Last November, I went crazy for the Tritton AX Pro gaming headset so why would I be on the hunt for another pair of stellar headphones? The Tritton's only have one audio input and it makes it enormously inconvenient to constantly be swapping out audio sources as I switch from component to component. Though I still use them for gaming/videos on my Xbox 360 and PS3, I had gone back to a cheap pair of Sony headphones plugged into the headphone jack of my Logitech Z-5500D speaker system. And then....
Logitech announced the G35 headphones at CES. They caught my eye because they are specifically designed for the PC and work solely through a USB connection. This was the same amount of effort required to plug in my crappy headphones but, obviously, these are much nicer. How much nicer? Let's take a look:
Aesthetics and design- They look really pretty, don't they? Okay, maybe not PRETTY. Let's say... ummm... hot? Bottom line: I like the way they look. They also have a nice, expensive feel to them. The headphone cups swivel, which makes them more comfortable and I like the leather ear pieces. On the actual headset, you will find a switch that enables/disables the Dolby Surround setting, a knob that turns the volume up and down and three programmable buttons. You’ll also find a microphone that can be tilted up when not in use. I thought I would prefer a detachable one, but this is actually more practical.
Software
Very simple and easy to use… maybe a little too simple. I think I would have liked something with a few more options in it, especially when it came to surround functionality.
Use
I tried them with:
· Music- not much to report here. They are completely digital and the sound reproduction is EXCELLENT.
· I Internet video/downloaded video- Not bad. The surround functionality isn’t so great on things that aren’t actually programmed in a 5 channel or above surround. It sounds echo-y and tinny. This is where it is really nice to have the switch so you can turn it off without having to open the software.
· DVDs- Depending on the DVD, I thought the sound was a little on the quiet side. I just found myself wanting it to be one notch louder, but I had everything cranked as far as it would go.
· Games- They’re gaming headphones… and this is where they absolutely shine. Volume was not remotely a problem and the surround effect was quite convincing. While I mentally knew that I was wearing headphones, I still found myself forgetting about them and being immersed in the soundfield which is EXACTLY what you want.
My favorite thing?
It’s all about the one-plug fits all USB port. You don’t have to screw around with a power adapter or anything else. Plug the headphones in and you are ready to go. (Of course, you’d be wise to d/l the newest software, but that is a no-brainer.)
Biggest rough spot
Aside from not always being happy with the volume level in certain applications, the fact that these are ONLY going to work on your PC can be a huge deciding factor when looking into a pricier set of headphones. If you game on multiple platforms, these may not be the best choice.
Overall
They seem expensive but when compared to other headsets in this price-range they are actually a very reasonably priced entry into the mid-range gaming headphone family. I was thrilled with the quality of construction and the ease of use. I keep returning to the fact that they only require one chord rather than multiple cords and power sources. This gives them a solid mix of portability and sound quality.
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