Introduction
7.1 surround headphones featuring a new 40 mm driver
Gaming headsets are an ever-growing segment, with seemingly every hardware company offering their own take on this popular concept these days. Logitech is far from a new player in this space, with a number of headsets on the market over the years. Their most recent lineup included the top-end G930, and this headset has been superseded by the new G933 (wireless) and G633 (wired) models. We’ll take a look – and listen – in this review.
With the new Artemis Spectrum headsets Logitech is introducing their new 40 mm Pro-G drivers, which the company says will offer high-fidelity sound:
"Patent pending advanced Pro-G audio drivers are made with hybrid mesh materials that provide the audiophile-like performance gaming fans have been demanding. From your favorite music to expansive game soundtracks, the Pro-G drivers deliver both clean and accurate highs as well as a deep rich bass that you would expect from premium headphones."
More than a pair of stereo headphones, of course, the Artemis Spectrum G933 and G633 feature (simulated) 7.1 channel surround via selectable Dolby or DTS Headphone:X technology. How convincing this effect might be is a focus of the review, and we will take a close look at audio performance.
While these two pairs of gaming headphones might look identical, the G933 differentiates itself from the G633 by offering 2.4 GHz wireless capability. Both headsets also feature two fully customizable RGB lighting zones, with 16.8 million colors controlled through the Logitech Gaming Software on your PC. But a computer isn't required to use these headsets; both the G933 and G633 are fully compatible with the XBox One and PlayStation 4, and with a 3.5 mm audio cable (included with both) they can be used as a stereo headset with just about anything including smartphones.
First we'll take a look at the specifications from Logitech:
G933/G633 Shared Specifications:
- Headphone:
- Driver: 1.6 in (40 mm)
- Frequency response: 20Hz-20KHz
- Impedance: 39 Ohms (passive), 5k Ohms (active)
- Sensitivity: 107dB SPL/mW
- Microphone (Boom):
- Microphone Pickup pattern: Cardioid (Unidirectional)
- Size: 4mm
- Frequency response: 100Hz-20KHz
- Noise Canceling: Yes
- Connection Type: USB, 3.5 mm
G933 (Wireless) Additional Specs:
- Wireless Range (may vary with environmental conditions):
- Indoor: 15 meters
- Outdoor: 20 meters
- Battery Life (rechargeable):
- No lighting: 12 hours
- Default lighting: 8 hours
- Tested at 50% volume
Thanks to Logitech for providing the G933 and G633 7.1 Surround Headphones for our review.
- G933 Artemis Spectrum – $192.99, Amazon
- G633 Artemis Spectrum – $137.99, Amazon
(Pricing current as of 02/22/16.)
First Impressions
The G933 and G633 come in identical packaging, with the headphones secured in molded plastic within.
Accessories are in a compartment below the headset, and include the USB cable and optional 3.5 mm analog audio cable (with inline mic).
The G933 headset packet (right side) also includes an RCA to 3.5 mm cable
Now we have our first close look at the headphones, which are identical from the outside. Throughout this review one headset or the other might be pictured, and they function identically save for the addition of wireless connectivity with the G933.
The headphones are largely constructed with plastic, but they still have a premium look and feel to them.
Mainly a matte black finish, there is still some visual interest from a black chrome finish to the plastic on the top of each ear cup, and that's just with the headphones powered off (we’ll get into RGB lighting effects later on).
Controls are all located on the left earpiece, along with the inputs. Connectivity includes micro USB and 3.5 mm analog, with the G933 model adding 2.4 GHz wireless as well.
Next we'll take a closer look at the build quality and comfort of these new surround headphones.
do we need lights on
do we need lights on everything…
They’re easy enough to turn
They’re easy enough to turn off.
with software
with software
Do we NEED lights on
Do we NEED lights on everything? no. Do we WANT lights on everything. Hell yeah
Nice review! I always love
Nice review! I always love your pictures. I’ve had the 933 set since September of last year. They were my only “speakers” on my system until just about a week ago (in between houses). The sound quality is beyond amazing (unless you’re a super picky audiophile). I walk around my entire house with minimal signal drop (2200 sqft house). They are pricey, but really cool. And as cliché as the buttons seem, they’re handy for skipping, pausing, etc when listening to music. And although the mic isn’t what I usually use — I go for a blue yeti — but the quality is decent and I like the mute function as you lift the mic arm.
Again, great review as always.
Thanks! Glad you liked the
Thanks! Glad you liked the review. I was really impressed with the sound myself, and I'm one of those "super picky audiophile" types you mention. 🙂
I’ve been using these for
I’ve been using these for about an hour and the sound is ok but my friends tell me that the mic is terrible, and that it sounds like I’m speaking into a cup. so I’m not sure if I should return them or not. Any thoughts?
I actually have the G633’s
I actually have the G633’s and I wouldn’t buy another set ever. The software/driver is broken. I have constantly had issues with the headphones just crashing where I need to reconnect them to get them working again. Also parts of the EQ’s functions in the software don’t even work. If you take a look at their support forums they are filled with people having issues with the headsets, both types. When they work, their nice, but that’s the issue… when they work.
What games did you test with?
What games did you test with? In the short time I owned a pair I found out about their fatal flaw, that they only appear to Windows as a stereo headset, instead of a 5.1 device. A lot of games read the speaker setting from Windows and output based on that. This meant that for a majority of the games I played, virtual surround simply didn’t work right because the driver was just upmixing a 2 channel signal from the game. In my experience 60-70% of games didn’t work right, including new stuff like Witcher 3.
The Logitech forums are filled with people complaining about it, and logitech’s response was simply to shrug and say “This is how Microsoft says to do it now.” Whether or not that’s true doesn’t change the fact that they’re incompatible with most games, so I returned it and never looked back. There’s lots of other headsets and/or sound cards that don’t have this issue.
Windows will always display
Windows will always display these as a 2-channel device, which is how they would operate without the LGS software installed. The software is approximating surround without dedicated multi-channel input, but that doesn't mean it ignores content mixed in multi-channel surround. You must be running the software and have one of the surround effects enabled before launching any content to hear these effects.
As to games, I tried out Witcher 3 myself, and directional surround effects worked as expected. Other games I tried while wearing the headphones were DiRT Rally, Project CARS, and Shadow of Mordor. Mordor was a standout, and as I moved voices and other effects would pan around the virtual mix as if there were dedicated channels. Witcher was easy to test as well. An example was dismounting walking away from my horse, and as I moved I could hear it drift from front, to left, to my rear; turning around placed the sounds from behind me back to the front.
Turning in a circle with your character where there's a lot of ambient noise (in a game mixed in surround) will give you a quick dose of the 3D effect. I was very skeptical going in, and it worked for me.
To verify that surround was working with encoded content I downloaded some Dolby demos, including the new Atmos stuff (though of course the height channels were not available), and played them back with VLC. In home theater setup material (where the channels are called out one by one), the center, front L/R, and L/R surround channels were all distinct. The only channel I found less convincing was rear L/R surround in a 7.1 mix.
Checking their forums today
Checking their forums today it looks like they finally recognized and fixed the issue.
Do the 933s still have the
Do the 933s still have the issue of turning off after 5 mins of no activity or has that been fixed, its really the only thing holding me back from buying these.
Great question! I did some
Great question! I did some research, and it turns out Logitech just fixed this. I'm running the newest version of the Logitech Gaming Software (8.79.77), and on the "Customize Audio Experience" settings page there is a dropdown on the bottom right corner to change the timer.
I clicked on this with the G933 headset connected, and was prompted to update the firmware of the headphones. I had to connect them via USB, and the update finished in about a minute. Now I can set the timer anywhere from 5 min to 30 min – or choose "never" to keep them on all the time.
I wouldn't have discovered this without your question, so thanks! I'll update the wireless page on the review.
I hope that these don’t have
I hope that these don’t have the quality issue that my 930’s have with the pieces that hold the speakers on breaking. I bought these on Ryan’s recommendation and love the sound on them, but worry about the quality of the build.
If these break I’ll never buy Logitech headphones again.
The only con that I have with
The only con that I have with these headphones at present is that the USB connection is kind of difficult to plug in when in a low light environment.
This is why micro USB should
This is why micro USB should always have been a reversible connector! Think of all of the time we waste trying to plug in a smartphone; fumbling in the dark. Apple got this right with the Lightning connector, but the USB Type-C connector should become standard soon enough. Fingers crossed.
I had a set of G930’s that
I had a set of G930’s that were great; but the usb port on the headset wore out and they refused to charge. Apparently this was a fairly widespread issue with the soldering. I wonder if they’ve solved that issue.
Why can’t we get a headset at
Why can’t we get a headset at this end of the spectrum that also has wireless charging or at least a charging cradle. While the battery life is commendable there is a likely chance you will forget to plug it in after a long session of use at some point in the future.
Thank you very much for the
Thank you very much for the review Sebastian, i have been seriously looking at the 933 for a wireless option that covers all my various audio needs. Your review has all but sold me on the product as it seems within my price range and is starting to look like the best option for me.
I have a few issues with
I have a few issues with these headphones: turning the headphones off won’t release control of the audio to listen to speakers- I need to unplug the dongle, the range can easily be disrupted by large appliances (sound gets spotty when I am 20 feet away in the kitchen, with the dishwasher and fridge in between), and they slide off when I sit back in my recliner.
Sounds like your just a lazy
Sounds like your just a lazy sod
Thanks for the informative
Thanks for the informative review and I’m glad it’s from someone with experience with other audio products. That being said, I wish you would have dedicated a section to comparison to the older Logitech headsets. I’ve been using the G35s for six years and I’m curious how far Logitech has come in comparison with these brand new headsets vs the ancient G35 – leaps and bounds?
G933 is garbage because when
G933 is garbage because when I plug in ASUS Xonar DX Sound Card, it produces static noises, and bass sound was very weak! So therefore, I returned it, and bought Logitech G230 Stereo Headset which has excellent stereo mix and bass was loud and clear, and it’s much cheaper than G933! So I am very disappointed for paying over $150 including tax of G933. Luckily, I bought G230 Headset for $30 with discount promo code.
Hi is there a way to get any
Hi is there a way to get any tyoe of surround sound out of the G933 on ps4 doesnt have to be 7.1 .. at least 5.1 dolby is it only 2.1 stearo on ps4 ?