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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 headset built around competitive Xbox play with on-controller audio control and a customizable, tournament-ready design, choose Astro Gaming A40; if you need a plug-and-play headset that works across nearly every platform you own and stays comfortable for marathon sessions, choose hp Gaming Headset.
• Astro Gaming A40 — biggest strength: ASTRO Audio V2 tuning plus the MixAmp M80, which mounts on your Xbox controller and puts master volume, Game:Voice Balance, mute and EQ right under your thumbs.
• Astro Gaming A40 — biggest trade-off: It's the more specialized, more involved setup. The closed-back noise-isolating configuration requires a Mod Kit sold separately, and the whole package is built around Xbox first.
• hp Gaming Headset — biggest strength: Broad 3.5mm compatibility across PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, laptop, tablet and mobile, plus a lightweight over-ear fit with soft protein pads for all-day wear.
• hp Gaming Headset — biggest trade-off: Fewer advanced controls — just a volume wheel on the left ear — and the LED lighting needs its USB plug, so it isn't purely a single-cable affair if you want the lights on.
• Who each pick is for: The A40 is for the Xbox player who wants tactile control over game-and-chat balance. The HP is for the multi-device player who wants one headset that just works everywhere.
The A40 TR is a wired, over-ear headset tuned with ASTRO Audio V2, and the headline feature here isn't the drivers — it's the MixAmp M80. That little unit clips directly onto the Xbox One controller and is wireless to the console, which means you're not reaching for a cable or a desktop dial when you want to shift how much game sound versus voice chat you're hearing. For anyone who plays with a squad and constantly rides that balance, that's a genuinely useful design choice rather than a marketing bullet.
The physical build leans toward adjustability. The patented Speaker Tag system lets you swap the appearance of the headset and, more practically, reposition the boom microphone to either side — handy if you prefer your mic on the left. The default configuration is open-back with a swappable boom mic, and the ear cushions pair cloth against your head with synthetic leather behind it, which is a sensible way to balance breathability against acoustic performance. If you play in a noisy room, you can convert it to a closed-back, noise-isolating setup — but that requires the Mod Kit, which is sold separately. Worth knowing before you commit.
Buy it if: you're an Xbox player who wants on-controller control over volume, mute and Game:Voice Balance, and you like the idea of customizing the look and mic position. It's also a reasonable pick if you already own ASTRO gear, since the design language and tag system are consistent across the line.
Skip it if: you game across PlayStation, Switch, PC and mobile and want one headset to rule them all — the A40 is explicitly built around Xbox, and the MixAmp M80's best tricks only apply there. Also skip it if you want maximum isolation out of the box; that's a paid upgrade here, not the default.
The HP Gaming Headset takes the opposite approach: it's a universal 3.5mm wired headset that plugs into basically everything. PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo 3DS, laptop, PSP, tablet, iPad, computer, mobile phone — the list is long, and it's the single most convincing reason to buy this thing. One headset, one cable, every device in your house. The only caveat in the spec is that older Xbox One controllers need a separate Microsoft adapter, which isn't included, so check which controller revision you're on before assuming it's truly plug-and-play there.
Comfort is clearly the design priority. The over-ear pads use a protein leather material described as skin-friendly and breathable, with a multi-point headband meant to follow the shape of your head. That's the kind of thing that matters more than any spec sheet number once you're three hours into a session — heat and pressure are what make people rip headsets off, and the HP's whole pitch is that it won't do that to you. There's also a flexible omnidirectional mic with noise-cancelling that you can bend to the angle you want, and a simple volume wheel on the back of the left ear. No menus, no software.
Buy it if: you share a headset between a console, a laptop and a phone, or you're buying for a household where different people game on different platforms. The LED lighting (powered by its own USB plug) is a nice touch if you like a bit of flair at your desk.
Skip it if: you want granular control over chat-versus-game audio, or you play in a loud environment and need serious passive isolation. This is a straightforward, comfortable, broadly compatible headset — not a control hub.
• Best for Xbox-specific audio control → Astro Gaming A40. The MixAmp M80's on-controller Game:Voice Balance, master volume, mute and EQ are unmatched by the HP's single volume wheel.
• Best for multi-platform compatibility → hp Gaming Headset. PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, laptop, tablet and mobile all work off the same 3.5mm connection.
• Best for customization → Astro Gaming A40. Swappable Speaker Tags and a boom mic that can move to either side give you options the HP simply doesn't offer.
• Best for out-of-the-box noise isolation → hp Gaming Headset. It ships with a noise-isolating over-ear design and a noise-cancelling mic; the A40 needs a separately sold Mod Kit to reach that closed-back state.
• Best for simple setup → hp Gaming Headset. Plug and play, no adapter hunting on modern devices, no extra hardware to mount.
• Best for long-session comfort emphasis → hp Gaming Headset. Breathable protein pads and a multi-point headband are the core of its design story.
• Best for competitive Xbox players who want tactile control → Astro Gaming A40. If your setup is Xbox-first and you care about mic placement and audio balance on the fly, this is the more purpose-built tool.
• Best for households with mixed devices → hp Gaming Headset. One purchase, many platforms, fewer cables and adapters to think about.
In my opinion, the deciding factor is your platform. If you're an Xbox player — especially one who plays with a squad and wants to adjust game-versus-chat balance without leaving the controller — I'd buy the Astro Gaming A40. The MixAmp M80, movable mic and swappable tags make it the more capable, more specialized headset for that specific job.
If you game across several devices, or you're buying for someone whose console habits you're not entirely sure of, I'd buy the hp Gaming Headset. It's the safer, more flexible pick, and its comfort-first design is easier to live with day to day. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that can shift the math.
Not universally. The A40 gives you more control and customization, particularly on Xbox, while the HP is more compatible and simpler to set up. "Better" depends entirely on which of those you value more.
Yes, it supports Xbox One via the 3.5mm jack, but older Xbox One controllers require a separate Microsoft adapter that isn't included. Newer controllers with a built-in 3.5mm port should be fine.
The A40 TR is designed around Xbox, and the MixAmp M80 is built for the Xbox One controller. The headset itself is wired with a 3.5mm jack, but the on-controller control features are Xbox-specific, so don't buy it expecting the same experience elsewhere.
The HP Gaming Headset is explicitly designed around all-day comfort, with breathable protein leather pads and a multi-point headband. The A40 is also built with a pressure-free, lightweight fit and cloth-backed cushions, but the HP's whole design brief is endurance wear.
Not for basic use — the box includes the headset, mic, Speaker Tags, MixAmp M80 and an audio cable. However, if you want the closed-back noise-isolating configuration, the Mod Kit is sold separately.
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