Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed review: good, but with one shortcoming
26.6.2023
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
The Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed is the successor to the Pro X. The headset is comfortable and offers good sound with a solid battery life. Its weak point? The microphone.
I like the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed. It allows me to clearly locate where sounds are coming from in game. Surround mode makes me feel like I’m in the middle of the action. The headset’s comfortable – and it’s also good for listening to music. But the microphone is its weakness.
Scope of delivery: an array of ear pads
Here’s what’s in the pretty black cardboard box:
Source: Florian Bodoky
- Headset in white (also available in black)
- Detachable microphone (3.5-millimetre jack)
- USB dongle for wireless operation (with another jack port in the dongle)
- Fabric ear cushions
- Nylon bag
- Quickstart guide and warranty
In addition to the well-made case, I appreciate the fact that the microphone is detachable (more on it later). I also really like that I can choose between fabric and faux-leather ear cushions.
Headset: light and sturdy
Compared to the previous model, the Pro X 2 Lightspeed’s basic design remains unchanged. The earpieces are made of plastic with brushed aluminium on the outside that feels nice to the touch. The connector and the headband are also made of aluminium. The headband is covered in a soft faux leather and is adjustable in length in steps. A blessing for my OCD; with steplessly adjustable headbands, I’m always convinced they’re crooked.
Source: Florian Bodoky
The controls are on the bottom of the left ear cup. There’s a power button, Bluetooth button and mute button, as well as a continuous dial for volume. The USB-C charging port and microphone jack are also on the left earpiece. While there is also a jack port on the right, there’s no recess around it; it’s intended for wired headphone use.
Source: Florian Bodoky
The swappable ear cushions are my highlight. They’re soft and still feel comfortable after many hours of use. I tested the headset in June. Wearing the faux leather pads, I started sweating after two minutes. I’ve banished them to my drawer until at least September. The fabric ear cushions, on the other hand, are pleasantly breathable. The usual film of sweat I’d have around the ears is gone. Unfortunately, the swapping mechanism is a bit fiddly, so I’ll avoid switching out the pads too often.
The headset has a sturdy build and is resistant to twisting. The detachable microphone means I can use the headset as normal over-ear headphones when I’m on the move. One small criticism: I can rotate the ear cups, but I can’t fold them. In other words, the headset isn’t compact to transport.
Connection: nearly bulletproof
The headset relies on Bluetooth 5.3 and proved its stable connection in my review. I tried it not only in my apartment, but throughout the building. Even when I walked down two floors to the ground floor, the sound continued to ring in my ears. Only when I pulled the iron cellar door shut did the headset give up the ghost. Mind you, I’m talking about a protective bunker door. Had the music continued, I’d have been very concerned.
The headset also supports Bluetooth multipoint; within two seconds, it switches from my smartphone to the PC. On my PC, I’ve set up the connection with the supplied USB dongle.
Sound quality: top-of-the-line for gaming, great for listening to music
The G Pro X 2 Lightspeed’s drivers are made of graphene, characterised by its light weight yet robustness. This is ideal for the membrane. Why? Well, the sound waves coming out of the headset are, in fact, vibrations. If the drivers were made of a soft, thin material, the vibrations would deform them. They wouldn’t return to their original position in time for the next oscillation. This, in turn, would lead to distorted sound. This is especially a problem with strong bass. You’ll often encounter this problem with cheaper, entry-level headsets. Manufacturers will often use soft material for the drivers, while simultaneously attempting to compensate for the poor sound quality with a strong bass.
Source: Florian Bodoky
That’s why I was curious to see what the graphene membrane is capable of in practice. Due to its hardness, there should be no distortion problem. I decided to play some Hogwarts Legacy on the PS5. With my alter ego in a fight against a horde of swindlers – screaming and wands hissing and all – I can still hear every sound; steps behind me, spells above. Out of nowhere, the swindlers’ spider matriarch attacks me… In stealth missions, I hear every step. The headset pulls me into the middle of the action.
If surround mode is activated (DTS X Spatial), the sound becomes even more intense, even more three-dimensional. And I never felt any fatigue, even after several hours of gaming. The same goes for playing FIFA 23. I hear the commentators, the stadium announcers, the audience – all at the same time, yet individually, too. I’m impressed by the sound on this headset.
To test the bass, I listened to some music. The bass creates pressure, but doesn’t pull all other frequencies along with it. I started with «Komet» by Udo Lindenberg and Apache 207. The G Pro X2 Lightspeed cleanly separates Apache’s parts and Lindenberg’s smoky voice. The overall sound is warm. The many autotune elements don’t change this.
Next, I moved on to a piano piece by Tchaikovsky. I did notice a certain restraint in the high frequencies; they seem quieter to me. That’s not a bad thing here, as the piano can quickly sound shrill. Thanks to the clarity of the signature, I can just about feel every single key on the piano being pressed and the notes alternating.
But I still distrusted the bass and wanted to put it to a proper test: «Only Girl» – but hardcore. And it passed with flying colours. Even with the bass thumping away and the aggro beat backdrop, the voice is clearly separated and reproduced with precision.
Microphone: the Achilles’ heel
After this enjoyable experience, I was eager to get talking. Did Logitech put as much effort into the microphone as the sound? The short answer is no. No, the headset doesn’t sound like a Fisher-Price walkie-talkie for kids. I’d describe the voice quality as just decent. It’s certainly sufficient for Microsoft Teams meetings and Discord chats. The microphone’s equipped with a selection of Logitech’s Blue Voice features. For example, you can choose a sound profile for your voice from several presets, such as warm, bass boost or vintage. The latter makes you sound like a radio host from pre-DAB times.
Despite this feature, my voice still sounds flat, one-dimensional and somewhat robotic. For comparison, I whipped out my Stealth Pro from Turtle Beach. Its microphone seems to have better noise filtering. The equaliser offers more options and the voice presets sound more lively, as confirmed by my chatting partner on Discord.
Software: extensive settings
Logitech’s G Hub software is available for the Pro X 2. In it, you can define basic settings, such as the volume for recording or playback. The program offers me three frequency bands for recording and five for playback. When it comes to fine-tuning the microphone, the software goes all out. In addition to the frequencies, I can set noise gate, compression and limiter values. There are also controls for pops and sibilant sounds. To round things off, I can tweak the strength of noise reduction. All these settings allow you to get a little more out of the microphone, but its performance still falls short of my expectations.
Battery: juice for weeks
Logitech promises 50 hours of continuous use, and I believe it. In my test, I wore the headset for about seven hours on average over six days. At the tail end, it still had battery. That’s solid. Even more so when you take into account the fact that my hearing’s not the best anymore, so I had the volume turned up quite high. You can continue using the Pro X 2 Lightspeed as you charge it via USB-C.
The lowdown: great headset with an Achilles’ heel
Logitech has scored with the X 2 Pro Lightspeed. Most gamers will find in it exactly what they’re looking for. The precision with which you can identify the origin of sounds is rare. The headset remains comfortable to wear even over extended periods, helped by the exchangeable ear pads. In addition, there are the little things that make a difference, such as the quick switchover between devices.
The X 2 Pro also delivers in its role as a pair of ordinary over-ear headphones. Of course, not so for audiophiles or high-end audio enthusiasts, who are probably more likely to reach for Bowers & Wilkins or Audio-Technica. But the sound quality is good enough for daily streaming.
I just wish Logitech had put more effort into the microphone. It tarnishes the overall impression. While it’s by no means a total flop – you can communicate with others across all platforms – I had expected better given the price tag. If you especially value a strong microphone, you’ll be better off with a different model. I recommend the ATH-G1 from Audio-Technica or the Stealth Pro from Turtle Beach.
Header image: Samuel Buchmann
I've been tinkering with digital networks ever since I found out how to activate both telephone channels on the ISDN card for greater bandwidth. As for the analogue variety, I've been doing that since I learned to talk. Though Winterthur is my adoptive home city, my heart still bleeds red and blue.
