Logitech’s new speaker system adds a new dimension to gaming: color. LEDs hidden in the front and back of the speaker bathe your desktop and the wall behind your computer in light.
That’s fine for making your room look like a disco palace while listening to music. But it’s really designed to make video games more immersive.
This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.
Unveiled today, the Logitech G560 PC Gaming Speaker system includes two satellite speakers that sit on your desk and a downward-firing subwoofer that sits on the floor. The system uses the company’s Lightsync technology. That means you can coordinate it with Logitech’s super-popular G502 gaming mouse and/or the new Logitech G513 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, also announced today.
“Our goal with these two products was to complement our G502, the world’s best-selling gaming mouse,” said Ujesh Desai, vice president and general manager of Logitech Gaming, in a press release. “With Lightsync technology we are able to add real intelligence to what RGB lighting can do — synchronizing audio and RGB lighting to on-screen gameplay. If you already own a G502, then the new G513 keyboard and G560 speakers with Lightsync are the perfect way to complete your desktop, and create a totally immersive solution.”
A speaker system designed for gamers
Since most gamers run Windows machines, that’s who the new speaker system is aimed at. However, the G560 works on Mac as well. (The DTS:X Ultra 1.0 surround sound software doesn’t work on Mac, but Logitech says support will be added if Apple issues drivers for it.)
It can connect by Bluetooth, USB or 3.5mm audio jack. Small buttons on the right speaker let you adjust volume, pair via Bluetooth, etc.
The 2.1 speaker system sounds OK for listening to music — decent but not as fantastic, for instance, as a HomePod. It’s much louder than Apple’s smart speaker, though, thanks to its 240 watts peak power rating. The subwoofer really packs a punch!
Plus, the G560’s built-in Audio Visualizer automatically reacts to the music. The speaker’s lights pulse and flash along as songs play.
The audio really shines with gaming content, though. While I did not actually play a game while using the demo unit Logitech supplied, listening to a Dr DisRespect live stream gave me a good idea of how it sounds. The spatial separation was fantastic. I could practically hear the bullets flying past my head!
For that type of audio, the G560’s sound proved crisp, clear and quite vivid.
Logitech G560 gaming speaker shines with Lightsync tech
Perhaps the most promising aspect is the Lightsync technology. It allows game developers to produce custom lighting scenes triggered by in-game events. And, while Logitech named a few big games that will support the feature — including Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto V — it’s also possible to use the company’s gaming software to customize the desktop light show as well.
You can select four areas of your computer screen to serve as sampling zones. Whatever color flashes on the screen in those areas gets reproduced by four sets of color-shifting LED lights (on the backs and fronts of each satellite speaker).
In this mode, the speakers can even bring a bit of extra depth to a movie or TV show by bringing the colors out of the screen and into your room.
Here again, this might prove moderately interesting when used with video content. But it seems like it could prove much more powerful in a game. Imagine a strobe effect in the middle of a firefight, or an eerie red glow during a descent into hell.
The Logitech G560 PC Gaming Speaker and G513 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard should hit stores in April 2018. Suggested retail prices: $199.99 for the speaker and $149.99 for the keyboard. The keyboard comes in two colors, Carbon (with Romer-G Tactile or Romer-G Linear mechanical key switches, available worldwide) and Silver (Romer-G Tactile only, and only in certain markets).
