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Logitech Z-5500 Digital Speakers

Logitech's Z-5500 Digital Speakers may very well be the ultimate surround sound speakers which boasts a variety of extraordinary features that not only include premium sound quality but also convenience and at a recommended retail price of $799AUD, this set is definitely a true contender for PC's or a home theatre setup.

The appearance of the Z-5500 Digital Speakers are quite modern and sleek which will suit a variety of homes and offices thanks its neutral use of silver and black. Best of all, these speakers can be used on a variety of different devices that include computers, gaming consoles and a plethora of other devices, provided they have digital and analog outputs.

Package Contents

• Logitech® Z-5500 Digital: 4 satellites, 1 center channel, 1 subwoofer
• 6-channel direct cable
• Digital SoundTouch™ control center
• Wireless remote control, batteries included
• User manual
• 2-year warranty

Supporting 505 Watts of power, THX Certified 5.1 digital surround sound, the Z-5500 are no slouch when it comes to performance and needless to say, whether it was gaming, music or movies, these speakers performed exceptionally well. Add in a 2-year warranty by Logitech that can easily be installed by almost anyone and we found the Logitech Z-5500's one of the best value speakers in quite some time.

Premium Sound Features

• Onboard 5.1 Digital Decoding: Hear every detail of your favorite Dolby® digital and DTS soundtracks.

• THX Certified Sound: Settle for nothing less than the THX seal of approval for master quality.

• 505 Watts: Turn any room of your house into a powerful theater.

• 10" Long-throw Subwoofer and Tuned Bass Port: Get 188 watts of powerful, distortion-free bass.

• Aluminum Phase Plug Satellites: Combine the clarity of a tweeter with the richness and fullness of a separate mid-range.

Features of convenience

• Digital and Analog Inputs: Add up to 6 components simultaneously.

• Digital SoundTouch™ Control Panel: Change volume on all speakers, set inputs and more.

• Wireless Remote: Control up to seven sources, even PCs and video games.

• Wall-Mountable Satellite Speakers: Just rotate the stands to switch from desktop to wall.

We tested the unit on a variety of devices that included a PC-based computer, XBox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and an Apple iPod touch. Depending on your connection type, the installation is a breeze, provided you have the correct audio connections.

Although the Z-5500 does come with a standard analog cable, the only gripe that we found with the speakers is that it did not come with an optical digital audio cable which we needed to purchase separately. We believe that with a price of $799AUD, a $20 optica

It should also be noted that the box that the Z5500 come in is quite heavy, so you may need an additional person to assist you in getting the Z-5500 box into your home and there is a warning on the box stating strong magnetic currents due to the powerful subwoofer. With a warning like that, you definitely know that you are in for a sound treat!

The Logitech Z-5500 Digital Speakers come with five satellite speakers, a thumping and powerful subwoofer, cabling for the speakers, remote control and a Digital SoundTouch™ control center.

With the optical digital audio cable, we simply connected this to our 42" LG Plasma TV which allowed us to easily swap between the XBox 360, PlayStation and Nintendo Wii. Once this was connected, we then proceeded to connect the cables to the five satellite speakers and then position the speakers and the subwoofer in the correct areas to enhance the surround sound experience. For those purists, the covers of the speakers are almost removable. It should also be noted that the cables for the speakers are also quite long. You can also install the speakers onto the wall or at your desk, thanks to the moveable bases.

Blu-ray Blu-ray and more Blu-ray!

If  these speakers were designed for a purpose than we could easily say that Blu-ray was in mind that left us gob smacked when we first heard Star Wars the Clone Wars through the Logitech Z-5500 speakers. The sound quality was outstanding and exceptionally clear and crisp with no distortion whatsoever. Match that with a true surround sound experience and this like being at the movies, although in the comfort of your own lounge room.

Where the speakers do shine is through the powerful bass of the subwoofer which really assists in the overall entertainment experience. The Dark Knight was another movie that shined on Blu-ray thanks to the Z-5500 sound experience and once again made it felt like you were at the cinemas as you heard every sound as it was meant to be heard.

Whether it was the majestic musical score, the dialog or the spectacular sound effects to compliment the equally spectacular special effects, this is what movies were meant to sound like. The unit supports a variety of audio formats from DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital, Prologic I and II, ensuring that the speakers are quite versatile.

Games were another item that the Logitech Z-5500 performed remarkably well on all three consoles, however latest games such as Killzone II and F.E.A.R. II Project Origin made me feel like I was in gaming heaven as explosions went off all around me or the sounds of cartridges hitting the floor as I fired.

Definitely one of the most realistic gaming experiences that I have had the pleasure of playing in quite some time. The use of 5.1 surround sound is what many gamers are generally missing and I can safely say that the Logitech Z-5500 could easily fill this void.

Music was another aspect that the Logitech Z-5500 handled quite well, although not as powerful as movies or games, it was still quite enjoyable. The only drawback is that the bass of the subwoofer which is sometimes ridiculously powerful that fortunately can be controlled via the menu system of the Digital SoundTouch™ control center.

Hearing Pink blast out her songs or listening to Cold Play's Viva La Vida song almost had a concert like experience. The volume control of the device can be quite loud, so be warned as your Neighbours may wish to lodge a complaint to your local police station due to excessive noise.

Controlling the unit can either be done through the Digital SoundTouch™ control center or the mini-remote control that comes with this package and both are quite easy to navigate. There is even a connection for a headphone via the headphone port on the Digital SoundTouch™ control center. This device also boasts the capability of connecting up to six different audio devices.

In terms of power, the entire system is 505 watts which is quite powerful and this translates to around 62 watts satellite and 69 watts for the centre speaker with a whopping 188 watts for the powerful subwoofer.

If your PC supports 5.1 surround sound than these speakers are definitely another contender, however we are erring on the side of movies and gaming for the Z-5500 Digital Speakers due to the power of the entire system. Although it sounded great through our PC, it was a little too close for comfort. This of course is dependent on room size, so we're not just being negative.

In conclusion, the Logitech Z-5500 speakers are a brilliant midrange 5.1 surround sound speaker system that we could recommend to all lovers of movies, listeners of music or hardcore gamers thanks to the affordable price and exceptional sound quality.

Although some may say that the Z-5500 was specifically designed for computing, they work just as well, if not better on Blu-ray/DVD players and gaming consoles. Including a variety of outputs and inputs that include analog, optical and coaxial digital inputs, there's little to complain about the Z-5500 that comes highly recommended from Impulse Gamer Australia!

Compatibility