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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired headset that survives being thrown in a bag and works with basically every console you own, choose ASTRO Gaming A10; if you need a lightweight wireless headset with long battery life and virtual surround sound for PC and PlayStation, choose Redragon H848. These two sit in completely different corners of the gaming over ear market, and the right pick comes down to one question: do you want a cable you never have to think about, or do you want to cut the cord and manage a battery instead?
• ASTRO Gaming A10 — biggest trade-off: it's a wired headset in a wireless era. There's no battery, no surround processing, and no USB-C or 2.4 GHz option — just the cable.
• Redragon H848 — biggest strength: three connection modes (Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz receiver, USB-C wired) and a claimed 20–25 hours of battery life from a 2.5-hour charge, all in a 178 g frame.
• Redragon H848 — biggest trade-off: no Xbox support at all, and 7.1 surround only works in 2.4 GHz and wired modes — not over Bluetooth.
• Who each pick is for: the A10 is for the multi-console player who wants zero setup and zero charging; the H848 is for the PC or PlayStation player who wants wireless freedom and doesn't own an Xbox.
The A10 is built around one idea: take a beating and keep working. The headband is anodized aluminum wrapped in a polycarbonate blend, which is the kind of construction you appreciate if your headset lives in a backpack or gets tossed onto a desk between sessions. The memory foam ear cushions are there for long sessions, and the over-ear, circumaural shape seals around your ears rather than pressing on them.
Sound-wise, this is a gaming-tuned wired set. The 32 ohm impedance and 99 dB sensitivity mean it's easy to drive from a controller jack or a phone — you don't need an amp or a sound card to get usable volume. The 40 mm-class dynamic driver covers a 20 Hz to 20 kHz range, and the 6.0 mm uni-directional mic with flip-up mute and in-line volume control covers the basics cleanly. No software, no dongle, no pairing menu.
Who should buy it: the person with more than one platform. If you rotate between a PlayStation, a Switch and a PC, or you plug into a VR headset or a tablet, the 3.5 mm jack is the simplest universal answer there is. Parents buying for a kid who plays on several devices will also appreciate that there's nothing to charge or lose.
Who should skip it: anyone who has moved fully to wireless, or who wants virtual surround sound and a detachable mic. There's no battery to run out, but there's also no freedom to walk away from the screen. If cable snag on a controller bothers you, this isn't your headset.
The H848 is Redragon's first three-mode wireless gaming headset, and that's the whole pitch. You get a 2.4 GHz receiver for low-latency PC and PlayStation play, Bluetooth 5 for phones and tablets, and USB-C wired as a fallback. That flexibility is genuinely useful if you jump between a desktop, a laptop and a phone in the same evening.
The weight is the headline number: 178 g. That's light enough that the "relieve the pressure on your head" claim is easy to believe, and the breathable fabric earcups with memory foam padding are aimed squarely at people who overheat in pleather. Battery life is rated at 20–25 hours with a 2.5-hour charge, and there's a low-battery warning tone plus a red blinking indicator when the cell drops below 3.3 V. A nice touch: the headset auto-powers-off after 10 minutes with no audio source, which saves you from a dead battery when you forget to switch it off.
Audio is where it gets interesting. The 40 mm drivers and 17 ohm impedance make this easy to drive, and 7.1 virtual surround can be toggled by double-pressing the mic mute button — but only in 2.4 GHz and wired modes. Over Bluetooth you're limited to plain stereo. The detachable noise-cancelling mic is a real plus for people who also want to use the headset for music or calls without a boom in their face. Controls live on the left earcup.
Who should buy it: PC and PlayStation players who want wireless freedom, light weight and long battery life, and who don't own an Xbox. Who should skip it: Xbox owners — it simply doesn't support Xbox One or Series X|S, and there's no 3.5 mm cable or adapter in the box to fall back on.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for multi-console compatibility → ASTRO Gaming A10. PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC, Mac, VR and mobile over a single 3.5 mm jack; the H848 won't work with Xbox at all.
• Best for wireless freedom → Redragon H848. Bluetooth 5 plus a 2.4 GHz receiver means no cable tether to your controller.
• Best for lightweight comfort → Redragon H848. 178 g is genuinely light, and the fabric earcups stay cooler than foam-wrapped pads.
• Best for durability → ASTRO Gaming A10. Aluminum and polycarbonate construction is designed to survive drops and travel in a way a plastic frame isn't.
• Best for surround sound → Redragon H848, with the caveat that 7.1 only works in 2.4 GHz and wired modes, not Bluetooth.
• Best for a detachable mic → Redragon H848. Take the boom off and it doubles as a plain pair of over-ear headphones.
• Best for zero setup → ASTRO Gaming A10. Plug in and play; no pairing, no dongle, no software, no charging routine.
In my opinion, the Redragon H848 is the more interesting buy for most people shopping in 2026, because wireless freedom, light weight and 7.1 surround are the features that shape your daily experience — provided you don't game on Xbox. If you do own an Xbox, or you want a headset you can hand to anyone in the house and have it just work on any device, I'd take the ASTRO Gaming A10 instead. Its aluminum-and-polycarbonate build and universal 3.5 mm jack make it the safer long-term pick for a shared or multi-platform setup. If price is the deciding factor for you, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since both sit in different budget tiers.
are in ear headphones good for gaming
They can work for casual play, but both headsets here are over ear, and that matters for gaming. Over-ear cups like the A10's circumaural design and the H848's rounded-tip earcups sit around your ears instead of inside them, which generally gives better isolation and a wider soundstage. In-ear models trade that for portability.
do over ear headphones damage hearing
Volume and listening time are what matter, not the form factor. Both the A10 and H848 are over-ear designs with volume controls, and the practical advice is the same: keep levels moderate and take breaks during long sessions. Neither headset has a listed hearing-protection feature, so sensible volume is on you.
how do over ear headphones work
They use drivers inside cups that seal around your ear and push sound into a small enclosed space. The A10 uses a dynamic driver with 32 ohm impedance and a 20 Hz–20 kHz range over a 3.5 mm cable; the H848 uses 40 mm dynamic drivers at 17 ohm and can add virtual 7.1 surround in 2.4 GHz or wired mode.
is gaming headphones good for music
Often yes, with caveats. The H848 has a detachable mic and a wide frequency range, so it doubles as a normal pair of wireless headphones for music and calls. The A10 is tuned for gaming audio, which is punchy and clear but not neutral — fine for casual listening, less ideal if you want studio-accurate music reproduction.
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