The Logitech Artemis Spectrum wired/wireless headphones are a serious contender for the best headphones in gaming with current-gen consoles and PCs. Not only is the price point for the Spectrums nearly half as much as the higher-end competitors, but the quality is far above what you might expect. Along with custom EQ capabilities on a per-game basis you also have fully customizable 2-Zone lighting effects that can remain active via onboard device memory, making the Artemis Spectrums great for LAN parties and professional gaming events.
Form and Function
My favorite thing about these headphones is the design, which is very friendly for gamers on the go. The ear pads can swivel to the side, allowing for easier storage when traveling and the cables are also detachable and durable, making them nearly impossible to tangle and bunch up. While it does not come with an external mixer for EQ when using them with consoles, there are buttons on the left ear cup that can help modify EQ and various other functions when gaming on a PC.
Using them with a PC is really where the value of these headsets shines, literally. With the companion Logitech Gaming Software app, you can customize the 2-Zone RGB color spectrum of the headphones on a whim as well as the commands assigned to the G-Keys on the left ear cup. You can make the logo match the lights around the ear pad or set them to two different settings. The ear pads themselves are extremely comfortable, made of a specialized sport mesh material that has a rectangular shape meant to gently encase most ear sizes instead of pressing up against them. Due to the special material, they are also easy to remove from the headset and hand-wash. The headband uses the same material, and after over 4+-hours of use with games like SOMA I felt absolutely no discomfort.
Customization and Audio Profiles
The Artemis Spectrum G933/G633 are also built for multiplayer capability with a built-in microphone that automatically mutes itself when you fold it back into the headset. The microphone also has a flexible extension you can adjust at your discretion once it is folded out in order to get a more effective pickup pattern. When connected to a PC, you can also create custom audio profiles for different programs/games, similar to the G410 keyboard. Doing so will allow you to switch between different games without having to constantly adjust your audio settings depending on what type of game it is. More advanced players can also program custom macros into the G-keys if they want to.
I say programs and games because, as a video editor, I frequently edit together gaming clips so if you want to you can have custom audio settings for whatever editing software you prefer. To test the versatility of the software, I actually added Microsoft office programs to the mix too. Logitech Gaming Software will recognize those and create separate profiles for them if you want them to. This means you can link streaming software and pretty much any program you use in relation to gaming on the PC to the Logitech Gaming Software. You can also use the software to sync your lighting settings with other compatible Logitech mice and keyboards.
If you sync the LGS software to an iOS or Android phone using the Arx Control app, it will recognize all Logitech devices using the same network connection as you allowing you to launch the programs/games associated with each profile without having to touch a mouse or keyboard. It also allows you to monitor the real-time performance of your computer which is helpful to anyone who likes to push their rig to the max and not have to monitor the performance with a completely separate program on their computer.
Wireless vs. Wired
The wireless G933 version of the Spectrums has as much appeal as the wired G633 headsets but have an obvious edge over their wired counterpart. My favorite features for them are mainly available when using them with a PC computer, much like the wired version. They can last up to 8 hours on battery life with default light settings turned on and up to 12 hours with them turned off.
The USB Bluetooth receiver for them is conveniently stored within the left ear cup, making them easy to travel with without worrying about losing it. The only caveat that I noticed is that after being idle the headsets will go to sleep and you’ll need to turn the wireless setting off and on again to get it to wake up. It reconnects quite quickly if it was your last default playback device and does not go to sleep at all while audio is being played back.
Console Compatibility
The primary difference comes from the functionality of the headsets with consoles. Both headsets are unable to function in full 7.1 surround sound when using them with certain consoles. Some may see this as a significant downfall, but the Artemis Spectrum headsets have incredible quality even without the 7.1 enabled. The only real complaint I have is that the setup for using the headsets with various consoles varies and can be a bit of a headache, primarily with the Xbox One. If you have the original Xbox One controllers that came out when the console launched, you’ll need the stereo mic adapter in order to plug in the Artemis Spectrums as you would with most headphones. Newer Xbox One controllers won’t have this issue since the stereo plug is included.
The setup for using the wireless G933 spectrums with the PS4, PS3, and Xbox 360 consoles is slightly different as well but the guide on Logitech’s website does a great job of explaining everything. You will still lose most if not all custom button functionality when using the headsets with consoles, meaning that most of the customization benefits will only be available when gaming on a PC. It’s a small price to pay for not having to worry about finding a spare power outlet anytime you want to switch platforms though. You’ll also be able to customize the tags on these headsets to make them fit your style a bit more. There’s even a chance somewhere down the line that Logitech may release 3D printed tags to step up the custom tag feature even more.
Some beneficial commonalities between the G933 and G633 Artemis Spectrum headsets are that they both come with a 3.5mm analog audio cable that allows you to talk on the phone while also listening to audio from your game or other audio source. You can also use this cable with either headset to listen to audio on about any device that has a 3.5mm audio output. However, the wireless G933 are the only ones that have the capability to receive audio from three sources at once with an extra set of RCA audio pass through cables. This multi-tasking functionality is very beneficial considering that you won’t have to pause your game or lower the volume to take phone calls while playing and can also be listening to music or watching a movie through a home theater audio setup. Having very little free time to game as it is, this feature is one of my favorite things about the Artemis Spectrums.
Final Word
The wired G633 Artemis Spectrums cost $150 while the wireless G933 headsets cost $199. Either one is great quality and the $50 cost difference between the two isn’t too bad either. If you want a headset that’s comfortable, well-designed, and has more functionality outside of audio performance, I would highly recommended giving either one of these a try.
