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Logitech Z-5500 5.1 Speakers |
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Written by John C.
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Tuesday, 11 April 2006 |
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Page 5 of 5
Sound Quality Testing
To test the Logitech Z-5500 Digital, I hooked the system up to my Home Theater PC system . The HTPC was powered by the Z-680 before so it was just a matter of swapping the speaker systems. Audio signal was
sent to the Logitech breakout box with a fiber optic cable and the digital optical input. Setting up the Logitech Z-5500 Digital was easier than the Z-680 thanks to the RCA connections used by the satellite
speakers. I was able to swap out the Z-680 for the Z-5500 in just 10 minutes.
So how does the Z-5500 compare with the Z-680 and is it worth the extra money? Essentially, the Z-5500 delivers the same hair-raising, floor shaking power as the Z-680, but is much easier to live with thanks
to a redesigned Digital SoundTouch Control Center and a few other tweaks here and there. The new control box looks a lot better than the old one and is a lot more easier to read thanks to the added contrast
in the display. Also, the new wheel is a lot more responsive - there is no lag when dialing up more volume.
Sound quality wise, the Z-5500 and Z-680 are very close to each other. This isn't surprising since they share the same satellite drivers. During testing the Z-5500 delivered the same amazing musical quality
I experienced with the Z-680. The sound from the satellite was open and clean with no muddiness to the midrange. Imaging was pin point accurate, the sound stage was wide, deep and extended well beyond the
physical boundaries of the speakers.
The big difference between the Z-680 and Z-5500 is in bass performance. The new 10 inch subwoofer used by the Z-5500 is a lot more efficient and can play a lot lower than the 8 inch unit used in the Z-680. I
had very little complaints about the Z-680 8 inch driver, but the 10 inch unit of the Z-5500 is downright incredible. When corner loaded, the Z-5500 subwoofer produced bass that was noticeably deeper at
higher volumes. You need to be very careful with the bass control or you'll completely over power the satellite speakers.
The only downside I can see for the Z-5500 is the attached speaker wires. While I'm not a "Golden Ear" by any means, I do like to replace my computer speakers wires with higher quality Monster cables. You
can't do that with the Z-5500 unless you want to take the enclosure apart. For people who always use the supplied wires, this won't be an issue as the 25 feet that comes with each speaker should be more than
enough for most rooms.
Pros:
- Amazing bass performance
- New improve looks over the Z-680
- Better SoundTouch Control Center
- Full feature remote
Cons:
- Speaker wires are attached to the speakers
Ready To Buy?
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