The short version: if you have the money to spare, these headphones are the only thing you need for your gaming and media PC.
Logitech’s newest G-series lineup is impressive, but I noted when it was announced that unless you’ve got serious cashflow, you really need to look elsewhere. The most unabashedly luxurious option was the G19 keyboard with its built-in LCD screen, but I found it to be an immature platform and a memory hog to boot. The G35, though not without its quirks, is an absolutely excellent piece of hardware and though it will run you north of a hundred bucks, it’s probably the only headset you’ll want or need for a long time.
Design and fit
Logitech has a unified design aesthetic for its latest G-series, and while it was a little clunky for the G19, which felt more like a dashboard than a keyboard, it’s nice on the G35. They’re heavy, but not that heavy, and the weight is distributed well. I found them comfortable, and I don’t think they look as ridiculous as some other headphones do on me. The feel of the headphones, headband, and cord is high quality, but the exposed metal when you adjust them is pretty raw-looking.
On that subject, the adjustable aspect is good, but you will be adjusting them every time you put them on your head. The bands open up to numbered increments, which are helpful because they refuse to stay at any setting you put them at. Generally they tended to close up when I put them away, and adjusting them wasn’t as easy as I’d like while they’re on your head. The lighter Carcharias and new Megalodon from Razer have a superior adjustment mechanism.
You’ll find all the controls on the left side. They’re away from the middle where they might be confusing all clumped together, but having them around the edge makes them damned easy to hit on accident when you’re putting on, taking off, or adjusting the headset. The buttons themselves have a nice, high-quality feel to them and have the same satin finish as the rest of the earcups. There’s also a volume dial, which was nice (I used it more than the one on the G19 when I was using both), though the notches it rolls through are pretty widely spaced.
The microphone works just fine, and, while not removable, does fold up out of your way pretty well and is adjustable to whatever extent you need. You can customize when the mic LED is lit (when muted, not muted, etc) but I’d just as soon have it off all the time if there weren’t a mic mute button I was always hitting on accident.
Okay, nice rims, but what’s under the hood?
Of course, the reason you get these things is for the sound. And I’m pleased to say it’s great. The G35s use Dolby’s virtual surround sound system, which is very good, although there are some that prefer the actual multiple-speaker route. Tritton’s AX Pro system, for example, actually has multiple speakers, and the freaky Psyko headphones I tried out use an even wackier system with multiple sound orifices. Don’t let the name fool you, “virtual” surround sound is a perfectly admissible version of surround sound, using specially-designed speakers and deflectors to place the sound close to where it would be if were actually, say, behind you.
For regular stuff like music, Skype conversations, and TV shows, the non-surround setting is the best. It places the sound very close to your ear and I found them a very pleasant environment in which to listen to my favorite albums. Sound is very well-balanced, loudness was good, and the USB connection means there’s never any line crackle. The isolation inside the G35s is also excellent, probably better than any pair I’ve used so far. Whenever I thought I was hearing a sound from outside the headset, I was always mistaken.
For gaming, which these are really designed for, you’ll want to switch it over to the surround mode. This makes music sound rather distant and indistinct, but playing a game compatible with Dolby’s 7.1 surround is a fantastic experience. There are a few hiccups, like certain directional sounds being disproportionately quiet in some games, but I place the blame on Dolby and the game’s makers rather than Logitech. Team Fortress 2 was fun as hell with these, and although I think the balance of the game’s sounds needs to be tweaked (dispensers are incredibly loud sometimes), I definitely played better when I was using the G35 than my other regular stereo headsets. Being able to place a gunshot or footstep with an extra few degrees of precision can be the difference between surprising someone coming around a corner and being surprised by them.
USB audio: a blessing and a curse
The USB connection never failed to work, and I learned early on to shut down any media players and give the computer a few seconds to get used to the new setup before launching a game. Whether the game or movie you’re watching supports the surround sound I found was a bit of a crap shoot, however. I probably needed to do more due diligence in checking what systems a game, media player, or media file supports (or has encoded), but is it too much to expect from a headset that says 7.1 that it deliver a 7.1 experience?
The G35 control panel helpfully tells you when real surround sound was last passed to the headset, so you can check after the fact whether the game or movie supports it. I would have preferred, perhaps, the light on the Microphone to signal a successful surround-sound stream or game.
On the whole I’m glad of the USB connection; no one wants to fiddle with a bunch of paired-stereo analog cables any more, and while I’ve always thought headsets having their own drivers inside was excessive, I allow it for all my other devices so why shouldn’t I here? More and more audio solutions are involving USB or digital audio, and while audiophiles may balk, nobody’s listening to really high-end audio through a regular sound card anyway.
One very annoying thing is that every time you start your computer, the control panel gives you a popup:
Really, Logitech? Do you think we’re all idiots?
And of course, the less said about the voice-morphing capability, the better. It exists, what do you want from me? I’m not 13, and these things wouldn’t even fit on a 13-year-old’s head.
Winner!
The G35 is a great headset, and the more I used it, the more I came to rely on it as the “real” sound of a game. While for a quick session of this and that, or for just music listening late at night, I still used the Carcharias or whatever was lying around, games begged to be used with this thing. $130 (or $115-$120 street price) isn’t too much to pay if you’re someone who enjoys the cinematic experience of gaming and watches surround-sound content on your PC.
I never understood the whole concept of the “Surround Sound Headphones” I had the Razer HP-1 headphones before, with the AC-1 sound card, I couldn’t really tell the difference between those and a good set of stereo headphones.
That’s cause stereo can sound great! But you get a nice surround headset with a game that supports 7.1, turn that puppy up and it’s really immersive.
I have a normal stereo headset, and virtual 5.1 surround sound through my x-fi creative card. It sounds amazing!
A buddy of mine has these and loves them. I’ve got the Tritton Ax Pros and love them too.
Both good pairs. The AX pros do have the multiple speakers, but I thought the sound in them could get harsh sometimes.
How did the voice modulation work?
Logitech G35, Tritton AX Pro, Tritton AX360 or razer megalodon, so much decisions!
I’ve got the Megalodon right now, I can tell you it’s great, but I won’t have a full review for a week or so. If you were buying today I’d go with the G35, you won’t regret it.
Do you know any site with direct line up games that support Dolby surround sound on the g35? That seems to be the big thing here for me.
it’s kinda cinemax experience at home…cool one
I have the Astro-A40 along with the mixamp connected to optical output. It too uses virtual surround, I haven’t used the logitech so I’m not sure how it compares…but I’ll take my chances with keeping the Astro…
Thanks for posting. The G35 7.1 headset helps to enjoy music and gives a thrilling experience.The effect of these headphones is mind blowing. The design is simply awesome.The sound is pleasing to the ears. Everyone is crazy about the Logitech G35 7.1. For more details refer http://www.etechreviews.net/logitech-g35-71-surround-sound-headphones/
I have never saw that annoying popup message you describe here ? I have use this headset with Vista Business x64 and new Win 7 ultimate x64. And i have used the new (better sound quality) drivers from Logitech and the original ones. Weird, i would say.
All I can say is…..awesome! A must for any hardcore audio listener or gamer. At first, was kinda hesitant on spending so much on it, but now that I have, I’m glad I did.
I was thinking of getting the wireless ones off of dell, I have a 15% off coupon there. Is it worth an extra 20 bucks?
Loved the sound!! Loved it!
I’d like if you compare the Tritton AX Pro … maybe you already did a review on them? At any rate I’d really be thrilled to see a review on them and a comparison between the virtual and actual multi speaker for surround sound.
ok, so these plug in to your PC via USB, so then could I plug them into the USB port on my Xbox 360?
I’ve been looking at info all over the internet on these headphones, and while I realize that they were made with the PC in mind, no one is saying anything as to whether or not they would work with a xbox.
Does G35 work with video game consoles?
Consoles like Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 do not output in-game audio through their USB ports, therefore G35 is not compatible with those consoles.
no these dont work because the x box usb ports do not have sound capabilities, and my megalodon is awesome
A word of warning about this headset, I got one as a Christmas present and as a MMO player I was really excited to try them out.
I also have a small head and have trouble finding a headset to fit my head but these were perfect and sooo comfortable.
However I run with vista 64bit and the noise canceling only worked when in voice morph mode. When out of that you could hear a pin drop 3 rooms away when I was on vent. A little more research and it seems that this is a problem for other 64bit users and there does not appear to be a fix for it so back in the box they go. Gutted.
dunno….but it never gived me that popup on start:) probably you have a problem with something else… and the voice morphing is my favorite thing on it (im 21:P)
The headset looks real nice. Sorry that it cannot connect to the analog mainboard audio aswell. Now the headset is useless when Logitech stops supporting OS’s with drivers, like they did with my Quickcam 4000 pro. It can work with Windows 7 but Logitech no longer supports it. So I can trow away a working webcam.