Logitech G633 Artemis Spectrum RGB 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset [Review]

While I am not a hardcore gamer, I do enjoy gaming on both my PC and Xbox One. While playing single-player games can be fun, I much prefer the online multiplayer variants. I am still blown-away at the concept of playing a game against random people from around the world. Keep in mind, my first console was a hand-me-down Atari 2600 -- you younger cats probably take it for granted.

While playing against other people is cool on its own, I also like talking with them. Whether trash-talking or planning strategies, gaming with a headset is super great. If you are going to invest in a headset, however, you should do it right. I have been searching for a really nice headset for games, movies, music and chat and recently came across the Logitech G633 Artemis Spectrum RGB 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset. When looking for accessories, Logitech is always a great place to start. Will the G633 continue the long tradition of quality?

Specs

Headphone:
Driver: 1.6 in (40 mm)
Frequency response: 20Hz-20KHz
Impedance: 39 Ohms (passive), 5k Ohms (active)
Sensitivity: 107dB SPL/mW

Microphone (Boom):
Microphone Pickup pattern: Cardioid (Unidirectional)
Size: 4mm
Frequency response: 100Hz-20KHz

Connection Type: USB
LCD Display: No
Audio Controls: Yes
Microphone: Yes
Microphone Type: Cardioid (Unidirectional)
Noise Canceling: Yes

Unboxing

Impressions

When you take the Logitech G633 Artemis out of the box, you immediately see that it is not a standard headset. No, this is special -- full of buttons and features. You get both 3.5mm audio and USB cables, giving two ways to connect. By using USB, you will bypass your PC's sound card, which should be superior to any existing obnoard or PCI options.

Sound quality aside, USB is what really allows the G633 to meet its full potential. When used with the special Logitech drivers and software, you can customize the experience. The headset is full of LED lighting, and the software will allow you to change both the color and the speed at which the lights pulse. You can easily choose some default colors or get really crazy and opt for different shades. Sadly, dear Linux users, you cannot take advantage of the customization as Logitech does not make a compatible app (it will work fine for audio, however).

The really cool customization, however, are the three "G" buttons found on the rear. You can map any keyboard keys or combos to these buttons. Let's say you are playing a game where a certain key launches a grenade -- you can map that to the headset, so you can launch it from your head instead. This is very cool for gamers, but you can also use it for other things too, such as launching the Start Menu, or pausing a movie -- the choice is yours.

Of course, you are probably wondering why you would do this rather than just use the keyboard. Well, the USB cable is insanely long, so if you want to sit far from your computer with a gamepad, you can -- this will allow you to store some keyboard keys on the headset t00. There may even be some accessibility benefits too, for example, users with limited use of an arm.

If you want to use the G633 with a game console (such as plugging into the Xbox One controller), smartphone, or mp3 player, you can remove the USB cable and connect the 3.5mm wire instead. This makes the headset an analog-only affair. Sound quality is still great in this mode -- music, movies and games will make your ears happy. You can even fold the microphone away when not needed (which mutes it too).

Speaking of movies and games, you can experience simulated surround with Dolby 7.1 when connected by USB. In other words, it will sounds like you are in a room with a proper 7.1 setup even though the headphones only have two speakers. While it works, it is not spectacular -- I preferred watching videos in Stereo mode instead.

Strangely, the outer part of the left and right ear pads are held on by magnets and removable (see above). The only reason I can see this being beneficial is is the user wants to replace it with a custom logo, maybe using a 3D printer. Unfortunately, this means they constantly fall off when adjusting the headset. On numerous occasions, when either putting the G633 on or off my head, these pieces fall off and land on the floor. It is simply a poor design that gets annoying quickly. I ultimately took these parts off and left them off -- they are only for appearance purposes anyway.

The important part, of course, is the inside of the headset -- the part that touches your head and ears. Here, the G633 truly shines, as it is extremely comfortable. Whether gaming or listening to music, I never experienced pain. More importantly, the ear pads did not make me sweaty or itchy -- something other models do. The material that Logitech chose to contour your ears is incredible -- I want a couch made out of it!

Conclusion

Ultimately, the Logitech G633 Artemis Spectrum is a great headset. Other than the aforementioned weird design choice with the outer part of the ear pads, it is a home run. They are comfortable, sound great, and look darn-cool too. Best of all, they seem to be well-constructed, meaning they should last a long time. Durability is very important when you are spending $149 on a headset -- am I right, guys?

The Logitech G633 Artemis Spectrum RGB 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset is recommended.