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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Razer BlackShark V2 — biggest strength: Triforce Titanium 50 mm drivers plus advanced passive noise cancellation in a 240 g frame, so you get isolation and light weight without charging anything.
• Razer BlackShark V2 — biggest trade-off: It's wired only through a 3.5 mm jack, so you're tethered to your controller or device with no onboard battery or wireless transmitter.
• Astro Gaming A20 — biggest strength: 2.4GHz wireless with a USB transmitter rated for up to 15 hours of play, plus a flip-to-mute boom mic for instant chat control.
• Astro Gaming A20 — biggest trade-off: It's heavier on paper at 318 g and has no noise control at all, so it won't isolate you from a loud room the way the Razer does.
• Who the Razer is for: Competitive console players on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC or Switch who want low weight, strong isolation and a wired connection that never needs charging.
• Who the Astro is for: PS5, PS4, PC and Mac players who want to sit back untethered and value battery life and a mute-you-can-flick over isolation.
The BlackShark V2 X is built around one idea: keep the player focused. The Triforce Titanium 50 mm drivers are split into three tuning zones for highs, mids and lows, and Razer's pitch is brighter, clearer audio with richer highs and more powerful lows. On top of that, the closed earcups and leatherette memory foam cushions create a closer seal, which is what Razer calls advanced passive noise cancellation. In practice that seal is doing double duty — it keeps your game audio in and the room out, which matters if you play near a TV, a fan or family noise.
Comfort is clearly the second pillar. At 240 g with thicker headband padding, this is a headset designed for long training blocks and tournaments rather than a quick session. The HyperClear cardioid mic uses a pickup pattern that tapers toward the back and sides, so more of your voice and less of the room reaches your teammates, and the bendable boom lets you park the sweet spot right at your mouth.
Who should buy it? If your primary platform is Xbox Series X|S and you also bounce between PS5, PC and Switch, the 3.5 mm jack covers all of them, and Windows Sonic support gives you a surround option on PC. You never charge it, you never lose a dongle, and you get real isolation. Who should skip it? If wireless is non-negotiable, or if you want a mic you can mute with a flick rather than a control, this isn't the pick — there's no battery and no wireless transmitter here.
The A20 Gen 2 takes the opposite approach. Instead of sealing you in, it cuts the cord. A 2.4GHz USB transmitter handles the connection, which Astro describes as low-latency, high-quality audio — that's the whole point of 2.4GHz over Bluetooth for gaming, and it's why the A20 is positioned for immersive, lag-sensitive play. The rechargeable battery is rated for up to 15 hours, which covers a long evening or a full weekend of casual sessions between charges, and the charge time is listed at 15 hours as well.
The mic is the other headline. It's a flexible boom with a flip-to-mute function, so muting is a physical gesture instead of a software toggle — genuinely handy mid-match when you need to cough, talk to someone in the room, or just go quiet. Astro also fits a lightweight padded headband and ear cushions for extended wear, and includes a microfiber cleaning cloth in the box, which is a small but thoughtful touch for keeping the white finish tidy.
Platform-wise, this is a PlayStation-first headset: PS5, PS4, Windows and Mac over the USB transmitter. Note the trade-offs. There's no noise control of any kind — the sheet lists noise control as "None" and the enclosure is plastic — so in a noisy room you'll hear it. It's also the heavier of the two at 318 g. Who should buy it? PS5 and PC players who hate cables, want a mute they can feel, and don't need isolation. Who should skip it? Xbox players, since the A20's listed compatibility doesn't include Xbox, and anyone who games in a loud space.
• Best for battery life → Astro Gaming A20. Up to 15 hours of wireless play versus no battery at all on the Razer.
• Best for weight and long-session comfort → Razer BlackShark V2. 240 g against 318 g, with thicker headband padding and leatherette memory foam cushions.
• Best for noise isolation → Razer BlackShark V2. Closed earcups with a closer cushion seal and passive noise cancellation; the Astro lists no noise control.
• Best for wireless freedom → Astro Gaming A20. 2.4GHz USB transmitter means no cable running to your controller.
• Best for Xbox Series X|S → Razer BlackShark V2. It's built around Xbox as the primary platform, with a 3.5 mm jack for PS5, PC and Switch too.
• Best for PS5, PS4, Windows and Mac → Astro Gaming A20. That's exactly the compatibility list, and Xbox isn't on it.
• Best for mic convenience → Astro Gaming A20. Flip-to-mute is faster than hunting for a control mid-fight.
• Best for frequency range and audio headroom → Razer BlackShark V2. 20Hz–40,000Hz on 50 mm drivers versus 20Hz–20,000Hz on the Astro.
If I were buying for myself and my main setup were an Xbox, I'd take the Razer BlackShark V2. The combination of 240 g, real passive isolation and a 50 mm driver tuned across three zones is exactly what a console player wants for long sessions, and the wired 3.5 mm connection means zero charging and zero dongles to lose. I'd pick the Astro Gaming A20 instead if I were on PS5 or PC and cable-free play mattered more than isolation — 15 hours of 2.4GHz wireless and a flip-to-mute mic are genuinely better for relaxed, untethered sessions. In my opinion the deciding question is simple: tether and isolate, or cut the cord and accept the ambient noise.
The Razer BlackShark V2 is the one to look at for Xbox, since it's designed primarily for Xbox Series X|S and also works over 3.5 mm with PS5, PC and Switch. The Astro A20's listed compatibility is PS5, PS4, Windows and Mac only.
Does the Astro A20 have noise cancellation?
No. The A20 lists no noise control at all, so it won't block room noise. The Razer BlackShark V2 uses closed earcups and a closer cushion seal for passive noise cancellation instead.
The Razer BlackShark V2 is lighter at 240 g, with thicker headband padding and leatherette memory foam cushions. The Astro A20 is listed at 318 g, though it's still described as lightweight and padded for extended wear.
The Astro A20 is rated for up to 15 hours of wireless play on a rechargeable battery. The Razer BlackShark V2 is wired over a 3.5 mm jack and has no battery, so there's nothing to charge.
Neither sheet includes pricing, so I can't compare costs here. Check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding, then weigh the wireless-versus-wired trade-off above.
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