“Immersion” is like the holy grail end goal for tech software and film creation. Engineers from each landscape tinker and toil to create the most believable or “immersive” scenes, products and experiences. Recently a colleague and I reminisced over the old Logitech iFeel mice line from 10+ years back. It used TouchSense technology from Immersion to provide complex vibration feedback, which was nestled in the Logitech line of iFeel mice. Vibrating mice may not be the cat’s meow today. But Immersion as a company went on to be one of the leading providers of haptic feedback tech for touch screens on consumer, service level and corporate devices.
Logitech too, still stands tall. Even without Immersion’s tech Logitech has proven they can still personify the company’s name and effectively suspend your disbelief with rock solid performance. This time it’s from their new G230 Stereo Gaming Headset. It’s a devilishly attractive product that goes toe-to-toe with our other favorite stereo sets of cans. Finding the best gaming headset doesn’t have to be difficult if you know what you want and where to look. We lay it all out here.
The Logitech G230 are definitely showstoppers in their red-on-black motif. The earpieces are slightly angled back for a more stylized look. The earpieces also swivel a full 180 degrees so they rest easy on upper chest and shoulders if need be, when not worn. You get an in-line control unit on the cable. You can use it to control volume and mute the microphone. But the mic also flips up, which will mute transmission as well. Additionally, the mic is pliable and easy to bend in the position most comfortable. Yet when flipped up and muted, it is completely out of the way and unobtrusive. The cord is threaded and is also colored in the same attractive crimson. The red accents really enhance the fiendishly cool aesthetics.
This particular stereo offering connects to your PC or laptop via two gold-plated 3.5mm tips–green for receiving audio, red for voice transmission. Some prefer USB. I prefer the traditional 3.5mm connection–less complications and driver conflicts. Now navigate to your PC’s playback devices and select the Logitech G230 (or your motherboard’s audio device). Remember to do the same for the recording device.
Related: To see how this headset compares with similar devices, check out our review of the Logitech G430 7 1 Surround Gaming Headset.
Logitech has another gem on their hands. The G230 gaming headset is a marvelous addition to the stereo arena. We conducted testing with our motherboard’s onboard sound. The soundstage the G230 set brings is notable. But I couldn’t easily identify a great deal of new sounds in old games and movies. However the ranges are very well-balanced for a stereo unit. Bass is marvelous, punchy and deep without stealing the show from the mid and high ranges. Its easy to discern the position of in-game characters and ambient sound when gaming. We watched several movies and a few TV shows like Spartacus and The Walking Dead. Here they shine as well albeit not quite as brightly as in games. While they are not the most finely tuned for movies and TV, the only other real contender we’ve seen is Sennheiser’s PC 350SE headset. Even then, I feel comfort and personal taste toward the aesthetics will decide the day. Performance is too evenly matched. Finally, there is some sound bleed when the volumes are at their highest.
With an expandable headband and padded ear cups, the G230 gaming headset does have a comfortable feel. Speaking of comfort, these will endure for long hours. I did find the cloth padding can become slightly itchy and requires a bit of cleaning after prolonged use. In answer Logitech has made the earpiece padding removable for cleaning.
At their sub-$70 price point, the Logitech G230 gaming headset marries affordability with laudable performance and lasting comfort. If your aim is not multichannel surround sound, then look no further.
Related: Also check out our Limited Edition Call Of Duty Black Ops Tritton Headset review.
Editor Rating:
[Rating: 4.5/5]
Excellent
Bottom Line: I was thoroughly impressed with the Logitech G230 Stereo Gaming Headset. It comes highly recommended as an affordable high-class offering for stereo class headset solutions.
Pros
· Fantastic stereo audio playback in games
· Affordable
· Comfortable
· Attractive and stylish
· Swivel ear-cups lay flat
· Removable cloth ear cups
Cons
· Suitable but not ideal for movies
The Logitech G230 Stereo Gaming Headset is available at Amazon for $59.99.
