2019 Updated Long-term review: Logitech G430

Logitech G430 -garbage 430

A headset should withstand some abuse, but this headset can’t withstand normal use.

Logitech G430 -garbage 430

pros:

  • fabric cushions – your head won’t hurt after wearing the headset in  long periods,you will not be as hot as with leather or leather cessions.
  • will fit small heads and bigger heads,even if you are a hardcore head-banger(headbanging not advised) it wont fall off.
  • 3,5 mic speaker and mic plugs
  • microphone is easy to swivel away
  • cable does not kink
  • volume control wheel is good no super high change in volume its how it should be:-)
  • easy to take off the ear cup cushions

cons:

The head-set will break have dropped the head set few times,some times i have shaky hands and drop things so this headset is not for me, it will break!!!

  • it stink weird the first days
  • flimsy
  • microphone have rubber arm that its easy to scratch
  • the volume range is too small when connected via USB,
  • the wire to the ear cup is not unplug-able
  • the micro phone ON/OFF ,volume control is on the the wire, if would be better to have it on the ear cups instead. When I connected the headset via USB sound card, i tried the volume control wheel,and when I roll it closer to the end I got white noise(it might only be my USB sound car that is faulty but i don’t care) I maxed the sound and I got even more white-noise but no increase in sound, the white noise was there even when not listening to music. but when i plugged the headset in via analog 3,5 plugs i could increase
  • easy to scratch
  • after few weeks of use I noticed play in the headband adjustment from side to side

the USB plug got rubber grip

cable is rubber too

the USB sound card is very light I can barely feel it.

microphone is decent, but it will not sound like it would in person

the cession on the headband feels like it got a balloon inside,when you push with one finger the other goes up,I have not taken them apart so don’t know what’s inside.

do not use the USB sound card read why :I recommend using 3,5 plugs and use on-board sound-card or dedicated sound card, the USB sound wont be as clear , i have tested  the headset both via USB and via 3,5 plugs and using on-board sound broad on my ASUS z97 P, with the onboard sound it sounds much better in my opinion I can hear the other instruments than the bass better where i barely could with USB, bass sounds drums sounds more natural,guitar riffs do not sound as soft. I even hear sounds I never heard on Gary Moore’s albums

there is no real reason you should use USB sound card on a gaming pc, only if you got a cheap small mini pc

the headset I used before was Madcatz freq 7 and it was USB card only, there was a cable for phone use but that’s too short for pc use and you could use the controls on the headset, so that silly, so when you buy a headset remember to look for 3,5 plugs/inputs

Logitech G software allows you to tweak the sound but,that’s not the same as getting good sound without tweaking anything.

Much better audio with Equalizer

2018/2019 update:

after the headset fell off my head many times the microphone eventually snapped off at the last drop. I also Installed Mod Mic5 for much better audio input.

ModMic5_20190120_030520edit

After coming back to this headset after the HyperX headset got ripped wire, I needed to get the sound better, so I tweaked them in the Equalizer:

I managed the audio to sound decent with Equalizer, these are the settings

G430 Equalizer


Flickr album: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmupaHdo

Conclusion:

Stay away from this headset, it’s fragile, built from wrong materials, horrible solutions. but if you already got them, tweaking the sound in Equalizer is a must. If you want a good and lifelong lasting headset this is not for you

Most interesting frames for me 2018/2019

I have looked at most bikes on the market, here is the list of the most interesting bikes to me for 2018.

 

My requirements for new bike:

  • I measured my setup and what would be setup I want, here are the results.

On my current set up, I would have to have increased reach, bars to be between be higher, so it would be 30mm to 40 mm rise, wheel base is too short, steering is not stable enough.

I think something close to 490 500mm, or something close to it.

I measured my current bike to get an idea of desired reach: Example 430 reach minus 50mm stem, plus 20 mm difference if I would run shorter 30mm stem plus =desired reach at ca 490,so little bit less or more might work like 500mm, I can play with the spacers and rise,stem length a little bit.

30mm is of course rounded off as the stem would be 33mm.

  • also Longer wheelbase
  • more stable steering
  • better tyre clearance
  • stiff enough frame, for me to not bend rear dérailleurs, or wear out chains after 80km, or anything crazy fast like that.
  • Dual shear linkages, or a system that eliminates the need for them, if single shear it has to have the stop for bearing on the correct side, to avoid bearings slipping out.
  • good cable routing, it has to be easy to install and remove the cables & wires.
  • Proper solution for headset & bottom bracket, for reliability.
  • the frame has to have a protective layer like paint, powder coating, Anodizing, I will ride in the winter, so I need it to be well protected against salt, which will corrode alloy.

Nicolai G15

https://en.nicolai-bicycles.com/wp-content/uploads//2018/02/G15_3000x2000_1-1780x1187.jpg
Picture from https://en.nicolai-bicycles.com/frames/ion-g15/

http://forums.mtbr.com/nicolai/nicolai-mojo-geometron-build-riding-development-thread-1016388.html

The cable routing is easy to work with.

threaded Bottom bracket, so I can use trusty bottom brackets, like Chris King Threadfit 30, don’t have to compromise on axle weight,or bearing strength or size.

also their tailor made option is nice, so they can make you a frame that will fit you.

I have also seen the manufacturing process, which I approve of.

https://en.nicolai-bicycles.com/wp-content/uploads//2018/02/G15_3000x2000_3-2240x1493.jpg

I like the sealed pivots & angular contact bearings, to me it seems like good ideas.

and for winter riding, extra sealing is nice, to increase service intervals.

G13

G1

G1

Guerrilla Gravity The Smash

https://ridegg.com/resize/Shared/images/Product/Smash/GG-Smash_var_FrameColor_FYeahBlue.jpg?bw=2200&bh=1467
Beautiful blue color, nice livery.

https://ridegg.com/thesmash-frame

In size large it has 490 mm reach.

Pole Evo Link 140 – The folding trail bike

https://polebicycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Pole_EVOLINK_140_V1.3_2017_1-1.png

https://polebicycles.com/polestore/product/evolink-140-29-v1-3-pre-sale/

The v1.3 has color change, and improvements, but hte reviews below review the older versions.

https://polebicycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Pole_EVOLINK_140_V1.3_2017_3-1.png

The Loam Ranger has a nice video about his bike:

Some reviews:

https://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain-bikes/full-suspension/product/pole-evolink-140-review-50854/

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/pole-evolink-140-review.html

Transition Sentinel

https://www.transitionbikes.com/Bikes_2019_SentinelAlloyFrameset.cfm

https://www.transitionbikes.com/images/2019_SentinelAlloy_Frameset_Gallery1.jpg

In size large it has 475mm reach, which could fit me with long enough stem. the wheelbase is also longer than on my bike, mine got 1143mm but the Sentinel has

1247. so It will climb better and be more stable.

it has 43cm chain stays which are shorter than my current bike, 2014 Fuel ex 29, which has 45cm.

but it would be nice to have longer chain stays, for even more stability.

I like that the linkages are double shear, no misaligning bearings, or other issues.

but the routing is not optimal, but better than on my bike.

Maximum 34T chainring, that means I cant fit my 34T OVal as it is the size of 36T, so I would have to go for Ethirteen cassette with the 9T cog, to get closer top end to what I got.

some reviews:

Transition Smuggler

https://www.transitionbikes.com/Bikes_2019_SmugglerAlloyFrameset.cfm

MDE damper 29

https://www.mdebikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Damper29_AcidBlue-blk-Fluo_ext1.jpg

The large comes at 460mm reach for size large, XL at 485 So I would go for the XL I think I would go for the 485 out of these two sizes.