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Gamers are inherently a bit leery about wireless tech, but given how far it's come in the last few years, it's time to give it another look. Take, for example, the Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum headset ($200). This peripheral delivers phenomenal sound for both gaming and music, a robust set of extra features and a number of ways to connect to your favorite devices. It's a bit more expensive than the $150 G633 Artemis Spectrum, its wired counterpart. However, if you want one fewer wire in your life, it's definitely worth the premium.
Design
For most of this review, you could (and should) consult the Tom's Guide review of the Logitech G633 Artemis Spectrum — with a few minor exceptions, the G933 is exactly the same product. Like its wired counterpart, the G933 possesses large, plush ear cups that swivel, as well as a padded headband. It's a large device that takes a little doing to sit properly on the noggin, but once it's there, it's there until you take it off.
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The main difference between the G933 and the G633 is that it comes with a wireless USB adapter, and the way it's stored is one of the cleverest things I've ever seen in a headset. Each ear cup houses a removable panel: one for the battery, and one where the USB adapter clips in during transport. It's inconspicuous, and ensures that you won't lose the adapter when it's not in use.
For those who want to use the G933 with mobile devices, consoles or televisions, the headset also comes with three additional wires. There's a USB cable to charge it (which means gamers can also use it in a wired configuration, just like the G633), a 3.5 mm audio cable for mobile devices and game consoles, and a 3.5 mm audio jack connected to an audio in and an audio out for TVs, speakers and other high-end audio setups. The G633 doesn't come with the latter wire, so hardcore audiophiles should take note.
Comfort
Like the G633, the G933 has over-the-ear cups with soft fabric and a lot of give. The device is equally as comfortable as its wired counterpart, but has the added benefit of not needing a wire. Aside from that, it doesn't seem noticeably heavier than the G633, so you can still wear it for hours at a time without issue.
Putting the headset on can be a bit of a struggle due to the extremely pliable ear cups, and it still takes up a lot of room during travel (especially if you're going to take all the wires with you). Overall, though, the G933 feels pleasant, and that's one of the most important features a headset can offer.
Gaming Performance
I tried the G933 with Quake Live, StarCraft II: Whispers of Oblivion and Star Trek Online in order to test its FPS, MOBA (strategy) and Cinematic Gaming settings, respectively. Each time, I found that the headset highlighted something special about the genre.
In Quake Live, I could hear the gunshots and footsteps of my enemies above the minimal voice work and music. Star Trek Online, by contrast, put the voice acting and score front and center. The MOBA mode for Whispers of Oblivion was more of an in-between, but helped me keep control of my Protoss armies while still being able to hear the mission briefings.
I also tested out the regular audio cable with Assassin's Creed Chronicles China on the PS4 just to make sure that it worked as advertised with game consoles. While you don't have any equalization options for console play, PS4 games sound great on the G933, and you can use either an inline mic or the regular headset mic for chat.
I tested the headset mic during an office conference call, and co-workers told me that my voice sounded clear and audible, with no discernible fuzziness or imbalances. At times, I did sound a little distant or "hollow," they informed me, but no worse than through a regular telephone connection.
In Quake Live, I could hear the gunshots and footsteps of my enemies above the minimal voice work and music.
Features
The biggest feature of the G933 is its ability to connect wirelessly to a computer. This functionality delivers sound that's just as good as its wired mode, and boasts a considerable range, to boot. I wandered about 30 feet away from my desk, past a wall and through a great deal of wireless traffic before the signal even weakened, and a few more feet before it gave out. If you have a living room PC setup, the G933 is more than up to the task of providing sound for it.
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Other than that, its software functions just the same as the G633's, except that it will now display the device's battery life in the upper-left-hand corner. Logitech promises 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, and this seems more or less in line with my own experiences. As with the G633, you can play with equalizers, modify full RGB lighting on the earcups and assign different sound profiles to each game you play.
Music Performance
Music sounds great on the G933, whether you're listening wirelessly, via USB or through an audio cable. I listened to Bach's Violin Concerto in E Major as well as selections of music from Old Blind Dogs and the Rolling Stones, and each tune sounded crisp and balanced.
Bottom Line
The Logitech G933 takes an exceptional headset in the G633 and makes it wireless; it's exactly the same in every other respect. An additional $50 is a reasonable amount to ask for flawless wireless capabilities on a headset that is already extremely comfortable and provides phenomenal sound. Overall, the G933 is one of the very best wireless models on the market today.
