All frequencies are clear and balanced: the sound of this budget gaming headset impressed me, but its not without a few flaws

Date:
Sun, 05 Jul 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Description:
The OXS Storm A2 offers some top-line features for a reasonable price but do they live up to expectations?

FULL STORY ======================================================================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 its much less bulky than many of its rivals. Its also pleasingly light, and the drivers fold away neatly, making the Storm A2 one
of the best PC gaming headsets for portability. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

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 Ive experienced, although its not quite plush enough to prevent fatigue after long sessions.

The same charge can be leveled at the earcup padding. Its reasonably soft,
but its 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 Ive certainly tested more uncomfortable headsets than this.

More impressive is the sound of the Storm A2. Theres plenty of crispness and balance to all frequencies, which makes it a great headset for both gaming
and listening to music. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your
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us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. (Image credit: Future) OXS Storm A2 at Amazon for 129.99 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 doesnt rival the ANC of the best headphones .

Its also a shame that theres no software to tweak the sound of the Storm A2 further. This means that you wont 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. Whats 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 youre looking for great sound without spending
ungodly amounts, you could do worse than the Storm A2. OXS Storm A2 review: Price and availability (Image credit: Future) $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, theres the OXS Storm G2 . This is a much bulkier wireless headset, but its 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 Ive ever experienced, which can be great when youre in the mood for it. OXS Storm A2 review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 - Cell
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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 (Image credit: Future) 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 isnt 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. Its 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 theyre 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. (Image credit: Future) The microphone is also well made. It has a gooseneck design, which means it can
be bent into any shape you like. Its easy to bend yet stable once in place, although there are certain positions that it refuses to adopt. Its also relatively short, which does limit its versatility; youll 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 doesnt 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.

Theres 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. (Image credit: Future) 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 dont 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.

Theres 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 isnt game-ruining
since its easily masked by in-game audio most of the time, and I didnt notice it at all when connected to my Android phone via Bluetooth. (Image credit: Future) 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 listeners 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 theyre concerning nonetheless.

I didnt 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 youll need your device close
by. Whats 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, Im 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

You want versatile connectivity Multiple connectivity options allow you to connect to numerous platforms, while hotswitching between them is quick and easy.

You want clear sound Whether youre gaming, listening to music, or watching videos, the Storm A2 is clear and full, especially with surround sound enabled. Don't buy it if

You want the best mic The mic on the Storm A2 is perhaps its greatest weakness, sounding low res and sometimes failing to function correctly.

You want to customize the sound Aside from ANC and surround sound, there arent any adjustments for the audio, since theres no accompanying software. OXS Storm A2 review: Also consider If you dont like the sound of the OXS
Storm A2, try these alternatives instead: Swipe to scroll horizontally 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)

OXS Storm G2 An even more affordable wireless headset, the G2 is a lot
larger than the Storm A2, but it still manages to keep the weight down. It doesnt sound as good, either, but it still offers an enjoyable sonic experience.

Read our full OXS Storm G2 review .

Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 This is a lot more expensive than the Storm A2, but it has a lot more features, better levels of comfort, and a bass response thats stronger than any headset Ive experienced before. Its certainly a lot bulkier than the Storm A2, and its open-backed design means people around you will hear everything youre doing.

Read our full Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 review . How I tested the OXS
Storm A2 (Image credit: Future) 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.

Ive been gaming for decades, and have used multiple headsets with multiple platforms during that time. Ive also delved into the world of audio production, so I have experience with monitor and hi-fi headphones. Ive reviewed other gaming headsets before, including another OXS model, the Storm G2. First reviewed: June 2026 Read more about how we test OXS Storm A2: Price Comparison 129.99 View 129.99 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gaming-accessories/oxs-storm-a2-review


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