Logitech have just announced a set of speakers in their "G" range, the range of hardware designed specifically for gamers.

Until now, competitive gamers have been pretty much limited to headsets, to enable them to hear the crucial sounds in-game - an enemy round the corner, a bomb being planted, and so on.

Logitech have now announced the G51 speakers, designed specifically to give the same quality performance than a headset can offer, allowing players to hear exactly where a sound is coming from, at the same time as offering the fantastic gaming experience that only a good set of speakers (and perhaps a 3D virtual headset, if you happen to have one of them lying around) can offer.

Matrix Mode

The Matrix Mode on the G51 speakers can create 5.1 surround sound from a 2-channel stereo sound source, giving a great gaming experience, as well as fantastic music performance, and the Gaming Matrix mode boosts the subwoofer and rear satellites for a more intense gaming experience.

FDD2™ sound technology

More a feature for music and films than games, FDD2 technology produces a uniform soundfield anywhere in the room. FDD2 eliminates the hot spots and uneven response of conventional dual-driver design.

Other Features

There is a weighted, non-skid control pod, providing you with quick and convenient access to audio controls, hardware mute buttons for both speakers and microphone, rotating stands for wall-mounted speakers, and the ability to clip the center-channel speaker above your LCD monitor, providing "in your face" sound effects.

Included in the package

The G51 system consists of 4 satellites, 1 centre channel and 1 subwoofer, as well as a Control Pad. The system also comes with a 2-year limited hardware warranty. The system provides a total of 155 watts RMS.

The suggested retail price for these speakers will be $199.99, and they are due to be available from October of this year. Whether they will be succesful in pursuading gamers that you can get the same gaming quality through speakers as you can with headsets, I do not know, but it certainly looks promising.