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Your thoughts on Logitech Z5500

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EvilComputer92

Golden Member


It's time for a speaker upgrade from my Logitech X-230 2.1 system which I paid around $45 for. I've been pretty happy with these speakers but I've been looking for a good upgrade around $150 to 200.

I've been wondering if wattage makes any difference in terms of audio quality at low volume levels or is purely for loudness. If I don't usually play at high volumes, would the G51
system be a better buy?

Also, how much of a difference would a sound card upgrade make
I'm using Realtek onboard audio which is alright for 2.1, but it supports up to 5.1. However would it be worth $70 to for an X-Fi. For example, would a Z5000 with onboard audio sound better than a G51 with an X-Fi?

I'm mainly using the system for games and music, almost no movies.

Thanks

 
The z-5500 with onboard should sound better than g51 with x-fi but it depends on what kind of onbaord sound you are talking about. If you are using something like ac-97 then maybe not, but if you are using one of the newer HDA then it would be close to an x-fi. It also gives you room in the future for a new soundcard if you wanted to add one. I have the z-5500's myself, and im using the asus xonar d2 with them atm, and there was a huge difference in sound quality when i went from my old soundcard (sb live 24bit, similar quality to the realtek alc 888 onboard) to the xonar.
 
Typically, the better speaker will sound much better than the upgrade in sound card. However, if your onboard sound is anything like my laptop's, an upgrade in the sound card will lower the noise floor considerably (ie eliminating system noises). By upgrading either of them, you are solving 2 separate problems that all add into the same "sound quality" picture. If your onboard sound doesn't make squeeks, pops, fizz, and other assorted noises, then upgrade the speakers as high as possible, perhaps into real speakers.

If you cannot setup 5.1 sound correctly (google Dolby, and hit up their speaker setup page), then I would recommend you invest all of your money on excellent front speakers. $200 is where you start getting some nice powered studio professional monitors from the likes of maudio, krk, and other companies. $400 brings you into even better speakers from the likes of Mackie and others.
 
Thanks for the replies. So would it be a better idea to stay with 2.1 speaker system like the M audio AV40
and add a X-Fi to it?

I looked at the Dolby speaker placement guide but that shows the layout in a home theater environment. I have my PC on a rectangular desk
with an identical rectangular desk about 5 feet behind me. So I think 5.1 would still be pretty effective.

Also what exactly does speaker wattage indicate, is this simply a measure of how loud the speaker
system gets? The M audio ones have only 40 watts while the Z5500 are 500.

So far with the replies I'm thinking a G51 and X-Fi, am I getting the wrong impression here?

 
Originally posted by: EvilComputer92
Thanks for the replies. So would it be a better idea to stay with 2.1 speaker system like the M audio AV40
and add a X-Fi to it?

I looked at the Dolby speaker placement guide but that shows the layout in a home theater environment. I have my PC on a rectangular desk
with an identical rectangular desk about 5 feet behind me. So I think 5.1 would still be pretty effective.

Also what exactly does speaker wattage indicate, is this simply a measure of how loud the speaker
system gets? The M audio ones have only 40 watts while the Z5500 are 500.

So far with the replies I'm thinking a G51 and X-Fi, am I getting the wrong impression here?
Click to expand...

It depends what your "needs" are. I, for example, have a high tendency towards music listening, so 2.0 setup was more my cup of tea. Of course, are you a bass head? If you are, you may want to think about the investment of a subwoofer.
 
Well if you using onboard and it has digital out the z-5500 will be able to decode that for you so you can avoid interference and other junk that happens with onboard sound. You wouldnt have to bother with a actual sound card at all at first.

I am personally not a fan of creative cards, I prefer ones that use the cmedia oxygen chip, eg auzentech x meridian, razer barracuda ac-1, its a awesome chip.

I disagree with the "unable to setup 5.1 correctly" part, I mean unless you cant actually be within the speakers 5.1 is still much much much better than 2.1


But man I love the z5500's
 
asus xonar dx (pci-e 1x) or d1 (pci) go for ~$80-90 and have better analog sound quality than the x-fi's (except the elite pro) but have no hardware acceleration. They also only have emulated eax support above eax 2 compared to the x-fi's.
 
The bass on the z-5500's in my opinion is very good but it can get sloppy/overpowering if you have the sub volume level set too high. I have the sub volume set to 3 bars (out 9 bars total) and it sounds very very good in my opinion. When set to 9 bars (I wouldnt recommend setting it past 5 bars out of 9), the bass is sloppy and will definitely drown out the other sounds. When I first got the speakers (replaced a cheap logitech 2.1 system) it blew me away even though i had it hooked up to a crappy sb live 24bit. I was blown away again when i grabbed the xonar d2.
 
Originally posted by: TC91
The bass on the z-5500's in my opinion is very good but it can get sloppy/overpowering if you have the sub volume level set too high. I have the sub volume set to 3 bars (out 9 bars total) and it sounds very very good in my opinion. When set to 9 bars (I wouldnt recommend setting it past 5 bars out of 9), the bass is sloppy and will definitely drown out the other sounds. When I first got the speakers (replaced a cheap logitech 2.1 system) it blew me away even though i had it hooked up to a crappy sb live 24bit. I was blown away again when i grabbed the xonar d2.
Click to expand...

Sound quality of computer speakers are very poor in my opinon. A pair of book shelf speakers along with a receiver will have much better sound quality.

I found the Z-5500 to have very boomy and one noted bass. The satellites definitely have recessed mids too. This is from personal experience. I thought they sounded very good when I got them but it's only after I've upgraded to book shelf speakers do I really realized how poorly the Logitech sounded.

$150 in used a pair of book shelf and receiver > $150 of 5.1 Z-5500.

If the op is desperately in need of a 5.1 setup. I would suggest the op to visit shoponkyo.com since they often have those refurbished home theater in a box setup on sale in addition to $10 discount for signing up and another 10% off every now and then.

Logitech would be my VERY last resort.
 
I have owned the Z-5500's for a couple of years, and just this Christmas (what better time? get half of it for free) decided to switch to analog outs from the X-FI to a receiver, and use some bookshelf speakers instead.

The Logitech's may sound pretty good compared to other PC speakers on the market, but they can't hold a candle to almost any decent home theater system. Of course the home theater systems will often cost a bit more (they don't have to cost -that- much tho), so it is all up to how much you think you want.

As for the Z-5500's sound in particular; the 3" drivers on the satellites are obviously too small to produce any low frequencies, so most mid range content is smeared and muffled, because the sub has to make up for them. In order for the sub to do this, its crossover frequency is set very high, and has quite the peak at around 150hz, I would say the Z-5500's sub is loudest at that frequency, which is very far from ideal. With all that said, it still comes down to what you want, if you can check out some speakers at Best Buy or something, see if the difference is worth it to you, because I'm sure they will have some PC, and home theater speakers setup.
 
Utterly Ridiculous Department:

Two months after owning the Z5500's the remote control stopped working.

And that's not the ridiculous part.

Logitech won't provide - nor sell - you a replacement.

Well they will but get this:

You have to box up the control pod and send it back to Logitech there in Phoenix, Arizona.

They in turn will send you a new remote control and

a new control pod

five new speakers

and a new subwoofer.

So what do you do with the ones you already had??????????

You can't sell them on Craigslist. You can't sell them on eBay.

You can't sell them because they're useless, THEY WILL NOT WORK. You throw them in the trash because the ones you already had won't work with the new control pod Logitech just sent you.

Freakin' ridiculous on Logitech's part.

Note that your remote control for the Z55oo WILL FAIL ON YOU. That much is a given. Remote controls always fail before any other part of the unit does. So be prepared.

Why Logitech can't sell the public a new Z5500 remote conrol is beyond me. Vizio sent me a new remote control when the one for my TV failed. They didn't even hesitate. They just sent it to me via U.P.S.

Think about it. All you need is a remote control that's just a little bit bigger in size than a pack of smokes. And in return Logitech is gonna send you a big old box full of audio hardware. Ridiculous...
 
Wait. Let me get the story straight.

So your remote broke. Logitech is willing to send you a replacement of the whole set (for free) but you just need to send them your remote (save you shipping?).

Is that the story I'm getting?
 
Originally posted by: moonboy403
Wait. Let me get the story straight.

So your remote broke. Logitech is willing to send you a replacement of the whole set (for free) but you just need to send them your remote (save you shipping?).

Is that the story I'm getting?
Click to expand...

Yes, that's right.

It's a major hassle because that means I'll wind up with a grand total of 1 remote control, 1 control pod, 2 BIG subwoofers, and 10 stupid little freakin' speakers.

One subwoofer and five speakers will be USELESS as in DYSFUNCTIONAL as in WORTHLESS which means the burden is on me to get rid of them or... toss them in the dumpster.

Stupid Logitech.

 
What's wrong with tossing them in a dumpster? How hard would that be?

If they made you ship the whole dang setup to them, your shipping cost would be through the roof!
 
My storage space is extremely limited. I'll be able to keep all the extra components for 24 hours tops. After that, they gotta go.

I don't like the idea of tossing them in the dumpster. It's an environmental thing. But if politicians don't care about the good of the country, why should I?

AND BESIDES, THIS IS A CORPORATE ISSUE. IF LOGITECH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT WHY SHOULD I CONCERN MYSELF WITH IT.

I'm not the only one. There are people out there in the same exact situation I'm in. Logitech does not give us a good choice in the matter.

There are much better ways for Logitech to handle something like this. Whoever drew up the remote control replacement plan should be demoted or fired. He, or she, is an idiot. Someone who apparently doesn't care about the environment.
 
If you want high-quality PC speakers, go buy either some powered studio monitors (Guitar Center has loads of them) or a receiver and some proper speakers. Either will be better than Logitech's best efforts.

Originally posted by: Soul Reputation
My storage space is extremely limited. I'll be able to keep all the extra components for 24 hours tops. After that, they gotta go.

I don't like the idea of tossing them in the dumpster. It's an environmental thing. But if politicians don't care about the good of the country, why should I?
Click to expand...

Neither reducing nor recycling is as important as the third R: Re-using.

Wanna ship 'em to me?
 
You can sell the set on ebay or craigslist, not everyone needs the remote...

Additionally you can have two functionally Z-5500 sets and just carry the remote with you from one room to the other.

Seems like win-win, unless you don't like the Z-5500s...which I don't.

Still, if you don't need them, I'll take them for free!
 
I've had the Logitech Z-5500's for probably about 18 months now, and they are still probably the favorite part of my PC. They're not perfect, but you get a lot of sound (and decent quality sound) for not a whole lot of money.

I'm running mine with onboard sound on a pretty high quality motherboard and think the sound great over all. They highs are actually better then I expected from the single driver sats, mids are rich and come through strong, and the bass is very powerful. The bass isn't as tight as it could be in the big ported box, but it's not by any means what I consider muddy either. It never sounds garbled during fast drum/bass beats, but it certainly isn't as distinctive as the sealed 12" Audiomobile MASS subs I have in my car either.

They are rated at 505 watts, but at something like 10% distortion, so it's misleading... but that being said, the Z-5500's get uncomfortably loud well before you reach full volume. Really the only time I use anything over 3/4 volume is when I'm showing them off to someone... there's just no point for me going higher then that as that level is already loud enough to leave my ears ringing.

With bass-y tracks and the sub turned up passed the default level things quite literally shake off shelves and my desk. I've knocked down more then a couple pictures since I've gotten these speakers much to the displeasure of my wife. For a single 10" woofer it holds it's own pretty well.

I really, really like these speakers for gaming. I use the direct outputs on my current motherboard (used optical on my past board... I don't know what the difference is other then optical seemed to be louder at a given volume level) and let the Z-5500 do the decoding. The different channels come through very disticntly. Before these speakers I had an average 2.1 setup, since getting these I don't think I'd want to go back to a 2.1 setup for gaming. The 5.1 really adds a whole new element to gaming for me, the surronds and seperate speaker channels really add to the atmosphere of games.

I know you said you wouldn't use them for movies much, but for whatever it's worth you may want to watch a movie or two once you get these. 🙂

Anyway, I have these speakers and really like them. You can certainly do better for more money by getting a receiver and buying good quality speakers all around, but these are hard to beat at the $250 range. They have lots of imputs also. My wife keeps her MP3 player connected to them so she can listen to music when she scrapbooks if I'm not using the PC.

Anyway, good luck with them if you do end up buying, though I'm sure you'll like them.
 
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