[Review] Logitech z-5500

[Thingfish]

They can be gotten from pricewatch for 222 Shipped now. 222 Total cost.

[ayaps_syco]

:( hi, anybody here know the dimension for z-5500 sus (LxWxH) i really need to know....plz...

[Shaidar]

I have the Logitech Z-680, which is a very nice set too ...

I have an opportunity to sell my Z-680 for a lot of cash, and I could buy a new Z-5500 with just a little extra cash ...

What would you do? Go for it, or stay with the Z-680?

[Dennis]

I would go for it. The Z-5500 is alot better in my opinion than what the Z-680 is capable of.

[Shaidar]

Alright ... He'll cost me around 45? .. that's not too ba:p:p

[mrogers]

:( hi, anybody here know the dimension for z-5500 sus (LxWxH) i really need to know....plz...

585962506[/snapback]

Depth: 18"

Width: 13"

Height: 13"

[mrogers]

.. great

they were $239.99 earlier this month, anyways, this is all moot.

I want to know if oddcrap is lying or not, i suspect hes lying because nowhere on dell are they $250 (or $240, like he said in his PM back to me, which still didnt contain a link).

no, it doesnt exist, i dont even know why i questioned myself, i scour slickdeals and deals of america all day, i would know of all the deals myself.

585936620[/snapback]

Wow, aren't you arrogant...you don't believe oddcrap and you don't believe me just because YOU can't find the deals.

Here's the thread that I started on FatWallet when the $245 with free shipping deal was going on:

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messagevie...yword1=Z%2D5500

[smash1820]

I just bought these speakers and mounted them on my wall and have just a few questions. First of all, you should know that my set of speakers uses the RCA input.

So, I am wondering:

1) Why my back 2 rear speakers are VERY quiet in PLII Music mode? I can hardly hear any sound coming out of them.

2) Why ONLY the front 2 speakers are working (getting any sound) in 6 Channel Direct mode?

3) Why my center channel does not produce any sound in Stereo x2 mode?

I am assuming this is just a configuration problem, but I don't know how to fix it. I have the three wires going from the Console to my sound card in their matching colors -- green to green, orange to orange, and black to black.

Can anyone please explain why this might be, or how I can fix this?

PS: I have an Audigy 2 sound card.

[MikeCoz]

I just bought these speakers and mounted them on my wall and have just a few questions. First of all, you should know that my set of speakers uses the RCA input.

So, I am wondering:

1) Why my back 2 rear speakers are VERY quiet in PLII Music mode? I can hardly hear any sound coming out of them.

2) Why ONLY the front 2 speakers are working (getting any sound) in 6 Channel Direct mode?

3) Why my center channel does not produce any sound in Stereo x2 mode?

I am assuming this is just a configuration problem, but I don't know how to fix it. I have the three wires going from the Console to my sound card in their matching colors -- green to green, orange to orange, and black to black.

Can anyone please explain why this might be, or how I can fix this?

PS: I have an Audigy 2 sound card.

585983682[/snapback]

ok im no expert but i'll try to help since i got a set of these speakers...

1.my speakers are louder in the front and echoy in the back

2.did you set you speakers advanced settings (sound and audio devices in control panel) to 5.1?

3. your center speaker isnt supposed to work in stereo x2 (hence the x2) two front and two back

hopefully that helps a little bit

[smash1820]

Thanks Mike, that helped out a little bit. I had no idea that the center channel isn't supposed to work in Stereo x2 mode.

My friend brought over the Audigy 2 CD with all the controls on it, and I installed all the programs to configure my speakers. I think I have them fixed now, because they sound great. All 5 speakers working in 6 channel direct mode now, with the front speakers a bit quiter than the rear ones to emphasize special effects and all that and to even out the tone in my small room.

These speakers are amazing!! I popped in the Lord Of The Rings: Two Towers DVD and tested out the sound with this movie; it was astonishing. It actually felt like I was in a movie theater, and that's just using the regular cables that came out of the box, no digital or Coax input like that (btw, what is Coax anyways??)

Which brings me to my next question. I know you need an extra wire to go digital or coax with these speakers. But do you guys really think it's worth setting up? I listen to a lot of music of all kinds (rap, punk, rock, pop, metal, easy listening) and I also play games like C&C Generals and Counterstrike. So, basically, is there really a big improvement in sound quality using the digital or coax inputs? And how would I go about setting this up; how much does the wire cost that I'd need to buy?

Lastly, how do I set up the built-in external decoder? Or is it already set up for me?

thanks...

Edited May 29, 2005 by smash1820

[Gotchaforce]

Wow, aren't you arrogant...you don't believe oddcrap and you don't believe me just because YOU can't find the deals.

Here's the thread that I started on FatWallet when the $245 with free shipping deal was going on:

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messagevie...yword1=Z%2D5500

585962818[/snapback]

i had a huge post explaining all of this, but then mozilla crashed

in short: that deal was on FEBRUARY 8th, mine was a LITTLE later... May 17th

i KNOW that there was a deal on may 13th for 15% off on certain electronic accessories and the speakers were $239, but that deal ENDED. it didnt really matter anyways because i had a concession coupon that didnt stack at all with the 15% off, so it was either $200 or $240 and i still have a concession coupon.

[plaskos]

I just bought these speakers and mounted them on my wall and have just a few questions. First of all, you should know that my set of speakers uses the RCA input.

So, I am wondering:

1) Why my back 2 rear speakers are VERY quiet in PLII Music mode? I can hardly hear any sound coming out of them.

2) Why ONLY the front 2 speakers are working (getting any sound) in 6 Channel Direct mode?

3) Why my center channel does not produce any sound in Stereo x2 mode?

I am assuming this is just a configuration problem, but I don't know how to fix it. I have the three wires going from the Console to my sound card in their matching colors -- green to green, orange to orange, and black to black.

Can anyone please explain why this might be, or how I can fix this?

PS: I have an Audigy 2 sound card.

585983682[/snapback]

1. PL2 Music Mode is basically emulated 5.1 surround sound, and music isnt really surround sound, its stereo, most of the sound comes from the front channels, the rear's are mostly for support.

2. 6 channel direct mode is basically all up to your computer's sound card, the Sound Touch Control Centre has no say in what goes on, thats why theres no settings for that effect. So make sure your sound card is set to 5.1 output and it'll work. Control Panel --> Sounds and Audio Devices -- > Under Seaker Settings, click the Advanced button.

3. Stereo is basically left and right channel, which means only your front left and front right speakers will output. In stereo times 2 mode the sound touch control centre will basically duplicate the signal and send it to the rear speakers as well. there is no way to get your centre channel to work in this mode simply cause it has no fuction in that particular mode.

hope that helps.

[oddcrap]

They can be gotten from pricewatch for 222 Shipped now. 222 Total cost.

585958514[/snapback]

Was that a one-time deal or something? I can't seem to find that price on pricewatch.

[smash1820]

Thanks plaskos. I understand it now. I got my 6 channel direct mode working and I've even configured it now with Creative Audigy 2 programs, and it sounds awesome now. So, when would you recommend using Stereo x2 (I see no need for regular Stereo), PLII Movie, and PLII Music? It seems to me that 6 channel direct suits all modes, even movies and games.

Also, could anyone please answer my question(s) in my previous post:

Which brings me to my next question. I know you need an extra wire to go digital or coax with these speakers. But do you guys really think it's worth setting up? I listen to a lot of music of all kinds (rap, punk, rock, pop, metal, easy listening) and I also play games like C&C Generals and Counterstrike. So, basically, is there really a big improvement in sound quality using the digital or coax inputs? And how would I go about setting this up; how much does the wire cost that I'd need to buy?

Lastly, how do I set up the built-in external decoder? Or is it already set up for me?

Thank you.

[Nighthawk-F117]

Nice review, but, looking at a THG review of the speakers:

http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20031...speaker-20.html

Aren't you better off getting the Creative T7700's, in terms of quality to price. Plus, you get 7.1 instead of 5.1. It might just be me, but the T7700's look a better option. I bought them without reading any reviews and am very happy.

[Dennis]

That review doesn't review the Z-5500s or the other top of the line speakers. It's only reviewing some of the cheaper priced ones.

[mrogers]

And I also couldn't care less if I got 7.1 instead of 5.1. Two more speakers aren't going to do a lot other than take up space; how many things are actually 7.1 compatible? And I've just never thought Creative's sound quality was really up to par. So overall, I still think the Z-5500s are much better.

[GameOverRob]

if i were to buy these speakers what sound card would you recommend buying because currently i only have the one that came with my medion pc and that is a bit sh*te

[Nighthawk-F117]

if i were to buy these speakers what sound card would you recommend buying because currently i only have the one that came with my medion pc and that is a bit sh*te

585989866[/snapback]

I'd probably say the Creative Audigy 2 ZS. I suppose you could splash out for the Audigy 4 if you wanted....

[GameOverRob]

Thanks the Creative Audigy 2 ZS looks good!

The Creative Audigy 4 is just a bit extreme for my requirements lol!

[Nighthawk-F117]

Thanks the Creative Audigy 2 ZS looks good!

The Creative Audigy 4 is just a bit extreme for my requirements lol!

585990180[/snapback]

Yeh, I have an Audigy 2 ZS it does the job perfectly.

[spoon]

does anyone get this random "thump" noise when there is nothing playing? it sounds like the sound it makes when you switch inputs. my soundcard is audigy 2 zs connected via coaxial.

[smash1820]

Well I guess I noticed another problem with these speakers. I tried playing Lord of the Rings DVD again in Dolby Digital (PLII Movie) mode, and the sound is now coming from ONLY my center channel. Can someone please tell me what I did wrong??

[Chanser]

Sonic Fury or Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card works fine with the Z-5500 via a digital coax cable, but I can't get Dolby Digital 5.1 to work properly.

[Gotchaforce]

Nice review, but, looking at a THG review of the speakers:

http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20031...speaker-20.html

Aren't you better off getting the Creative T7700's, in terms of quality to price. Plus, you get 7.1 instead of 5.1. It might just be me, but the T7700's look a better option. I bought them without reading any reviews and am very happy.

585989462[/snapback]

no

just

no