Replace Logitech Z-5500 satellites with other speakers

[MyLeftNut]

I just bought myself a set of Logitech Z-5500s and these speakers really suck which I would guess due to the lack of a tweeter. I'd like to replace the 2 front speakers with the 2 speakers from my Edifier S2.1d setup, but I don't know much about speaker specifications; especially the input impedance.

Logitech Z-5500 Satellite Impedance: 8 Ohms
Edifier S2.1d Satellite Impedance: 4 Ohms

So would I be able to swap 2 speakers out without any problems? I wouldn't want anything to go wrong or mess up cuz of the impedance.


Thanks

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well there are a few things that you might run into trouble with using other speakers with a z-5500 setup.

-sensitivity mismatch
-impedence mismatch
-crossover mismatch

For sensitivity mismatch, all you'd have to do to compensate is in your soundcard controls, adjust the output level of the FR/FL so that they'll match the volume output of the center channel given the same signal. You'd want to do this anyway with the speakers given that the distance from the listening position will probably be different for each speakers (especially the surrounds) unless you have an ideal setup where you were able to get them the right distance on stands already.

For impedance mismatch, giving the z-5500s a 4-ohm speaker to drive rather than a 8-ohm speaker would make the amp work harder to drive those speakers. I haven't tried to run a 4-ohm speaker off a logitech setup so I'm not sure how well they'd handle that. A 4-ohm speaker will be a more difficult load for the Logitech set to drive, but you could certainly try it. The amp on the sub might get hotter, you might run into distortion quicker on the front two speakers, and you might end up blowing the z-5500 fuse. If you keep volumes reasonable and aren't trying to set any records with them, then you should be able to run it with those speakers though.

For the crossover mismatch, I'm not sure what the crossover specs are on the Edifier setup, but I'm guessing it's going to be pretty comparable. If there were a big crossover difference, you could either be not getting the full benefit of the speaker change, or you might be asking the speakers to play frequencies lower than they're designed to do so which could lead to some issues. I think you're probably safe on this point though.

 

[MyLeftNut]

Thanks for the detailed advice. I think I'll look around to see what others with the z5500s have done with their in terms of swapping speakers. I really can't stand these speakers, they just suck that much. I only want to keep them cuz of the surround sound and the hardware decoder. Perhaps that's a way I can hookup both the Edifiers and Logitech together on my soundcard, one on coaxial and one on optical and have winamp or something send out through coaxial, while everything else through optical.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Amazing how many good reviews sets like that get from people who have either not heard anything better or are unable to tell the difference between something like the Logitech sets and something that actually sounds good.

As an alternative to your dual hookup idea, you might also think about replacing the 8-ohm Logitech satellites with some "real" speakers. Most affordable passive speakers are going to be 8-ohms with sensitivity in a good range to be driven by the power of the z-5500 sub. I've driven regular 8-ohm bookshelf speakers off a Logitech sub in the past with no issues. Of course with the set crossover point you wont get the added benefit of better bass reproduction by more capable speakers, but getting 8-ohm bookshelf speakers will eliminate any impedence problems.

 

[MyLeftNut]

Yeah, I've thought about getting myself a decent pair of studio monitors but these Edifiers are good enough for now and since I have them on hand. They're actually pretty good satellites.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Yeah, it's good to use stuff you already have when possible

Also thinking ahead... powered studio monitors might get tricky to try to integrate into the z-5500 system if that's your plan (vs. passive speakers / monitors)

 

[MyLeftNut]

What kinda problems might I encounter when trying to integrate active studio monitors with a z5500 system?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: MyLeftNut
What kinda problems might I encounter when trying to integrate active studio monitors with a z5500 system?

Well if you're going to hook up passive speakers to the z-5500s, you can just connect them with speaker wire and control the volume of the whole system with the z-5500 control pod.

With Active Monitors with their own amplification, you're probably not going to be able to connect them via high-level speaker wires out of the z-5500 sub... so you'd have to split off the signal at the soundcard or something.

The hardware decoding feature that you like wouldn't work for you if the speakers aren't connected via speaker wire to the sub.

If you're just using them independently though, then it doesn't really matter. I'm just saying that you could integrate passive speakers into the z-5500s and try to get the best of both worlds vs. having two independent setups connected to the computer at once.

 

[MyLeftNut]

I just got my Edifiers hooked up again, and what a huge difference it makes in sound quality. I got the Edifiers hooked up via optical to my av-710 and the logitechs to my onboard soundmax adi optical. At least I can now have both sets run independently. Only drawback is that it's pretty much program specific. I haven't found a way to have windows vista or xp determine that all music goes through one soundcard while movies go through the other soundcard. Have you heard of any ways I can do this? Btw, I was thinking of switching the speaker cables on the z5500 (currently 18 awg) for some 12 or 14 awg, you think that'll make much of a difference? Perhaps the 18 awg wires supplied could be partly hindering the sound quality?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: MyLeftNut
I just got my Edifiers hooked up again, and what a huge difference it makes in sound quality. I got the Edifiers hooked up via optical to my av-710 and the logitechs to my onboard soundmax adi optical. At least I can now have both sets run independently. Only drawback is that it's pretty much program specific. I haven't found a way to have windows vista or xp determine that all music goes through one soundcard while movies go through the other soundcard. Have you heard of any ways I can do this? Btw, I was thinking of switching the speaker cables on the z5500 (currently 18 awg) for some 12 or 14 awg, you think that'll make much of a difference? Perhaps the 18 awg wires supplied could be partly hindering the sound quality?

Speaker cable is not going to make the problems go away.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: MyLeftNut
I just got my Edifiers hooked up again, and what a huge difference it makes in sound quality. I got the Edifiers hooked up via optical to my av-710 and the logitechs to my onboard soundmax adi optical. At least I can now have both sets run independently. Only drawback is that it's pretty much program specific. I haven't found a way to have windows vista or xp determine that all music goes through one soundcard while movies go through the other soundcard. Have you heard of any ways I can do this? Btw, I was thinking of switching the speaker cables on the z5500 (currently 18 awg) for some 12 or 14 awg, you think that'll make much of a difference? Perhaps the 18 awg wires supplied could be partly hindering the sound quality?

Speaker cable is not going to make the problems go away.

Yeah, it's the whole system that's the problem. Don't put any more money into it. Save up for something better that you'll really like rather than trying to upgrade the system.

 

[Dooka]

Wow and I thought I was learning and had it all figured it out, and now I see I missed the theory of ohms
I was trying to hook up some 4ph Bose outdoor model 101 speakers. Or some 8phm Polk rt3 bookshelf speakers.
But it sounds like 4 ohm will blow the z5500. Does that sound right. And if so do you think the Polk rt3 bookshelf at 8ohm could work. I'm going for as loud as possible without pushing it enough. thanks!

 

[ashingtray]

Hi guys, i'm interested to swap my Sony Speakers from my Pioneer Amp to my Logitech Z5500 center speaker, think it might work? I keep studying my Sony Speakers that read Speaker Impedance 80, is that 8 ohms? I don't want to strain my Logitech z5500 amp and fxxckup the center speaker either. I'm just how they would sound in both switched setups. Do advise pros... Thanks ahead!

 

[corkyg]

Resurrecting an 8 year old necro post is not the best way to ask a question. FYI, this is a good explanation of speaker impedance and how affects sound. You can blow out any speaker with too much amplifier power.

http://www.audiogurus.com/learn/speakers/speaker-impedance-rating/1092