Logitech USB Headset H530 with Premium Laser-Tuned Audio

Notes: I have owned this device and its predecessor for a combined 3-4 years and would buy another without a second thought. When I later in the review say "fragile" know that I often forget I am wearing the headset and walk away from my computer with the headset on to have it snatched away from my head and land on the floor with no damage. I am simply referring to direct strain or crushing damage.Pros -1.) Excellent Sound Quality both recording and playback2.) USB makes it an additional sound device allowing separate playback through alternate devices. (For instance, voice communication can be configured to play back through the headset and game sounds through your speakers.) Without USB, most sound cards will often not allow a user to separate communications from general sounds resulting in muddy sounds or misunderstandings. This is among the greatest reasons to get a USB headset in my opinion. Simply configure your headset in windows as "default communication device" and your speakers or soundcard as "default playback device" ... In your games select your soundcard to play sounds, in your communication program select your USB headset to play communications... it works flawlessly.3.) Volume control on the headset earpiece allows for solid, independent control of all sound coming into the headset and is far preferable to volume controls mounted to the cord like many devices use. Simply clicking up on your right ear increases volume, down decreases volume. Press in the center to mute/unmute your microphone (a red LED light on the microphone's tip will illuminate to make you aware the mic is muted. Easy to use, and the tactile click feel makes for simple easily understandable adjustments.4.) Unlike many headsets with TRS/audio-jack/headphone jack-connectors which plug into your existing soundcard, I have never had issues with friends or others saying my "mic is too loud" or "too soft" It almost always sounds just right on most VOIP (voice over internet protocol) applications such as skype/teamspeak/ventrillo.5.) Comfort. Often, headsets can be considered too loose or too tight for many players... while I am not overly sensitive to this I have never been uncomfortable wearing my headset for extended periods. If any discomfort is noticed it is usually from slight pressure against the tops of my ears pressing against the stems of my glasses, but this is minor and only after LONG periods of play. The pads are exceptionally soft, but breathable. Not too warm, and the top padding usually goes completely unnoticed as it rests comfortably upon the crown of my head.6.) The cord shielding/coating is very thick and durable, and while it has some weight to it, the headset fits firmly enough that the cord weight isn't noticed by me, thinner cords often get twisted and knot up when you attempt to untangle them. Simply hanging the headset by the cord allows this headset to untwist without kinking, pinching or damaging the cord.7.) Plug and Play - In windows XP/Vista/7, I have always been able to simply plug this device in, have it recognize and begin using it. As a USB device I love that beyond words.Cons: Only three minor qualms with this product. Listed for your benefit but not enough to dissuade me from purchasing this for a third time should I need it. Two of these are listed in the order in which they broke on my first purchase for which I did not properly take care, and attempted self repairs; the last is listed as a Con but simply appears to me as an un-needed feature.1.) Where the headset adjusts to "expand" and fit your head is molded plastic with tiny clips and is fragile! If you typically wrap your cord around your headset to store it, you must be gentle with this area as too much pressure can cause this area to snap and effectively ruin the product's comfort. Taping or gluing this section after it is broken is possible but for the price you'd probably (as I did, purchase another one) Children tugging at it or a quick sit on the product left in a chair can easily cause enough strain to break this area and damage the product.2.) The ear cups are secured to a ball in socket joint, this allows them to swivel and comfortably rest upon your ears. Once this pops out they may be able to pop back in place, but though the primary cord from the headset to computer is thick and solid, the tiny wires inside the earpieces are very fragile and any significant stress to them may cause sound damage once pried upon. The above cons 1 and 2 happened at the same time on my first purchase, and I do not blame the product in the least for my own (and an unnamed juvenile family member's) abuse.3.) While not really a Con, the three position selector switch on the back of the device has little to no purpose I can find. Slight changes may be evident in sound quality or recording, but I have simply left the device in the center "gaming" position for every application, and never been disappointed in my results.Final Thoughts: I have used devices much less expensive and much more expensive than this headset. The less expensive versions never come close to the performance of this device, and the more expensive devices rarely justify their extra costs with features I find valuable.

I expected more from this headset. I'm a fan of Logitech peripherals, so when I went hunting for a good USB headset, I chose Logitech by reputation.This headset sounds good, overall. I don't know what "laser-tuned audio" is, but it's good. Bass response could be a little better, but I have not noticed any distortion which is common in lower-end headsets. For gaming, I found the stereo imaging to be a bit too precise. When something plays from the right channel, you'll hear it 100% in your right ear, which can be tricky in gaming applications that tend to over-emphasize directional sound because they assume you're using open-air speakers. I would have preferred they use some sound processing to mix the channels better for a more seamless, immersive experience.The volume control on the right ear cup is easy to use, and the light that lights up when the mic is muted is a nice touch, too. The rest of the ergonomics, however, are lacking. This headset just isn't very adjustable. I didn't think my head was unusually large until I tried to make this headset fit. The ear-cups are well padded, but too small, so it really isn't an "over the ear" design so much as an "on top of your ear" style. Finally, just looking at it, you'd think the headset fit backwards. I have to remind myself that the mic goes on the left, because everything else about the frame's shape and mounting to the ear cups suggests the opposite.Overall, it's a good headset. I'll use it and I don't regret the purchase, but for Logitech's top-of-the-line model, I expected more.

I bought this headset to use in Skype, Vent, and Mumble while playing League of Legends(LoL) and Star Wars The Old Republic(SWTOR).I wanted a headset that was priced right, but also had a USB interface and a mute on the headset for the Mic.The Logitech H530 headset provided me with both of these options and more. The sound of each earphone is of good quality. The Mic is received well by those that I game with, and nobody has complained about hearing an echo, or me being too loud/too fuzzy, or too quiet which was a common occurrence with my last Mic.There are volume buttons on the right ear which are helpful but adjust the volume too minimally for my liking, I need to either press the buttons rapidly or hold it down. Some people may like this, but I did not.There is a Mic mute button on the right ear which works as advertised and is instantaneous, one nice feature is a Red LED lights up on the tip of the Mic when it is muted so you can visibly see when you muted your Mic. I am sure there are many of you out there who have muted yourself and will talk for about ten minutes and wonder why nobody is responding, usually the light if there is one is on the headset by your ear so you have no idea if you are muted or not, the LED on the Mic makes this very obvious.There is also a switch that allows you to switch between gaming, voice chat, and music modes which adjusts the internal equalizer of the headphones. I am usually gaming and chatting at the same time so this is not useful for me, but those that may just chat on Skype it may be helpful.The Mic boom for me does not hold its adjustment as well as I would like. It adjusts fine on the vertical plane, but horizontally it does not stay exactly where you want it, but I have never had anyone complain about my voice quality so this does not affect its performance in my case.The cord on this headset is 8 feet in length and is your typical USB cord with flexible points at the connections on either end to prevent them from wearing out over time.The ear pads over time cause me to have some ear fatigue. Not nearly as bad as some headsets I have had in the past but it is present after a while.The top band of the headset does have padding, which makes that portion of the headset comfortable with no fatigue, that I have had with other headsets in the past.The headset also will fall off my head occasionally when I change position too rapidly, but overall has a good fit.The headset has been knocked off my table numerous times by my kids (aka dogs), been in one of their mouths a few times, and has come out still looking nice with minimal scratches and no obvious damage to is operation.The headset has nice "easy on the eyes" aesthetic qualities. Some headsets look like something a space invader would wear, which is not my style. It is clean and minimal looking, but strong enough to stand the test of my dogs abuse.tl;drPROs:Priced well for featured providedUSB easy plug and play interface, I find it is easier to configure than analog ports.Mic quality is superb, one of the better sounding ones I have had.Mic mute on headset to ease of accessMic mute LED on actual tip of Mic for easily noticing if you are muted or notSound quality is good for my uses, but don't expect audiophile quality tunes pumping out of the earpieces.Strong build quality, survives daily use and gets knocked off the table and trampled by dogs daily.Good aesthetics, clean and crisp.CONs:Some ear fatigue after multiple hour gaming sessions.Poor horizontal boom adjust.Volume adjust is not as much as I would like per button press.Basically I like the Logitech H530 headset, there are some things I would want to be changed or modified....but for the price point I am happy with my purchase.