Logitech G430 Review
The Logitech G430 is a 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset for PC that connects via analog to USB adapter and is configured through their Logitech Gaming Software.
The Logitech G430 Surround Gaming Headset is actually one badass headset. I am extremely picky when it comes to gaming headsets - and I typically just don’t like most of the ones I use - but this one has impressed me.
The sound quality, build quality, and ease of use are all great and provide a surround gaming experience you can’t pass up, especially for the price!
Sound Quality
Overall, the sound quality in this headset is very nice. You can’t really quantify how “nice” sound quality is, but I was pleased with the results from my testing overall.
Typically with headsets, I run it through playing lossless .flac music files, TV shows and movies in surround sound and stereo, and then with video game audio. The G430 passed all of my tests with only a small hiccup.
Surround sound audio is only as good as the audio source itself. So if a TV show or movie file doesn’t have 5.1 (or 7.1) surround sound set up very well, it’s not going to sound great in anything. I ran into this issue with the first few TV show episodes I tried playing. However, when I tested it with a very well-encoded movie file (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in .mp4 container with AAC audio) the G430’s surround sound absolutely blew me away.
I’m pretty sure I’ll be watching all of my movies with this headset from now on.
Lossless music sounded crystal clear through this headset, as long as surround was disabled.
Surround gaming was a very enjoyable experience through this headset overall.
As with the media files, if a game does not have properly optimized and utilized surround audio options, then it’s not going to sound much better than a stereo configuration, but even gaming in stereo with this headset sounds very good.
The directional audio is very useful and enjoyable while gaming, and the bass provided is something I really enjoy.
The mic quality is just kinda okay. There’s no present static or hissing noise, as often present with USB-powered headsets.
The mic seems to be compressed and gives a very crisp sound with minimal background noise - which is great for cutting across game volumes in chat sessions while gaming - but with my voice it leads to a lot of clipping which ends up not sounding all that great. It does it’s job, certainly, but isn’t an impressive microphone at all.
Build Quality
I really feel like I could throw this headset across the room a few times and it be just fine, but I’m too afraid to try.
The Logitech G430 is made of some very hard, rugged plastic that’s sure to keep any angry gamer from raging themselves out of a nice headset.
It feels durable, doesn’t seem to have any flex that would lead to a break, and can take a hit.
The adjustable slider for the headset is actually made of metal. I was quite surprised by this, but it quickly became one of my favorite features. I have a weirdly shaped head. It’s not deformed, or that weird, really, but it’s hard to get comfortable wearing anything on it. Due to this, I adjust my headsets a lot. I have also broken many headsets due to cheap plastics being used in the slidable adjusters.
The metal slider system used in the Logitech G430 is very smooth and feels durable enough that even my constant adjusting won’t do it any harm.
As silly as it may sound, I think my favorite feature of the G430 is the cloth braided cable.
In my setup of multiple computers monitors, headsets, audio equipment and other accessories, cables become a huge pain in the butt. The last thing I want is one that I have tied to my head getting tangled up and potentially bent or shorted out.
The wonderful, soft, cloth-braided cable on the G430 is amazing. The material is the same that’s used on the ear and head cushions and it doesn’t get kinked or tangled up. I really wish all cables came this way.
The ear cushions and head cushion are both made of the same soft cloth as the braided cable and feels very comfortable on the skin and head.
The ear cushions are removable for cleaning, which is very convenient and not a feature present in most of the headsets I’ve owned in the past.
Overall, the G430 is actually quite a bit more comfortable than many headsets. One complain I had about my previous main headset, the Turtle Beach PX22 headset, is that it squeezed on the sides of my head too much and lead to headaches. The G430 doesn’t come near doing that.
However, it does put a noticeable amount of weight and pressure on the top of my head, and I am still getting used to that. It doesn’t lead to headaches like the squeezing, but is a slight discomfort that I have not yet gotten used to.
Ease of Use
The Logitech G430 is extremely easy to set up. If you already use Logitech Gaming Software for other products, it will detect and install the headset automatically. If not, it’s a very simple install.
Surround sound is turned off and on with a single click and each of the 7.1 locations can be controlled manually to balance audio, much like with a full surround sound system.
Minor Concern
Really the only concern I had with this headset overall was the volume level.
Since this headset does not appear to be actually USB-powered, where the USB power source feeds into the headset line, it’s not quite as loud as competing headsets. The headset is actually an analog headset that plugs into a USB adapter. This adapter may give it some extra juice, but it’s not quite as strong as a formal USB-powered device.
For me, I found a very comfortable and suitable volume level that was below the maximum it supported. However, I know many gamers like their sound loud and this headset does not compete on a volume level with other headsets.
Conclusion
Overall, the Logitech G430 Surround Gaming Headset is one badass headset.
I stay pretty skeptical of surround gaming headsets, but this one has blown me away.
Offering great sound, 7.1 surround sound, comfort and great design all for a very affordable price, one cannot go wrong with this headset.