[Review] Logitech z-5500

[MikeCoz]

ok i think im gonna get these speakers and audigy 2 zs... is that the best choice? I am a noob at all the audio stuff so I hope I don't have any problems hooking it all up. i keep hearing everyone talking about a digital coax cable is this something I want? does it sound fine without that? somebody help im confused lol

all together it's gonna cost me 391.53 from amazon (free shipping!) i can't beileve i'm spending this much on speakers. i'm so scared cause I hope I can set it up alright. I mainly will use it for listening to music (mp3) sometimes games and rarely movies

[MikeCoz]

I can't update the above post so I have one more question...

Is it bad if I set up the speakers like this? (see paint picture lol) theres no way I could put these speakers behind me because i have open space behind me and I would not like stands behind my chair with messy wires and stuff.

[knowleqe]

i would think that it would sound off. being that they are designed to surround you and wouldnt work to their full ptential if they are all facing you

[pOKa]

hiya guys, i got mine only yesterday too, when i took it out, i was really surprised that the wires and speakers are seperate! Hooked it up, and omg damm best speakers ive ever bought.

Took all my collection of CDs and started playing and listening to them the whole day!!

then played some CS:Source, DAMN, HL2, DAMN x2, DOOM3, DAMNx3!! ( scary game :no: )

Im really happy with it, specially that i got these new ones with detacheble wires, super lucky. Ill prolly upgrade them somewhere up the road. but right now, super happy.

Save up! buy it!

PS: I have a mini fridge in my room and it's not a fridge! What is it??

[arj]

hiya guys, i got mine only yesterday too, when i took it out, i was really surprised that the wires and speakers are seperate!? Hooked it up, and omg damm best speakers ive ever bought.

Took all my collection of CDs and started playing and listening to them the whole day!!

then played some CS:Source, DAMN, HL2, DAMN x2, DOOM3, DAMNx3!! ( scary game?:no:o:? )

Im really happy with it, specially that i got these new ones with detacheble wires, super lucky. Ill prolly upgrade them somewhere up the road. but right now, super happy.

Save up! buy it!

PS: I have a mini fridge in my room and it's not a fridge! What is it??

585501350[/snapback]

Where did you get yours man? I got mine from C-Zone on Saturday. I'm not to bothered about the cables but I do hope that I get the detachable version. Haven't even open the box yet as I'm busy with some stuff right n:D :D

Edited February 20, 2005 by arj

[pOKa]

Hi Arj,

I got mine from JB, Landmark Mall, for rm1699, cheap huh? :)

Speaking of Which i got a BIG Question man, Im trying to hook it up digitally, so i went out to buy Coaxial Cable, but iit doesnt fit Augigy 2' ZS's Digital Out.

Any idea pls?? What kinda cable to i need exactly??

Thanks :)

[Dejon]

3.5MM Mini-Jack To RCA Y-Splitter.

[pOKa]

oh hmmm Ok thanks :)

Is that 3.5mm mini jack = 1/8 mini-plug ?

and RCA Y-Splitter = Coaxial?

Therefore i need a Coaxial to Miniplug Cable? yas?

[pieroxy]

I was planning to get a 5500 for my living room. After all, it handles DD/DTS, has a 5.1 input, and that's all I need listen to music, watch TV and DVDs!

Can anyone provide feedback for this usage? I guess what I was wanted to know was how can this system be compared to, say, a Yamaha YHT150 or a ONKYO HT-S570S which are in the exact same price range?

Here are these products at amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...onics&n=3025451

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...onics&n=3025451

[pOKa]

I just got that 3.5mm mimi plug to RCA wire, and it's working under Coax, w00t.

Thanks for the advice. seriously, not much a difference in sound, but zero static if had any. and u get to play your music under DOlby PL II Music and other effects. which is pretty cool.

[plaskos]

Wow the wait is killing me, how much longer can Logitech's flagship speakers be sold out off their main page :(

[G0rd0n]

Will digital out and DTS work if I only have an Audigy LS? Should I still buy it given that I have that soundcard? :blush:

[Daza]

No. So long as you have a soundcard that supports SPDIF pass through you'll be able to get DTS/DD. Essentially mostly all cards do the same thing (pass the digital signal to the logitech DAC) with either optical or coax. So really an onboard soundcard that has SPDIF should suffice. Select SPDIF in powerdvd or windvd in the audio tab to get DD/DTS this should result in 'Dolby Digital' or 'DTS' on the LCD pod.

Will digital out and DTS work if I only have an Audigy LS? Should I still buy it given that I have that  soundcard? :blush:

585519225[/snapback]

[plaskos]

I was wondering, my motherboard (Asus A8V Deluxe) has S/PDIF optical out and S/PDIF coaxial out, but currently I have Logitech Z-5300's so I've been using my Audigy 2 ZS to output to my speakers.

Now I have ordered the Z-5500 through my employee purchase discount program (got it half price) and I'm waiting for it to ship, once I get the 5500's should I get the mono y RCA splitter to do coaxial out through the Audigy 2 or just use what my motherboard has to offer onboard?

I'm thinking if I end up using my onboard optical out I could get a nice cable from work (future shop) since I get all monster cables at cost, but do I lose anything by not passing the signal through the Audigy 2 zs card?

[G0rd0n]

No, I shouldn't buy it? I currently have the Z-640s.

[pOKa]

Well, im using A8V deluve as well, but i didnt use its onboard sound at all. Im using Audigy2 ZS and using 6 Channel Direct and it sounds great, Im only using Coaxial to play DVDs :blink:

If u choose to use A8V deluxe u get Optical yes, less fuss as well. So try it i guess, no idea how A8V sound like. :whistle:

[Daza]

, once I get the 5500's should I get the mono y RCA splitter to do coaxial out through the Audigy 2 or just use what my motherboard has to offer onboard? 

I'm thinking if I end up using my onboard optical out I could get a nice cable from work (future shop) since I get all monster cables at cost, but do I lose anything by not passing the signal through the Audigy 2 zs card?

585520122[/snapback]

Don't waste your money on an audigy (unless you want to use analogue and let the audigy do all the processing) if you're planning on using it digitally it'll make no difference. Use the onboard audio and pass the signal through SPDIF and let the logitech DAC do the 'hard work' which is what you'll be doing with the audigy anyway.

[plaskos]

Don't waste your money on an audigy (unless you want to use analogue and let the audigy do all the processing) if you're planning on using it digitally it'll make no difference. Use the onboard audio and pass the signal through SPDIF and let the logitech DAC do the 'hard work' which is what you'll be doing with the audigy anyway.

585520725[/snapback]

thing is, I already have the audigy 2 ZS :p but now that my new speakers will be digital I guess theres no advantage what so ever to keeping it since my onboard can take care of it. So looks like im selling the audigy card :)

[M/\TT]

I wouldn't say no to the newer revision of these speakers with detachable speaker wires :D

[G0rd0n]

Is it kinda pointless buying these speakers if I'm powering it with an Audigy LS?

[plaskos]

Is it kinda pointless buying these speakers if I'm powering it with an Audigy LS?

585522234[/snapback]

Just took a quick look at the specs of your card :

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigyls/specs.asp

Sound Blaster? Audigy? LS On-Board Connectors

* Analog / Digital Out (Analog Center & Subwoofer / 5-channel SPDIF Output)

* Line in

* Microphone in

* Line level out (Rear)

* Line level out (Front) / Headphone out

* Telephone Answering Device in

you should be able to get a really nice sound out of the speakers, I doubt your sound card would drag them down or anything.

[Gotchaforce]

anyone here RMAd z680s for the z5500s? one of my satelites sounds considerably weaker (its the speaker because i have moved the speaker from front left to front right to rear left) and the white noise seems to be getting LOUDER to be honest. the z5500s have no white noise, and now that they come with speaker wire i really want them...

unfortunately, someone said they shipped their speakers to logitech and he got the z5500s back after 3 months! i dont wanna wait 3 months. :|

[dupfold1]

Hello

I have the z-5500 and thanks to this forum I have now successfully set-up the digital connections so that I now get dolby digital when watching films.

However, there is a prob. When listening to music, the direct input sounds alot clearer and shaper than coax, any ideas why this is as I though coax was meant to be better quality?

With coax it sounds as if the instruments have been set-back into the foreground where as with direct they sound up front and very crisp.

Edited February 25, 2005 by dupfold1

[pacifica]

i'm ordering a new system today or tomorrow. i just may get these. thanks for the review i've been reading up trying to see what i wanted in an audio system.

mwave lists their price at $262

link

newegg lists at $269

link

[pOKa]

Here are some pictures of my Z5500 i got last week to complement my beast :p

I have already posted these pictures under Gamer's Hangout here : https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...c=134609&st=240

Reposting just for Z5500 fans :) Enjoy!