Logitech Z-5500 vs. Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1

[hydrobr]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a 5.1 speaker setup that'll give me good results for music, games and movies and these two seem like good options. I can get them for about the same price so price isn't really an issue between the two. I play music at home pretty much any time I'm awake and spend an average of a few hours a day watching movies and playing games. I've heard a lot of good things about both of them and don't know which one to get.

There was a user comment on Cnet about the Logitechs having bare wires now? No more RCA connection. The bare connectors were a big plus for the Klipschs but it's unconfirmed.

Neither one has a wireless remote.. but the Logitechs have built in... decoder things. I don't imagine they will ever come in handy, though. If I get a real home theater I'll upgrade the speakers and I don't plan on connecting any consoles to the speakers.

So, I think, what it comes down to.. is which ones sound better?

update: scratch that about the remote... the Logitechs do have a wireless remote, however.. I'm usually at my desk so it's not a big bonus.. but it's kinda nice. Oh yeah, that and the fact that the Logitechs take digital input.

 

[LED]

Klipsch or Gigaworks by CLabs if you want digital and 7.1 upgradability

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I'm glad you know a real speaker system is a viable option. There's a couple issues with using a HT set, but if you're thinking of spending that much I think it's worth it.

I think Klipsch or the Cambridge Soundworks / Creative Gigaworks sets are good if you want to stay with computer speakers.

What's your budget?

 

[hydrobr]

I don't have a budget, per se. More like.. (in my mind) reasonable bounds. I'm building a system from the ground up that I hope will last me for many years to come (with an upgrade here or there) and I've got pretty much everything down except the monitor, speakers, mouse and mousepad. I have... functional alternatives of each for the time being.

My budget started out at $1000 and slowly moved up to and beyond $2000 as I began to actually research and put the system together on paper. So, there's no hard budget to stick to, but I don't want to spend too extravagently. The Klipsch's can be had for $265 shipped and the Logitech's for about the same amount, so it seems like a HT set would go well beyond computer speakers, budget-wise.

I actually came across your speaker thread when I was looking for speaker suggestions a few days ago and was kind of thrown off by the fact that people actually use real speaker setups for their computers. I'm very much a novice and can't even pretend to be an audiophile if only for lack of experience. I realize that a HT set would be far superior and that I would appreciate it, but I'm not sure if I am ready for that sort of commitment.

Something in that range would definitely be out of my budget, because I would want a good setup and I'm not, yet, willing to spend nearly as much (or more?) as I did on the rest on my computer just on sound.

I'd have to do a lot (days? weeks?) of research before buying into something that expensive. Also, I don't drive so it would be too big a hassle, right now to drive around to dealers and such listening to my options.

So uhm.. in conclusion? now isn't the time for me to get a real speaker system and I would be fairly pleased with a set of computer speakers.

That being said... is it important that I have digital input?

 

[hydrobr]

Originally posted by: LED
Klipsch or Gigaworks by CLabs if you want digital and 7.1 upgradability

According to this: http://www.thetechzone.com/?m=show&id=326&page=1 review the Gigaworks S750 is lacking in the music category and I will be using these speakers primarily for music so they're a no go.

Also, it looks like there's no digital input (unless you count the M-Port for portable Creative players) to the S750, giving it very little sway over the Klipsch's, which lacks the wireless remote, but is reviewed more highly sound-wise and is $100 cheaper, not to mention easier to get home (as I've mentioned, I don't drive).

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Alternative to computer speakers with a similar budget would be to get yourself a 2.0 or 2.1 set of real speakers to start with and add to them later on if you want to.

This would get you better music results, but if you want 5.1 right away, then I think computer speakers are your best option.

I don't drive either :Q

Digital input is dumb on computer speakers if you have a decent soundcard.

Unlike sending digital to a display that's digital (like DVI being better than analog for an LCD monitor), a digital sound signal needs to be converted to analog somewhere before it gets to the speakers themselves.

Sending digital out from your computer makes sense if you have a nice receiver / decoder external to your computer. Unless someone provides info to the contrary, I don't think the hardware inside the Logitech control pods is better than the results you'd get from a decent soundcard.

You can get an Audigy2 zs for $43 AR from zip zoom fly right now which would be a nice gaming card.

 

[hydrobr]

I would really like to have the 5.1 setup now for gaming and now that it looks like digital input is a non-issue, the Z-5500s have very little to hang on by (wireless remote) and I'm going to go ahead and get the Klipsch's. Thanks for the info YOyoYOhowsDAjello.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: hydrobr
I would really like to have the 5.1 setup now for gaming and now that it looks like digital input is a non-issue, the Z-5500s have very little to hang on by (wireless remote) and I'm going to go ahead and get the Klipsch's. Thanks for the info YOyoYOhowsDAjello.

If you can go out to a store and listen to the two sets, that would be a good idea too.

Maybe a local Circuit City or Best Buy would have them out to test?

 

[wildcat86]

I got the Logitech Z-5500's because of the digital connections, the built in Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, the wireless remote, and the control station is far more advanced than the Klipsch's.

 

[alcoholbob]

A lot of people have read that TechZone review and laughed out loud. Alot. Their reasoning is that the bass isn't as good (they like boomy systems!). Comparing multimedia subs is moot. They are cheap and all boomy. The differences are minor. I haven't met any sane music lover (other than hip hop I suppose) that doesn't turn down their multimedia sub to MINIMUM value. If you get the Gigas or the Logitechs, you will understand why (its just boomy, noise making sub; its not tight or a particularly enjoyable listening experience).

Mids and highs the Gigas have the Logitechs hands down, with a larger driver and actually having a tweeter (titanium no less). Under $500, there isn't a multimedia set that approaches the Gigaworks (the Klipsch 5.1 Ultra does have a very good multimedia sub though, it's often compared to the RW-8 which is $250 alone). If you have $1k you can drop cash on the Alienware ALS Klipsch 5.1 set, but otherwise, this is as good as you can get for the price.

Most of these surround setups don't beat Logitech for the PRICE (prorated price/performance), but beat it for overall music presentation.

 

[Excelsior]

Agreed Astrallite. My suitemate has his z5300 sub turned all the way down (as low as it will go) and it still isn't pleasant.

 

[LED]

Originally posted by: hydrobr

Originally posted by: LED
Klipsch or Gigaworks by CLabs if you want digital and 7.1 upgradability

According to this: http://www.thetechzone.com/?m=show&id=326&page=1 review the Gigaworks S750 is lacking in the music category and I will be using these speakers primarily for music so they're a no go.

Also, it looks like there's no digital input (unless you count the M-Port for portable Creative players) to the S750, giving it very little sway over the Klipsch's, which lacks the wireless remote, but is reviewed more highly sound-wise and is $100 cheaper, not to mention easier to get home (as I've mentioned, I don't drive).

That review is way off and Biased IMO as I've heard them both and there is no comparison between the Logitec's single Mid/high Drivers vs the Gigas 2 way and if you want Digital then all you have to do is add the Decoder.

For a better review that compares the Speakers head to head read this...

 

[wildcat86]

you mean add another $150 to the already $450 S750 set?

 

[LED]

Originally posted by: wildcat86
you mean add another $150 to the already $450 S750 set?

LOL if you wanna pay retail...you can probably find the decoder and the 5.1's for under that and then add 2 more speakers later if you want to upgrade to 7.1

 

[wildcat86]

Even still, its gonna be $500, might as well get a real HT setup (albeit a cheap one, but better than PC speakers nonetheless)

 

[LED]

Originally posted by: wildcat86
Even still, its gonna be $500, might as well get a real HT setup (albeit a cheap one, but better than PC speakers nonetheless)

That's debatable as I already had some klipsch and many people already have speakers so I just bought the Decoder for under $100 and added it to my Puter's Speakers

 

[wildcat86]

Originally posted by: LED

Originally posted by: wildcat86
Even still, its gonna be $500, might as well get a real HT setup (albeit a cheap one, but better than PC speakers nonetheless)

That's debatable as I already had some klipsch and many people already have speakers so I just bought the Decoder for under $100 and added it to my Puter's Speakers

Well I thought this thread was about purchasing a new set of speakers. The box just costs more money and adds more desk clutter. Might as well just get the Logitechs. I dont even understand the point of 7.1 over 5.1.

 

[LED]

7.1's are for side Speaks and the Decoder is info for the OP who wanted digi capabilities which the decoder does plus it can be hook up to other things ...

 

[alcoholbob]

Even still, its gonna be $500, might as well get a real HT setup (albeit a cheap one, but better than PC speakers nonetheless)

Where are you going to find an amplifier with a 500W torroidial transformer to fit in that $420 bill, to go with 7 x 2-way satellites with a 3.5" driver, titanium tweeter, and an 8" sub?

Most HT setups are messy 1-way fullrange 3-inch drivers, or might have a cloth dome tweeter. As for the amplifier? You'd be lucky if those "100x7" receivers you get in the package put out even 20 watts per channel.

I'd rather get that, and the decoder box, if I had to pay $100 more. Of course...I'm past satellite/sub systems, they are so not full range speakers.

 

[wildcat86]

I'm stealing this from another thread but:

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=476907 - $147.99 ONKYO 6.1 receiver

http://www.fluance.com/fluan5speaks.html - $259.99 5 speaker set

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdet...&Partnumber=300-634&raid=25&rak=daysub - $138.60 12" sub

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Astrallite

Even still, its gonna be $500, might as well get a real HT setup (albeit a cheap one, but better than PC speakers nonetheless)

Where are you going to find an amplifier with a 500W torroidial transformer to fit in that $420 bill, to go with 7 x 2-way satellites with a 3.5" driver, titanium tweeter, and an 8" sub?

Most HT setups are messy 1-way fullrange 3-inch drivers, or might have a cloth dome tweeter. As for the amplifier? You'd be lucky if those "100x7" receivers you get in the package put out even 20 watts per channel.

I'd rather get that, and the decoder box, if I had to pay $100 more. Of course...I'm past satellite/sub systems, they are so not full range speakers.

My tweeters aren't titanium but I'm happy with them
Random pic

I agree that most HT sets are pretty questionable in this pricerange, but you can get a pretty decent one from Onkyo for about this price 780

I think you're being a little hard on the amplifier ratings. Yeah, that the onkyo isn't putting out 110watts x 7, but it's probably higher than 20 watts

 

[orangat]

I think the reviewers at techreport use logitech MM sets as their reference set instead of a HT set.
Another review of the z680 described it as truly musical without any hint of boominess......

I haven't listened to a S750 set yet but going by their reputation, I would be shocked that the Giga is somehow more boomy and muddy than the 5500 since Logitechs trademark is the u-exaggerated, muddy boomy effect.

 

[alcoholbob]

The set looks nice, although Onkyo's bottom-range receivers are pretty questionable ^^

660W amp? I think not, Sound and Vision found their TX-SR502 to barely put out 45W continuous/channel : )

 

[jonesmaster]

klipsch, there is no other option.
i could spend time posting the differences in frequency ranges etc, but just look at it this way.
logitech is known for their mice and keyboards
creative is known for soundcards
klipsch is known for home audio.

buy klipsch

 

[alcoholbob]

Creative also owns Cambridge Soundworks, so I don't see why you should avoid them. Particularly since they strive for neutrality over brightness or warmness (or in Logitechs case, BOOM)