Mixamp 5.8

ASTRO Video Gaming Equipment, http://www.astrogaming.com

$129.95

Score: 9 out of 10

The Astro Mixamp 5.8 is one of those rare products that cross the chasm between Matt the Reviewer’s life and Matt’s life.  In other words, I like this little wireless audio system enough that I want to use it.  It’s not that I’m forced to write reviews, but there is a difference between products I use long enough to review and products that become part of my life.  I usually say, “It takes 10-20 hours of playing/testing to get enough info for a good review.  If I find myself coming back to a product or game even after it’s reviewed, then that is one helluva product.

So there you have it.  That’s my review.  One helluva product.

Astro already had a product called the Mixamp on the market that has been high successful on the pro gaming circuit, but it is a wired amp.  The next logical step was a wireless amp and transmitter.  It was insanely simple to hook up.  I just used the included optical cable to connect to my Rotel A/V controller and powered the unit on and I was in business.  I used a pair of Astro A30 headphones during my testing – they are really good gaming headphones, maybe the best I’ve listened to in the sub $100 market.  I also used my beloved Etymotic ER-4P in ear headphones.  Both sounded great with the Mixamp 5.8, although the Bass Expander feature (which adds the equivalent of a subwoofer’s rumbling bass) worked much better with the A30’s.  The A30’s have a built in mic so with another cable to the PS3 I could have the full game/voice experience.  Incidentally, the MixAmp 5.8 and A30 bundle is available for $199.95 until 1/11/11.

The MixAmp 5.8 has only a few controls: volume, the game/voice balance control, on, and surround on.  Game/voice control comes in handy because it allowed me to fine tune the volume of the other morons who were yelling at me during multiplayer Call of Duty.

Overall, I love the MixAmp 5.8 and the A30 headphones.  This is the best wireless audio setup I’ve listened to.  I think that it’s well worth the $229.95.  And I’ll let you in on a secret.  The other night I set them up for my girlfriend to watch some Real Housewives crap on TV – and then I didn’t have to listen to the insipid bantering.  Oh, that was sweet!  I think that if the MixAmp 5.8 can save me from that assault (plus save her from my assault on Khe San), then the utility far surpasses the cost.