OXS Storm A2 wireless gaming headset review – A fine multipurpose set of cans

REVIEW – Several months ago, my kids bought me a PS5. Yep, they bought their old man a new gaming console to replace my failing PS4. And yes, I have the best kids out there. The problem now is that to play multiplayer games, we all have to communicate from different rooms. A couple of the kids have headsets, while the other two use standalone mics and headphones.

Now, I could connect headphones to the controller and be wired to that, and it would probably work fine. But so many times in the past, I’ve forgotten I was attached, put the controller down, stood up, and began to walk away, only to drag the controller onto the floor.

I wanted a wireless headset, something I could use for more than gaming. I didn’t want earbuds. I have too many problems getting a good seal, and inevitably, one constantly feels like it’s falling out.

With so many options out there, it’s hard to choose where to spend the money. Luckily, before I pulled the trigger, I got the chance to review the OXS Storm A2 gaming headset with hybrid ANC. It looked good on paper. Seemed like it ticked all the boxes.

Did the OXS Storm A2 wireless headset live up to my expectations? Read on to find out.

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $129.99
Where to buy: Amazon and OXS

What is it?

The OXS Storm A2 is a gaming headset with hybrid ANC, pass-through mode, standard stereo, and spatial 7.1 surround sound. It can connect to numerous devices over Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz via the included dongle.

What’s included?

• Storm A2 headset
• Detachable mic
• USB A and C dongles
• USB A to C cable
• Carrying bag
• User guide

Tech specs

Design and features

Hybrid ANC

The OXS Storm A2 headset has active noise cancellation that, when switched on, can block up to 46 dB of ambient noise, according to its website. With the press of a button, you can shut out the world and be immersed in your movie, music, or game. If you need to hear your surroundings, press the button again to turn on the pass-through mode, letting everything in, keeping you aware of what’s going on.

Connection Modes

The headset has a possibility of 4 different connection methods. You can use the USB-A to C cable to use wired to your device. Next is the USB dongle. I think it’s pretty clever how they give you a 2-in-1 1 2.4 GHz dongle, with a USB-C dongle that can be kept docked in the USB-A dongle when not in use. This connection gives you an ultra-low latency of 20ms. Finally, there’s the Bluetooth 5.4 option. There shouldn’t be any problem connecting to any of your devices.

Speakers

OXS has outfitted the Storm A2 with 40mm Neodymium drivers that have a 20Hz to 20kHz response. This should provide you with well-defined lows, mids, and highs at a good price. Paired with the memory foam earcups and the up to 70-hour battery life, the Storm A2 can provide long gaming sessions comfortably.

ENC Mics

The Storm A2 has an array of 5 environmental noise cancellation microphones to filter out background noise. The included detachable omnidirectional mica ensures that your voice is clearer to the person on the other end of a call or game.

Performance

Now, let’s answer the question of how I like the OXS Storm A2 headset. They’re fine. I used them for the intended purpose on the PS5, and they worked fine. My kids heard me well. I could hear them just as well. And when playing solo, I could finally hear all the NPC characters’ conversations as I traversed through Night City in Cyberpunk 2077. And, for better or worse, I could hear all of Claptrap’s dialogue in the whole Borderlands catalog. I will say the Storm A2 performed best when used for this purpose.

Next, I used the headset with my PC for work with all the Teams meetings I have to attend every. day. single. day. The Storm A2 worked fine in this case, too. No complaints from others about my voice audio, and I heard everyone else as well.

I connected the Storm A2 to my phone and listened to some of my favorite tunes. I tried the pass-through mode, ANC on, and ANC off. All worked fine. I didn’t care for the pass-through mode as it made everything sound a little thin and mechanical. I will admit, though, I haven’t liked pass-through on any headset I’ve ever tried. The ANC works pretty well to cut out ambient noises to help me lock in to any media.

I’ve said fine a lot. There’s a reason for that. The OXS Storm A2 is just that, in my opinion. Fine. It works fine and sounds fine. The audio isn’t outstanding. It’s fine, with little but a noticeable difference between surround and stereo modes. The audio isn’t what I would call muddy, but there’s no clear separation. I didn’t notice any real definition whether listening to music or watching a movie. The Storm A2 performed best when I was playing a game. The problem there was that I couldn’t get the volume controls to work with my PS5. They worked fine with my phone and PC, though. Another problem I had was getting them to power off. You press and hold the power button to power them on and off. Each time, you should get a sound to let you know what it’s doing. There were numerous times pressing and holding the power button did nothing that I could tell, and the headset didn’t power off. But to its credit, the battery life of the OXS Storm A2 was great. I used the headset for hours on end without having to charge it.

Final thoughts

I wish I could tell you how the OXS Storm A2 compares to other headsets in this price range, but sadly, I haven’t tried many others. Most I’ve tried have been at department stores on displays, and prices range from about $100 to almost $300. Obviously, the more expensive ones typically sounded better. Don’t take this review as the end-all, be-all. Do some research for yourself. Check out the OXS webpage, and if you get the chance, listen to them yourself. Just because they aren’t right for me doesn’t mean they aren’t right for you. As for me, I’ll keep looking.

What I like about X

• Compatible with all my devices
• Comfortable
• ANC works well
• No complaints about my audio from others
• The dongle is pretty clever in design
• Bettery life

What needs to be improved?

• The audio could be better

Price: $129.99
Where to buy: Amazon and OXS
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by OXS. OXS did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.