Does Earth shattering bass paired with RGB lighting sound like your thing? The Logitech G560 Gaming Speakers may just be your thing.
Product on Review: Logitech G560 PC Gaming Speakers
Manufacturer: Logitech
Street Price: £209.00 / $199.99
It seems no matter which way you turn, RGB LEDs will illuminate your path. Today we look at Logitech’s latest in their G branded peripherals, the Logitech G560 2.1 Gaming Speakers, with, you guessed it, RGB lighting.
The G560 features 240W of peak power, split between a pair of tweeters, fitted with two zones of RGB lighting, as well as a sizeable, separate subwoofer. The eye-catching design is remarkably modern so should fit in well on most desktop setups.
Connectivity isn’t going to be an issue, arriving equipped with a USB connection, for transmission of both sound and RGB lighting information from Logitech’s Gaming Software. There’s also built-in Bluetooth or a 3.5mm AUX input for connecting a phone or TV.
The £210 price-tag certainly isn’t the most expensive we’ve seen, but they obviously need to perform pretty darn well to warrant that cost for a 2.1 setup.
Logitech on the G560:
Feel games and music in a whole new way. Two lighting zones per speaker deliver rear ambient projection to enhance your environment and front-facing lights for more active and informational lighting. With LGS you can customize across approximately 16.8 million colors to match your style and setup. Let the programmable screen sampler react to your monitor to extend any colors from the screen to your room.
Technical Specifications
SPECIFICATIONS
WARRANTY INFORMATION
2-Year Limited Hardware Warranty
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Windows® 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 7
macOS X (DTS:X not supported)
USB port for PCs or 3.5 mm audio port for PC and mobile
Bluetooth enabled devices including a computer, smartphone, tablet and music player
Internet access for Logitech Gaming Software and DTS:X surround sound software installation
PACKAGE CONTENTS
Two satellite speakers
One subwoofer with power cable
USB cable
User documentation
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Subwoofer:
Height: 404 mm
Width: 255 mm
Depth: 207 mm
Weight: 5.5 Kg
Satellites:
Height:148 mm
Width: 166 mm
Depth: 118 mm
Weight (per pair): 1.79 Kg
Total weight: 7.27 Kg
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Total watts (peak): 240W
Total watts (RMS): 120W
Bluetooth version 4.1
Reliable 25-meter line of sight range
USB input x 1
Headphone jack x 1
Bluetooth pairing and power buttons are located on the back of the right speaker. G-key and volume controls are located on the top of the right speaker.
Frequency response: 40Hz – 18KHz
Max SPL: 97dB@426B
Sensitivity: 84dB@1m/1w
Input impedance: >10K ohm
Connection Type: USB, 3.5mm, Bluetooth
Indicator Lights (LED): back and front lighting zones
Wireless Range: 25 meter line of sight
Driver Size:
satellite: 63.5 mm
subwoofer: 165 mm
Input Impedance: >10K ohms
Sound Pressure Level (SPL Max): 97dB@426B
Audio Controls: on right satellite speaker
Audio Output: 3.5 mm headphone jack on right satellite
Speaker Type: 2.1
Cable Length (Power/Charging):
Power: 2200mm
Right to subwoofer = 2200mm
Left to subwoofer = 2200mm
USB cable length = 2500mm
WARRANTY INFORMATION
2-Year Limited Hardware Warranty
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Windows® 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 7
macOS X (DTS:X not supported)
USB port for PCs or 3.5 mm audio port for PC and mobile
Bluetooth enabled devices including a computer, smartphone, tablet and music player
Internet access for Logitech Gaming Software and DTS:X surround sound software installation
PACKAGE CONTENTS
Two satellite speakers
One subwoofer with power cable
USB cable
User documentation
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Subwoofer:
Height: 404 mm
Width: 255 mm
Depth: 207 mm
Weight: 5.5 Kg
Satellites:
Height:148 mm
Width: 166 mm
Depth: 118 mm
Weight (per pair): 1.79 Kg
Total weight: 7.27 Kg
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Total watts (peak): 240W
Total watts (RMS): 120W
Bluetooth version 4.1
Reliable 25-meter line of sight range
USB input x 1
Headphone jack x 1
Bluetooth pairing and power buttons are located on the back of the right speaker. G-key and volume controls are located on the top of the right speaker.
Frequency response: 40Hz – 18KHz
Max SPL: 97dB@426B
Sensitivity: 84dB@1m/1w
Input impedance: >10K ohm
Connection Type: USB, 3.5mm, Bluetooth
Indicator Lights (LED): back and front lighting zones
Wireless Range: 25 meter line of sight
Driver Size:
satellite: 63.5 mm
subwoofer: 165 mm
Input Impedance: >10K ohms
Sound Pressure Level (SPL Max): 97dB@426B
Audio Controls: on right satellite speaker
Audio Output: 3.5 mm headphone jack on right satellite
Speaker Type: 2.1
Cable Length (Power/Charging):
Power: 2200mm
Right to subwoofer = 2200mm
Left to subwoofer = 2200mm
USB cable length = 2500mm
Packaging & First Look
Due largely to the size of the subwoofer, the G560 box is large and heavy, but internal protection certainly isn’t lacking. Information on the front isn’t aplenty, but it does show off the device rather nicely.
The reverse side, on the other hand, gives you every bit of information you could possibly need to make an informed purchase. The Battlefield 1 representation also looks brilliant, so we’ll be sure to boot that up and see if it performs as well as advertised.
Strangely, Logitech haven’t produced an instruction manual in the traditional sense, instead using the packaging as a large instructional diagram. It’s clear and concise, however, so this gets a thumbs up!
Included in the box is a subwoofer, a pair of tweeters, a USB connection cable and a small leaflet on warranty information. A 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable would’ve been nice, considering the £210 asking price.
Closer Look
The front of the right and left speaker is covered with a densely woven cloth, hiding the delicate cones behind. The G logo on each cover is made from a reflective metallic piece. The front cloth area measures 140mm in diameter.Inside the small crevice on each satellite are some thin, grey lines to help accentuate the RGB lighting within.
The left speaker is just that, a speaker, while the right houses several different buttons for easy access. On top of the speaker is a volume up/down function as well as the G button which alters the RGB brightness.
On the reverse is a large piece of translucent plastic; the main role of this is to diffuse the RGB lighting behind the speakers for better immersion and ambience.
You’ll also notice the small power button, a Bluetooth pairing key and a 3.5mm headphone passthrough.
The front face of the subwoofer is dominated by a large trumpet shaped tunnel for the bass speaker. The subwoofer measures 400mm tall (including the feet), 255mm wide and 205mm deep.
The IO panel for the subwoofer is found on the rear. There’s obviously the connection for the right and left satellites, which are colour coded to make installation as simple as possible; there’s also the USB connection for your PC, and AUX input and a Bluetooth off switch.
On the base of the subwoofer is a huge down-firing speaker, useful for annoying any downstairs neighbours!
RGB Lighting
Check out the RGB lighting effects in these stills.
Software
The Logitech G560 Gaming Speakers feature several different EQ presets, and of course, the RGB lighting needs some guidance. That’s where the Logitech Gaming Software comes in, which you can download from here. Below is a short video showing the basic functionality of Logitech Gaming Software.Something we can’t fully demonstrate is the game integration, which uses the RGB LEDs as an extension to the on-screen events, reacting to both sound inputs as well as adjusting the colours based on specific areas of the display.
The games currently supported are:
Battlefield 1
Civilization VI
Counter Strike : GO
Discord
Dota 2
Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood
Fortnite
Grand Theft Auto V
Killing Floor 2
Metronomicon
Tom Clancy’s: The Division
Total War: Warhammer II
Not only does LGS support the listed games, you can also assign zones of the screen to the RGB lighting. Using intelligent algorithms, the speakers will react to changing colours within the chosen zones and try to accurately represent this through the RGB lighting.
Performance Testing
Naturally, being a 2.1 setup, the positioning of each speaker is crucial for an optimal soundscape; luckily Logitech have you covered on that front. The power cable is attached to the subwoofer, along with the right and left speakers both featuring a 2200mm long cable. The sub does need quite a large dedicated area, however, measuring in at 400mm tall, 255mm wide and 205mm deep.The tweeters are only 150mm tall, so they should fit underneath most monitors, but if not, they look great either side. The stylish appearance with bright, reactive RGB lighting looks fantastic, especially when the lights go off at night.
Logitech’s Game Driven Lighting system, compatible with 11 games and Discord, at the moment, works well. We tested with Battlefield 1 and felt it genuinely added a new level of immersion, especially with the subwoofer thumping away, adding that chest-shaking bass to explosions and gunshots.
We tested out the DTS:X virtual surround sound software, included with the Logitech Gaming Software. Nothing really replaces a proper 7.1 setup, but in practice, the wiring and space requirements for such a setup, without even mentioning price, can put people off. The virtual surround performed remarkably, helping with directional sound.
240W of peak power, or 120W of RMS, is more than enough for any desktop scenario; truth be told, the G560 is more than powerful enough to get a party going! The subwoofer packs plenty of punch while the satellites reach those high notes without breaking a sweat. If you have any noise-sensitive neighbours, perhaps this isn’t the speaker set for you. One upsetting point is the lack of absolute-low-end, only managing as low as 40Hz; a 20Hz subwoofer would’ve been nice to fully enjoy action movies or explosions within game.
Speaking of bass response, the lack of any tangible EQ adjustment limits their use as TV speakers or something to use away from a PC. A bass control knob, like we’ve seen on several Logitech speaker sets over the years, would’ve been ideal for this scenario; instead of relying solely on a PC USB connection. We also found the speakers, at their lowest possible setting, were a little on the loud side, most notably if you plan to use the speakers late at night.
Connectivity is well catered for with the G560 Gaming Speakers, offering the USB connection, a 3.5mm AUX input and Bluetooth 4.1, for connecting your phone or perhaps an Amazon Alexa device or something similar. Multiple inputs can be handled at the same time.
Conclusion
In the outset, we showed some slight reservations towards the £209 price tag, however, after testing the speakers for around a fortnight and giving them a thorough going over, we can happily say that the cost is warranted, with one simple caveat; if you’ll make use of the RGB lighting.There’s many positive points to take away from our review, mainly the ease of setup, thanks to 2.2m long cables, small satellite speakers, and all-black design of the subwoofer.
We loved the noise produced from the G560, filling the room with sound, especially with the THS:X virtual surround enabled, making a notable difference to the direction of particular sounds. Our only annoyance was the lack of low-end volume, being stuck at what would seem as around 5%, which just wasn’t quiet enough for some usage scenarios.
The LGS software works well, incredibly well, so much so it’s rapidly becoming our favourite peripheral software suite. You will be hard-pushed to find anything as easy to navigate or with a more fluid feel.
The Bluetooth connectivity worked incredibly well for us in the office, being able to hook up an Amazon Echo Dot for better sound. The Bluetooth audio was played at the same time as anything from the PC, meaning no gaps in sound. The lack of a 3.5mm cable was slightly annoying, considering the price tag, but they can be picked up fairly cheaply from most places.
Logitech are a brand best known for quality gear, with the G560 RGB Gaming Speakers being no exception. We loved the noise they made, with the RGB lighting being an awesome bonus. Did we mention that bass? It’ll knock your socks off!
Pros
+ Beautiful RGB lighting
+ Speakers look classy
+ Earth shaking bass
+ Generous cable lengths
+ Simple, easy-to-follow instructions
+ Game driven lighting
+ Bluetooth and AUX 3.5mm connectivity
+ Can handle multiple inputs simultaneously
Cons
– No AUX cable included
– The lowest volume was a touch too loud
– Lack of EQ adjustment away from a PC
+ Beautiful RGB lighting
+ Speakers look classy
+ Earth shaking bass
+ Generous cable lengths
+ Simple, easy-to-follow instructions
+ Game driven lighting
+ Bluetooth and AUX 3.5mm connectivity
+ Can handle multiple inputs simultaneously
Cons
– No AUX cable included
– The lowest volume was a touch too loud
– Lack of EQ adjustment away from a PC
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