[Review] Logitech z-5500

By Liquid
in Member Reviews

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Contributor

plaskos

Posted
Posted
if the amplifier does its job properly im sure it shouldnt still do that... i have a panasonic 5.1 DD amp and that doesnt play bass when its muted, if i want to do that i just press test on the remote :D

I dont think the Logitechs will do it neither.

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its not that the mute function doesnt apply to the subwoofer, when i press mute it does silence the entire speaker system, its just that when im on mute mode and audio signal from the source is stopped, and restarted, the mute function "forgets" to keep the subwoofer on mute, and it starts playing.

Experienced

nav1

Posted
Posted

Nice review !! I just heard of these speakers today, and they seem a very good deal. I'm planning to buy a set, mainly for playing my beloved Gamecube (I'm dying to hear those villagers in RE4 screaming from behind ).

So, here's my question, what do I need to connect the Gamecube to the z-5500, while ensuring that I get to experience the full Dolby Pro-Logic II sound? I've read about it on some sites, but just as confirmation, I would like to have a direct answer from any of you guys. In case you don't know, the Gamecube uses the red/white cables to output sound.

Sorry if this has been answered before, but the thread is like 50+ pages, and the Neowin search didn't show anything.

Contributor

plaskos

Posted
Posted
Nice review !! I just heard of these speakers today, and they seem a very good deal. I'm planning to buy a set, mainly for playing my beloved Gamecube (I'm dying to hear those villagers in RE4 screaming from behind ).

So, here's my question, what do I need to connect the Gamecube to the z-5500, while ensuring that I get to experience the full Dolby Pro-Logic II sound? I've read about it on some sites, but just as confirmation, I would like to have a direct answer from any of you guys. In case you don't know, the Gamecube uses the red/white cables to output sound.

Sorry if this has been answered before, but the thread is like 50+ pages, and the Neowin search didn't show anything.

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K well see the red and white cables carry your left and right channel audio. when you have that kind of output, to convert it to something the Sound Touch Control Centre will understand you have to use the included adaptor to go from the red and white to the green mini plug. once the control centre receives that signal you can choose between letting the speakers output Stereo, meaing just the front 2 speakers, basically exactly what signal is being delivered. or you can do Stereo x 2 which is the same thing as Stereo, but the signal is duplicated for the rear 2 speakers, (the front is still not being used). your other 2 options are Pro Logic 2 mode Movie or Music. In those modes the Control Centre tries to judge best it can where the sound is coming from and try to recreate it over the 5 speakers, it'll never be true surround because you're only receiving a left and right channel signal from the gamecube. although the use of the front centre speaker will help the pro logic 2 mode sound better than the others.

Experienced

nav1

Posted
Posted
K well see the red and white cables carry your left and right channel audio.  when you have that kind of output, to convert it to something the Sound Touch Control Centre will understand you have to use the included adaptor to go from the red and white to the green mini plug.  once the control centre receives that signal you can choose between letting the speakers output Stereo, meaing just the front 2 speakers, basically exactly what signal is being delivered.  or you can do Stereo x 2 which is the same thing as Stereo, but the signal is duplicated for the rear 2 speakers, (the front is still not being used).  your other 2 options are Pro Logic 2 mode Movie or Music.  In those modes the Control Centre tries to judge best it can where the sound is coming from and try to recreate it over the 5 speakers, it'll never be true surround because you're only receiving a left and right channel signal from the gamecube.  although the use of the front centre speaker will help the pro logic 2 mode sound better than the others.

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Thanks, man, very well put. Glad to hear the adapter is included (which I supose it's just a 2 female, one male 'Y' adapter).

Experienced

rmorris003

Posted
Posted

i just got them too for a friend from the logitech epp for only 325 cdn inc tax and shipping, sound great on his rogers hdtv box but only prob is the sound stuttering when using the cheap digital coax that comes with the digital boxes. He wanted them for the 360.

Experienced

Googintosh

Posted
Posted
That digital panel display.. what does it do? display songs info etc.?

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It displays the audio source (coax, optical, etc), the effect applied, volume and other speaker settings. It has no connection with the computer and does not display what song is played, though it does kind of look like a large ipod :)

Neowinian

Shrike1201

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hello all. I was wondering if there was anyone who RMA'd their speakers just to get the new revised standard speaker wire version. If so, what reason did you give Logitech? Also, what do I send back for the RMA? I sure hope I wouldn't have to ship back the entire unit, due to the cost. I've read in this thread that people only needed to send back the control pod and the rca terminals snipped off the speakers. Any help on this would be much appreciated.

Edited by Shrike1201
Mentor

tkyoshi

Posted
Posted
can someone who also owns these speakers help me test something?

I guess I'm looking for someone who uses these speakers as a home theatre set up and has them hooked up via digital coax cable to a digital cable/satelite box.  although someone using the speakers as a computer set via digital coax might be able to help too.

this is the issue, i have my digital cable box feed digital audio to my sound touch control centre, and lets say I want to use the Mute feature.  I mute the speakers themself and then lets say I change the channel.  When I change the channel the digital box stops sending an audio signal to the speaker for a split second (this is normal), but once the digital cable box starts sending the audio of the new channel the speakers are not muted properly anymore.  and satellite speakers remain completely silent but the subwoofer plays away at normal volume (depending on what the speakers were set to previously).

so lets say im blasting my speakers, and i mute it, then change the channel while keeping the speakers muted, once the new channel appears my subwoofer starts playing the bass from that channel, its quite the experience since you can see just how much of the sound experience comes from the subwoofer without the satellites but im wondering if its normal.

any help is appreciated, thanks.

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Hey plaskos!

I just tried what you did with mine hooked up to my TV and it does the same thing! When you mute it, all the sound goes off but if you change the channel everything stays muted except the sub.

It's pretty funky but definately a bug. I have the older system with the RCA plugs, maybe see if someone with a newer system has the same problem (newer firmware?).

Contributor

plaskos

Posted
Posted
Hey plaskos!

I just tried what you did with mine hooked up to my TV and it does the same thing! When you mute it, all the sound goes off but if you change the channel everything stays muted except the sub.

It's pretty funky but definately a bug. I have the older system with the RCA plugs, maybe see if someone with a newer system has the same problem (newer firmware?).

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I got the newer version using speaker wire :p

I guess it is a bug in the firmware of the control pod, I still say it's a neat experience :)

Thanks Tkyoshi!

Mentor

Chanser

Posted
Posted (edited)
Hello all. I was wondering if there was anyone who RMA'd their speakers just to get the new revised standard speaker wire version.  If so, what reason did you give Logitech? Also, what do I send back for the RMA? I sure hope I wouldn't have to ship back the entire unit, due to the cost.  I've read in this thread that people only needed to send back the control pod and the rca terminals snipped off the speakers. Any help on this would be much appreciated.

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Well I phoned up Logitech and told them the hiss issue, which is for real. Waited for Logitech to have stock of the speakers. Then a week or two later they sent me a brand new speaker wire version set.

They wanted me send back the snipped RCA plugs and remote.

Edited by Chanser
  • 3 weeks later...
Collaborator

ady

Posted
Posted

hey there people, i am really interested in getting this speakers,been saving for a while (i'm a full time student and saving is hard for me ,,mmmm pub, sorry im going off the subject!) will i be able to connect these speakers digitally to my Audigy Platinum Ex, i have seen lots of mention to successful conecting to the Audigy2(in review it's used) but i dont wont to spend my hard earned money on something i cannot buy!

look forward to your replies, and sorry if i asked something stupid

Contributor

plaskos

Posted
Posted

How much did most of you get these speakers for? They're $299 at Future Shop right now, they claim there $200 off the original price. :|

that is such an awesome price, its such a huge gap between these and the klipsch pro media ultra's now. makes you wonder how much it costs logitech for each set.

the 5500's become a better bargain more and more, insane value for money.

Enthusiast

drunkgoat

Posted
Posted

that is such an awesome price, its such a huge gap between these and the klipsch pro media ultra's now. makes you wonder how much it costs logitech for each set.

the 5500's become a better bargain more and more, insane value for money.

If anyone in the GTA wants a set, I can sell them refurbished for $260 cash.

PM if you are interested.

Contributor

plaskos

Posted
Posted

as far as I know, theres no way to distinguish between the RCA version or the speaker wire version just by looking at the packaging box. the RCA version is quite old, over 6 months I believe, so as long as you are buying a set that hasnt been sitting still too long you should be getting the speaker wire version.

mine are newer version and I've had mine since March 05.

Apprentice

pussyfootin

Posted
Posted

dunno whos telling u that, i got my dish network dvr-942 hooked up to it and when a DD5.1/DTS movie comes on the optical automatically switches to the correct settings and it ****ing sounds awsome, specially on the HD channel called "soundstage"

dunno whos telling u that, i got my dish network dvr-942 hooked up to it and when a DD5.1/DTS movie comes on the optical automatically switches to the correct settings and it ****ing sounds awsome, specially on the HD channel called "soundstage"

as far as I know, theres no way to distinguish between the RCA version or the speaker wire version just by looking at the packaging box. the RCA version is quite old, over 6 months I believe, so as long as you are buying a set that hasnt been sitting still too long you should be getting the speaker wire version.

mine are newer version and I've had mine since March 05.

the box has some different info on it, the picture looks different of the control center.. i cant remmeber how exactly cuz i have both vers but i do kno there was a noticeable difference

Contributor

plaskos

Posted
Posted

dunno whos telling u that, i got my dish network dvr-942 hooked up to it and when a DD5.1/DTS movie comes on the optical automatically switches to the correct settings and it ****ing sounds awsome, specially on the HD channel called "soundstage"

the box has some different info on it, the picture looks different of the control center.. i cant remmeber how exactly cuz i have both vers but i do kno there was a noticeable difference

I can totally agree with the digital cable that broadcasts in 5.1 it's such a huge difference, The Movie Network broadcasts a lot of movies with 5.1 audio and I just love it, the ones that are not 5.1 play as "pro logic II" and its just not the same. The bass is a lot more defined with Dolby 5.1 and there is a bigger difference between the quiet and loud noises.

You have both versions of the speakers? By any chance have you ever had both of them hooked up simultaneously from the same source? I'm curious as to how big a difference of power it is with 2 sets hooked up at once.

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