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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Astro Gaming A20 — biggest strength: a focused, low-latency 2.4GHz USB transmitter design with up to 15 hours of battery, a flip-to-mute boom mic and full over-ear comfort, all from a brand with a long track record in console audio.
• Astro Gaming A20 — biggest trade-off: it is wireless-only (no Bluetooth, no 3.5mm jack in the data sheet), and its 15-hour battery is a fraction of what the syndesmos offers.
• syndesmos PS5 — biggest strength: up to 45 hours of battery, a 5-minute charge for about 2 hours of play, 50mm dynamic drivers, and Bluetooth 5.3 for phones and tablets alongside 2.4GHz for consoles and PC.
• syndesmos PS5 — biggest trade-off: it leans on a dongle-plus-Bluetooth setup rather than a single branded ecosystem, and its mic is a noise-canceling boom that detaches for everyday calls.
• Who the A20 is for: players who want a simple, well-known wireless headset for PS5, PS4, Windows and Mac and don't mind charging more often.
• Who the syndesmos is for: players who want the longest possible sessions between charges and want one headset that also works as a Bluetooth headphone.
The A20 Gen 2 is the headset you buy when you want the wireless experience to feel invisible. You plug the USB transmitter into your PS5, PS4, Windows PC or Mac, and the 2.4GHz link takes over. There's no pairing dance, no app to babysit — just plug and play. Astro built its reputation on console audio, and this model is aimed squarely at that habit: turn the console on, put the headset on, play.
The mic is the standout detail for me. A flexible boom that mutes when you flip it up is one of those features you don't appreciate until you've fumbled for a mute button mid-match. It's a small design decision that removes friction from every single session. The over-ear fit — padded headband, cushioned ear cups, 318 g — reads as a headset meant for long evenings rather than quick bursts, and Astro throws in a microfiber cloth to keep it clean.
Where it gives ground is range. Fifteen hours of battery is fine, but it's a daily-charge headset if you play heavily. It has no Bluetooth, so it won't double as a phone or tablet headphone, and there's no wired jack to fall back on when the battery dies. In my opinion, the A20 is for the player who wants one device, one console, one simple routine — and who values the polish of a dedicated gaming brand over maximum flexibility. If you travel between devices or hate charging, skip it.
The syndesmos PS5 headset is built around a very different priority: stamina. Forty-five hours on a single charge means you can game for days without thinking about a cable, and the 5-minute top-up that yields about 2 hours of play is genuinely useful when you're mid-session and realize you forgot to charge. For anyone who has ever had a headset die during a ranked match, that combination is the headline feature.
It's also the more versatile of the two. The USB dongle handles PS5, PC and Switch at 2.4GHz, and Bluetooth 5.3 covers phones and tablets. The mic is a noise-canceling boom that helps cut keyboard clatter, fan noise and background chatter — and because it unplugs, the headset can serve as a normal Bluetooth headphone for calls when you don't need the boom. The 50mm dynamic drivers are the largest spec in this comparison, and the 7.1 surround mode is aimed at directional cues like footsteps and voice lines in supported games.
Comfort gets real attention too: protein-leather ear cushions over memory foam, an adjustable headband and rotating ear cups that should suit most head shapes. The trade-offs are about identity rather than hardware. This is a newer, less established brand, and the setup asks you to keep track of a dongle, a Bluetooth mode and a removable mic — more moving parts than the A20's single-purpose approach. In my opinion, the syndesmos is for the player who wants maximum battery, cross-device flexibility and a headset that pulls double duty outside the console.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → syndesmos PS5. Up to 45 hours versus the A20's 15 hours, plus a 5-minute fast charge for roughly 2 hours.
• Best for console-first simplicity → Astro Gaming A20. One USB transmitter, no pairing, no mode switching.
• Best for noise-canceling chat → syndesmos PS5. Its boom mic is explicitly designed to reduce keyboard and background noise.
• Best for multi-device use → syndesmos PS5. 2.4GHz for PS5/PC/Switch plus Bluetooth 5.3 for phones and tablets.
• Best for a single-platform routine → Astro Gaming A20. It covers PS5, PS4, Windows and Mac through the dongle and nothing else to manage.
• Best for fit adjustability → syndesmos PS5. Rotating ear cups and an adjustable headband with memory-foam cushions.
• Best for large-driver immersion → syndesmos PS5. 50mm dynamic drivers versus the A20's 5.1-inch (about 130mm) driver spec.
If I were buying for myself, I'd take the syndesmos PS5. The 45-hour battery and fast-charge top-up remove the single biggest annoyance of wireless gaming, and the Bluetooth 5.3 mode means the same headset follows me to my phone. The A20 is the more polished single-purpose console headset, and I'd recommend it without hesitation to anyone who wants a no-thought plug-and-play experience and doesn't care about Bluetooth. But for most people juggling more than one device, the syndesmos simply does more, longer. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding — that's the one variable that could flip my pick.
how to use wired gaming headset on pc
Plug the headset's USB transmitter or cable into a free USB port, then set it as the default playback and recording device in your PC's sound settings. The A20 uses a 2.4GHz USB transmitter, so it behaves like a wireless headset once the dongle is in — there's no separate audio cable to run.
how to use titan wired led gaming headset
Setups vary by model, so check that headset's own instructions for its cable type and any software. For reference, the two headsets compared here connect differently: the syndesmos PS5 works over a 2.4GHz USB dongle, Bluetooth 5.3, or wired, while the Astro A20 is wireless via its 2.4GHz USB transmitter with no headphone jack listed.
are wired gaming headsets better
Not universally. Wired headsets never need charging and avoid wireless interference, but a good 2.4GHz transmitter like the one in the A20 is designed for low latency, and the syndesmos offers up to 45 hours per charge. The right answer depends on whether you value unlimited playtime and zero battery management or the freedom of no cable.
how to connect wired gaming headset to pc
Connect the headset's USB plug or dongle to your PC, wait for it to be recognized, then select it under Sound settings for both output and input. With the syndesmos, you can also pair over Bluetooth 5.3 if you'd rather not use the dongle, and it supports a wired connection as well.
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