When comparing Astro A50 PS4 vs Phiaton BT 100 NC, the Slant community recommends Phiaton BT 100 NC for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” Phiaton BT 100 NC is ranked 23rd while Astro A50 PS4 is ranked 42nd. The most important reason people chose Phiaton BT 100 NC is:
You get a lot of useful features from the BT 100 NC which includes decent noise cancelling, Bluetooth as well splash resistance, which makes these earphones great for casual or active use. Sound reproduction has great clarity as well as full mids and okay bass, and should work well with many music genres.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Solid construction
The A50 is mostly made of quality plastic with a soft touch finish. It can flex well without feeling like it will break. The plastic on the headband and ear cups are complemented by metal rods that add more rigidity to the headset while also giving it a metal accent for a more premium look.
Pro Balanced sound with a slight emphasis on the bass
The sound signature leans more on the neutral side with highs that have good clarity and mids that are full but not forward or recessed. Audio details can easily be heard, and in-game or movie dialogue does not get lost in the mix. The bass is slightly boosted so explosions and gunshots definitely have a lot of kick. The low frequencies do not get out of hand though, so the sound is not muddy in any way.
Pro Enhances soundstage with a surround sound feature
With this feature on, you’ll be able to better tell what direction explosions are happening, or where gunshot sounds are coming from. This can give you an extra edge when gaming competitively as well as make your games more immersive.
Pro Very soft ear pads and headband
The ear pads and headband have very thick foam for cushioning which helps to minimize pressure on the head
Pro Good battery life
From a full charge, these headphones can get up to 15 hours of playback time.
Pro Base station has a lot of functionality
The base station primarily functions as the A50’s stand and charger. The headset magnetically locks into place when on the base, ensuring it charges properly and does not fall off. The base also handles connectivity with audio sources and is the transmitter that communicates with the headset.
Pro Mic is easy to position
The microphone has good clarity. It is attached to the left ear cup and can be pushed upwards when not in use. It is also bendable so you can position it closer to your mouth if needed.
Pro Works with a PC
This headset can save you money if you are looking to improve audio not just on your PS4, but also on your computer. The A50 is compatible with a PC/Mac so you do not need to buy a separate headset.
Pro Combines good sound, splash resistance, noise cancelling and wireless connectivity at a great price
You get a lot of useful features from the BT 100 NC which includes decent noise cancelling, Bluetooth as well splash resistance, which makes these earphones great for casual or active use. Sound reproduction has great clarity as well as full mids and okay bass, and should work well with many music genres.
Pro Detailed and clean sound
Bass is not emphasized yet is full and has good punch so the sound does not sound lean. The mids are warm and full, so guitars, vocals and drums sound great. The highs are slightly emphasized, which brings out a lot of detail from the music, but can also make cymbal and “s” sounds quite harsh.
Pro Collar design houses all earphone controls
You’ll be able to control the various earphone functions using the buttons and switches on the BT 100 NC’s collar. It houses the earphones’ battery and noise cancelling circuitry along with the buttons for answering and ending calls, play/pause/skip/previous tracks, volume adjust and the noise cancelling switch. Aside from being easy to reach, the collar also takes as much weight off of the earpieces as possible, so they stay inside the ears well.
Pro Good battery life
You’ll get a good amount of wireless listening time off of these earphones. Battery life with noise cancelling and wireless activated is around 8 hours, while you can get 12 hours of noise cancelling when these are used in wired mode.
Pro Okay noise cancelling
While not the best, the noise-cancelling is decent and can reduce noise that may mix in with your music. You’ll still be able to hear some low pitched noise like the sound of engines though.
Pro Earpieces can be stored in the collar
You can bring these earphones on the go without the earpieces flopping all over the place when they are not in use. There is a space in each end of the collar where you can dock the earpieces for easier transport.
Cons
Con Mic is too sensitive
The A50's mic easily picks up ambient noise and voice pops. This can be annoying for your teammates when using voice chat while playing.
Con Clamping force can be too strong
The headset clamps tightly on the head. While the thick cushioning in the ear pads and headband can minimize the pressure, you might find this uncomfortable if you are sensitive to clamp force.
Con Can feel heavy on the head/neck
The A50 is one of the heaviest wireless headsets at around 380 grams The weight can make your head or neck feel tired quickly.
Con Bass-light with slightly aggressive treble
If you love powerful bass or non-fatiguing treble, then the BT 100 NC’s sound signature may not be for you. The bass is present, but the quantity may not be enough. The slightly emphasized treble can make the sound harsh and can be fatiguing to listen to for long periods, especially if you are sensitive to treble.
Con Collar design may be uncomfortable
The collar rests on your neck. While lightweight, you may find this piece of plastic to be annoying, especially when doing vigorous moves when running or working out.