It needed to occur finally. After an unbelievable 18 month stint on the prime of our best gaming headset listing, the Steelseries Arctis 7 should now quit its throne to the brand-new Logitech G Pro X headset. What a factor that is. Not solely is that this a great-sounding gaming headset, nevertheless it’s additionally extremely snug and has arguably the very best quality microphone I’ve ever examined. That’s due to its built-in Blue Voice expertise (yep, that’s the identical Blue firm that make the superb Yeti USB microphone), and it’s in all probability the closest you’ll ever come to having a broadcast high quality mic on a pair of gaming headphones. Here’s wot I believe.
Now I do know what you’re pondering. A gaming headset that ticks so many packing containers have to be ludicrously costly like Steelseries’ Arctis Pro, proper? Wrong. It’s nonetheless moderately expensive in comparison with different gaming headsets on the market, however at £110 / $130, it’s additionally fairly a bit of change cheaper than lots of its top-end rivals – together with the Arctis 7. There may even be a less expensive, common Logitech G Pro headset out there later this month (overview coming shortly) for simply £85 / $100, however that one doesn’t include the built-in Blue Voice tech.
Still, for those who regularly play numerous on-line games together with your mates, stream and even make common voice calls in your PC or laptop computer, I believe the Pro X will certainly be well worth the improve. I used to be astonished by how a lot of a distinction Blue Voice made to the general readability, depth and element of my voice recording, and it was fairly a step up from the recording I made with Blue Voice disabled.
The easy, smooth contact shell and spun-metal end on the outer ear cup seems pretty within the flesh.
Logitech’s GHub software program additionally makes it extremely straightforward to arrange the mic and tune to your liking, too. As quickly as you plug within the Pro X utilizing its USB sound card adapter, GHub asks you to report a pattern of your voice, which you’ll be able to then play again on a loop as you tweak and fiddle with the settings. There are loads of choices to play with, however even when issues like ‘High-Pass Filter’, ‘De-Esser’ and ‘Expander / Gate’ imply completely nothing to you, there are a great deal of presets out there as nicely. What’s extra, you’ll be able to hear the impact immediately, making it fast and straightforward to search out one you suppose sounds greatest.
One of the 2 Broadcaster presets will in all probability go well with most individuals, as I felt these supplied the clearest and richest presentation of what I used to be saying. That mentioned, I additionally loved taking part in with the AM Radio preset, in addition to the Loud and Soft variations of the High Voice and Low Voice profiles. And if all that wasn’t sufficient, there’s additionally a sidetone management, which helps you to hear your self speak by means of the headset, a digital encompass sound choice, and a devoted equaliser menu, supplying you with a great deal of choices to personalise your headset precisely the best way you need. Alternatively, you’ll be able to simply let different individuals do the onerous work and obtain their equaliser settings settings as a substitute – together with a few of Logitech’s sponsored esports peeps equivalent to London Spitfire’s Profit and varied gamers from TSM amongst others.
It’s fairly merely essentially the most versatile and complex microphone setup I’ve ever seen on a gaming headset, and I believe it is going to be a very long time but earlier than I see one other gaming headset mic even come near matching its general high quality and intensive menu settings.
The Pro X can be some of the snug headsets I’ve ever encountered exterior of the Arctis 7. That’s proper. I, the world’s pickiest headband wearer, give the Pro X headband my full seal of approval. Made from a metal body with reminiscence foam padding, I used to be capable of put on the Pro X for hours on finish with out even the slightest trace of discomfort – which for me is fairly darn spectacular contemplating what number of different headsets I’ve examined have a tendency to rework into unwitting head clamps after little greater than half an hour’s use.
Blue Voice isn’t the one additional the Pro X comes with – you additionally get a carry case, additional ear pads and one other 3.5mm cable with an inline mic for cellular units.
Unlike the common Pro, the Pro X additionally comes with an additional set of velour ear pads for those who’re not a fan of leatherette, that are handily marked R and L to be sure to slot them over the proper ear cup. Personally, I discovered the leatherette ones saved my ears a bit cooler – notably on this sizzling climate we’ve been having – however the velour ones have been nonetheless completely comfortable to put on as nicely. Plus, one other advantage of choosing the X over the common Pro is that you just get a bundled carry case to maintain all of its varied bits and items in, equivalent to its 3.5mm PC splitter cable, USB sound card (which you’ll want for the Blue Voice stuff), the removable mic, and an additional 3.5mm cable with inline mic for cellular units (the latter of which additionally solely comes with the X mannequin).
I used to be additionally tremendous impressed with the Pro X’s sound high quality, too. Even simply utilizing its default audio profile, games have by no means sounded so clear and wealthy with element. In Hellblade, for instance, I used to be in a position to pick sound results I don’t suppose I’ve even observed earlier than, such because the rustling of the bushes excessive above Senua’s head. Whether they’re usually drowned out by the ominous orchestral soundtrack or just misplaced within the swirl of menacing voices inside Senua’s head, I actually couldn’t let you know. With the Pro X, although, it appeared like I used to be listening to the game correctly for the primary time. The leaves truly appeared like they have been above me on the headset as nicely, whereas the mild trickle of water from Senua’s row boat was undoubtedly coming from beneath, which is once more one thing I’ve failed to note elsewhere. The voices have been additionally superbly crisp and natural-sounding, creating an immersive soundscape that was each spacious and extremely intimate on the similar time.
The fundamental inline management is so much chunkier than the cellular cable, and has a bigger mute slider and quantity wheel.
I had the identical type of audio revelation in Doom, too. Again, I couldn’t say if these sounds merely weren’t audible on different headsets or if I simply skimmed over them, however there have been undoubtedly little particulars right here that I felt like I used to be listening to for the primary time, such because the high-pitched hydraulic zing of the UAC’s pumps on the floor of Mars, or the deep, mechanical whirr of its drills and equipment. The necessary factor is that I used to be capable of choose them out on the Logitech G Pro X, which merely hasn’t been the case on different headsets I’ve examined. This sense of spatial consciousness didn’t cease there, both, as I used to be additionally capable of pinpoint precisely the place each enemy was positioned, and which path their photographs and plasma beams have been coming from. Trust me, you’ve by no means heard demon bones get crunched and squelched with fairly this stage of beautiful element.
Final Fantasy XV wasn’t fairly as jaw-dropping, all advised, however nonetheless very pretty all the identical. Its orchestral soundtrack was good and heat, and it additionally felt well-balanced in opposition to all the opposite in-game sound results equivalent to Noctis and co’s tromping boots and zippy-zappy sword magic. Nothing felt overpowered by the rest, and all the things felt simply appropriately. And to prime all of it off, it was equally nice to make use of for normal music listening, too.
I actually couldn’t ask for something extra.
