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Logitech Z-5500 + Audigy 2 ZS = good/bad?

S

Shivindragon

Member
I was reading a while ago that when these 2 are paired together they do not produce good results? Is this correct or do I have to buy some sort of additional cables for maximum listening experience?

I ask because I'm planning/thinking on picking up a set of Z-5500 this boxing day. 🙂
 
Completely false.

For the average user the combination is very good. Games are incredible, and music is great.

If you want PURELY music, get a M-Audio sound card.
 
I'm planning on using it play games (mostly) and music (usually like dance, techno etc etc). I've been playing a lot of WoW lately and I don't know how much of a difference having these new set of speakers will make. lol I'm currently using a set of Z-640's.
 
I've heard both, and I own the z-5500's. 640's are respectable for what they are, but the 5500's are absolutely amazing. The bass in dance and techno music will blow your mind.

- Go with the audigy 2
 
Heck no, its good. If you can find an X-Fi XtremeMusic for <$100, get it. I have the Platinum myself, and the difference between this and ALC850 onboard crap BLEW ME AWAY.
I love my Z-5500s ,they pound the living crap out of any other computer speaker systems I've ever heard, and alot of HTIB systems too. Go for it, you can't go wrong with the Z-5500s and a nice Creative card. Is it an Audigy 2, or an Audigy 2 ZS?
 
Originally posted by: Shivindragon
What does HTIB stand for? (sorry I don't know). I have an Audigy 2 ZS.
Click to expand...

Home Theater In a Box.
Since you already have the Audigy 2 ZS, just go ahead and grab the Z-5500. Most people don't notice as much of a difference going from something as good as the Audigy 2 ZS to the X-Fi as they do from onboard to the X-Fi.
 
Also, I was doing some research on this but I'm also wondering:

The Audigy 2 ZS decodes the Dolby signals(is this correct?) and so does the Z-5500, should I turn the decoding off on the ZS and let the z-5500 do it? or vice-versa? (which would be better)
 
Yes. Let the z-5500 do the decoding. If you want a digital signal, you can buy a digital audio coax cable and a Mono (STEREO WILL NOT WORK) RCA->1/8" Minijack adapter at Radio shack. However, digital is only good for movies, and other true 5.1 sources. I do not notice a difference between analog and digital.
 
oh ok thanks. So if I'm predominately gaming and just listening to music the standard cables it comes with is fine then?

btw where in settings do I turn off decoding for the ZS?
 
Well, it really doesn't apply to analog signals. When you use digital, you have to turn it off by going into the AudioHQ in your control panel, and selecting SPDIF Passthrough rather than the Audigy's decoder.

Analog however, just make sure to leave CMSS off in your EAX console. For music, use the ProLogic II Music effect in your z-5500 reciever, for games use 6 channel direct. Battlefield 2 at high volume and bass cranked is absolutely amazing. Feels like you're starting up a 500hp muscle car when you get in a buggy.
 
So far, I've absolutely loved the speaker/card combination. Music sounds great, and the bass will knock you over. Only one problem so far... I can't get the digital output to work!! I've tried everything, but can't figure it out. Maybe one of you guys can tell me what's wrong.

I bought the coax cable and MONO RCA to 1/8" miniplug to hook up to the Audigy 2 ZS PCMCIA. I set the card to do SPDIF passthrough, set the DVD viewer (Cyberlink PowerDVD) sound option to SPDIF, and chose DTS sound in the actual DVD menu options. I also made sure to turn off CMSS. In the THX Setup Console, I chose 5.1 speakers, but the option for digital output is not selectable! The only thing option it will let me choose is analog output! What the heck!!!
 
Originally posted by: bdswan
So far, I've absolutely loved the speaker/card combination. Music sounds great, and the bass will knock you over. Only one problem so far... I can't get the digital output to work!! I've tried everything, but can't figure it out. Maybe one of you guys can tell me what's wrong.

I bought the coax cable and MONO RCA to 1/8" miniplug to hook up to the Audigy 2 ZS PCMCIA. I set the card to do SPDIF passthrough, set the DVD viewer (Cyberlink PowerDVD) sound option to SPDIF, and chose DTS sound in the actual DVD menu options. I also made sure to turn off CMSS. In the THX Setup Console, I chose 5.1 speakers, but the option for digital output is not selectable! The only thing option it will let me choose is analog output! What the heck!!!
Click to expand...

Does digital work at all when you're just doing music for example?

Try using VLC media player and seeing if that program will let you pass a DD or DTS stream.
 
Tried the VLC media player, but no dice. I'm not really familiar with it, so I could have the wrong settings. Maybe you could let me know what I need to change for digital output.

Concerning music, I only get analog output because regular CD's don't put out a DTS signal. I was under the impression that analog was the only way possible with CD's.
 
Originally posted by: bdswan
Tried the VLC media player, but no dice. I'm not really familiar with it, so I could have the wrong settings. Maybe you could let me know what I need to change for digital output.

Concerning music, I only get analog output because regular CD's don't put out a DTS signal. I was under the impression that analog was the only way possible with CD's.
Click to expand...

Welcome to AT btw.

You should be able to use digital for everything. Although I'm not using that card, I have PCM stereo for output digitally when I'm not using a DD or DTS source.

Try to get digital stereo output for music going before dealing with the DD and DTS issues.

Setting the output to digital and the correct adapters should get you a digital signal for music.

 
I think I may have figured out the problem. I looked through the documentation for the audigy card and saw that the only cable they list for digital output is a Toslink to mini optical (1/8") cable. I didn't even know these existed. Neither have any of the Radio Shack's I've called (One of them didn't even know what toslink was!). I finally did find this cable at the monster website. I'll probably be ordering it tomorrow.

Here's the link: http://www.monstercable.com/productPage.asp?pin=790
Model: ILS100TM-1M
 
Originally posted by: sheik124
Originally posted by: Shivindragon
What does HTIB stand for? (sorry I don't know). I have an Audigy 2 ZS.
Click to expand...

Home Theater In a Box.
Since you already have the Audigy 2 ZS, just go ahead and grab the Z-5500. Most people don't notice as much of a difference going from something as good as the Audigy 2 ZS to the X-Fi as they do from onboard to the X-Fi.
Click to expand...


on board to X-Fi lol i bet you thought u died an woke up in the future or something
 
whats the cable management/miss-management like with these? i have some Z3's and looking to up the ante to the z-5500's but the cable management on these sucks to high heaven and theyre only 2.1¬!
 
Originally posted by: bdswan
I think I may have figured out the problem. I looked through the documentation for the audigy card and saw that the only cable they list for digital output is a Toslink to mini optical (1/8") cable. I didn't even know these existed. Neither have any of the Radio Shack's I've called (One of them didn't even know what toslink was!). I finally did find this cable at the monster website. I'll probably be ordering it tomorrow.

Here's the link: http://www.monstercable.com/productPage.asp?pin=790
Model: ILS100TM-1M
Click to expand...

I've never seen someone need an optical mini connection, but actually I don't think I've ever seen someone trying to hook up an A2zs PCMCIA card digitally.

I've never used a mini toslink connection, but it seems like you can just get an adapter and then run a regular optical cable.
adapter
6 foot cheap optical (different lengths available at cablesforless)

EDIT: another source is partsexpress
adapter
better quality cable

btw, I'm not sure if a mini-toslink is the kind of connection you need, but if it is, don't spend that much on a monstercable one.
 
Originally posted by: bdswan
Why not get a monster cable when you get it for 60% off?

I love having connections!🙂
Click to expand...

Why not?

Well...

1 meter monstercable is $40 + tax normally
= about $17 for you?

dayton adapter + 3 foot cable = $10 + shipping
cablesforless = $7 + shipping
 
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