Logitech Z-5500s the new Klipsch Killers

[PinchyCM]

ah, you should give the ultras a try - i like them a lot more than the gigas. the sound is a lot warmer IMO (the horns), and the sub just beats the socks out of any other MM system out there, even the gigas.

 

[SonicIce]

The Z-640's seem to have disappeared from Newegg 🙁

 

[sharkeeper]

I believe the sub on the Z5500 is really an 8" driver, and they put a second 10" cone on the outside to amplify the bass

That's called a passive radiator.

Anyways, one should not expect audiophile playback from a set of $400 speakers. Not going to happen.

Cheers!

 

[SonicIce]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper

I believe the sub on the Z5500 is really an 8" driver, and they put a second 10" cone on the outside to amplify the bass

That's called a passive radiator.

Anyways, one should not expect audiophile playback from a set of $400 speakers. Not going to happen.

Cheers!

You mean thats NOT alot of money?

 

[imported_Reck]

Why do people think audio bloat means quality? I never understood that...like the bloated murky sound of audigy 2...

 

[fstime]

Okay, who ever thinks the logitechs are better then the ultras is crazy, no way the logitechs can hit the same notes as the ultras.

They but a 10 inch sub in the same enclosure as the old 680 subwoofer, with the same port size, I highy doubt this subwoofer is differently tunned. Then again, I dont think logitech would give up their boomy subwoofers.

Fancied up 680's
Digital decoder
remote

Its seems who ever is buying these is paying for electronics rather than sound quality.

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: SonicIce

Originally posted by: sharkeeper

I believe the sub on the Z5500 is really an 8" driver, and they put a second 10" cone on the outside to amplify the bass

That's called a passive radiator.

Anyways, one should not expect audiophile playback from a set of $400 speakers. Not going to happen.

Cheers!

You mean thats NOT alot of money?

nope

considering you can easily drop tht much on a sinlge speaker.

I prefer the swan speakers myself 🙂

Text

I take these over th klipsche easily 😛

 

[fstime]

.

 

[PinchyCM]

you're right about 400 dollars sound "good.' but of coures, it's all relative, and what your ears are trained to hear.

i've used that swan set before, they're quite good, but they lack the finesse on the lower end, but i guess you can't expect too much out of what i like to think of "tiny bookshelves." i woulda actually reccomend a small set of axioms or mirages, paired with a smaller HT sub (svu comes to mind) instead of getting a set of swans. if you're going to go for a nice stereo setup (2 spkrs), why not drop a little more and never have to upgrade?

btw, whoever said thing thing about the A2 is right, it's not as musical as one may like. imo, that cheap chaintech card is better at reproduction. i have my on CLab's EMU card. 🙂

 

[tcrosson]

Maximum PC just had a review of these I think. It's too bad the cables are hard wired to the speakers otherwise they'd be a sure buy for me. 🙁

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: Adul

Originally posted by: SonicIce

Originally posted by: sharkeeper

I believe the sub on the Z5500 is really an 8" driver, and they put a second 10" cone on the outside to amplify the bass

That's called a passive radiator.

Anyways, one should not expect audiophile playback from a set of $400 speakers. Not going to happen.

Cheers!

You mean thats NOT alot of money?

nope

considering you can easily drop tht much on a sinlge speaker.

I prefer the swan speakers myself 🙂

Text

I take these over th klipsche easily 😛

You can get the M-Audio monitors for $400. Audiophile playback for the budget minded 🙂

 

[Algere]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Spikesoldier
id imagine so, it seems like they are switching to the newer 4 digit model numbers.

z2200
z5300
z5500

maybe first digit is satelites, and the remaining 3 numbers is wattage?

that makes sense...the z-2200s are 200 watts...

Unfortunately the Z-2300s aren't 300 watts 🙁

 

[The J]

If my MegaWorks 550s are any indication, the GigaWorks should be awesome. I got my Meagworks for $200 from newegg.com. They may have only one 3.5" driver, but they are very clear for my tastes (mostly rock music). I'm no audiophile, but I do know what sounds good and what doesn't. I think these sound very close to my brother's Klipsch ProMedia 4.1, though his do have _slightly_ better highs. The bass is very smooth as well, not boomy.

You guys are arguing over $400 speakers. I'll stick to my wonderful $200 MegaWorks.

EDIT: Perhaps I should add my points to this mess I call a post.

1. A one-driver solution doesn't make a speaker system bad by default. Like I said, my MegaWorks sound great. I don't know how great they are compared to what many of you listen to, but I'm very happy with them

2. It sounds like the topic poster really loves his speakers. Good for you! Though I do think calling the Klipsch speakers "tinny" is too harsh. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

[PinchyCM]

the 200 dollar megaworks are expectional speakers - they are amazingly articulate for having a single 3.5" driver. i love how the megaworks sound is so warm and neutral. the J, you are right about how they sound very close to the klipsch 4.1s...only bested because of the tweeter in the klipsch set. 🙂

 

[PinchyCM]

oh yeah, those logitechs aren't nearly as high of wattage as they claim. take apart the speaker, and look for yourself. 🙂 not even half the power if claims.

just for future reference, the claims made by manufacturer are generally WAY off, and aren't any indication of the quality of speakers.

 

[The J]

Good point, PinchyCM. Wattage really does mean nothing, not only because of what Pinchy said, but also because of the drivers' efficiency.

Example: Speaker A can handle 70W of power per speaker @ .3% THD. Speaker B can handle 50W of power per speaker also @ .3% THD. Speaker A needs 60W of power to play at 100dB. Speaker B needs 40W of power to do the same. As you can see, both can get very loud. This shows that higher wattage isn't necessarily better. The best factor for choosing speaker isn't specs, but how well you like the sound they produce.

 

[sharkeeper]

Heh you can easily spend ($400) on a single tweeter!

$400 is nothing in the realm of hifi. Trust me.

Then again, 99% of computer audio is a far cry from hifi...

Cheers!

 

[Painman]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Heh you can easily spend ($400) on a single tweeter!

$400 is nothing in the realm of hifi. Trust me.

Then again, 99% of computer audio is a far cry from hifi...

Cheers!

So true. I work for a specialty loudspeaker company. $400 would make a nice down payment on a pair of our entry level units!

But, we don't use $400 tweeters... they may be out there, but a person must enjoy geting ripped off to buy such a thing. 🙂

 

[PinchyCM]

lol, how true. a great reference series could easily cost you 10s of Ks.

 

[imported_amx]

my ref set HT costed me alot. not in the 10ks range but easily my system would cost around 5k+

New HT-2(updated 10/9/04)<BR>
- Philips 50" Plasma 50PF9956<BR>
- M&amp;K K Series 7.1 { K-7(F/C/R), k-5 (4 Rear), K-10(sub)<BR>
- Denon AVR - 4802R<BR>
- Denon DVD - 1910<BR>
- Dish Network 811 HD Receiver<BR>


HT-1(since 1999)<BR>
- Sony Wega 27"<BR>
- Bose ACM 15 5.1 speakers<BR>
- Denon AVR 3300<BR>
- Sony DVP S550D<BR>
- Philips CDRW Recorder player<BR>
- Denon Tape Deck<BR>
- Sony MD Recorder<BR>
- Sony VHS Recorder<BR>
- DishNetwork PVR<BR>
- XBOX<BR>
<BR>
PC<BR>
- P4-C 3.0 Ghz , Abit IC7-g, 1gb ram, 200gb+ disk<BR>
- Chaintech 7.1 card<BR>
- Promedia 4.1 + SWS<BR>


Also speakers are one thing that are very personal.
But i doubt that the 5500 are better then PM Ultras. Well i might be proven wrong when i hear them, but for now i dont buy it.

 

[RanDum72]

LOL, perhaps it is the jet engines then. Or perhaps it was your source? There is no way a Logitech sub can best the Ultra sub. OR their sats. NO WAY. Just look at the design. Do you honestly think that a single driver design is capable of producing good highs?

Actually, a single driver CAN produce good highs, its just that they tend to have less dispersion and are more directional. There are advantages of single, wide range drivers. One is coherency. Since sound is from a single source, it doesn't have any phase problems induced by cross-overs trying to match two drivers. You wonder why old people with less than perfect hearing love Bose speakers? Those single driver (or multiples of the same driver) speakers produce very CLEAR midrange, which is where human hearings hears the best. Some people think that the HIGHS make a speaker sound clearer but for me, a less than smooth tweeter makes a speaker harsh, bright and just hurts the ears. My church recently replaced the speakers (from a pair of 10-inchers with huge horn tweeters) with a SINGLE Bose 801 speaker (donated by a church member) positioned in the middle of the ceiling. It made such a huge difference in clarity that there are now more choir volunteers (no joke). Bottom line: Sound quality is SUBJECTIVE. If the guy thinks the new Logitech 5500's sound better than the Klipsch's, that's his opinion but it doesnt make him wrong. Personally, I thought Klipsch subs are boomy,based on my experience with a Reference series sub (RW-12, supposedly an upgrade from my older JBL sub, which I sold). I could NOT make that thing blend satisfactorily with my system (Polk RT55's mains, CS400i center, RT35 surrounds) and music sounded the same. Very loud but one-notey. I returned it to my local Good Guys store and got a build it yourself kit from Partsexpress. About the same price as the Klipsch but it has a massive 15-inch driver and a 1000watt RMS amp. It plays louder and deeper but is articulate enough to delineate different bass notes (probably due to its sealed, acoustic suspension design).

 

[dragonballgtz]

Maybe Anandtech should do a review on which set of speakers are better.

 

[PinchyCM]

we already know what's better.

 

[rbV5]

Newegg has these for $305 shipped btw

 

[CtK]

werent the Klipsch known for having their subs blow all the time??

and i really hope u didnt spend $399!!

love my Z-680s 😀