Over-Ear
ASTRO Gaming A50 (Gen 3)
82Great
$60
Full review dataASTRO Gaming A50 (Gen 3) vs JLab JBuddies ANC: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the ASTRO Gaming A50 (Gen 3) comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 82. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: ASTRO Gaming A50 (Gen 3) - Great overall at around $60.
Over-Ear
JLab JBuddies ANC
62Average
$37
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
ASTRO Gaming A50 (Gen 3)
Sound8.0
Battery7.0
Calls6.0
Value7.0
JLab JBuddies ANC
Sound6.0
Noise cancelling5.0
Battery8.0
Calls5.0
Value7.0
Specifications
| Spec | ASTRO Gaming A50 (Gen 3) | JLab JBuddies ANC |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $60 | $37 |
| HearWiki score | 82 / 100 · Great | 62 / 100 · Average |
| Released | 2017 | - |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | Dynamic |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| Driver size | - | 40mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz - 20,000Hz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Impedance | 48 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 85 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | none | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Wireless range | 9.1 m | 9.1 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 15 h | 50 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 40 h |
| Full charge time | - | 180 min |
| Wireless charging | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | 2-mic ENC |
| Controls | - | buttons |
| Voice assistant | - | yes |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 380 g | 227 g |
| Water resistance | none | No water resistance rating |
| Foldable | - | Yes |
| Detachable cable | - | Yes |
| USB-C | - | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 1 | 3 |
| Microphone | - | Yes |
What reviewers said
ASTRO Gaming A50 (Gen 3)
The ASTRO Gaming A50 (Gen 3) is a premium wireless headset designed for immersive gaming, delivering crisp virtual surround sound and a comfortable over-ear fit. Its standout feature is the convenient charging base, which also acts as a hub for connectivity, though the detachable microphone and software experience are less impressive than the hardware itself.
- Pro:Immersive virtual 7.1 surround sound
- Pro:Comfortable for long gaming sessions
- Pro:Convenient charging base and dock
- Con:Microphone quality is only average
- Con:Companion software is clunky
- Con:No Bluetooth or multipoint support
JLab JBuddies ANC
The JLab JBuddies ANC are budget-friendly over-ear headphones aimed at younger listeners, offering both wireless and wired use with active noise cancellation. They feature a long-lasting battery, Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint, and a built-in volume limiter for safer listening levels. While lightweight and foldable for travel, they lack any water resistance and have a relatively low sensitivity rating.
- Pro:Long battery life, especially with ANC off
- Pro:Affordable price for ANC and wireless features
- Pro:Foldable design and lightweight for portability
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:Low sensitivity may require higher volume on some devices
- Con:Charging time is fairly long at three hours
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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