Logitech Z-5500 THX-Certified 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System
by Logitech
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Our Price: $962.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $260.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Z-5500 THX-Certified 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System
Customer Review: great system, some issues but good customer support
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the 2nd surround sound system I have purchased from Logitech. The first one didn't have the wireless remote nor all the inputs (it was really for PC use only). With that system, shortly after I bought it, one of the speakers got gently knocked over on the shelf it was sitting on. That blew out the amplifier. Fortunately Amazon sent a new one, and it has worked well since.
I got the Z-5500 when I needed more wattage for my emerging home theater setup, and the ability to use it with my Logitech wireless Harmony remote (which is awesome). It sounds great, looks great, and is simple and intuitive to use. One thing that would be nice is if it had more digital audio inputs. There are 4 analog audio inputs, but only 2 digital inputs (one optical, and one coaxial). I use the optical input for the PS2, and have to route the digital coaxial signals from my cable box and 2 DVD players through a switcher, which is connected to the single digital coaxial input.
People have noted Logitech's warning to keep the subwoofer at least 2 feet away from other electronic components due to magnetic field issues, but I have kept it right next to my DVD recorder, cable box, PS2 and Wii without any problems. However, I did discover after a long period of troubleshooting that my ClearPlay DVD player was being ruined by the subwoofer. After multiple replacements of the ClearPlay unit, I finally moved the subwoofer a couple of feet away and have not had a problem since.
Shortly after getting it, the subwoofer began making loud popping noises (not just when lights were turned on or off, as another reviewer noted, but constantly). Fortunately Logitech replaced the system and it worked well until just after its 2-year warranty expired. Now suddenly I'm getting softer, but still annoying, popping from all the speakers (again, constant). I haven't changed anything with my setup/wiring. I called tech support and they said my only option is to buy another one. Fortunately the popping stopped and I've been using it for a few years now without any more problems. I have an x10 system for controlling lights in and around the house, and I wonder if that was part of the problem (I've learned over the years that the x10 system, that uses the house's electrical wiring to send RC signals, can cause a variety of problems).
Anyway, one star off for less than problem free use, but overall a nice system. I especially like the fact that the control box take so little space compared to most other surround sound systems (since most of the hardware is enclosed in the subwoofer).
Customer Review: Unbeatable price and quality. Easy to setup.
Summary: 5 Stars
I am all about sound quality. Whether it's the TV, iPod, or Computer. In the past, I have only used 2.1 speakers as I never had a computer that supported 5.1 or 7.1. Last fall I bought a new multimedia computer but have yet to give it much multimedia use -- until now!
My older speakers were starting to lose quality and receiving too much interference from my blackberry. When shopping, I considered the 2.1 THX Logitech speakers and similar Bose speakers. I decided for the Amazon price compared to store price, these were going to be my best value for the quality. I mean if you are going to spend $200 for 2.1 speakers why not drop the extra $100 for 5.1?
My experience so far has been great. I ordered these speakers early on a Friday morning. I was completely shocked when the FedEx truck pulled up on Saturday afternoon with the delivery! Amazing Amazon! The boxed arrived and it was quite heavy and large. The FedEx guy was annoyed he had to walk to the back door. The woofer is huge and amounted for all the weight and size. (Be sure to read the instructions on placement.) The 5 speakers are light weight and average computer side. Everything was easy to setup. Although I did make an error by plugging the L&R front speakers into the 7.1 L&R side speaker computer port. Once I had my speakers placed, everything works great.
Understand that all speakers are hard wired. They are not wireless. That was my first impression looking at the picture. What you see are the legs. They swivel around so you can put the speakers on a flat top or mount them to a wall. Logitech provide plenty of high quality cable, too. And if you are new to the 5.1 or 7.1 world, you need a sound card that will support these speakers. By that, I mean you need more than a single speaker port on standard computers. While you can still use that connection using a male to male stereo jack in the Aux port, you will not get true surround sound. 5.1 speakers will have three ports (front center, L&R front, L&R rear) while 7.1 will have four ports (the same three as 5.1 with an additional L&R side). Be sure you have the right sound card before buying these speakers. Your computer should also have driver/software for the speaker (different than the windows mixer). My computer uses Realtec HD Audio Manager. Use your program to setup corrections (volume changes and distance).
I highly recommend these speakers. However, they are so good that I am just now realizing the major difference between 96 and 256 bit rates for MP3s!
Customer Review: Blown fuse right out of the box
Summary: 2 Stars
Having zero problems with my Klipsch Promedias, I was heartbroken when my sub blew out and rendered my computer speakers useless after six years of faithful service (I later found out I was lucky to get that much out of them, as there were quite a few issues with the BASH chipset). Doing some research online, it seemed like the current king of computer speakers was Logitech, and these Z-5500's were the flagship of their line.
I put in the order on Amazon and anxiously waited.
Two days later, I was setting up the speakers, wired them all up, connected to my computer and powered them on.
Unfortunately they did not turn on.
No blip, bump, thud, or crackle. They simply didn't turn on. The box from UPS shown no wear or tear, and the Logitech box itself was pristine. Every single piece within the box was still wrapped, no scratches, no obvious signs of any type of shipping abuse.
After looking to see if there was some sort of hidden "reset" button I had overlooked, I went to everyone's favorite troubleshooter, Google. Google informed me that quite a few people on various forums had regularly blown the fuses of the Z-5500s and that a trip to Radio Shack might be called for. The trip was completed, and I was the brand new owner of a FUSE,4A,SLOBLO,5X20MM,125V,LITTELFUSE239. I popped in this little $2 fuse, and ta-da, the speakers worked like a champ.
Sound-wise, honestly I was very unimpressed with my new speakers. Logitechs in general ran on the bassy side for me, and these were no different. The trebles seemed muted and blurred because of the intense focus on the bass line (this was after tweaking both via the control pod and within Windows). If you were looking for just "room-shaking bass," then this is probably a good system for you, however if you're a music fan, you won't be overly impressed (my music test sample was a FLAC file of Janice Ian's Breaking Silence, and the Eagles Hell Freezes Over live songs - as well as the DTS track from the DVD).
For those who are probably thinking that my experience was out of the ordinary, you are probably right. Most people probably have their speakers work for at least a little while after getting them out of the box. However if you do a simple search on Z-5500 and fuse, you will see that the fuse issue is not an uncommon one. Buying a 3-pack of replacement fuses will extend the life of this product but not indefinitely - so get used to knowing where your local Radio Shack or Fry's is.
Customer Review: Very nice and recommended
Summary: 5 Stars
My sound room used to be the whole house, complete with a high vaulted ceiling and a big, open living space. The Klipsch 4.1 system worked so well for me for about four years that my husband bought me the 5.1 system two years ago, and he got the hand-me-down 4.1s. We're now in a different house, and my music room is only 12' x 15'. Although I could crank it and shake the room, the system was missing something. I kept cranking it up, but it didn't quite get it like it did before. I thought that the small size of this room had a lot to do with why the music sounded like it was missing something.
I visited a friend who knows how much I appreciate quality sound, and his Soundblaster Live! card (same as mine at the time) and lesser Klipsch speaker system sounded far better than mine, which bothered me because I missed the big, spacious sound. He kept suggesting that I upgrade to the Soundblaster X-Fi card, which I eventually did. However, in the meantime, the Klipsch 5.1 speakers died (probably the subwoofer - wasn't a fuse). Although the Klipsch 4.1s are still working well, albeit with a short in the volume control, after having the 5.1s die and reading several reviews from people whose 5.1s did the same thing, I didn't want to go with Klipsch again. I'm loyal to a brand, but only until the quality starts to deteriorate.
I went with the Logitech 5500s, because I want to hear crisp sound above a healthy bass that doesn't overpower the highs. I want the full, spacious midrange too. There's far more sound than I hoped for. I really did take a chance, and until I heard them I was afraid the Klipsch 4.1 hand-me-downs I gave to my husband would sound better than the Logitech 5500s system. Luckily, these kick butt, and I don't at all regret the purchase or paying the price for what I got. Phew!
The highs are crisp and full and not at all harsh or shrill. The bass is capable of wall-pounding, but at a lower volume supports the music quite well. The control tower, which is about the size of the satellite speakers, is convenient and has several functions to affect the sound of the music without opening software. If you have a 5.1 speaker system, set the Effect to "6 Ch Direct." We got all the software settings right but didn't have sound until I played with the Effect choice on the control module.
Highly recommended are the Logitechs with the Soundblaster X-Fi MusicXtreme sound card. Awesome.
Customer Review: I just realized why there AREN'T incredible....
Summary: 4 Stars
I used to be the biggest fan of these; I got 2 of them, one for my mom and one for me.
But they could be a lot better. The first problem is with the satellite speakers. They get very loud for their range, but they need more kick. They've got plenty of mids to highs, but in the mid to mid-low range the don't do anything. Any bass-ish drum type sounds, when heard right next to a satellite, sound like a mix between a "bop!" and a "bip!". Basically it sounds too high pitched from the satellite itself for a drum. I believe Logitech tries to compensate for this by using the subwoofer....for instance I've found it goes up to at least 200hz, maybe beyond that. My friend's system leaves anything above 110hz to the satellites.
The other thing is how focused the subwoofer's sound is. Its very blurry, making basses sound rather muddy. I don't have a big problem with this, its really only noticeable in some songs. Plus I like bass a lot, which this woofer has PLENTY of. So over all, even with the subwoofer's faults of going to high for its range and for blurring the things it does play, I still love it.
The fact that the satellites leave anything around 220hz and down to the subwoofer is not comforting. If they went just 100hz lower, they'd be literally perfect. Granted they get _incredibly_ loud, but they'd do so much better to have more oomph and kick to them.
I was reading the other day that a system with 2 speakers per satellite, for instance the Klipsh 5.1 system, would be better. In each satellite, one of the speakers covers the mids to highs, the other the mids to lows. Their subwoofer also has 2 8" drivers, as opposed to the z-5500's one 10" driver. So the Klipsh won't have as much wall shaking bass as the z-5500, but all around, from bass to highs, the sound will be more precise and clear. I haven't actually heard the Klipsh Surround System, but purely based on the 2 speakers/satellite logic that cover only the frequencies they're best at, they should be better. If I were to buy a system right now, I'd get the Klipsh Surround System. If you care about how your music sounds, go with them.
On the other hand, the control unit has everything one could want as far as controls go except for a subwoofer-satellite cutoff meter. Its got DPL2, THX, and DTS96/24 decoding. Very nice; its too bad the Klipsh don't have these and such a variety of inputs.