Logitech G560 Gaming Audio system Assessment

Logitech G560

MSRP $199.99

“Logitech’s G560 gaming audio system stand alone due to large bass and intuitive LED integration.”

Execs

Highly effective sound
Extremely customizable EQ
DTS: X digital encompass sound
Integration with different Logitech G sync gear
Tons of cool lighting choices

Cons

Brief listing of supported light-sync titles presently
Software program may be complicated

Again in 2013, Logitech moved its G-Sequence gear into the brand new ‘Logitech G’ sub-brand (considered one of 5 underneath the corporate’s umbrella), signaling a newfound dedication to creating top-shelf tech for PC avid gamers.

Since then, the G household has expanded to incorporate quite a few mice, keyboards, and different peripherals constructed to optimize your gaming expertise, and look superior doing it. The brand new G560 audio system mirror this philosophy, packing an abundance of distinctive options into a robust 2.1 setup. We spent a while evaluating them, and as we anticipated, they’re fairly spectacular.

Unboxing and setup

The field for the G560 was greater and heavier than we anticipated. Seems, that’s due to the hefty subwoofer, which measures a whopping 16 inches tall and weighs greater than 12 kilos.

The stereo audio system are smaller (about 6 x 6 x 5 inches) and weigh just some kilos every. They’ve acquired a cool, distinctive design that includes round grilles mounted in rectangular plastic casings with a brushed end. Every speaker is provided with two LED “RGB zones” (learn: mild arrays) – one beneath the grille, which shines by means of the entrance of the speaker, and a highlight within the rear designed to challenge mild on the wall behind your monitor.

The suitable speaker hosts three buttons on prime, together with one for customizable macro controls and two for quantity adjustment. On the again is a 3.5mm jack, an influence button, and a Bluetooth pairing button, which lets you join as much as two supply gadgets concurrently by way of Bluetooth.

When you take away the audio system from their typical cardboard armor, there’s not a lot work to be carried out. Plug the subwoofer into the wall, and plug the audio system into the sub. Subsequent, merely join the sub to your pc by way of both the three.5mm Aux enter, or the included USB cable (we suggest the latter for full performance), obtain the Logitech Gaming Software program in the event you don’t have it already (you’ll want model 8.98.198 or newer), and also you’re prepared to start out gaming.

Illuminative immersion

Earlier than we get to the sound, we must always focus on the G560’s most distinguished and standout function, the RGB mild arrays. With the software program – the identical software program you’d use to customise another Logitech G gear – you may management all 4 zones individually utilizing Logitech’s Lightsync expertise. If you wish to assign every zone a static coloration, you are able to do that, however that’s only the start.

Logitech has constructed lighting presets for greater than 600 video games.

Logitech has constructed an open software program improvement equipment (SDK) for the G560, which implies builders can make the most of the equipment so as to add contextual mild results based mostly on in-game occasions. For instance, whereas taking part in Fortnite the audio system will flip from tender inexperienced to brilliant purple if you end up misplaced in a storm, whereas your audio system will glow orange as your well being dwindles in Battlefield 1. The listing of supported titles is presently brief – different notable video games embody Counter Strike: World Operative and Grand Theft Auto V – however we count on it to develop over time.

You may surprise, “Nicely, what about each different sport?” Logitech has additionally geared up the G560 with a “display sampler” mode, which lets you choose 4 rectangular areas in your display and assign these areas to one of many 4 RGB zones (based mostly on no matter coloration seems most within the chosen space). In case your well being bar is within the backside left nook, for instance, you may choose that space and the corresponding mild will change from inexperienced to crimson (or no matter you choose) when your well being depletes. This permits for some fairly candy customization, although the hue shifts can get a bit hectic in the event you’re operating round a map in a first-person sport.

Invoice Roberson/Digital Developments

Logitech has additionally constructed lighting presets for an unlimited variety of video games – greater than 600, by our rely – which may be accessed within the software program. We did get a bit of confused on the distinction between these presets and the video games supported by way of SDK, although, and the software program doesn’t do an excellent job of explaining any of this.

There’s additionally an “audio visualizer” setting, which you should utilize to make the lights react to the sport sound. Reasonably than utilizing a microphone, the audio system really draw any audio indicators from the linked pc; treble and midrange frequencies set off the entrance zones, whereas decrease frequencies will set off the rear zones. This mode appears higher suited to listening to music than gaming, nevertheless it’s a cool function.

If you happen to’ve acquired extra Logitech gaming gear, you may even synchronize LED exercise throughout all of your gadgets for a very immersive setup. There are additionally extra mundane modes which is able to “breathe” (fade a single coloration out and in) or morph by means of the entire rainbow at your chosen velocity, just like many gaming headsets.

As you may count on, all these options (save the mounted colours, “respiratory,” and coloration morph) require a USB connection – they gained’t work over Bluetooth or aux connection.

The LEDs can function bias lighting to scale back pressure on the eyes of those that spend hours in entrance of their displays, too.

Audio efficiency

The G560 are able to reaching a peak of 240 watts, a reality that’s instantly apparent upon plugging them in and beginning up a sport. The claimed frequency response extends all the way down to 40Hz on the low finish (extending to 18kHz up prime), and the default setting is pretty bass-heavy. The downward-firing subwoofer produces really bombastic explosions and gunshots, however you may fiddle with the customized EQ to your coronary heart’s content material in the event you’re searching for extra steadiness.

Irrespective of the way you set them up, these audio system pump out highly effective sound.

Irrespective of the way you set them up, although, these audio system pump out some highly effective sound. You gained’t discover the identical glowing highs as you’d in, say, the $400 Aperion Allere, however the G560 are half that worth, and also you’re in all probability shopping for them for gaming, by which case they’re excellent.

Enjoying by means of battle eventualities in Battlefield 1, tank treads rolled with such thunderous crunches that we virtually felt the bottom shake beneath our ft, and machine gunfire crackled like heavy-hitting Fourth of July fireworks. The bass isn’t significantly tight, nevertheless it’s large, and will sate most avid gamers’ thirst for oomph. As an apart, there’s no handbook bass management on the subwoofer or the audio system. Whereas this isn’t a problem in the event you preserve the software program open, it could have been a welcome inclusion.

The G560 do additionally assist DTS:X encompass sound indicators (although not for Mac), which you’ll be able to toggle within the software program and even modify every digital channel’s quantity. The digital encompass performance works fairly nicely for a 2.1 setup — not in addition to precise encompass audio system, however adequate for the fee and system measurement.

Guarantee info

The G560 include a 2-year restricted {hardware} guarantee. Head to Logitech’s declare submission web page for extra info.

Our Take

The G560 occupy a singular area of interest. As audio system, they’re good – not spectacular, however good – however as enhances to a Logitech gaming cave, they’re fairly spectacular. Even with out extra G gear, they’ve loads of potential, due to the open SDK which permits for severe customization that ought to improve over time.

Is there a greater various?

If you happen to’re contemplating the G560 due to their superior lights and synchronization capabilities, there aren’t actually many contemporaries. The $150 Razer Nommo Chroma are comparable, kind of, however they don’t include a subwoofer they usually’re simply not fairly the identical.

If you happen to simply need some good pc audio system for watching exhibits or listening to music, think about the Edifier Luna Eclipse or the cheaper Logitech Z337.

How lengthy will it final?

Whereas the satellite tv for pc audio system’ construct high quality isn’t excellent, the G560 are in all probability going to sit down in a single place for a number of years. The cables are woven and sturdy, so we don’t count on any points for fairly some time.

Do you have to purchase it?

If you need some cool, distinctive gaming audio system (and particularly you probably have some suitable Logitech G peripherals), then sure. Purchase them.