Logitech Z-5500 THX-Certified 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System
by Logitech
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Z-5500 THX-Certified 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System
Customer Review: First Impressions
Summary: 5 Stars
I just received my Z-5500 speaker system on Thursday and wanted to give my first impressions. It may be a little too soon but if my impression changes over time I wanted an initial record.
The box arrived by UPS two days after my order, one day after it was shipped. I think it came from PA so it wasn't a long trip. The large box arrived without external damage though it looked re-taped. Inside, the packaging seemed to be intact so I don't think this was a return.
I brought the heavy box upstairs and started the hookup. The most difficult part was figuring out what connections to make to my sound card. I have an optical cable on the way - I hope it is the right one. The controller says Effect: 6 Ch Direct 96/24 so I think it is the best connection I can make until the optical cable arrives. The computer is a Dell XPS-410. I didn't realize the XPS-410's sound card supports 7.1. The connections I made to the Dell are:
Logitech FRONT to DELL line-out/headphone. Use the (green) line-out connector to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers.
Logitech REAR to Dell surround sound connector. Use the (black) surround sound connector to attach multichannel-capable speakers.
Logitech CENTER/SUB to Dell center/subwoofer LFE connector. Use the (orange) center/subwoofer connector to attach a center speaker or single subwoofer. NOTE: The LFE (Low Frequency Effects) Audio channel, found in digital surround sound audio schemes, carries only low frequency information of 80 Hz and below. The LFE channel drives a subwoofer to provide extemely low bass extension.
The switch on the back of the controller is set to 6 CH. DIRECT. The controller says:
Input: Direct 96--24
Effect: 6 Ch Direct
I think this is the correct setup but once the optical cable arrives I shouldn't need to be concerned about it.
For the first couple of days I used the speakers just for music. I have a pretty good collection of MP3s recorded at 256 Kbps (Amazon) and 320 Kbps (recorded from CDs). Today I'm watching some DVDs I've recorded onto my hard drive. I'm not sure what format the audio is (simple stereo, Dolby, etc.).
Music: I think my recordings are pretty high quality. Until now I've been using earphones (Shure) and the sound has been great. The sound from the speakers is better than I could have hoped for. While these are fairly expensive computer speakers, they certainly don't cost the same as high quality stereo speakers so I wasn't sure what to expect from them. The bass is punchy but balances well with the the rest of the music. At higher levels, I have to back off the bass a little so the house doesn't thump so much. I can get much more audio out of these speakers than I can ever use in this house. Bottom-line... I'm extreemly pleased with how these speakers sound for the music I listen to (Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, Nickelback, Nine Inch Nails).
Movies: I can't remember the audio settings I selected when I did my recording but I assume it wasn't the highest quality settings. It is probably all stereo. Because of this, I can't really comment on how surround sound sounds. Besides, my current speaker setup is much less than optimal. However, the sound quality is pleasant to listen to. The voices are crisp. I'm watching "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" right now. There's a lot of bass in the background music but it doesn't overpower the rest of the audio. Bottom-line: Without an optimal setup I'm quite pleased with the performance of these speakers.
The speaker components appear well built. The controller is a lot bigger than I expected. Something else I'm impressed with is the fact the remote controller controls every function of the speakers with the addition of a "Test" function. I'm not much into plastic but I guess that's the way computer components are built today. I miss the look of my old Cerwin Vega AT-12's or Bose 901's. Fortunately, I'm not missing the sound from those speakers.
I've read some of the other reviews, the forums and the FAQ on the Logitech site. I'm aware that these speaker have (or had) a tendency to pop. Logitech seem to have a program to replace those popping speakers for free (see their FAQ). These speakers don't show signs of popping yet. I also understand that after two years some of these speakers have failed. I don't think I push speakers to their limits so I don't expect this to be a problem. But, considering their relatively low price compared to what I was used to paying for speakers, I don't think I would be too disappointed with 2 good years of service.
After a few months, I may update this early review but I suspect my impressions won't change too much. I'm very pleased with the quality of the speakers and service from Amazon.
Customer Review: Excellent choice for home theater! Highly recommended!
Summary: 5 Stars
This speaker system was purchased specifically for home theater and NOT for a computer sound system. After a great deal of research comparing traditional surround receivers and speaker sets, "surround in a box" systems, and the directly comparable Creative computer speaker system (by spec would be equally at home as a home theater surround system) I settled on this one.
Based on reviews, either this Logitech or the Creative decoder/THX speaker set would have worked very well and sounded great. What it finally came down to was price. The only thing that gave me pause was the Creative decoder had more available inputs. I could've used an additional optical input (one for the Blu Ray, one for the TV) but it was much less expensive to and easy to put a simple manual Toslink switch Digital Audio Optical Toslink Selector Switch for Fiber Optic Connections (Silver) in than the extra cost for the Creative system. Further, this Logitech system is a much neater and cleaner installation with a single cable to the sub woofer containing the amplifier and outputs to the other 5 speakers rather than the multi connector box arrangement of the Creative system.
So.... for LESS than $300 DELIVERED, I got a neat, clean, kick-a** surround system.
Installation:
Couldn't be easier. How many of us have struggled in a small space or cabinet to get the speaker cables for 5 or more speakers, sub, etc hooked up and then still try to keep it looking neat when pushed to final spot? NOT an issue with this. The decoder/control head needs only the optical input routed to it and the control cable routed to the sub woofer containing the amplifier and speaker connections. In my case the sub is in a relatively open spot making the hookup of the 5 speakers far easier than any system I have put in previously. One note; the control cable with the HD-15 connector is perhaps a little short for the most flexible placement of the sub woofer. I have read reports that it cannot be easily extended with a monitor extension cable. I did not need to extend so no issue in my case. I suspect problems came from those using HD-15 extension cables that did not pass through all pins. The speakers are readily shelf or wall mounted and use standard spring terminal connectors on both the amp outputs and speaker inputs allowing longer or upgraded speaker wires. End result: A neat and unobtrusive wife-friendly (no exposed wires) installation with little space taken on my media shelf.
Setup:
Simple and straightforward. It perhaps does not have all the hi-tech gee-whiz type of balancing utilities of other systems but there are plenty of easy to affect adjustments and my setup by ear has resulted in a spacious surround experience.
Operation:
Couldn't be simpler. Turn it on, adjust volume as needed, listen. That's it. The remote is small (but not TOO small), comfortable to use, and very simple. Buttons needed most are right there. The best of the remote is the direct access to center, surround, and sub woofer volumes. Since I've not yet found any two movies or TV shows balanced the same, it is extremely nice to quickly and easily change any of these levels to preference. Example: The recent Discovery HD Theater presentation of "Planet Earth" was heavily center channel weighed and was quickly altered to preference. Also, one can change sub woofer levels easily so late-night viewing doesn't annoy the neighbors (at least not so much).
Sound:
Logitech claims THX certification on this system. Since the metrics of such certification are not published so it isn't really known what you are getting with certification, one can only assume that, at least, THX will only allow their logo on something that sounds pretty dang good. And it does. I've seen reviews that suggest that this system is not well suited to music playback. Perhaps. I couldn't say; this is for home theater and I am getting crisp, clean sound which, to my ear (and agreed to by my wife) is stunning. After tweaking, I have an spacious and immersing movie sound experience.
Conclusion:
I couldn't be happier with this system. It was easily installed and setup then quite simply does what it's supposed to do; deliver great surround sound. I've heard many systems over $1k (sometimes WAY over) in many surroundings and can't hear much, if any, more sound quality for the extra moolah. I could've afforded a lot more for surround but if not necessary, why? I'll use the >$700 I saved from buying a much more expensive to buy Blu Ray movies to enjoy on this one.
Customer Review: Huge power at your fingertips
Summary: 5 Stars
When I bought my new PC about a year ago I knew that I wanted great sound for my $1200 investment. After a lot of research I decided on the Bose Companion II Series II speakers. They sound great, and despite their high price tag, I was happy.
Still, this new high end PC had a 5.1 coax output that was going unused, and in all fairness, the Bose speakers I owned couldn't pump out any sound I would consider loud. So I did away with the Bose with the hope of rattling the walls and listening to movies in surround sound. Continuing with my "go big or not at all" attitude, I decided on the Logitech Z-5500.
First off, this is not a light system. It weighs 55 pounds (probably 50 of that is subwoofer) so this doesn't feel like some cheap toy. The UPS guy was happy when I signed off because I would imagine carrying this beast back to the truck would not be ideal in the 100 degree Virginia summer. So, the box is huge, but everything inside is well placed, and easy to figure out.
There are 4 identical satellite speakers with swiveling bases so you can wall mount them. The center channel is the same as the sattelites except it is on its side, but again the base moves for wall mounting. The sound is controlled by a sound dock with a large knob, and a few buttons that let you control settings and all that good stuff. The back has one input for coax digital, one for optical digital, and a direct 6 channel input. The side has an input for headphones, and one underneath for a headphone to headphone jack (for MP3 players and such).
Then there is the sub. This 50 pound monster is a 188 watt side firing sub that delivers rock solid bass. Now some reviews of "the house shaking" are a little extreme. If you set the right EQ and crank the volume, then yes, you will rattle your brain. Most of the time the sound is more conservative.
The Z-5500 sounds great and has tons of power. There is no lack of it. This system gets REALLY loud. It can hit a level of loud that makes conversation impossible and a level of loud that keeps the party going. For a lot of system, turning the volume to 50% is unrealistic because the more you turn it up, the more distortion and lack of power you get. That 50% is really more like %80 of the power you have. Not here. When you crank it up you realize that the Z-5500 will keep up with you. I fear to put it past 75% of the max volume for fear of the cops being called.
The quality of the sound is also very good. There is great separation from the speakers no matter what mode you are listening to. Movies with 5.1 Dolby Digital sound great. DTS even better. For music, there are Pro Logic II modes to create a fake 5.1 experience, on top of the standard stereo and quad sound (the rears playing the front mix). The only thing worth mentioning is that unless you have a great EQ for your computer, sometimes the bass and highs are a little too much. These are not the best sounding speakers I have ever heard, but they get really loud and sometimes the shock value alone of the sound they produce hides any disappointment in the full range.
So in short...
Pros -
- Way more power than you need at your desk. This is really nice for action movies or loud music. Watching other people when I crank it is always great. They always get that "holy crap!" look on their faces because they are being rocked by a wall of sound.
- Easy to control and set up. If you are interested in expensive 5.1 speakers for your computer than you probably won't find this to be anything over your head.
- Nice clean look to the package. The satellites are not huge, and the sound dock has a nice look to it with the light blue display.
- This can hook up to almost anything, making it a good solution for DVD players, or an Xbox 360, etc.
- The different audio modes are nice. Pro Logic II modes, Dolby Digital, DTS, etc.. You can really mix it all up here.
Cons -
- The sub is really big, and can limit where you can put this. On top of this, it is heavy, making hauling this system a little bit of a workout.
- The included remote is cheap and does not fit in with the quality of the build.
Overall -
Lots of power in a nice looking package. This system hooks up to a lot and sounds good doing it. I am happy with my purchase and offer a high recommendation.
Customer Review: definitely worth the money
Summary: 5 Stars
I just recieved this 3 hours ago and i LOVE it.. i never had good pc speakers (i used the JBL sonnet m310J for 3 years until i cracked the bass open by stepping on it) but after comparing these to my sony surround sound system in the living room of my suite, i must say i'm impressed, especially with the bass.. although it sounds boomy at times, i adjusted it with the mixer that came with the sound card and it sounds fine now.. be sure to fasten anything hanging on the walls because it WILL shake..
performance
i'm not much of a audiophile and i'm not really sure what to look out for in a good sound output, but after watching a couple of dvds such as "band of brothers" and "kill bill", it gave an impressive theatre-like performance.. i'm a personal fan of all genres of music EXCEPT country so i tested all types of music i had on my computer.. because of the monstrous bass, genres such as hip-hop and r&b stood out the most.. heavy beats featured in songs by rappers such as common and 50 cent benefitted the most from the deep bass.. However, i was a little disappointed on how these performed on rock songs but then again i didn't really mess with the mixer too extensively so i can't really tell for now.. the overpowering bass took over the instruments in songs performed by artists such as coldplay and the killers.. unfortunately i didnt have any classical music cd's lying around so i had to test with a high quality mp3 version of "Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20", which still lacked in quality by a significant amount.. but i was satisfied by the concert-like atmosphere.. the strings had a crisp sound as if my sister was performing it right in front of me.. but it's important to have the right settings on the equalizer since it makes a HUGE difference when it comes to classical music.. for electronica, i tried out titles such as "superfabulous" by BT and "in love with the dj" by ATB and it sounded great even though i only listened to the songs for 10 seconds due to the walls shaking with both the volume and bass half way up.. the overall performance recieved a 9 out of 10 in my opinion..
setup
this is a big box.. and i had to carry this 50+ pound box from the pickup office to my dorm and it wasnt an easy job.. you'll need a dolly to move this stuff around.. from the pictures it's hard to tell the size of these speakers but they are pretty huge.. i've realized that this system is definitely not something you'd want in a 10x12 suite like mine.. also, because of the huge magnet that powers the bass (or i think thats how it works), it has to be at least 2 feet away from most electronics, such as a computer or a monitor, so i had to change the layout of my room thanks to that.. the rear channel wires are long enough to reach half way around my room along the walls but i doubt they will reach the back in a full living room so you might want an extension wire from radio shack.. the wireless controller is a godsend even for my small room because now i can adjust the volume while i'm watching a movie on my bed or if i'm too lazy to reach the control tower.. another useful feature is the coaxial input.. since my monitor is capable of the PIP function, i can now connect my dvd player to it so i can watch dvds without slowing down my computer.. you can also connect your ipod or cd player but its useless(you'll need to buy the wire with a 1/8" plug on each end).. the setup recieved a 9 out of 10 with the only negative coming from my fingers losing blood circulation after lifting it 200 yards and up the stairs..
overall
after comparing with my friend's klipsch promedia ultra 5.1, the logitech z5500 performed much better in bass tests but lacked just a bit in the overall performance.. but for $130+ less, i couldnt ask for more considering i'm not a die hard audiophile who's willing to spend that extra money for a minuscule difference.. i know i can use the cash to save up for a nice plasma tv or a month's worth of gas money.. my suitemate's already complaining and i feel bad using these speakers to their full potential in such an environment.. can't wait till my suitemates are at the cavalier's game tonight.. then i'll have some fun.
Customer Review: Amazing System for an Amazing Price
Summary: 5 Stars
I ordered this system of off Amazon on Dec. 31, 269.99 with free shipping, and got it on Jan. 5. Amazon had an estimate for Jan. 10-12, so thanks to Amazon and UPS! Now for the speakers: Awesome. They are one of the best speaker systems for computers that you can buy. They even rival similar priced Home Theater Systems. Setup of the system is simple: Not only are the speakers labeled on the back for posistion, but also have color coded ends that match on the sub. The speakers are elegantly designed and the sub is massive. And when I mean massive, I mean the earth-shaking, eardrum-blowing, take-up-space massive. The control pod is also very well designed and easy to use. Inputs and Outputs are all on the control pod: 6 channel RCA, coax., optical, headphones, and mini-digital inputs. Which speaking of inputs, it has a 6 channel/Stereo 1-3 switch....thats right, either connect to computer OR hook up three input devices at one time: iPods, mini disc players, w/e...Speakers themselves are twistable so they are extremely easy to wall mount if you want to. Now for the big one: sound quality. These speakers sound amazing. I mean absolutely amazing. You expect and get high quality sound all the time. The mid-range, which some people say this system is weak on, is not that much weaker unless you are really want a good mid-range system. The bass is amazing and definitely full. Now, all of these speakers have ton of options. For instance, you have stereo mode (front 2), Stereo 2x (front and rear 2, which means the same thing plays from front left and back laft), Dolby Digital PLS Movie, and Dolby Digital Music. Now, from here, you can change options such as Panorama, Dimension settings (controls Front to rear), the width of the center speaker (narrower means the speaker is centered closer to the center, giving it a louder more direct sound), level change of the sub (more or less responsive), surround level (more = aimed towards rear speakers), and center level (controls center speaker). Also, inputs are easy to go to...just press the button! Remote that comes with this is basic and enough things to make it work, however it doesn't do justice to the rest of the system. Then again, wireless remote is optional, so i'm happy anyway. So in general, these are some awesome speakers. I have mine in my dorm room connected to an USB Soundblaster Audigy 2 NX sound card by optical cable. Which speaking of sound cards, you have to have one that supports surround minimum. Also, the better the sound card, the better the sound. Mine works 96-24 on 6 channel. So the only things to consider when buying this is money to put out. Expect Amazon's pricing to flucuate between 250 and 320. Also, if you don't have a soundcard, my USB Soundblaster for my laptop cost 120. The digital optical cable cost another 20. So it does add up in accessories. But these speakers are worth it.....and don't think about the Klipstech 5.1 Ultra. I tried these at Best Buy...the Logitech 5300e had a better sounding sub than these.
So happy shopping. In general: these speakers are worth every penny. I will definitely have these for all of my high school and college years, and I'm sure they will last. These speakers are the best speakers for this range of prices.
EDIT: 3 years later....
Sadly, I must say that these speakers are gone. During a vacation away from home, we had a thunderstorm send a power surge through the electrical lines. The surge protector was useless as the surge was enough to go through that unit, the subwoofer, and one of the speakers. The fuse was completely ruined in the sub, along with its internal components. So right now I'm holding off on waiting to replace the sub and speaker as these speakers have had too long of a shelf life span and will undoubtedly be getting replaced by Logitech in the near future.