Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
OXS Storm A2: Two-minute review
The OXS Storm A2 is a wireless gaming headset with support for multiple platforms, including the PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and mobile.
It has a basic design that verges on anodyne, especially in its dark grey colorway. The X-shaped indents on the sides of the drivers do little to add interest, instead making it look dated.
Thankfully, the headband is far more sleek, and overall it’s much less bulky than many of its rivals. It’s also pleasingly light, and the drivers fold away neatly, making the Storm A2 one of the best PC gaming headsets for portability.
The quality of the materials is also quite good, with most feeling smooth and solid. The padding on the earcups and headband also appear strongly attached.
This padding is reasonably plush and comfortable, too. The headband is more comfortable than many others I’ve experienced, although it’s not quite plush enough to prevent fatigue after long sessions.
The same charge can be leveled at the earcup padding. It’s reasonably soft, but it’s not thick enough to prevent the insides of the drivers from pressing into my ears, which causes aches after a while. However, these aches are quite minor, and I’ve certainly tested more uncomfortable headsets than this.
More impressive is the sound of the Storm A2. There’s plenty of crispness and balance to all frequencies, which makes it a great headset for both gaming and listening to music.
The surround sound feature is also a must in my opinion: not only does it create a more immersive sense of space, but it adds a much-needed low-end fullness as well.
The ANC function is quite rudimentary, seeming merely to reduce the bass frequencies of ambient sound rather than masking it entirely. This is effective to an extent, but it certainly doesn’t rival the ANC of the best headphones.
It’s also a shame that there’s no software to tweak the sound of the Storm A2 further. This means that you won’t be alerted to firmware updates, either — if any at all were to appear for the Storm A2.
The mic quality is poor, mired as it is by crackling and a low resolution. What’s more, there were times when it seemed to stop working altogether until I powered the headset on again.
Connectivity is mostly good, although Bluetooth pairing can take a little longer than is typical. At least hot-switching between devices is quick and easy.
The battery life of the Storm A2 is also quite good, seeming to live up to OXS’ claim of 70 hours. You can also charge and use the headset at the same time, although the included USB cable is a bit too short to make this practical for many setups.
At just over $100, the Storm A2 represents good value considering its multiple connectivity modes and platform support, as well as its ANC and surround sound modes. Its lack of software and long-term comfort mar its appeal slightly, but if you’re looking for great sound without spending ungodly amounts, you could do worse than the Storm A2.
OXS Storm A2 review: Price and availability
- $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$169
- Available now in black and white colorways
- Decent price for an ANC wireless gaming headset
The OXS Storm A2 costs $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$169 and is available now in two colorways: black and white. It comes with a USB cable, a 2.4GHz USB dongle (with Type-A and Type-C connections), a detachable microphone, and a leather pouch for storing the headset.
This is a reasonable price for a wireless headset with multiple connectivity modes and ANC. The absence of companion software for further customizations tweaks does put a slight dent in its appeal, though.
For those on an even tighter budget, there’s the OXS Storm G2. This is a much bulkier wireless headset, but it’s still quite light and reasonably comfortable, although the sound is inferior.
For a more premium experience with a host of tweaks at your disposal, consider the Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720. Aside from all the customizations available via its software and onboard controls, this headset also has the heaviest bass I’ve ever experienced, which can be great when you’re in the mood for it.
OXS Storm A2 review: Specs
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
OXS Storm A2 |
|
Price |
$129.99 / £129.99 / AU$169 |
|
Weight |
10.3oz / 293g |
|
Drivers |
40mm full-range Dynamic Drivers |
|
Compatibility |
PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile |
|
Connection type |
Wireless (2.4Ghz via dongle, Bluetooth 5.4), Wired (USB-C) |
|
Battery life |
Up to 70 hours, play-while-charging function |
|
Features |
5-mic ENC detachable gooseneck mic, ANC, Passthrough, OXS Xspace 7.1 spatial algorithm |
|
Software |
None |
OXS Storm A2 review: Design and features
- Impressive build quality
- Light and very portable
- Uncomfortable for long sessions
In terms of aesthetics, the Storm A2 isn’t particularly noteworthy. The grey colorway of my review unit was a little dour, while the X-shaped indents on the sides of the drivers look a little dated.
There are some nice touches to its design, though. It’s a lot more sleek in its white colorway, and the minimalist design of the headband, which neatly hides the adjustment mechanism, is rather fetching. This mechanism can be a little difficult to slide, but it’s not too onerous, and once set in place, it stays put.
The Storm A2 is uncluttered in terms of its controls, too. There are no fancy dials here, just four buttons: three on the left driver for volume and power, and a button on the right for toggling ANC, Passthrough, and surround sound functions. All buttons are quite small, but they’re easy to locate by touch and press while wearing the headset.
Build quality is also quite good. The various materials feel smooth and premium, and the joins are solid. The fabric padding of the earcups and headband is neatly and strongly attached, too.
The microphone is also well made. It has a gooseneck design, which means it can be bent into any shape you like. It’s easy to bend yet stable once in place, although there are certain positions that it refuses to adopt. It’s also relatively short, which does limit its versatility; you’ll struggle to get it dead in front of your mouth, for instance.
The whole headset is very light with a slender profile. You really could wear it out and about, while the agile folding design makes it easy to pack away into a bag.
This lightness helps with comfort, too, as the Storm A2 doesn’t weigh your head down. Its fit is quite snug and stable, while the earcups and headband are sufficiently padded to provide short-term comfort.
For long sessions, though, the thinness of the padding in these areas can cause minor aching. And in the case of the drivers, the thin padding failed to prevent the insides of the drivers from pressing against my ears, making the Storm A2 feel more like an on-ear rather than over-ear headset.
There’s no companion software or app for the Storm A2, which is a shame. Many other gaming headsets feature this, allowing you to adjust certain settings and tweak the sound. Such software usually delivers firmware updates as well, which makes its absence here even more concerning.
OXS Storm A2 review: Performance
- Surprisingly crisp and clear audio
- Lacks the immersion of fully enclosed headsets
- Poor mic quality
The Storm A2 offers impressive audio. All frequencies are clear and balanced, while the bass is full and punchy without being overbearing or causing distortion. This makes the Storm A2 great for gaming, listening to music, and watching movies.
Audio effects and atmospheric sounds in Resident Evil Requiem, for instance, came through clearly, while the surround sound feature helped to impart a greater sense of space. It also made the overall sound noticeably fuller, adding far more low-end, so I always had this mode enabled. When I played Counter-Strike 2, gunshots were rendered with plenty of punch, while reloads were crisp and the direction of footsteps was easy to discern.
However, since the drivers don’t enclose your ears as much as other headsets, owing to that aforementioned thin padding, audio is less immersive than it otherwise would be, as if sound is leaking out of them a little.
There’s a slight background hiss at all times as well, regardless of whether I had ANC enabled or not. This was most noticeable when playing on the PS5, but it was also present on the Switch 2. Fortunately, this isn’t game-ruining since it’s easily masked by in-game audio most of the time, and I didn’t notice it at all when connected to my Android phone via Bluetooth.
The ANC feature does a reasonable job of negating outside sound, although it seems to merely cut the lower frequencies of ambient sound. More sophisticated ANC technology that’s included in premium headsets and headphones does a better job of masking all kinds of frequencies and sounds from the listener’s environment. The Passthough function fares better, allowing outside sound to come through clearly.
Perhaps the worst aspect of the Storm A2, though, is its mic. The quality is poor, with audible crackles and a low resolution. Also, it failed to even register on my PC as an input on one occasion, while the toggle for turning the mic on and off (achieved by double-tapping the power button) seemed to stop working. Thankfully, a simple restart of the headset seemed to fix these issues, but they’re concerning nonetheless.
I didn’t have any connectivity issues with the Storm A2, though. In addition to my PC, it connected to my PS5 with the same ease as the best PS5 gaming headsets. Pairing with my Android phone and Switch 2 took a little longer than is typical for Bluetooth headsets and headphones, but not long enough to be a problem.
Hotswitching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections was also quick and easy, merely requiring the holding of the ANC button for a second to cycle between them. You can also connect to devices over USB, which also charges the Storm A2 at the same time, something that can prove very useful. The included USB cable is quite short, though, so you’ll need your device close by. What’s more, neither ANC nor surround sound works with a wired connection.
OXS claims that the Storm A2 has a battery life of 70 hours. Based on my testing, I’m inclined to believe this figure, since I managed to use it for several days straight without charging.
Should I buy the OXS Storm A2?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
OXS Storm A2 review: Also consider
If you don’t like the sound of the OXS Storm A2, try these alternatives instead:
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
OXS Storm A2 |
OXS Storm G2 |
Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 |
|
Price |
$129.99 / £129.99 / AU$169 |
$79 / £62 (about AU$123) |
$269.99 / £229.99 / AU$449.99 |
|
Weight |
10.3oz / 293g |
9.9oz / 282g |
0.78lbs / 354g |
|
Drivers |
40mm full-range Dynamic Drivers |
50mm full-range dynamic drivers |
40mm |
|
Compatibility |
PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile |
PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switch, Mobile |
PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS |
|
Connection type |
Wireless (2.4Ghz, Bluetooth 5.4), Wired (USB-C) |
Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-A), |
Bluetooth, Wired (USB-C, 3.5mm AUX), 2.4GHz wireless (USB-A dongle) |
|
Battery life |
70 hours |
40 hours |
48 hours |
|
Features |
5-mic ENC detachable gooseneck mic, ANC, Passthrough, OXS Xspace 7.1 spatial algorithm |
Three EQ modes, detachable mic |
THX Spatial Audio, Crusher bass enhancement, eight-band EQ, 4 sound presets, Sidetone mode, plug-in mic |
|
Software |
None |
None |
Skull-HQ (PC), Skullcandy mobile app (Android and iOS) |
How I tested the OXS Storm A2
- Tested for several weeks
- Used for gaming and other tasks
- Extensive gaming and audio experience
I tested the Storm A2 for several weeks, during which time I used it for gaming, watching streams, and listening to music. I used all of its features, too.
I connected it to my PS5 via the 2.4GHz dongle and to my Android phone via Bluetooth. For the Switch 2, I used a mixture of both these connections, and I connected to my PC via the dongle and via the USB cable. I played a variety of games, including Counter-Strike 2 on PC, Resident Evil Requiem on PS5, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder on Switch 2.
I’ve been gaming for decades, and have used multiple headsets with multiple platforms during that time. I’ve also delved into the world of audio production, so I have experience with monitor and hi-fi headphones. I’ve reviewed other gaming headsets before, including another OXS model, the Storm G2.
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WXZgyVWCofZazGYbzXv4QP-2560-80.jpg
Source link
lewis.maddison@futurenet.com (Lewis Maddison)
