Yesterday Logitech announced a brand-new, premium gaming wireless headset, called the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed. What makes it special is the company’s new Pro-G Graphene Audio Drivers.
The drivers are the things that make the headphones convey audio. Magnets make a material vibrate, and then your brain processes those vibrations as sounds. Most headphones use a flexible material, like mylar, because it’s lightweight, cheap and flexible. But, that flexibility means that there can be a bit of distortion at the edges, and over time that distortion will get worse as the material warps. Ideally, you want the drivers to vibrate in only the exact ways called for by the source material, with no secondary distortion or other vibrations, which is not always the experience with more flexible drivers as they age.
Graphene drivers have been a popular thing to talk about in audiophile circles because the material is extremely thin, light and rigid. However, it’s expensive and difficult to manufacture in large quantities. It’s previously been used to great effect on some high-end headphones, and claimed to be used on some lower-end headphones in dubious quantities (with even more dubious results).
Logitech claims that these new 50mm Pro-G Graphene drivers with live edge suspension will stay rigid and give consistent, immersive audio over the life of the product. We look forward to testing that claim when our review unit arrives.
Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed features
Alongside the highly-touted graphene drivers, the headset’s other features include:
- Lightspeed Wireless, Bluetooth and wired (3.5mm) connections. Logitech claims Lightspeed Wireless has been improved to deliver pro-grade wireless, though the press release doesn’t specify what that means. The company also claims 50 hours of use on a single charge and an impressive 30m wireless range.
- A 6mm cardioid microphone on a detachable boom arm. Taking advantage of the company’s acquisition of legendary microphone company, Blue, there will also be Blue Voice software filters available to cut out background noise through the G Hub application.
- DTS Headphone: X 2.0 surround sound. Interestingly, not Dolby Atmos, but DTS does give a reasonably similar 3D audio experience.
- Logitech also claims in the press release that the headset is carbon neutral. But (aside from some use of recycled materials and FSC-certified packaging), the main environmental claims appear to just be that Logitech purchased carbon credits, rather than actually reducing the carbon put into the atmosphere during the manufacture, use, or end-of-life stages of the headset.
The Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed Gaming Headset was made in consultation with pro esports players, and it’ll be interesting to see how the designers balanced the different needs of pro players and regular gamers. Plus, the fellow premium Turtle Beach Stealth Pro wireless gaming headset is out this week, so there’s plenty of competition afoot.
The Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed Gaming Headset is available now from LogitechG.com at an RRP of $449.95. We’ll have our review for you as soon as we can.
