Before I get to anything - no, I won't reconsider going with a set of standard 5.1's.
OK, now that that's over with...I've had my current Logitech Z-560's for, well, as long as I can remember. They're good speakers that have served me pretty well over the years but the time has come to think about replacing them. The stands are bent on a couple of the satellites, one of the grills is cracked and the little plastic screw-like things on the back which hold the wires have come loose a couple of times.
Not to mention I've had to keep the bass on the lowest possible setting since day one because the subwoofer could easily drown the entire room in coarse, bleating bass that wasn't as precise as I'd like. Running the cables to the rear speakers was never something I fancied, either, and I think with this upgrade I'd like to get something that will fix these two issues - something (1) with bass that's a bit more precise and less overwhelming, and (2) rear speakers that are wireless to make the entire setup a bit more forgiving to a crowded room (like my dorm).
The Z-5450's seem to be on sale for ~$250 at plenty of places - including, of all dealers, CompUSSR - so they're selling for a pretty good price for the moment. The reviews I've seen have been mostly positive about sound quality. Their rear speakers don't have a rear receiver, so they'd be easier to position, but some have said they chew up other wireless signals (while others say the exact opposite). Their satellites seem to have a smaller profile, so they might be easier to fit in a cramped environment. And not that it matters, but they look a little boring.
The G550w's seem to be selling for no less than $320 or so. It's strange that a set of speakers at this price range would have basically no feedback, but I haven't been able to find any in-depth reviews. Maximum PC outright said that these were superior to the Z-5450's and had less hiss in the rear speakers, but that's about it for definitive feedback. I noticed that while no support for DTS 96/24 is mentioned, the few reviews of these I can find generally rave about the sound quality. The satellites have slightly less wattage than the 5450's, while the subwoofer is a bit more powerful. Also, the volume control knob is position on the top of the control module for these, which would be terrific for me. They also look pretty spiffy.
I've tried to read up about both the Z-5450's and the G550w's, but personal reviews of either - especially the G550w's - is largely absent because it seems most people don't tend to like such setups as opposed to, say, the Z-5500's. Any feedback would be appreciated!! 🙂
OK, now that that's over with...I've had my current Logitech Z-560's for, well, as long as I can remember. They're good speakers that have served me pretty well over the years but the time has come to think about replacing them. The stands are bent on a couple of the satellites, one of the grills is cracked and the little plastic screw-like things on the back which hold the wires have come loose a couple of times.
Not to mention I've had to keep the bass on the lowest possible setting since day one because the subwoofer could easily drown the entire room in coarse, bleating bass that wasn't as precise as I'd like. Running the cables to the rear speakers was never something I fancied, either, and I think with this upgrade I'd like to get something that will fix these two issues - something (1) with bass that's a bit more precise and less overwhelming, and (2) rear speakers that are wireless to make the entire setup a bit more forgiving to a crowded room (like my dorm).
The Z-5450's seem to be on sale for ~$250 at plenty of places - including, of all dealers, CompUSSR - so they're selling for a pretty good price for the moment. The reviews I've seen have been mostly positive about sound quality. Their rear speakers don't have a rear receiver, so they'd be easier to position, but some have said they chew up other wireless signals (while others say the exact opposite). Their satellites seem to have a smaller profile, so they might be easier to fit in a cramped environment. And not that it matters, but they look a little boring.
The G550w's seem to be selling for no less than $320 or so. It's strange that a set of speakers at this price range would have basically no feedback, but I haven't been able to find any in-depth reviews. Maximum PC outright said that these were superior to the Z-5450's and had less hiss in the rear speakers, but that's about it for definitive feedback. I noticed that while no support for DTS 96/24 is mentioned, the few reviews of these I can find generally rave about the sound quality. The satellites have slightly less wattage than the 5450's, while the subwoofer is a bit more powerful. Also, the volume control knob is position on the top of the control module for these, which would be terrific for me. They also look pretty spiffy.
I've tried to read up about both the Z-5450's and the G550w's, but personal reviews of either - especially the G550w's - is largely absent because it seems most people don't tend to like such setups as opposed to, say, the Z-5500's. Any feedback would be appreciated!! 🙂
