’t really like long sessions. I’m going to investigate a bit more on those B&O’s. Thanks for the review.

[@xxAtticus]

I have the beoplay portals, amazing sound and quality, and yes my only gripe is the fact we can't use Bluetooth simultaneously while playing xbox

[@pantheonapp]

Seriously, I'm blown away at the sound. At first I thought I would miss the bass, but the clarity is incredible.

[@block-du9md]

@@pantheonapp you can gain some of the base back if you play with the Dolby Atmos EQ on the Xbox along side with you playing with the B&O app on your phone. I was able to get it a nice amount of base. Overall I am happy

[@pantheonapp]

@@block-du9md what’s your eq look like? I’d love to get some recommendations! Thanks!

[@bigguschungus968]

Can you explain exactly what you mean? Do you mean you can connect to say the xbox and your phone at the same time but cant hear audio from both simultaneously? i.e can you connect to both but can only take a phone call OR listen to xbox. Or can you literally only use with one device at a time. I.E id would have to disconnect from my xbox, conenct to phone, then take a call. Thanks

[@pantheonapp]

@@bigguschungus968 you can connect to both at the same time, but you can only get audio from one at a time. You actually use an app on your phone to change EQ settings, and you can do it while you’re playing on the Xbox. So it’s still connected. The switch between Bluetooth and Xbox is quick too. It’s a one button press. Or you can switch on the phone app.

[@craigflexxfitness]

bought the Xbox wireless headset on release and having owned a pair of Astro A40s I was really underwhelmed, its been a toss up between the B&O Portals and the A50s since I got wind of the Portals being released in the UK. After you mentioning about the ASTRO customer service that clarified things for me so thanks. B&O Portal it is :)

[@pantheonapp]

I don't like tearing any company down, but customer service and repairs are a big deal, especially when paying for something at this price. The Astro subreddit is full of horror stories: www.reddit.com/r/AstroGaming/ On the audio quality side, if you were underwhelmed with the Xbox Headset, I don't think you'll get much better quality if you got the A50s. In my opinion, the USB-connected A50s sound very similar to the Xbox Wireless Headset on Series X. Some comments I've seen is that the A50 sound subpar on Xbox Series S/X because they were designed for use with an optical cable, not USB.

[@mrrglass3407]

Did you also install the Dolby Atmos app to get the most out of your headphones?

[@craigflexxfitness]

@@mrrglass3407 Yes I did, I've been using it since it's been released and even with that still not to my taste, but thanks for checking :)

[@mrrglass3407]

@@craigflexxfitness 👍

[@2004lamborghni]

Your review is completely accurate. I bought a $200 headset and then later bought Xbox headset. The Xbox headset is better quality. I was amazed of the price point .

[@pantheonapp]

Same. I was not expecting them to be that good when I bought them!

[@Etechtroniks]

Absolutely brother

[@JohnJDurkin]

“We’ll eat our vegetables - promise!” 😂 Great review man, I’m with you on the Bluetooth - on my Arctis 9x I love listening to a bit of Spotify while crushing people’s dreams on Fifa. Preordered these last week and I’m super excited, really appreciate you taking the time to do this review. Very entertaining and packed with info ♥️👏🏼

[@pantheonapp]

I previously posted this video on the wrong account (oops!) and I got a bunch of people informing me that a simultaneous Bluetooth connection can cause latency/interference, and Bang & Olufsen prioritized for high quality connection. It would've been nice to have a "Low Latency Mode" and a "Chat Mode" or something, but it might be overcomplicating things since there is already a lot going on with the headset.

[@pantheonapp]

And thanks for the kind words!

[@TheAgentAssassin]

The Arctis Steel Series 9x sounded amazing. Excellent spacial audio , deep bass while being clear and not muddy. Very good sounding headphones and comfortable. But one big problem is they drop connection to console way too often so I returned them. They would be flawless for a couple hours , then start getting that snap, crackle , pop audio cut out , then work flawlessly for another few hours , then the audio would get super low . Just way too finicky of a headset for me. If steel series can dial in the connection issues they'd be top dog for me. I ordered to Olufsen to compare. We'll see.

[@dani_i8942]

The SteelSeries sound very average. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 sound way better for a lower price.

[@TheAgentAssassin]

@@dani_i8942 Perhaps updates? I owned the 700s as well and they did not get very loud. They sounded like a tin can to me. Great directional sound though. I got them very early though so perhaps updates have fixed loudness issue. I own the Bang & Olfsen now and they blow away any xbox headset I've ever had. It's very important though to use the dolby access app though. It's free lifetime sub with the B&O headset. I kept seeing reviews of lack of bass on the B&O , not true at all, you have to tweak them a little but the bass is much clearer , punchy and lacks that fake bass most headsets have.

[@LouisFarraconn]

I recently got Portals at a steal for $100. I eq'd mine and they have tons of bass while still being clear in the mids and highs. You cam also eq even more in the dolby atmos app. I was surprised to hear you say they dont have much bass. They slam! Only weakness is their mic sucks compared to my vmoda boom pro i have paired with fidelio x2hr, which are awesome open back headphones for gaming, but are wired.

[@przemeksz8203]

just got those bang and olufsen headphones pickin them up tomorow

[@abramlionel4990]

I had the Xbox headset but were kinda uncomfortable around my Jaw after 30min of playing so returned and gave Astro A50 a Try and Love them

[@ShobucK]

Great review/comparison bro , but you should add some more specifics on each as Mic monitoring , software, automute some features the Xbox wireless headset has, I told my friend as day one MS is loosing money with em because it seems because the features an 200 dollars Pair. Even when the 3D shitty pulse from Sony doesn't even has Blutooth. 🤷🏽‍♂️ . I use the Turtle beach Elite 800 , ,oldies but for me the most completed Xbox Headset ever. They just does it ALL 🤙🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@pantheonapp]

I wanted to keep it as short as possible and focus on the high level points but you have a good point! I’m not a technical expert and I know there are people that all they do is rate headphones.

[@claudiodelafuente1896]

Great review, man! In case you have a PS5, though, they work flawlessly with them as well via 3.5mm jack or USB :) Truly multi-functional

[@JohnJDurkin]

Great point 👌🏼♥️

[@pantheonapp]

That's awesome. I haven't been able to get a PS5 yet, but I looked into the PS5 3D Audio compatibility and these would technically work: "On the PS5, you’ll be able to experience 3D Audio with the headphones that many of you already own, either through USB connection to the console, or by plugging your headphones into the DualSense wireless controller’s 3.5mm headset jack."

[@1MrPark]

does the chat also work when connecting it in the ps5 controller?

[@claudiodelafuente1896]

@@1MrPark I believe they do!

[@pantheonapp]

@@1MrPark Thats a great question. I haven't been able to get able to get a PS5 so I can't test that for you unfortunately. Maybe someone else watching this video can tell us!

[@ShobucK]

BTW YOU EARNED A NEW SUBSCRIBER CONGRATULATIONS

[@fazeapplestic9420]

Can you get these to sound more bassy and immersive with eq?

[@_Insinuate]

In the past 10 years since modern warfare two, I have only owned two headsets both of them being Astros, never once had a problem and still going strong I will be sticking to Astros personally👌🏻 and I would recommend to anybody

[@1youngkash]

So you only have had two headsets for two years? How can they with stand the test of time? Like get out and explore a little brother.

[@scynapz]

Astros are ok for a starter headset. But they are pretty bad when you know what good audio is.

[@_Insinuate]

@@scynapz well you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about😂 There’s a reason why the professional call of duty league and streamers use them.👍🏼, and when you search online, Astro comes top in every recommendation to shut the fuck up.

[@_Insinuate]

@@1youngkash literally never said that😂, and if you think having to headsets over 10 years isn’t standing the test of time, then you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about, as I know people who break headsets within 12 months sometimes 👍🏼😂

[@scynapz]

@@_Insinuate You clearly can't read. I said audio wise. Not durability.

[@063Spongebob063]

thank you bro i don’t have much money so and i wanted to spend it wisely so i will definitely get the xbox wireless headset

[@Lighterjay]

What's being in a party like? How have other people found your mic quality, the lack of a standard mic on the portals worries me.

[@ReadyGamesRG]

6:55 that's all I need tbh. I use a Corsair virtuoso SE and my god its sweaty, heavy, painful and you cant wear it for more than 1h without taking a break

[@MrOSUrocker]

Great breakdown and review man, I have the BO portals, And they are probably the most amazingly comfortable over ear heads that I've ever wanted my life, with amazing sound quality to boot. My only gripe is that they are not remembered by the Xbox every time you turn the console on you have to re-pair the headset

[@clawson32104]

The Portal should not need to be paired each and every time. I bought a pair on April 7th from Best Buy and had that issue. Contacted B&O and they recommended replacing or sending to them as it's not what is supposed to happen. Did find another pair at another Best Buy to exchange and they didn't do that. Still returned them as I don't feel they are worth the price. My Audeze Penrose X sound better for gaming and I own the Sony WH1000XM4 to use for music.

[@MrOSUrocker]

@@clawson32104 thanks for the tip, I'll reach out to B&O and/or BestBuy

[@pantheonapp]

@@MrOSUrocker B&O customer service is great, but they might ask you to return to Best Buy.

[@MrOSUrocker]

@@pantheonapp actually got it figured out earlier in the week. Apparently it was just my stupid ass not knowing how long to properly press the buttons for so it kept forgetting what was synced to it and was resetting the headphones

[@DrummaBoy202]

You have an understanding that the B&Os are targeting a different market and aren’t necessarily comparable/competing with “gaming” headsets. I appreciate that. Great review.

[@felipecarvalho4742]

Best reviewer so far... Congrats!

[@Nudel-nc1cp]

Can you charge them via Xbox usb port while playing?

[@Etechtroniks]

The coolest thing about the B&O is also its biggest problem. Lemme explain; these are made to do it all which is awesome!! Thing is when they inevitably break or get lost or whatever happens you would now not have headphones, gaming headset or anything else. Personally I think going with the headset for gaming and headphones for music/movie its the better way. As a tech reviewer myself I say got xbox wireless!! They killing the game esp at this price.

[@Reaper9-4]

Yeah but 3 year warranty

[@lamentable.mp3]

I have a pair of B&O headphones, from a few years before the portal released, and I have thrown them across rooms, and the only change are minor dents and scratches. They are more expensive, but I would say they have more superior longevity than any other headphone I have owned. Also nowadays you can get a used pair for less than $250 Wich is a steal.

[@Etechtroniks]

Love my xbox wireless set. Got 3 pair lol. Gotta 6 month review coming soon only channel

[@mrzodiacgaming]

Just got these on sale for $150 b&w 70% off sale ftw!

[@pantheonapp]

Damn, do they sound extra nice at that price?

[@CarlosBrand]

I bought the Beoplay and they will.be shipped at the end if this month. I've seen a lot of reviews and all agreed that they are the best for music and gaming. I was planning to buy good quality headphones and a gaming headset and both would cost around $600. This review is probably the best one. I just subscribed and I look forward to watching more content. Congrats dude!

[@pantheonapp]

Honestly, I was a little annoyed when I got these because I had upgraded to the AirPods Max earlier in the year. If I knew these were going to come out, I wouldn't have got the AirPods. The Beoplay Portal aren't the absolute best headphones for music I've ever used, but they're like 90% there, which is saying a lot since you can use them for gaming.

[@QuatraaGaming]

Great review, new sub. Keep it up!

[@TheTolliss]

49 subs????? You deserve allot more - more you have 50 😉 surprised that the Xbox wireless headset is as equal to the Astro A50’s?? Might have to treat myself as my Astro A50 mic has stopped working for no reason?? They are gen 3 and I’ve had them for years.

[@pantheonapp]

Thanks!

[@mohammadq8584]

Great review , thx , how about steelseries 9x

[@UndgnfiedWrshpr]

I'm still waiting for the Xbox headset to be available in the Microsoft store again. For crying out loud, when will they have more stock?

[@TheNickers69]

Honestly I’ve had the A50 gen 3 for 2 years. Since they removed the Spdif port, I updated them didn’t make a difference and decided to get the xbox wireless for my series x and wow Microsoft nailed it. They can start you Xbox, the green ring matches the green grill on the X, xbox will display your battery, Bluetooth which is nice while I play gamepass on my iPhone with the razer kishi. I notice the noise cancelling is better on the Xbox and it has USB-C over the astro. Plus the price is a steal $140 CAD vs 350 for A50 Astros that are not consumer friendly. Xbox Wireless wins hands down!

[@LATasKara]

excellent review dude!, is it possible to turn on the xbox with the B&O beoplay portal? does it turn off if your turn off the console?

[@pantheonapp]

Hi Patricio, I just tested this for you and here's what I found: When you turn on the Beoplay Portal, they are set to Bluetooth mode by default. There is a button to switch to Xbox, and when you press that, it will turn the Xbox on (which is neat!). The headphones won't turn the Xbox off, though. If you turn the headphones off, the Xbox stays on. If you turn the Xbox off first, the Beoplay Portal switch back to Bluetooth mode. So you have to remember to turn them off yourself. The nice thing is the power button is a single press. No need to memorize how long you need to hold the button to get it to turn off.

[@LATasKara]

@@pantheonapp thank you so much! That's nice!, Can you EQ the portal on the Xbox? Or only on the phone app?

[@pantheonapp]

You can only EQ the portal on the phone app, but you can do that while you are connected to Xbox. The manual says the Bluetooth is in a low power mode that allows you to switch settings live. While you need to have your phone to make these changes, the benefit is you can make the changes live, while playing a game, instead of switching back and forth to the Xbox settings.

[@LATasKara]

@@pantheonapp thanks dude! Gre at help

[@TheAgentAssassin]

They shut off automatically after 15minutes if not in use . Amazing headphones.

[@neqaa1]

man you saved me thank you so much ❤️👌🏻

[@pantheonapp]

You're welcome! I'm curious, how did we help?

[@neqaa1]

@@pantheonapp from spending triple the price for A50 compered to Xbox headset 👌🏼

[@pantheonapp]

@@neqaa1 Oh awesome. Glad to be helpful!

[@dozerdog0074]

Very thoughtful straight forward review; saved me some money on the Astros!

[@pantheonapp]

I hope Astro steps their customer service up. We all win from that sort of competition.

[@NothernXCanadian]

I mean I’ve had the Astro A50’s for going on three or four months now, and my personal experience I have not received any of the problems that he’s describing. That might just be me but I’m not really sure. The software update when I originally got mad at the box from Amazon it updated without a problem flawlessly. Comfort, sound quality, and overall durability of the headset, is amazing in my opinion. The only thing that I will say about the Astro A50’s with base station that I am not a fan of the design of the boom microphone.

[@pantheonapp]

@B C I tried all the headsets on the Xbox Series X, which has no optical port. To use the A50 on the Series X, you need to update the firmware and move to USB. A few people have informed me that audio quality drops significantly on the USB connection. I used custom EQ settings for all of them.

[@pantheonapp]

​@B C I don't have a stake in any of these companies and don't feel the need to argue for one or the other (they all already took my money). I was just sharing my exprelying

[@pantheonapp]

@B C Sorry, I just noticed I accidentally cut out half my own comment before posting and it makes no sense... I didn't think you were rude at all! The point that I was going to make was that it was supposed to be a simple comparison of my experience, not like a push for one product or another. So I didn't do any sort of debugging or extra research into any of them. I just connected everything to my Xbox according to the instructions and took notes as I used them for gaming, movies, and music. I tried different EQ settings on all of them just to find where each one sounded better because I know different headphones have different tuning, but I didn't try anything else. I really do hope Astro returns the A50s to their former glory. I had them on my Xbox One (until they stopped working for like 7 months) and I really liked them. If they hadn't run into that firmware bug, I probably would have never decided to experiment with the other headsets and just stuck to the A50. Tbenefit

[@tomed9044]

Do the B&O's support atmos content on laptop through streaming apps, disney netflix etc or does the atmos feature only work for xbox gaming/movies? Also did they release a firmware update to skip tracks when listening to music? Thanks!

[@williamkramer9731]

Any word on if they did or will be doing an update to run Bluetooth simultaneously....I think I read on their support page, they did with the ps/pc version. If not, with the audeze maxwell coming out, I think it's a deal breaker

[@chiefmegadeth]

So dicord is integrated into xbox now. Is that still a issue with the Band & Olufsen headphones?

[@Runescape.]

for pc would you recommend the astros or microsoft headset, thanks

[@hoover9390]

great review!

[@sreeves967-9]

Do the xbox wireless headset get as loud as the astro A50's

[@andrewgtiddlyt7832]

I've got both the a50s and xbox headset. I believe the a50s are a little louder and as more clarity, personally I prefer them. But depends how much you wanna spend I suppose. For $100 the xbox headset is a steal. Not worth 3 times the amount but could of probably been sold at $150-$175. I use A50s on series x and ps5 and they are my favourite.

[@Reaper9-4]

I got the Xbox headset but it's hurting my head in long sessions, do you recommend the BO now when it's 390dollars?

[@pantheonapp]

I would say it depends on how much you play. If you can pull off the price, I really do think they're some of the most comfortable and best sounding headphones. I use them to listen to music too, so they're gaming headphones and music headphones for me. If you're looking for comfortable headphones at a lower price, look at reviews for the Arctis 9X from SteelSeries. I have Arctis headphones for my Playstation and they're very comfortable and they sound great. The Arctis 9X they're up for around $160 right now. Hope that helps!

[@LordPop-g1t]

How is the B&O Beoplay Portal for fps gaming? I would use them for music and other things but that would be my main focus for gaming.

[@pantheonapp]

The Beoplay don't have the same heavy rumble that you get on other headsets, but the trade-off is that you get better clarity and improved positioning. I've been playing Doom and they sound great with the insane guns and heavy metal music.

[@ChristianSerna]

Have you tried play xbox and connect your phone trough cable and hear both audio inputs?

[@pantheonapp]

You can only connect to one source at a time on the Xbox version. When you connect a cable to the headphones, they turn off the wireless connections.

[@dernobby492]

Thanks for the review. I have a quick question. The Astro a40 fits very well on my head, the new Xbox headset is a little bit too small for my head so that it is slightly uncomfortable after prolonged use. What do you think fit the Bang and Olufsen? , am currently considering buying. Thank you and best regards from Germany

[@pantheonapp]

The Beoplay are significantly more comfortable than the Xbox Headset. I have a big head and I also felt the the Xbox Headset was uncomfortable after a little while. The Beoplay Portal are about the same size as the Xbox Headset, but there are design features for comfort. The Portal are lighters. The Portal ear cups rotate and they have more padding on the bottom which relieves some of the pressure off the top of your head. The Portal also have a gap at the top of the headband to distribute pressure away from that spot. The A50 are comfortable because they're larger, but the trade off is that they're heavier. I think the Portal and A50 both allow for the same long gaming session without being uncomfortable. I know you have the A40 but I think the A50 and A40 are similar size, so hopefully that helps.

[@dernobby492]

@@pantheonapp thank you 👍

[@southdowns2009]

Love my Xbox x headphones the bass is amazing and the design is so simplistic

[@miforesenelanbiente1966]

para mi los auriculares de xbox son los mejores del mundo de gaming

[@xtrasweet8890]

geez man, the detail of your video is insane!~glad i snagged a pair of the xbox wireless headphones,....super happy with them, the headphones (xbox), I just needed some reassurance to help justify my choice....thanks a lot for the video! SUBBED! (number #73)( needed reassurance because i thought the A50's would have been sweet given they were triple the cost of the xbox ones...really debated on getting the astros too! MY ONLY PROBLEM IS... THAT... I.... WANT(no, i need, lol) ANOTHER PAIR OF the XBOX WIRELESS HEADSET.....poor me right :(

[@pantheonapp]

Thanks for the sub. Im curious, how will you use a second pair?

[@xtrasweet8890]

​@@pantheonapp right now i am on this kick of "two is one, one is none" so basically it is for if something happens to one pair. i have a backup. i worry like that. lol maybe i think that there is no money in making products that last, basically i know this xbox heeadset wont last forever because the battery inside will go out at some point,and then i wont have a pair of these awesome headphones, and then there will be a shortage again.. or maybe i shouldnt worry because maybe by then something else will come out better, oh well.

[@pantheonapp]

​@@xtrasweet8890 (I have that same concern with clothes I like) With electronics, I think if it sells well, more will get made. If it doesn't sell well, they will be easy to find on clearance.

[@clawson32104]

Try the Audeze Penrose X if you want even better sound for $200 less than the Portals. The range and clarity of those 100mm planar magnetic drivers can't be matched by other gaming headsets. Maybe ne have the newest firmware available so my microphone sounds better than alot of those first released and reviewed

[@1youngkash]

I had those, I wouldn’t say they’re better. Because I’m pretty sure you’re just like me and haven’t listen to the bno yet. So you’re being bias with is ok.

[@clawson32104]

@@1youngkash I bought the Portal the first day they were available and returned them for the Penrose X. I returned them because the microphone was terrible especially for a $499 headset. Secondly they also didn’t have simultaneous Bluetooth which is unacceptable at that price . They sounded great and felt great but the Penrose X sound better.

[@1youngkash]

@@clawson32104 alright maybe I’m wrong. But I’m about to go to best buy today and try them. I’ll get back to you.

[@Shhzhxjsjznxn]

Do you think the Audeze is a good xbox compatible option for someone who is used to listen music and playing games with a Sennheiser HD650? I am willing to spend money, but the higher fidelity options are very limited

[@clawson32104]

@@Shhzhxjsjznxn I’d look for the newer Audeze Maxwells. They improve on the Penroses issues

[@VilleLaasonen]

These are not sadly allpurpose headset. Already preordered but really disapointed about not having bluetooth same time as xbox connection. Their product info is super unclear and I contacted their support but they had no idea what the problem is. This price range should not miss lack vital fearures.

[@pantheonapp]

It seems the Bluetooth thing is not a technical glitch, but a decision made to reduce latency. I agree that it’s a big impact value. I would’ve liked to choose to run Bluetooth at the same time even if it caused a little latency.

[@dirkbrinksma2275]

I have the hyperx orbit s they sound great with the planar drivers but they are not the strongest headsets they can break easy. I thinking of buying Beoplay Portal but i am affraid they dont sound that great as the hyperx.

[@erzishockzz5694]

Which platform u have used for comparing this headphones? Cuz the astro isn't that good on XSX instead of X1. The sound quality is much better on X1, so for me it's important if u are talking about the sound on X1 or XSX. Maybe u can let me know

[@pantheonapp]

I was using the Series X for this test. Which headset are you considering?

[@erzishockzz5694]

@@pantheonapp Actually I'm using the astro a50. But now I'm searching for a new one. Maybe I'll take the beoplay Portal or the beyerdynamic mmx300 with the astro a40 mix Amp if it works on xbox

[@bigkabuto]

I don't agree that the Xbox headset could easily have cost twice more. I have tested it and compared it to my Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 and in terms of bass the Xbox headset definitely impresses, it's kinda crazy how punchy the bass is, I had to lower it so that the mids and highs didn't get drowned out as much. But even with the "best" settings with Atmos they just sound too muffled, too flat I guess is the word, compared to the TB Stealth 700 Gen 2. The Gen 2 simply had a way more clear sound when I walk around in games on the ground or through water, or when reloading a weapon, voices etc. The TB Gen 2 set me back 150 bucks so I can't agree that the Xbox headset is overly cheap, it's a fine price for what you get.

[@1youngkash]

As I read your comment and it being about the turtle beach. Brother with all respect. Turtle beaches are literally the worst quality. But sound is subjective. You could not agree with what he’s saying but that does not make it false.

[@williamkramer9731]

@kasimere edwards I've found 2 redeemable qualities in turtles. My wireless range on my stealth 700 was insane. I could walk downstairs and clear across the house, holding a conversation, before it started cutting out. Also, the directional sounds accuracy was great. Other than that, the overall audio quality is is terrible compared to my ls50x and pretty much any steel series I've used, regardless of price. The mic quality is absolutely terrible. I hate playing with people with tb. Also, the build quality crap. I haven't had a single one last long. My ls50x is now yeah for a replacement and at nearly the same price, it lasted twice as long as the last tb I'll ever buy. Checking out these bangs, because of recent sales, and good support fixing most issues, and am down to these and audeze. Ironically astro is the only company I wouldn't buy before tb.... imagine paying 300 for an outdated headset, that has constant connection drops, and no Bluetooth. They do that to save money, because they know fanboys will still buy them up.

[@bigkabuto]

@@williamkramer9731 I have the Stealth 700 gen 2 and as soon as I exit my living room the sound is gone.

[@williamkramer9731]

@Thijs van Abs shit..... the first generation I walked all over the house.... that's fucked up lol

[@TheAgentAssassin]

Sound

[@oooo1110]

For the price Xbox headset is worth it every penny. Its packed with high end features.

[@momsbasement656]

How does microphone monitoring (sidetone) compare between them all? I've heard reports it doesn't work or is too quiet on the Xbox Wireless headset.

[@clawson32104]

You are correct.. currently the microphone monitoring even set to high is still weak on the Xbox Wireless headset. I've heard that Microsoft will be putting out another update to address that

[@renleux4435]

@@clawson32104 the mic location is trash... That's why you won't hear yourself, the mic is too short

[@clawson32104]

@@renleux4435 I would agree with you if Turtle Beach didn't have the same size microphone on the Stealth 600&700 Gen2. Both of those have decent microphone monitoring. It's something that can be fixed via an update.

[@PantsaBear]

Solid review, although I really think saying the xbox headset could be $300 is a stretch lol. Also Dolby Atmos isn't used in most games and isn't exclusive to the xbox headphones, so it's not exactly a feature that defines the sound of this headset

[@pantheonapp]

The Xbox headset comes with the Dolby Atmos included which I don’t think is true for all headsets. But yeah, Dolby Atmos is compatible with any headset. I had the $300 Astro A50s and I think they’re really close. Price is as much marketing and hype as it is quality and brands like Astro have (had?) the hype that lets them sell $300 headsets. I’ve also had $100 headsets that didn’t feel nearly as good as the Xbox headset did. If Microsoft priced these at $300 at launch, they maybe could’ve been able to get away with it (in my limited opinion).

[@PantsaBear]

@@pantheonapp Oh is that true about it being included? Does that make a difference? That's interesting if so. Also about the A50 thing, I think that says more about the A50s/A40s being overpriced by about $100 each (I owned a pair and yeah they're not bad but definitely too expensive). I will say though that yeah, for sure the xbox headsets perform better than $100, probably similar to like the Arctis 7x/9x or Turtle Beach Stealth 700 which are $150-$200. Anyway didn't mean to argue semantics too much, was a great video man. Really wanna get myself a B&O in a couple months once I save up some more, so the comparison was extremely helpful. Thanks!

[@pantheonapp]

@@PantsaBear The Xbox Wireless headset only comes with 6 months of Dolby Atmos. But I believe the Beoplay have a full license. Otherwise you have to pay $15 to unlock it. I tested them all on Dolby Atmos since that seems to be the most popular audio setting now. Good point on the Astro being overpriced though. I haven’t tried the 9x or other $200 range headphones to compare, but the Astro build is not good for $300.

[@PantsaBear]

@@pantheonapp Good to know, not that $15 when I'm already paying $500 was much of a big deal lmao, but it helps. Also the Arctis 9x are very similar in feel and sound to the 7X (a little better sound wise, but very comparable), they just use bluetooth and connect to the xbox similarly to how the B&O Portals do through Xbox Connect or whatever its called. But man those Arctis 7/9 headphones are so darn comfy for what you pay, have worn em 10 hours straight no problem

[@pantheonapp]

@@PantsaBear I have the Arctic Pro for my PC and I agree they’re insanely comfortable despite the weight.

[@rkelez]

I’ve had absolutely miserable connection issues with the Xbox wireless headset. Even standing 5 feet away. I’m not sure if they’re just overly sensitive to interference or what but they’ve been terrible. Curious how the range you get compares between the 3? Trying to pick the next one i want to try based on connection stability

[@pantheonapp]

You may have interference from other Wifi devices. I had this issue with all the headsets until I changed some things around: I moved my router as far as possible from my consoles and changed the router frequency to 5 GHz (this may not be possible depending on other devices you have). All of these headsets work on 2.4 GHz frequencies, so if that band is "busy" with other devices, it will interfere with the headset.

[@DxBang3D]

The Astro A50 sounds too bass?... did you find the EQ and the 3 predefined EQ modes?

[@abramlionel4990]

It’s easy to Adjust them

[@DxBang3D]

@@abramlionel4990 exactly. i personally don't find the bass too deep and i use them for gaming and music.

[@jacobfashh2565]

realistically does the BEOplay portal and xbox headset does it sound the same (almost identical) when it comes to gaming? Please let me know!

[@pantheonapp]

No, they sound different. The Xbox headset sounds good, and if you normally don't care too much about differences in sound profile, I think the feature set on the Xbox headset is generally better for gaming (aside from it being tight for some people). The Beoplay gives more detail in sound and doesn't sound so bass heavy. They're also really good for music.

[@jacobfashh2565]

@@pantheonapp Okay well, that sounds like good news for an expected $500 headset then. But then again is there a headset around $250 that sounds the same as the Beoplay for the xbox if the Microsoft Xbox headset sounds a bit worst?

[@jacobfashh2565]

I am currently using a Bose QC 15 from 2003 and it still works and holds up quite well on the Xbox. I have a3.5mm to USB C adapter for it and it works! I am looking to upgrade to something if it is better of course but from the likes of it I am seriously wondering if this $500 headset is worth the upgrade.

[@jacobfashh2565]

How do the Beoplay compare to the likes of Bose?

[@pantheonapp]

@@jacobfashh2565 I haven't used Bose. I think the major difference probably just comes down to the way each headset is tuned. The major benefit you'll get from moving headsets if you have a good pair of regular headphones is really just the wireless part, I think. Gaming headsets are tuned differently, so they sound different, but at that point, it's all about preference.

[@cairbre1977]

How do you switch between Xbox and windows I tend to game on both

[@pantheonapp]

I haven't tested this, but it looks like you may have to re-pair each time you jump from Xbox to Windows. Pairing works the same way it does for a controller, it's really quick.

[@zfromthespace6458]

Steel series 9x comparison?

[@Polska675]

Would love to see this comparison

[@TheAgentAssassin]

Steel series 9x sound excellent. But I returned mine , they drop audio way too much. But they sounded amazing. I constantly got audio drop , they would immediately come back in a millisecond but it just started to get on my nerves. I ordered the bang and olufsen to compare so we'll see. I currently have the hyper x cloud which are rock solid connection using a USB wireless dongle but the audio isn't as good. Good enough I suppose but the series 9x had way better spacial audio and bass clarity. update: I got the B&O headset. AMAZING!

[@Dutchy-enigma]

When MS accuares Discord they will intergrate it on xbox "Xbox Teams" you wont need bluetooth

[@AT-S3D]

Can i use xbox headset on my xbox and phone in the same time ????

[@pantheonapp]

Yes! One of the best features.

[@robertgist4698]

Portal issues Sound quality is great but i have encountered many issues. I would like to include the issues I'm experiencing because I have watched alot of reviews and these issues have either not been brought up or experienced. • Audio cuts in and out on xbox and P.C. (Worst on P.C.) • Sound cuts out if pushed to max on headset (Not if adjusted on app) • No noise gate setting • Tested mic and voice sounds far away • Tested mic and background noise is very noticeable. Bottom presses can be heard on the controller • Voice/game volume mixer does not work on P.C. • Settings do not save when headset is turned or or after switching modes • Audio cue needs to be louder when voice/game mixer is maxed or in the middle • Volume cues would be nice at 1/2 and max volume. • No command to end calm only answer • No command for next/previous song.

[@WhyplayGaming]

The only thing I don't like about BnO is the touch sliders I wish companies would stop using these for things like volume control a manual slider will always work better in my opinion especially if you need to quickly nock it up or down wile gaming

[@WhyplayGaming]

Saying that the xbox headset volume controle I wish was a bit firmer its a bit too sensitive and because of were its placed on the headset taking them on or off it will often get adjusted without you knowing so next time you put them on its either too loud or muted.

[@AnimichileTV]

Very good comparison! I like this video very much! Thanks and greetings from Merkel-Germany ;)

[@lemmykilmister6792]

Wie peinlich das du Merkel erwähnst 🤣🤦‍♂️

[@jetiii7]

How do you order these in the US

[@pantheonapp]

Best Buy seems to have a bunch of inventory. But only on the black color. The beige and blue sets aren’t out yet.

[@Medsas]

inability to use discord on the phone while gaming on xbox is a dealbreaker for me for Beoplay

[@pantheonapp]

This got me hoping the Discord acquisition rumors are true.

[@block-du9md]

There is a discord app on the Xbox that allows you to use discord and play games at the same time the app is called Quarrel. You also can use Amazon music and Spotify while you are playing the game in the background.

[@Medsas]

@@block-du9md Quarrel is OK, it disconnects often, which is a pain in the ass, because you have to press the Guide button, switch to Quarrel, reconnect, and go back to your game. Obviously that's impossible in a match (unless you want to get killed lol).

[@venom2faze46]

Very good video if u added like more editing and sides and transitions u will blow easily but very good video

[@nikaarbolishvili8011]

i hate the way astro and xbox headsets look, you cant do anything with them rather then only using it at home, portal is an more universal headset and you can go out with them, it has great comfort, game helping features and audio quality .

[@pantheonapp]

I have Apple’s AirPods Max and the Portals are really close in quality for music. The sound profile is a little different (the Portal are more neutral) but they sound great. If I didn’t already have the Max, I would just use the Portal for everything.

[@robertgist4698]

With the beoplay portals are you able to use the voice/game volume mixer on pc? Not working for me and is becoming a deal breaker.

[@momsbasement656]

Astro has been putting out junk for years. I have a old Astro Mixamp that *never* worked right that was very expensive. Static-filled volume potentiometer and horrible battery performance from day one. Tons of user complaints. They didn't care. Have had good luck with the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2, huge improvement over the horrible disconnecting Gen 1's with there crappy push button controls.

[@_Insinuate]

In the past 10 years I’ve only owned two headsets both of them being Astro never once had a problem 👌🏻

[@jayfoster6465]

Hello I got my astros a while ago and my friends say my mic quality is quite bad can you help me with this?

[@jarjared3522]

When headphones cost as much as a new console 🥴

[@Etechtroniks]

Its crazy right lol

[@miforesenelanbiente1966]

para mi los auriculares de xbox son los mejores del mundo de gaming

[@StEeF7-YT]

Astro went to shit since Logitech bought the brand, I’d still buy Astro’s over anything tho.

[@NothernXCanadian]

That’s $620.33 CAD.

[@Gorilla_Jones]

I have both. The Xbox wireless headset is just atrocious. My main gripe with the B&Os is that the mic is not great at picking up your own voice. Please don't recommend the Xbox headset, I took them back. It's just bad, not sure how people are giving them a satisfactory rating. They are nowhere near the A50s, not even in the same universe sound wise. SMH. I'm wondering if everyone's ears are broken.

[@pantheonapp]

I've recently been informed that the A50 are perform significantly less well on Series X without the optical port, which is where I compared them.

[@Ample17]

Yeah I can tell that you can't really jugde sound. If you say the X box wireless headset could be 200-300 dollars 😅 dude no way. I'm an musician and an audiophile so my ears are trained and I can tell you, you are way off here. The bass is craaazy overemphasized and just incredibly rumbly and imprecise on the wireless, mids and highs can sound tinny very quick. And that's not even tapping into the Dolby Atmos qualities of the Astros. For 100 bucks the wireless might be okay, the buildquality is good but the sound.. Just no. Crazy how you don't hear that.

[@TheTae310]

the BO are not that great volume could be louder the Audeze Penrose are way better

[@pantheonapp]

You should post a comparison! People find them very helpful and I've gotten a lot of positive feedback. It's hard for one person to compare all of these different headsets in one go.

[@AdamGoodwin]

Audeze Penrose aren't that great, they have quite a pronounced amplifier hiss, along with a buzz when using the Xbox 2.4Ghz wireless connection

[@TheTae310]

@@AdamGoodwin i have the ps5 version i use the aux for the xbox and yes they are that great no problems whatsoever. Do you own them are you just looking at reviews i own both and the sound from the portal is nothing special at all i rather justuse the aux then keep these

[@AdamGoodwin]

@@TheTae310 I have a set of Astro A50 3rd Gen, since these new consoles have dropped the optical port, I've used them over USB with the latest update and they are rubbish now. My main setup is a Yamaha RX-V6A with a full Dolby ATMOS speaker setup, along with a set of Philips Fidelio x2, Grado headphones and inear custom monitors. For PS5 multiplayer games I use the Pluse 3D headphones, which work well enough. Xbox Series X is my main gaming platform. For multiplayer games I currently use Corsair XB75 which have a hiss when connected by Xbox Wireless, and the new Xbox Wireless Headset which are miles better than the Sony Pulse 3D headset. I also have a set of Sony XM3's for work. I've personally tried Steel Series 9X, Razer, and Audeze Penrose and found them lacking. The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal have a wonderful sound profile similar to Gardo, but with a tight base and exciting mids & highs. B&O electro-dynamic drivers are like nothing else, even though they are "only" 40mm. Audeze noise floor from amplification is definitely discernible, along with wireless interference which seems to disappear when plugged into the controller, though why would I want to plug-in a wireless headset? Microphone has many issues, sounds really muffled. Build quality isn't great either, which is common amongst planar headphones.

[@TheTae310]

@@AdamGoodwin 😂 the fidelio x2 is my main wired headset I use it with my v mods mic and a sound blaster g6 since the ps4 controller couldn’t drive them but the Penrose replaced that altogether I have no problems with them i will wait till a newer model comes out then I will get them for the x I just can’t see myself buying the same headset twice that’s why I tried the portals I let my son try them and he laughed when I told him how much they cost he said his old game one sound better

[@gloomyvale3671]

The B & F headphones are way overpriced, you pay for the name, they cant even do dual Bluetooth operations, waste of time.

[@ColinCreighton]

The idea is that they are one headset for everything. Traveling, gaming, listening to music, video calls, etc. $500 is a fair price for someone who uses the headset for all of these things.

[@sasquatchcrew]

Astros just have the most garbage sound quality I cannot recommend them at all for FPS games or really anything your doing that is important for audio. I feel after years of astros, even cheap 15 dollar bluetooth ear buds like Skull candies are better for listening to movies/youtube/music. They just don't have the less than 100ms latency you would want for FPS games and bluetooth is limited AF for combing mic/sound information communication, and is why you don't see bluetooth only headsets often. If they are, they using likely the latest codec and your still being limited on communication bandwidth. For cheap headsets Logitech, Razer, Steelseries, HyperX, sennheiser all make likely better sounding headsets. And at 250 dollars, you should just get Artice Nova Pros/Stealth Pros/Audeze maxwells. You shouldn't spend more than 100 bucks on Ear Buds. Unless its perfect for you, and gives you the features you cannot compromise... most of the earbuds out today are garbage long term. Batteries don't last long either, which is my opinion.

[@Dairon3241]

Astros a50 gen 4 no good

[@alexanderdjr]

Great review!