I tested the Logitech G430 sound experience with the following audio sources:
- On-board Realtek ALC 898 (ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe)
- ASUS Xonar DX
- On-board Supreme FX on the ASUS ROG test bench using a Maximus VI Gene motherboard
- Logitech USB sound adaptor
The ASUS ROG test bench was used for the majority of the testing. The specifications are below:
| Motherboard | ASUS Maximus VI Gene(Z87) |
| CPU | i5-4670K |
| CPU Cooler | Noctua NH-U12S |
| Memory | 16GB Corsair Vengeance Low Profile – Black (4x4GB) |
| Case | Lian Li Pitstop T60 |
| Hard Drive | Seagate Barracuda 2TB & Samsung EVO 250GB SSD |
| Power Supply | Corsair HX850 |
| Graphics Cards | MSI GTX760 HAWK |
| Audio | Logitech G430 Gaming Headset |
| Network | Direct connection to the cable modem & Shared Gigabit connection via Netgear WNDR3700 |
| Optical | Samsung SATA2 BluRay drive |
| OS | Windows 8.1 |
Sound Experience
The USB sound adaptor allows for simulated 7.1 channel sound and does it pretty well. Battlefield 4, COD Ghosts, Skyrim and DayZ were all very immersive from an audio point of view when using the included USB connector. Music and movies were also clear and the ranges felt consistent with the non-USB experience via ASUS Xonar DX and the on-board Supreme FX solution on our ASUS ROG Maximus VI Gene test bench. This shows that the USB adaptor really is optional and that the headset stands up on its own.
Watching a movie was balanced and clear but perhaps not as crisp as some of the more expensive alternatives – still very good for a ‘gaming’ headset at $75. In terms of external noise isolation, the cloth ear pads don’t do as good a job of blocking out external noise as the leather or faux leather that some other headsets have. The trade-off is that the cloth ear cups generally breathe better which could be good for longer gaming sessions or warmer weather. Once you get into the action when gaming, noise isolation is less of an issue but for movies or some music it can make a difference – especially if you have background noise to block out.
While there are many gamers out there using entry level motherboard sound chips and seeking a USB headset, there is an increasing number of motherboards becoming available with upgraded sound solutions that are wasted if you have a USB headset. Logitech gives consumers the best of both worlds by providing a Gaming headset with 3.5mm plugs and a 7.1 channel USB sound adapter that has a clean software interface
Software
If you already have Logitech Game Software installed and want to use the USB sound option, the G430 should just be a case of plug and play as the drivers are built into the LGS (Logitech Gaming Software). Game Software is your one stop shop to control your Logitech G-series mouse and keyboard options as well as your audio – it’s a neat concept and a good example of consolidation for software utilities.
Microphone
In terms of microphone performance, it is a clear microphone that recorded/registered better with the USB option or Xonar DX than the Supreme FX option which was noted to have softer microphone sensitivity in the ASUS Maximus VI Gene review. The sensitivity of the microphone was in line with other headsets I’ve seen and picked up keyboard noise but not any background noise like other people talking, TV etc more than 3m away. The settings can be tweaked at a software level to reduce sensitivity but for testing we keep it consistent and go as close to default as possible.
The G430 is a good headset for team comms when in game and also for VoIP calls but your microphone clarity will vary if you bypass the USB adaptor.
USB Audio Adaptor
Aside from minor variations in volume levels, I couldn’t identify any notable difference between the included 7.1 USB adaptor and the Supreme FX or Xonar DX – especially when gaming. For people looking to improve on their laptop audio or on-board sound, this could be worth a shot.
