That was until of course I tried the Astro Gaming A40 TR Headphones for Xbox One. This headset is the most current offering for x box console owners and they perform phenomenally in almost every single aspect.

At a price point around $250 you would expect them too, but to be honest that is a fair priced headset. They are a significantly improved version from the previous A40’s Astro put out for Xbox.

The A40 TR’s don’t seem to have any of the issues that the previous version experienced. Now the audio is crisp and clear through the dolby enabled speakers and the live chat. Drop outs won’t occur on this set of headphones and you can even use them semi-wirelessly if you have them plugged into your controller via the stereo adapter. The only downside to hooking them up to the controller is that you loose the surround sound effect that is driven by plugging them into the MixAmp Pro TR that they come packaged with. They will still produce high quality audio in stereo via the controller, but not surround sound.

The MixAmp Pro TR Puts Your Xbox One In Surround Sound

Using the MixAmp is the best solution and it is plug in and play. The one downside to it is that the cable is a little bit short compared to previous models of the MixAmp. This might end uo being an issue if you play games on your Xbox and sit far away from your television.

The only real con of the MixAmp pro though from a technical perspective is that it will only be compatible with the Xbox One and Xbox One S. If you have a PS3 or PS4, you would need to shell out more money for a new MixAmp.

So while it performs great it’s not the best for someone looking for a multi-platform solution.

Best Headphones For Xbox One and Xbox One S

Every aspect of this headset is rock solid! They are constructed well and are a really impressive looking set of cans. The set really hugs your head nice and snug, but doesn’t squeeze the life out of your face and the ear pieces have a nice high end cushiony feel that will make hours of wearing them feel comfortable. These are by far the best headphones for Xbox 1 and are one of my favorite accessories for my console.

A40 TR Headset Add On Mods

Another cool aspect of the A-40 is the add on mod kit you can get which turns them from open to closed back. You can pick up the mod for about $60 and it lets you switch the pad on the headband and the ear pieces for a thicker faux leather version. the advantage you get with this is that it eliminates excess noise in the room. Even with the mod kit on, the headphones remain comfortable. the mod kit is not a must own, but i would recommend it if you are normally playing games in a noisy environment.

There is also a mic that comes with the mod kit. It is uni-directional which means it will only pick up audio from directly in front of it. this also helps eliminate extra room noise coming through on your live chat microphone.

My Final Opinion on The A40TR Headset

This set of headphones from Astro Gaming is among the best audio solutions you can get as a gamer. They do a great job of simulating surround sound in both movies and games while also producing a very clean sounding chat mic.

The MixAmp Pro TR is perfect not just for audiophiles but for live streamers who want lag-free and interference free operation. The MixAmp allows you to control every input and output so that you can fine tune everything to your specific recording setup. If you are in the market for a headset this is the pair to get.

<

Check Out Xbox One Headphones at Amazon

01. ASTRO Gaming A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro TR for Xbox One

$247.97

(as of 19-03-2020 20:19:48 UTC - Details)

03. ASTRO Gaming MixAmp Pro TR for Xbox One - White

$123.01

(as of 02-03-2020 10:20:38 UTC - Details)

04. A40 TR Mod Kit - Green

$60.00

(as of 11-02-2019 19:22:08 UTC - Details)

06. ASTRO Gaming A40 TR Mod Kit, Noise Cancelling Conversion Kit - Halo

$60.00

(as of 17-07-2019 15:23:48 UTC - Details)

09. A40 Mod Kit - Black Ops 3

$60.00

(as of 19-06-2018 16:21:27 UTC - Details)

[ag-after-reviews]

Speed Freek Xbox One

What are your thoughts of the A40 TR’s from Astro Gaming? Let me know in the comments.

[/ag-after-reviews]

The post ASTRO Gaming A40 TR Headset Review | $250 Best Headset for Xbox One first appeared on Xbox One Racing Wheel Pro.

I initially got 2 of these amps to power 2 Aura Bass Shakers for my Xbox Racing chair and then ended up purchasing 2 more to run with my home theater system and run bass shakers in my couch.

Dayton Audio has been around for awhile and makes several different models of amplifiers and speakers. Overall, they make quality products and yet their prices are typically well below the more popular amp brands.

Let’s get into the SA70 subwoofer amp and see what makes this thing so Awesome!

Dayton Audio SA70 Subwoofer Amp Specs

Power requirement: 120 VAC, 60 Hz, 110W • Measured power output: 45 watts RMS into 8 ohms @ 70 watts RMS into 4 ohms. The unit weighs just under 6.5 lbs. The face plate is 7 1/2″ x 8 3/4″ and the amp box is 6 1/2″ x 7 3/4″. The depth of the amp is about 3.5 in.

The SA70 has line level and speaker level inputs for hook up to any system, has an Auto-on circuit that kicks in the instant it detects audio, it turns itself off automatically after 15 minutes of no signal, has a variable 2nd order low pass crossover for frequencies between 40 Hz to 180 Hz.

Installation Is Super Easy

You can run a line from your subwoofer out to the Low Level Input RCA’s on the SA70. For my Xbox One which only has a digital out, I use a DAC and convert the line to analog and then run it into the SA70.

The Aura Bass Shakers then just get hooked up with normal speaker wire to the cord on the base of the amp and you are in business. You can wire the bass shakers in a series of two, but I have them in parallel with each bass shaker having its own dedicated amp. This is exactly how I have done it in both my racing chair and my home theater.

The cord on the bottom of the amp is what you will use to hook up your sub woofer or bass shakers to:

Outstanding Performance

The SA70 drives enough power to the bass shaker that you are gonna want to turn the gain down. For both gaming and movies I set my crossover to about 90 Hz and I keep my gain at about 60%. That drives enough power to add the “WOW” factor to any audio signal you are running through it.

While the SA70 does get a little warm during use, that is typical of a subwoofer amplifier. Datyon Audio considered this and they built in an Auto-on circuit switch. If you set your power button to the “auto” setting, the amp kicks on when it detects a signal and then cuts off after 15 minutes of no audio. This is pretty handy in terms of keeping the amp cool.

If you are looking to power bass shakers with the SA70, you may also want to consider picking up Sorbothane Isolation pads to isolate the vibrations into your couch or chair. The SA70 will throw enough power to shake the floor so the Sorbothane will help that.

The SA70 is a Power Horse

The price of this amp is so cheap compared to the amount of power it kicks out. If you are hooking it up to a sub or a transducer, like the Aura Pro Bass Shakers, this thing will deliver. While for my application the SA70 was the best choice, there are varying wattages available for this brand. By no means is this the most pretty looking amp on the market, but it is functional, well priced, and over delivers on my expectations of it. It is also well reviewed on both Amazon and Parts Express having almost 200 reviews and averaging 4 stars.

Check Out Dayton Audio Amps and Related Items at Amazon

What type of application are you looking to use a subwoofer amp for? Let me know in the comments and perhaps I can help you find the best solution for your situation.

The post Dayton Audio SA70 Subwoofer Amp Review | $50 first appeared on Xbox One Racing Wheel Pro.

Aura Pro Bass Shaker Specs

The Aura Pro Bass Shaker is 50-watts, has an impedance of 4 Ohms, and has a 40 Hz resonance frequency. They are encased in metal and measure about 5 inches in width and 2 inches in height. It is classified as a transducer, not a speaker, because it doesn’t transmit volume it transmits vibration.

Why Do You Need A Tactile Audio Transducer

As humans we have two senses to perceive sound. We hear sound and we can also feel it, particularly low frequencies. In normal circumstances it takes a large set of speakers to move the air enough for us to feel low frequency vibration, like a club or live concert.

A tactile transducer replicates the feeling range of audio more directly than through air movement, it does it by directly vibrating whatever it is attached to. the perception of low frequency is actually greater than what a large speaker can create, plus it removes the sound. For example if you were using an Aura Bass Shaker Pro with a pair of headphones on, you would still perceive the concert lvel feel of the audio, but without any volume produced for anyone else to hear.

The feeling you get from an immersive movie, music, or gaming experience is AMAZING! When you are watching a movie and a building collapses and your couch whole couch shakes, your engagement with the movie increases. Same thing when you are gaming…when you are playing a FPS game and you ring out a blast from your shot gun and you feel your gaming seat buck in your rear end, your body starts feeling like it’s really in the action. You will think you’re in a war zone!

I Use Mine Mostly for Gaming

While I do have 2 of them in my couch and use it to make every single movie better, my primary use is on my Xbox racing seat. I have 2 aura bass shakers hooked up in stereo on the bottom of my Playseat Evolution and whenever my car clips the rumble strips my seat shakes on the proper side. You don’t really hear the low end bass frequencies…you just feel them!

If I want more vibration I can adjust how much gain and low end frequency I let in on my subwoofer amp. If you are interested in how I have them hooked up, check out DIY Add Vibration to Your Racing Setup.

How to Hook Up a Bass Shaker

These are not standalone self amplified units. They need to be powered and wired to your system. The best way to power them is with a sub-woofer amplifier, and not a standard amplifier or pre-amp. You want a sub-woofer amp because they have a crossover built in that allows you to filter out high end frequency and concentrate on the low end bass frequencies.

I use a Dayton Audio SA70 amplifier on each of my Aura Pro’s. So each amp powers one shaker. Because they are 4 Ohms, you can wire two shakers to one amp providing you are choosing the correct wattage amp.

I use a dedicated amp for each bass shaker because I wanted my Xbox racing setup to be stereo, meaning have left and right vibrations to coordinate with my games and movies.

Note: ensure that the sub-amp you use is capable of a 4 ohm load. The Aura Bass Shakers are 50 watts at 4 ohms, but that could change based on the number that are wired together if you do them in a series.

Wiring

Wiring the Aura Bass shakers is as easy as wiring a normal speaker.

They have positive and negative terminals that have a cap you pull out and then sneak the speaker wire through. The wire will fit really snug and secure on the terminals, wiring couldn’t be any easier.

Placement for the Best Bass Feel

Placement of the shakers is really important. When you place the Aura Bass Shakers onto a surface you will want to make sure, you are fastening them on tight because they vibrate and you are securing them to something that will maximize its impact.

For example, most couches have a main beam that span the length of the couch, you would want to mount them directly on that. You can see on the right how I have them mounted to my gaming seat. They are directly underneath the seat and they are in contact with a main board I built that touches the frame. When bass vibrates the shaker, not only does the seat shake, but the vibration travels all the way down to my feet on the racing pedals.

Installation really depends on where you are going to be putting these items and what you will be mounting them to. In my case, to installation was as easy as putting a plywood plank along the bottom of the chair and attaching these to the plank. Each Aura pro shaker has 4 holes on the bottom of the transducer for mounting.

Whatever you are mounting the shakers to you may also want to consider getting rubber isolators to ensure whatever they are mounted on keeps the vibration isolated and not transferring to the floor. I use the Isolate It Sorbothane pads. Once you add isolation pads to your couch, racing seat, or chair, the aura pro bass shakers pack even more of a mean punch.

Take Music, Movies, and Games To the Next Level

The Aura Pro Bass Shakers are one of the most important elements of both my home theater and my Xbox One. They make everything better by adding the feeling of shake to go along with the bass my subwoofer puts out. The real test for me is when I turn them off, games, music, and movies, feel blah without them. These bass shakers will take your favorite movie, song, or game and make you love it 100x more than you even thought possible.

Get a Bass Shaker at Amazon

5. ButtKicker BK-GR Gamer

$149.99

(as of 11-02-2020 04:21:05 UTC - Details)

Are you considering adding vibration to your home theater or gaming setup? Let me know what your trying to do in the comments and I can help you figure out the best setup for your application?

The post AuraSound Pro Bass Shaker Review | $60 first appeared on Xbox One Racing Wheel Pro.

The Isolate It Pads are made of the Sorbothane material and you can use them as feet, stoppers, spacers and/or protectors for several different applications.

Some people use them as washing machine feet or underneath a heavy duty AC unit. For me I use them to stop vibration from my Aura Bass Shakers disturbing my downstairs neighbor.

Here’s how it works:

Sorbothane is really durable and has a high Duro rating, when vibration hits it, the material absorbs the vibration and deadens it. The Isolate it pads also have a non-skid coating of heavy duty bonded fabric on them so whatever you have on top of it that is vibrating won’t go sliding across the floor.

Great For Home Theaters With Transducers

For me I have 1/4 inch Isolate It pads under the four wood feet of my couch and underneath my Xbox racing seat. When the bass shaker tactical transducers vibrate from the bass generated by home theater system and sub-woofer, my downstairs neighbor doesn’t hear a thing. The Sorbothane pads eat up all the vibration and you can only feel a little bit in my floor if you are standing right next to the pads.

>

What’s also cool about these pads is that you don’t need to buy a ton of them. I bought 2 packs of the one’s I have shown in the picture and then I cut them to the sizes I needed with a razorblade. They do have all different sizes though so you can get thick pads, washers, dome shaped, or whatever you need.

Sorbothane Lasts A Long time

Sorbothane also has a really long shelf life so they resist aging really well and won’t harden or crack overtime. I have had more for about 18 months and they feel just like the day I bough them. even with massive weight sitting on them, they return to perfect form when you lift the weight off.

Two Drawbacks To Sorbothane

There is two downsides to the Isolate It Sorbothane pads. in my experience is that they can cause minor discoloration to wood, plastic, composite and other materials following prolonged contact. Because of that that I have cut up an old dish towel to put under the pads so that they don’t sit directly on my living room carpet.

Secondly, they shouldn’t be used in applications with high heat like inside of a car engine to reduce vibration from your transmission.

Isolate It Pads Work!

All in all the Sorbothane Isolate It pads are pretty amazing. Whether you stick them underneath a sub-woofer, an air compressor, a generator, a pool table, or even use them under a blue ray player, they are super effective. Just make sure you but the appropriate Duro rating and weight ratings for the application you need them for. I am really glad I discovered these pads and I will certainly use them for every application that involves stopping vibration from here on out. Even better they are really affordable!

Check Out Islolate It Pads at Amazon

1

$19.44

(as of 10-12-2016 18:20:08 UTC - Details)

3/4

$19.95

(as of 02-05-2018 12:23:09 UTC - Details)

Isolate It!: 1/2

$17.95

(as of 18-08-2015 01:55:18 UTC - Details)

Isolate It!: Sorbothane Vibration Isolation Bushing 50 Duro (.28

$21.95

(as of 22-01-2020 04:27:04 UTC - Details)

Isolate It!: Sorbothane Vibration Isolation Washer 50 Duro (.45

$22.95

(as of 07-07-2019 03:20:14 UTC - Details)

Isolate It: Sorbothane Vibration Isolation Circular Disc Pad .5

$26.95

(as of 28-04-2018 04:23:05 UTC - Details)

Isolate It: Sorbothane Vibration Isolation Circular Disc Pad .5

$26.95

(as of 13-08-2018 07:22:17 UTC - Details)

Isolate It: Sorbothane Vibration Isolation Washer 70 Duro (.45

$22.95

(as of 07-07-2019 03:20:14 UTC - Details)

What is current issue with vibration? What kind of application are you thinking about trying Isolate It pads for? Let me know in the comments and maybe I can help you out.

The post Isolate It Sorbothane Review – Stop Vibrations first appeared on Xbox One Racing Wheel Pro.

The Polk Audio sound engineers partnered with Microsoft and Turn 10 to create a gaming headset specifically tuned for titles like Forza Mototrsport 5 for the Xbox One.

Let’s get into it…

Background
First let me qualify this review by saying that I am a former sound engineer and I have a strong opinion about headphones and sound quality. I have spent thousands of hours in headphones and understand what goes into a great sounding headset.

High Quality And Built To Last

Right out of the box I can tell the 4shot headphones are built well. They are sturdy, bulky, and yet surprisingly light weight. They were designed with ergonomics and fatigue reduction in mind. When I put them on my head they fit tight snug, but not squeezing the life out of my face.

There is a steel headband that is padded with stitched leather, big pivoting ear cups with large cushions for comfort on your ears, and a plush material over the ear pads. The padding feels comfortable on the top your head and it seems like these headphones are not going to cause neck or shoulder issues from the weight.

On the left ear piece there is retractable mic that can click in and out of the headphone cup. This looks kind of cool.

The chord for the headphones has a nice threaded material around it to protect the wires and that is normally the sign of a manufacturer who cares about their product.

Also in the box is the headset adapter for your Xbox One controller and the chat live boom mic.

The 4Shot Headset In Game Experience On Xbox One

I tested the Polk Audio 4shot gaming headset using Forza Motorsport 5.

The sound is incredible, I started racing with the game soundtrack turned off, I really wanted to hear the car sounds. The low end is deep, but not mind numbing, and the highs are crisp without peaking. The F1 car engines really scream nice and the muscle cars have real low end rumble. One of the best enhancements you can hear in this headset is when a car has a turbo added to the engine.

With the Forza 5 soundtrack on it sounds and feels like you are at the symphony and there are moments were I would swear I could hear the drag of the violin bow on the strings. I am not a fan of the FM5 soundtrack, but without a doubt it sounds immaculate in these headphones.

I played a few hours on Forza 5 and I felt no ear fatigue or neck fatigue which some bulkier gaming headsets can cause. The headphones sat really nice and comfortable on my head and lock tight around my ears. I really can’t hear anything else going on inside of room other than what is in the game.

The headphones not only tuned perfectly for FM5, but definitely added to the immersion effect and enhance your racing simulated experience.

CHECKOUT THE 4SHOT GAMING HEADSET ON AMAZON

It is also worth noting that since the controllers are wireless, the headphones are in no way connected to the console, which allows for maximum freedom with a controller. The adapter also allows you to adjust the game and mic volume settings right on your controller.

The headset is stereo and not surround sound, which some folks have referred to them as. It is simply not true. While Surround Sound would be better, the stereo is nice and I can clearly tell when a car is trying to pass me or simply approaching on my left or my right.

The 4Shot Headset Mic

I don’y typically use a mic, but for the sake of this review, I took my Forza 5 racing online so I could engage the microphone.

When I tried the retractable mic I couldn’t hear myself speak. I was definitely communicating with other people, but i couldn’t hear myself.

When I tried the boom mic, everything sounded a bit better, but the voice audio was crunchy. I never really was able to get a good balance of the mic and the game sound volume for the headphones. It worked, but I think there is some room for improvement here as a gaming headset.

The boom mic also fells a bit flimsey and if you are not using the mic, just flip around to the back.

Best Features of the Polk Audio Gaming Headset 

Polk Audio did a great job creating a balanced, natural, and realistic audio that creates an immersive gaming experience. The headset looks really nice with a street style design and I love how lite they are. They are super comfortable on your head and you can wear them for hours.

It will be difficult to find a gaming headset the sounds better than these.

CHECK OUT THE POLK AUDIO 4SHOT HEADPHONES ON AMAZON

Versatility – More Than A Gaming Headset 

I love that these headphones, while created with gaming in mind you can use them for various audio applications. They are not only compatible with the Xbox One, but also PC’s with the mic port, as well as smart phones and tablets.

I have hooked up to my Iphone and the music sounds really clean even listening to low grade MP3’s.

It is also nice that they come in a few different colors so you can choose which one suits your style.

4Shot Gaming Headphones Complaints

Polk Audio dropped the ball with the retractable mic on these, but in their defense after the headphones released they then sent everybody who registered there product a free boom mic. They then added boom mic in all future packages and shipments at no additional cost

I also had a popping sound in my headset. When I reached to customer support they asked me a few quick questions and they guy diagnosed an issue with my Xbox headphone adapter. They sent me a new one for free.

Polk Audio 4Shot Gaming Headset For Xbox One – Wrap Up

These are my go to headphones and I honestly do not race without them. They are a perfect audio addition to any Xbox racing setup. I now hate my TV speakers, because it is just not immersive, loud, or detailed enough. These headphones will change your immersive racing experience and really help you hone in on your race and hear what your car is doing.

I think there customer service is worth a mention, because of how responsive they were to the original mic issue and even my personal issue with the Xbox adapter. If you are going to drop some nice money on a set of headphones, it’s nice to have the support that comes with it.

When I was an audio engineer we use to say you can’t mix what you can’t hear…the same rules apply hear. There are sounds going on in these cars and if you can’t hear em, then you can’t react properly to the situation. The Polk audio 4 Shot Gaming headset is tuned perfect for racing games.

Buy The Polk Audio 4Shot Headphones or Related Products

Have you tried the 4shot headset? What gaming headset do you currently use? Let me know your thoughts and experience in the comments below.

The post Polk Audio 4Shot Headphones For Xbox One Review | $100 first appeared on Xbox One Racing Wheel Pro.