Logitech Premium Notebook Headset Review

[Kevin O'Brien]

by Kevin O'Brien

These days headphones come in so many shapes and sizes that no matter what, you can be fairly certain that you will find something that best fits your needs. Finding the right style or size is fairly simple with such a large selection, but what about portability? The Logitech Premium Notebook Headset is geared towards these individuals wanting high quality audio headsets, but don't want a ton of space taken up in their luggage.

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Features

• Noise Cancelling: Block unwanted sounds even in a noisy room.
• Rotating Mic: Get optimum voice clarity with this adjustable setting
• Folds Flat: Eliminate the bulk with this compact solution.
• Travel Case: Take it with you and keep it protected -- wherever you go.
• Adjustable Behind-the-Head Design: Get a comfortable fit.
• Soft-Touch Rubber: Enjoy the extra soft touches.
• Analog-to-USB Adapter: Choose the best connection for your computer system.
• More Fun: Use it for PC calling, Internet voice chat, gaming and music.

Technical Specifications

• Frequency response: Headset: 20-20,000 Hz; Microphone: 100-10,000 Hz
• Sensitivity: -62 dBV/µBar, -42 dBV/Pa+/-3dB
• Cable length: 1.8 m.

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Sound Quality
For games, movies, or just a simple VOIP call, the Logitech Premium Notebook Headset performed perfectly. Bass was excellent, midrange and high came through clearly even at extremely high volumes. During testing I was able to push the headphones past 78dB at one inch without any distortion. Overall very good all around performance for any need you should have with your notebook.
The microphone on this headset worked just as advertised, keeping background noise to a minimum. Conversations over Skype had as good or better quality than a wired telephone, and echoing voices were thankfully never heard. Gamers should be able to transmit every ounce of their frustration over the mic to their opponents.

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Adjustability
The headset offers a wide range of user adjustment to fit a wide range of head sizes. The speakers can tilt against your head to adjust pressure on the ear lobe, while also rotating to aim correctly at your ear canal. Fine adjustments include the forward and back adjustment of the speaker on the mounting bar, as well as full range of the microphone.

User Comfort
While user experience depending on ear shape will differ, the top of my ear lobe was sore after wearing the headphones for the length of a movie. To keep the headphones snug on my head I had the speaker rotated upwards to close the space between the ear bar and speaker. This ended up slowly pinching the top part of my ear, which was not really noticed at first. A looser fitting may have helped, but it really depends on which style of headphones best fits your own head.

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Software/Setup
Thankfully in both Vista and XP, no drivers were required for the USB adapter. It was immediately detected as a secondary soundcard, with headphone and microphone capabilities. Users may want to customize settings in each program for which audio device they want to use, since some may not automatically switch over to the newest device connected.

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Conclusion
These small portable headphones worked out great for a wide range of uses, everything from listening to music, watching movies, or talking through a VOIP chat program. They produce excellent sound quality, and can reach very high volume levels without distortion. The microphone gave clear recordings without background noise, just as advertised. Overall this is a great headset if the loop behind the head style of headphones works best for you.

Pros

• Good clarity even at high volume levels
• USB adapter is removable and requires no driver CD
• Small size when folded up

Cons

• Ear discomfort if adjusted too snuggly

 

 

[dnjnyc]

Great review -- Logitech strikes again. Being in the music field, I spend many hours under the headphones. Good sound quality is not hard to find, but whether in-ear or over the ear, the soreness you speak of is always my problem. These don't seem so bad.

Also, don't true "noise-cancelling" phones use batteries? Unless powered by USB...

[Kevin O'Brien]

I think its just passive noise canceling, since there is no active controller for it.

[acaurora]

I have owned this headset for about 6 months now, and I have to say that it is probably the best headset i've ever used that is portable! The case is awesome to carry it around in - it handles well, and even has pretty good audio quality. Granted, it can't produce bass as well as my shure e4gs... but then again my earbuds cost $300 so... yah. They still produce really good audio quality. Like the reviewer said... the top of my ear lobes also get sore after wearing them for extended amounts of time. The mic works great - people always say that I come very clear over Ventrilo.

One side note is that the rear headband is starting to show signs of wear - the middle of the headband is starting to peel off in very very thin layers. However again the wear is so insignificant that i dont really think it will be a problem, even in the long run

[jkanzaki]

i own this mic for over 6 month too! i don't seem to recall it's noise can canceling unless you refer to the mic that block out background noise when you speak into it .

[wobble987]

i've just bought one of this last month, and i can say that this headset is very good. the sound coming out of it is clear and the microphone also captures very clear sound. it is however is not noise cancelling in anyway, i can half hear things around me.

the phone is quite comfortable once you adjusted the things. you almost always need to adjust it everytime you use it.

like with all recent OS, this thing is plug and play with windows XP/Vista or MAC.

edit: yeah, i think he is probably refering to the microphone, on the noise cacelling part.