I have always had a soft spot for Logitech peripherals. No matter if you settle for a wallet-friendly piece of merchandise or you can afford a more expensive one, it just works beautifully. I am not saying the Logitechs are the most sophisticated pieces of equipment on Earth but the company somehow manages to provide good quality without ripping you off. Anyway, today I am going to familiarize you guys with Logitech G231 Prodigy Stereo gaming headset and tell you why I consider it a good fit for a causal gamer.
First of all, it is among the relatively inexpensive gaming headsets and it is a good bang for the buck. The price gravitates around $50, which is not bad given its specs. So, if you are looking for an affordable headset to nurture your gaming passion, you can either keep reading the G231 review or jump to our Astro A10 review.
The latter is a newer model, but I dare to draw a parallel between them as they are in the same price range, they are both crafted by a leading gaming hardware maker and they boast about similar specs.
If you have decided to give the G231 a shot, let’s explore its features.
The G231 headset is an entry-level headset compatible with PC, PS4, Xbox One and mobile devices. That being said, it does possess all basic features a casual gamer would need.
G231 Design and Basic Specifics
The G231 a lightweight, highly portable headset, with over-the-ear cups and a plush headband. I bet you do not want your headset to look as if it can kill you and return to its home planet and you will appreciate its compactibility.
It is a wired headset featuring a 3.5 mm jack. There is no optional USB adapter, and you do not have to customize it via software. The headset works equally well with consoles, PCs and mobile devices. Well, if you have an iOS 7, you may want to have a look at headsets offering Bluetooth connectivity.
The headset comes with gunmetal grey plastic interior and orange accents, which is a great deviation from the traditional black headsets. The earpieces are covered with black, breathable mesh fabric that helps you avoid the sweating during long gaming marathons. Plus, they are removable and washable. I am pretty sure you will appreciate that convenience a few months after the purchase.
One of the features I absolutely loved is that the earpieces are swiveling and you can lay the headset flat on your desk or carry it in your suitcase/ backpack. The plastic construction keeps the headset’s weight down but the good news is that the G231 does not feel cheap at all.
As for the volume controls and the mute button, these are located on the long braided cable. You can also hang the in-line on your shirt if via the available little clip.
The long cable is a blessing and a curse. If you are a PC gamer and you plug the headset into the back of the motherboard, you will have freedom of movement and you won’t have to worry about yanking it out of the port. However, if you are a console gamer, the long cable just gets in the way.
The in-line controls hang a solid two feet underneath the headset. When you sit on a chair, they fall off on your either side. Alternatively, you can keep them in your lap. I chose the latter.
G231 Prodigy Mic
The microphone has a classic fold-up design. The mic is non-detachable microphone, and I suppose this is a cost cutting measure. Adjusting the mic’s position is a bit “creaky” activity, but it is not a big deal. No, the produced sound has nothing to do with the creaking door of a haunted house from a horror movie. Still, it is a bit irritating to hear that noise when you adjust the mic or rotate the earpieces sideways. As a matter of fact, the creek is among the features hinting that the headset is in the lower price category.
The G231 mic is definitely a mic you want to keep on mute when not in use. Nevertheless, it did a good job in capturing my voice during the games. I wish it did not pick so much background noise, though.
Prodigy Sound Quality
As compared to the G230, the successor brags about an improved sound quality. No matter if you use the headset for gaming, listening to music or communicating with teammates, the produced sound is not washed out or muddy. The bass response is also decent. Well, I have to tell you folks that the headset s pretty loud, but it loses fidelity at higher volumes. Anyway, you will never ever complain that the headset is not getting loud enough.
The G231 uses 40mm drivers. Therefore, it does not have the “boom” sound of the headsets featuring 50mm drivers. The gunfire and explosions do not sound as exciting as when you use the Razer Kraken Pro V2, for example, but the G231 meets the minimum requirements a beginner or a casual player would have.
G231 Gaming Performance
The G231 Prodigy possesses all features of an up-to-date headset and works with any modern game system. You can directly plug it into a console, PC or a smartphone via the 3.5mm connector. If your PC has separate ports for a headphone and microphone, you will be delighted to know that the headset ships with a Y-connector.
In Gears of War, the G231 performed well. I could hear the in-game dialogue clearly through the gunfire and explosions. In Overwatch, I could hear my enemies’ footsteps as well as the direction of the gunfire. I was pleased with its performance in StarCraft II and the Rise of the Tomb Raider, too. However, the audio was a bit flat. I mean, there was not a significant difference between the in-game music, sound effects and voice acting. I know that for this price, I cannot expect miracles but yet, Logitech could have added some nice subtle touches that would elevate your gaming.
The headset does not have a USB connection and it does not require you to install Logitech’s software, too. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. If you are a beginner, you do not need a whole lot of fancy features and settings you never manage to adjust. If I was a newbie, I would prefer a dead-simple product that diligently does its job. On the other hand, the lack of customization options means that you get what you get and you will not be able to modify G231’s sound.
Logitech G230 vs. G231 vs. G233 vs. G420
Is the G231 Prodigy Gaming Headset Worth the Purchase?
The truth is that the G231 Prodigy is not a big departure from the G230 and G430. Logitech has recently added yet another peripheral to the Prodigy series – the G233. I agree that all four models are a good value for money, but they do not stand out dramatically from one another. So, if you need a budget-friendly headset, and you do not have top tier competitive league ambitions, I totally recommend choosing one of these.
