Astro A40 TR vs SteelSeries Siberia 840

This headset has very good overall tonal balance, with just a little emphasis on the bass. The highs are clear and airy while the mids are forward and not muddy. The bass has good power and punch, yet does not overpower the other frequencies.

Explosions and in-game/movie sound effects will definitely sound good with these, yet at the same time these are versatile enough for a wide range of music genres.

This headset's microphone has good clarity and voice reproduction so voice chat's should not be a problem. Also, the mic can easily be removed from the left ear cup if it is not needed.

The headset comes stock as closed back headphones. However, the ear cups' side covers are magnetized and they can be removed completely, converting these headphones to an open-back design. This helps to add extra width and a more natural feel to the sound. This can enhance immersion when gaming or watching movies with this headset.

The stock ear pads, along with the headband have thick foam material with a fabric surface. This feels soft on the head and helps to minimize heat build-up and sweating when wearing the headset.

This headset's audio cable is not fixed. Instead, a 3.5mm port is on the left ear cup where a standard 3.5mm cable can be connected. This allows for easy storage and handling of the headphones as you can choose to remove the cable if it is not needed. This also means that you can easily switch audio cables if you want one in a specific length, or need to replace your stock cable.

The ear cup covers, ear pads and headband cushion can easily be removed. Users can replace these with Astro's Mod Kits which contain ear pads, cushions and/or ear cup covers in different colors and materials.

The ear cups feature a closed design which blocks outside noise. People near you won't hear the in-game audio while you're wearing these.

This is versatile gaming headset works with PC, Xbox One and a host of other devices.

The microphone is flexible and can easily be bent or angled as preferred. If not in use, the mic can be pushed into the ear cup so it won’t get in the way.

You can adjust the various settings of the Siberia 840 on your computer via Steelseries’ Engine 3 app. You get more fine tuning options compared to what the base station can provide, and you’ll also be able to set and sync audio profiles with your other Steelseries devices, allowing on the fly audio changes depending on the inputs to your Steelseries mouse and/or keyboard.

The range and stability of the wireless connection is very good. The signal remains stable with clear audio even if the headset is more than 30 feet away from the base. There is also no noticeable delay between what is happening on screen and when you hear the audio.

You can connect this headset to your smartphone/tablet and other Bluetooth capable audio devices, which is a major upgrade over the old 800 model. This allows you to take calls from your phone and improves device compatibility, and are perks that you may find to be very useful.

This headset has a fun sound signature. The highs are slightly boosted, which helps make the audio sound very airy. The enhanced bass makes explosions quite powerful and immersive. The mids, while not forward, are present and give body to the audio.

The Siberia 840 comes with a spare battery pack in addition to the one already provided. The spare battery can be charged independently in the base station, so you can use the headset while the other battery pack charges. Swapping from one battery to another is also quick and easy to do.

This headset's wireless connection (both RF and Bluetooth) is stable and the sound is detailed and powerful. The base station also accepts a variety of analog and digital inputs, making this a very versatile headset. It also has a long battery life complemented by a charging system that allows you to charge one battery pack while using the other.