Logitech G333 Gaming Earphones Review
The majority of game headphones are exactly that: headsets. They’re big, over-the-ear headphones with boom mics that provide plenty of power and direct speech contact. The G333 from Logitech is an option for that style. Logitech markets the G333 as a $49.99 pair of wired “gaming earphones,” part of the Logitech G gaming accessories line. The earphones are cheap, come with a USB-C converter for phones without headphone jacks, and have a good-sounding microphone. Unfortunately, the G333 loses bass strength and fails to distinguish itself from equally priced wired earphones.
Logitech G333 Gaming Earphones Review
Earphones with a Simple Wire
The G333 seems to be a standard pair of wired earphones, and it is available in black with blue ear tips, white with lavender ear tips, and purple with yellow ear tips. The earpieces are plain aluminum capsules with tiny Logitech G logos on the backs. They communicate with one another and your computers through a flat cable terminating in a four-pole, 3.5mm socket. A few centimeters behind the right earpiece is a three-button remote with a pinhole microphone.
The earphones lack stabilizing fins and other structural features; however, the three sets of separate shaped silicone ear tips that come with them provide a relatively convenient and safe fit. In addition to the ear tips, the G333 includes a 3.5mm-to-USB-C connector and a slim mesh zip-up pouch. Given how many phones have lost the headphone port, the converter is a welcome addition.
Options for Connectivity
When plugged into a controller’s headphone port, the G333 acts like a pair of 3.5mm earphones for every modern gaming system (or directly into the Nintendo Switch in handheld mode). It even deals with every PC with a headset socket, but if your device has different headphone and microphone ports, you’ll need a Y-adapter. Of default, the G333 is compatible with any handset with a headphone jack or an adapter with a 3.5mm jack. With the connector, I had no trouble attaching the earphones to a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Plus.
There is no virtual surround processing or other trickery on the earphones. All audio effects or tweaks must be applied at the system level, whether from a console, monitor, or phone.
Microphone Output on the G333
Recordings produced with the Galaxy Note 20 Plus and the G333’s inline microphone sounded remarkably simple. My voice had a lot of clarity, which is more than I normally get with pinhole mics. The mic doesn’t do anything to filter out outside noises. However, it picked up my computer’s fan while I sat next to it, resulting in some audio fuzziness. Nonetheless, the G333 has superior audio-capture features as compared to many other wired earphones.
A traditional game headset with a boom mic, on the other hand, would sound great if you want to make your voice stick out. If you’re thinking about filming or broadcasting, we still suggest investing in a dedicated USB microphone.
G333’s Musical Success
Each earphone has two dynamic drivers that measure 5.8mm and 9.2mm in diameter. Instead of filling the whole audio spectrum with a single motor, the two drivers have bass and mids/highs separately. The G333 may not have much bass strength, but it can accommodate low frequencies without distorting the audio.
“Born Too Slow” by The Crystal Method sounded balanced and simple, with the bass not overpowering the other musicians. The backbeat provided enough pop to propel the song, but it lacked power and ominousness. The guitar riffs and vocals all had a lot of presence and consistency.
Yes’ “Roundabout” sounded as good though the G333. The opening acoustic guitar plucks had no resonance, but the higher frequencies got crisp, clean string textures. The bassline faded into the background as the music properly kicked in, allowing the vocals to shine through.
The Gaming Output of the G333
Via the G333, Fortnite on the Xbox Series X sounded absolute and clear. It was easy to hear close footsteps as well as distant gunshots. The storm didn’t have a thunderous rumble, but the rustling grass made a clean, well-balanced racket.
However, the stereo panning lacked directionality; you may decide the general directions of the sound effects, but not with the subtle precision provided by the Xbox Wireless Headset. Windows Sonic operates through the headphone port and wireless links, but I believe the reduced sense of directionality is due to the earphones’ generally lower dynamic range.
Doom Eternal really brought out the G333’s lackluster bass. The industrial music of the game lacked nearly any of its grim thump. The blasts and shots missed a low-end presence, sounding more poppy than roaring.
There’s not Something that Stands Out.
The Logitech G333 bills itself as an in-ear gaming headset, but it’s really just a good pair of in-canal earphones with a high-and-mid audio balance. The microphone is very decent for its kind, and the sounds come out distinctly, but the G333 doesn’t deliver something else that separates itself as especially good for gaming. Its lackluster bass is also a letdown.
We aren’t completely sold on console earbuds and instead prefer over-ear headphones. Good ones will cost more than the G333’s $50, but the enhanced tone and even better microphone output are well worth it. Editors’ Choice picks for 3.5mm stereo headphones compatible with any platform the G333 fits with is the Astro Gaming A10 and Razer BlackShark V2.
If you need wired earphones and don’t want to charge more than $50, the G333 is a good option, but it doesn’t stand out. Though we haven’t tested it yet, Astro Gaming’s A03 is its take on the in-ear wired headset. Astro’s offering is the same price as the G333, and early research indicates that it has considerably better bass (but lacks the included USB-C adapter).
Originally posted 2021-11-11 12:56:41.
