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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired, tournament-grade Xbox setup with a mic you can reposition and a headset you can later convert into a fully noise-isolating closed-back design, choose Astro Gaming A40; if you need a wireless, long-battery all-rounder with a noise-isolating boom mic that also works for casual listening and even for exercise, choose BENGOO Gaming Headset.
• Astro Gaming A40 — biggest strength: ASTRO Audio V2 tuning plus the MixAmp M80 mounted right on the Xbox controller, giving you master volume, Game:Voice Balance, mute and EQ at your fingertips.
• Astro Gaming A40 — biggest trade-off: It ships as an open-back headset, so real noise isolation only arrives if you buy the Mod Kit separately; it's also wired and Xbox-focused.
• BENGOO Gaming Headset — biggest strength: A 1000mAh battery rated for up to 50 hours, Bluetooth 5.3 plus 3.5mm wired mode, and an omnidirectional noise-isolating mic out of the box.
• BENGOO Gaming Headset — biggest trade-off: Its 20 ms latency figure is fine for casual play but is not the zero-lag feel a wired competitive setup gives you.
• Pick Astro Gaming A40 if you play on Xbox and want precise, adjustable wired audio with a customizable mic position.
• Pick BENGOO Gaming Headset if you want one wireless headset for PS5, PS4, PC, Mac and Switch, long battery life, and a noise-isolating mic without buying extras.
The A40 TR is built around control. ASTRO Audio V2 is tuned specifically for gaming, and the MixAmp M80 clamps onto the Xbox One controller so you never have to leave the game to tweak how much game sound versus voice chat you hear. That Game:Voice Balance dial is the kind of thing that matters in a squad match where you need to hear callouts over explosions. The MixAmp M80 is wireless to the console, so the only cable you deal with is the one running to your controller.
Comfort and build are clearly a priority here. The headset weighs 363 g with a lightweight but rugged frame, and the ear cushions combine cloth against your head with a synthetic leather backing — a smart pairing that keeps your ears from overheating while still giving the driver a decent acoustic seal. The patented Speaker Tag system lets you swap printed tags and move the boom mic to either side, which is genuinely useful if you prefer the mic on your left. Everything connects over a standard 3.5 mm jack and runs wired.
So who should buy it? Xbox players who want low-latency wired audio, granular voice/game control, and a headset they can gradually upgrade into a closed-back configuration. Who should skip it? Anyone on PlayStation or Switch as their main platform, anyone who refuses to deal with a cable, and anyone who wants noise isolation without buying an add-on.
BENGOO Gaming Headset: Who It's For
The BENGOO TA81 is the opposite philosophy: one headset, many jobs. It's a Bluetooth 5.3 over-ear design that also accepts a 3.5 mm cable, and it's listed for PS5, PS4, PC, Mac and Nintendo Switch, with wired mode covering Xbox Series. That flexibility is its whole pitch — you can run it wirelessly on the couch, then plug in when you want a wired connection or when the battery is empty.
Battery is the headline number: a 1000mAh cell rated for up to 50 hours of playtime, with a full USB-C charge in about 2.5 hours. That's the kind of runtime that means you charge it weekly, not nightly — and it's why I'd point casual players and commuters toward it. The 50 mm magnetic neodymium drivers push 7.1 surround sound, and the impedance and sensitivity are both listed at 160 ohm, with a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz and 20 ms of audio latency.
The noise-isolating part is worth being precise about. The TA81 uses an integrated omnidirectional microphone with a noise-canceling feature that suppresses background noise so your voice comes through cleanly, and the long flexible boom adjusts so you can angle it properly. That's mic-side noise isolation. The over-ear enclosure is also listed as sound isolating, so the cups do passively block some outside noise. What this is not is active noise cancellation — there's no ANC circuit in the spec sheet.
Practical touches: 90° rotating ear cups that sit comfortably around your neck between rounds, on-ear controls for switching between 2.4G and Bluetooth, toggling 7.1 sound, muting the mic, adjusting the RGB effect light, and managing volume. It's a plastic-bodied black over-ear set aimed at adults. If you want one headset that handles gaming, calls and casual listening — and that you could even wear for exercise, where the rotating cups and 50-hour battery are genuinely handy — this is the more versatile pick. Skip it if you're chasing the lowest possible latency for competitive play.
• Best for Xbox + competitive wired play → Astro Gaming A40. The MixAmp M80's Game:Voice Balance and zero wireless hop suit ranked matches.
• Best for battery life → BENGOO Gaming Headset. Up to 50 hours on a 1000mAh battery versus a wired connection.
• Best for multi-platform flexibility → BENGOO Gaming Headset. Bluetooth 5.3 plus 3.5 mm wired across PS5, PS4, PC, Mac, Switch and Xbox Series.
• Best for out-of-the-box noise isolation → BENGOO Gaming Headset. The noise-isolating mic and sound-isolating enclosure need no add-ons.
• Best for upgrade path and customization → Astro Gaming A40. Speaker Tags, swappable mic side, and a Mod Kit that converts it to closed-back.
• Best for comfort during long sessions → Astro Gaming A40. Cloth-lined cushions with a synthetic leather backing and a light 363 g frame.
• Best for crystal clear calls and casual listening → BENGOO Gaming Headset. The flexible noise-canceling boom mic and rotating cups make it easy to use off-console.
• Best for exercise and on-the-go use → BENGOO Gaming Headset. Wireless freedom and rotating cups travel far better than a wired, controller-mounted setup.
In my opinion, the BENGOO Gaming Headset is the one I'd buy for most people. The 50-hour battery, Bluetooth 5.3 plus wired mode, and genuinely noise-isolating mic give you a single headset that covers gaming, calls, and even exercise without buying anything extra — and for the money, that versatility is hard to argue with. I'd only steer you to the Astro Gaming A40 if you're locked into Xbox, want wired low-latency audio, and are willing to add the Mod Kit for real closed-back isolation. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that gap often settles the choice.
what is noise isolation headphones
Noise isolation means the headset physically blocks outside sound — usually through over-ear cups and their seal — rather than canceling it electronically. The BENGOO TA81 lists a sound-isolating enclosure plus a noise-isolating mic, while the Astro A40 reaches full isolation only with the separately sold Mod Kit.
are noise cancelling headphones good for gaming
Passive noise isolation helps gaming by cutting room noise so you hear footsteps and callouts more clearly. Both headsets here rely on isolation rather than active cancellation; the BENGOO adds a noise-canceling mic, and the Astro offers a voice-isolating mic through its Mod Kit.
what are the best noise cancelling gaming headphones
I'd frame it by need rather than a single winner. For wireless isolation and long battery, I recommend the BENGOO TA81; for wired Xbox audio with an upgrade path to closed-back isolation, I recommend the Astro A40 TR. Neither spec sheet lists active noise cancellation.
are there noise cancelling gaming headphones
Yes, though most gaming headsets — including these two — use passive sound isolation and noise-canceling microphones instead of active ANC. The Astro A40 can become a closed-back noise-isolating headset with its Mod Kit, and the BENGOO ships with a noise-isolating mic already built in.
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