Logitech peripherals are everywhere, and much of the company's success may be attributed to its gaming headsets. The Logitech G432 stands on the shoulders of the G430, a popular headset among Twitch streamers. Let's see how this holds up as a cheap gaming headset.
Who should buy the Logitech G432?
The spartan gaming headset looks very similar to the older G430.
- Gamers who just need something cheap to get the job done. People who don't have time to fuss around with software and don't care for premium construction quality will be perfectly pleased with the G432.
- Parents who want something for their kid(s) without spending a fortune. Both parties win: the kid gets to enjoy communicating with friends, while the parents get to exist in silence.
What's it like to use the Logitech G432?
Despite the headset's early 2019 release, the hardware is outdated because the Logitech G432 is a near facsimile of the G430, which was released in 2013.
The headset's predominantly plastic build may be forgiven, and even justified: plastic keeps things affordable, after all. Yet, the lone metal strip embedded in the headband is awfully flimsy and sandwiched between the tenuous plastic exterior. Creaking sounds were ever present during SoundGuys' Logitech G432 review period, and the yokes barely allowed for any adjustments. Those with wider heads and who wear glasses may want to consider something else.
Leatherette ear pads look nicer than the previous model's blue mesh fabric, but they heat up quickly. Plus, they don't wrap over memory foam padding. Nope, instead, Logitech used standard, plain foam which is rigid and uncomfortable after just an hour or so of use. You'd think that the denser leatherette material would help isolate gamers from environmental noise, but that wasn't the case during real-world use.
Surround sound functionality is limited to PC use. Other consoles only benefit from stereo audio.
Logitech does do a good job with its onboard controls: the volume dial is easy to identify blindly, and the microphone is automatically muted when flipped upward. It supports DTS:X surround sound via the proprietary G Hub app, but this feature is limited to PC gamers. Plugging the headset into a console controller limits you to stereo playback.
How do you connect the G432 gaming headset?
This wired headset can be connected directly into a 3.5mm input, via the splitter cable, or with the USB dongle adapter.
Connecting the Logitech G432 is about as simple as it gets. Take the 3.5mm plug and pop it into your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One controller. You can even use the headset with an undocked Nintendo Switch. If your PC lacks a headphone jack, you can plug the G432 in via the included 3.5mm splitter or via the USB adapter. There isn't a wireless option with this Logitech G432 headset, and the cable isn't removable either. If it breaks, you're left to your own devices.
Despite its drawbacks, the headset is good for gaming. Playing games like Overwatch on PC was a seamless experience. The microphone was easy to operate, and the auto-mute function is awesome — especially if you have roommates. Flipping the mic up to mute yourself while your roomie cooks in the background is a gift to your firearm squad. Surround sound functionality worked consistently well, and we found that even stereo listening was enjoyable for gaming.
Sound quality is just ok
You can use the headset with any console, but only PC supports surround sound.
Logitech tuned these headphones to accurately relay audio throughout the entire frequency range, which is rare for gaming headsets. This is great; while many gaming headsets amplify bass notes, it isn't always a good thing for gaming. Quite the contrary; doing so often makes it difficult to hear more nuanced sounds like footsteps and your teammates' voices. That said, even with the neutral-leaning sound signature, general clarity isn't great. This means you may still have a hard time discerning different frequencies from one another, especially amid din-laden moments. Again, isolation isn't anything spectacular. To call it good seems a stretch, but it's on par for gaming headphones.
The microphone tends to clip audio, even at normal volumes
Even when my colleague Sam Moore spoke at normal volumes, the microphone had a poor habit of clipping audio, which can sound unpleasant and choppy to friends on the receiving end. Since the microphone system did a good job of transmitting higher frequencies, speech intelligibility was never an issue. To get a clearer understanding of this, including a specific microphone frequency response chart, be sure to see the SoundGuys Logitech G432 review.
Logitech G432 microphone demo:
Low frequencies are heavily de-emphasized, which means that male vocals may sound especially distant or tinny. This attenuation is usually a good thing, and is used to combat the proximity effect — bass notes are grossly distorted as a speaker gets too close to the mic — but Logitech takes this to the extreme with the G432. Again, you won't sound bad per se, but this definitely isn't winning any awards.
Should you buy the Logitech G432?
If we were living in the twenty-teens, maybe, but in 2020, there exist far better options abound for the money. The Logitech G432 does the job well enough, and does serve demographics who simply don't care about build or software features. Back in the day, the Logitech G430 was an absolute workhorse, but things are different and gaming demands more from its peripherals.
Today, you're better off putting your money toward the Razer Kraken X and Corsair HS60 Pro Surround. Both of these gaming headsets reproduce sound well and are built better than the G432.
Next: Gaming headsets with excellent microphones
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