Z-5500 Digital 5.1 Speaker System
1 a few issues considering this price range
The system is OK, but I expected a little more attention to detail at this price range. Here are my gripes, in order of importance:
1) loud thud emitted when digital coax input detects a signal, or a change in signal format - This happens often when you are navigating the menu of a DVD (e.g. stereo to Dolby transition), and even from the DVD's title loop running on its own. As Supper Nanny would say, "that's not acceptable". (I guess there is some chance that the issue is with my DVD player.)
2) system is very susceptible to power line surges - I have an unusual washer/dryer appliance which has a motor that kicks in every few minutes while running. Every time the motor starts, I get a loud pop from the system.
3) adjustment of speaker direction is limited - except for the center channel, the satellites cannot be adjusted to anything other than an upward-facing angle.
4) "night mode" feature not documented anywhere - I assume this is some kind of dynamic range limiting function. It's not mentioned in the manual or website product pages.
I bought this system because of the controller and the wide range of inputs (no need for an A/V receiver). The subwoofer is too large and heavy for my taste-- I didn't realize how large it was looking at the pictures.
2 THIS SYSTEM BITS BOSE'S got it by accident
I din't have to much to say becouse my english sucks,, just that I had logitech Z-5300 with me for about 6 months, I was really happy I took them to my country,, lot of people offered me 400 bucks for it, becouse these systems are really hard to find them in that country, I came back to america, my brother asked me to order the Z-5500 online, while he came to vacation, I did order the system online, but it does not arrived in time , my brother left 2 days before the system was here, so I had to sell him the 5300 for 120 bucks that I had in my country and I kept this one, I was really sad until I opened the box of Z-5500,,,, "amazing system", it was exiting becouse this baby looks a litle different than the other, nicer, simply better, I could not wait to hook it up, and,,,,and,,, and,,,, man, what a sound,, clear, bass very strong, i'm still amazed with it,,, it is a refurbished item, 216 bucks and no shiping, but, i would not change it for any other, even those famous BOSE,,, if you are planning to get a good quallity sound, get this baby, you won't be dissapointment,,,
3 No regrets
The set I bought had a loud hissing sound but I finally figured it out (after much cable/sub/speaker shifting etc.). The cable that runs from the control box to the sub has a loose connection inside the sub because moving it slightly fixed it right up. It also cured the annoying low level rumble that the sub produced when it was idle. This is why I buy most stuff locally, I might have paid $100 more but I hate waiting for returns etc. =P
The feet on the satellite speakers aren't meant to be removed. I tried it to see if I could mount one onto a speaker stand and it's easy enough to remove but there is a nut attached to the other end of the screw that holds the stand in place. Logitech should have secured the screw in place better because it will bounce around inside the enclosure once you remove the screw.
Apart from that I love 'em. I was worried about the highs not being very crisp after reading some reviews but they sound great to me.
4 One Word: Amazing...
I was recently searching for a new speaker system for my computer, but I was looking for something with all the specs. I looked at all the different [high quality] brands like Altec Lansing and Creative Labs. I did a lot of research for speakers [about a few months] before I decided to get the Logitech z-5500.
Pros-
-Crisp sound... AMAZING quality.
-Able to use it on your tv or home theater system.
-Able to use it for playing games on your tv or whatever you want.
-Remote.
-Nice control box.
-Bass is incredible.
-Volume for it is the best. It has 20 bars for the volume, but you can go past that... 11 more times [boost 11]. My walls begin to shake with the volume on about 4 or 5 [that's pretty loud already].
-There are different settings for the center speaker, the surround, and the sub. [Set it to what you like best.]
-There are also settings for if you're watching a movie, playing music, stereo, stereo x2, 6 channel direct. These settings will maximize your quality.
Cons-
-Too many wires - it took me a while to set it up, but it was worth it. There's a red and black wire [one of those wires that has 2 different ones but are connected] that you need to connect to each speaker. It was kinda annoying. The wires are very long, but the purpose of that is for you to mount the satellites in the corner [I haven't gotten the chance to do that so I have a whole bunch of wires sitting in 1 place]. Not a big deal for me when I get the chance to mount them.
- When you turn off the speakers, there is still a red light that glows from the control box. I don't really like to leave things "on" [even tho it's really off], so I have to put the plug into a circuit breaker and turn the whole thing off every time.
-After I set it up, it was a bit confusing to figure out how to turn on the speakers and later I found out that the switch for the whole speaker is located in the back of the sub. [Not a big deal]
5 a hair from great..
but only in comparison to it's predecessor, the Z680's, also from Logitech. I have the 2.1 version of the 680's and have listened on many occasions to a friend's Z680's. The Z680's sound slightly fuller in the midrange. The 5500's sound a little dry in comparison. The difference isn't dramatic and certainly wouldn't be a something that should deter anyone from buying the 5500's. Especially considering Amazon's price which is dramatically lower than what you'll find in retail outlets. CompUSA and Fry's both get 399 for the 5500's. Nice work Amazon. The 5500's are very clean and are capable of very high output. I wouldn't hestitate to use these in a living room in a hometheater application. The output from the satellites and sub is astounding even in comparison to much more expensive and dedicated hometheater systems. The inputs on the control module will accomodate just about everyone. Toslink (optical), coax and analog connections. I have two computers connected. One via toslink and the other analog. Included is a wireless remote control. In short, I'm very satisfied with the 5500's but given the chance to buy again, I'd have to go with the Z680's even if this meant buying them used or refurbished. If you want best in class multichannel sound, the 680's and 5500's are the way to go.
6 Z-5500 are great speakers
Stop shopping aroung the try to find the best speakers...You found them already....Logitech Z-5500.
Great looks, great sound, great price and more power then you can probably use...
My Logitech Z5500 are great...
...while my Canon Camera SD300 with broken LCD screen (after 3 weeks) is pure crap (Canon SD300 = Ca vaut pas de la marde)
7 Best I've ever purchased
In the past I had always purchased the most inexpensive speaker systems I could find that were supposed to sound great. Now that I have the Z-5500 I'll never go back to the decent inexpensive speakers I've had in the past. About the only thing Logitech could and should do is make sure the speakers ship with the proper cables to take advantage of these speakers digital capabilities. Sure it sounds great set up direct but even better in digital.
8 Bass you can feel in the chest!!!
i want to thank amazon.com for the fast FREE shipping (two days is all it took). this Z-5500 system is one of the best purchases i have ever made. Logitech have always amazed me with their speakers and after i have listened to the 5500, i am begining to respect this company because they deliver, always; be it the Z-3 series, Z-2300's or Z-5500's. I say buy these, hook 'em up, play 'em loud, and enjoy the bass.
9 Even better...
These speakers are just great. Simply the best for the price range. What's even better I received the newer revision with detatchable speaker wire! This is the only negtive aspect of the first revision that were reviewed last year.
I have them hooked up to my Comcast DVR\HD 6412 box using optical out. The sound is perfect. I can only hear a very very mild hiss when I place my ear directly up to one of the satelites. I attribute this to the movie I was watching or the speaker wire provided by Logitech. Im sure if you buy some wire from Monster cable or someplace you can eliminate this. I also have them hooked up to my DVD player using Coaxial and the switch between the two inputs is with a push of a button and instant.
Get these speakers! They are great for a mid-range home theater system and perfect for high-end PC speakers.
10 5 Stars Well Deserved
I came, I saw it bump, I was amazed, I was jealous, I want one, but can't afford it now.
If you can afford it, and want a surround sound system that is pure movie and music quality, and is of great value, there is not much else that stands on the top of the hill with this set, at the same price range.
quality people. nothing but 5 stars. or more...
11 Great value and great sound
I use this for my Xbox and DVD player. Great room filling sound and sleek looks make this a great buy. Coupled with THX certification and the ability to decode DTS, Dolby Digital and ProLogic, this is a great solution for those on a budget. **Note** My first shipment had a hum/buzz that I couldn't get rid of. I contacted Amazon and they had a replacement within 3 days. The replacement worked fine and I shipped the defective unit back to Amazon. Amazon payed for the shipping of the replacement and the return of the defective unit. Great job, Amazon.
12 Awesome Z-5500
I purchased the Z-5500 from Amazon for $239 which is a steal. I have a Klipsch Promedia which I paid $400 3 years ago. There is no comparison. It is easy to set up and performs amazing with my Audigy sound card. I set it on Stereo 2 and my center speaker even works.The remote handles everything. It is the best investment I ever made in speakers. GW
13 You will be sorry if you do purchase this amazing item
Impressive is not the word with regards to the Logitech Z-5500. I have connected the speakers to my notebook (Toshiba P30 Sattelite)with the Creative Notebook sound card and I have yet to hear a stereo that produces the crystal clear sound that this system produces. The bass is simply heart thumping. Logitech gets the all thumbs from me, well done.
14 Great Buy, Great Sound, Not enough connectors.
For $269 & free shipping you can't beat it. I wanted to feed the sound from the TV, VCR & DVD via my TVs audio out jacks, but you need Y-adapters that Logitech doesn't include. They show them in a diagram but I couldn't find them listed as an accessory on their web site or at my local Circuit City, Specialty Electronics Store or Radio Shack (haven't web surfed, tho). Radio Shack did have a work-around - an adapter for connecting a source to 3 sets of earphones + 3 male/male 1/8 mini cords. Not elegant but it works. We're having a blast (literally) with these speakers.
15 Excellent item, Logitech does it again.
I recently ordered these from Amazon and as usual, even with free shipping, they arrived relatively fast (ordered sunday evening, had them thursday afternoon). I'm currently using them with my computer via the analog cable supplied. I only have a SBLive 5.1, so this is about as good as it's going to get for me from my computer until I get a new sound card. And even only connected by analog, the quality of these is fantastic; the sound is crystal clear and the bass is phenomenal (although you're supposed to keep the massive sub at least 2 feet away from electronics like monitors, which is a pain.. but necessary). However, soon I am getting the x2vga for my Xbox, which allows me to use my monitor as a small but functional HDTV, and more importantly in relation to this, it has an optical audio out which I'll connect to these.. I can't wait. I only had one very small problem with these: when I first hooked them up, the rear speakers were acting odd. After some frustration and tinkering, I finally switched which ends of the analog cords went where, and that somehow fixed the problem.. I still don't know exactly what was causing it and why, but oh well, a small problem that was easily fixed. Only a very small smudge on the record of these speakers, compared to the quality.
16 Get this straight
All of these people complaining about hooking up their Sounblaster AudigyXX has forced me to address this problem.
THE ONLY SOUND SOLUTION THAT CURRENTLY HAS a "DICE" CHIP HARDWARE REAL-TIME DOBLY DIGITAL ENCODING IS NFORCE2 SOUNDSTORM.
IF YOUR SOUND CARD DOES NOT HAVE a "DICE" CHIP (Dolby Interactive Content Encoder)THEN U MUST USE ANALOGUE CONNECTIONS (or special speakers systems).
Soundstrom can output a real dolby digital bit-stream in realtime through SPDIF-Coax/Optical. IF your using any other sound solution you must use the analogue outputs to get discrete channel or use a proprietary sound system like some of creative's speakers. Other than that you will get stereo PCM output and not Real time dobly encoding.
17 Great system, annoying hookup.
Let's start off by saying this thing has a lot of power. Lots of bass, plenty of everything else. The controls are nice whether it be the remote, or the nice lcd display that looks nice sitting on the desk. The speakers seem to be pretty well-made, with the newer shipments allowing you to detach the speaker wires completely, and use your own length/brand speaker cable. This is a huge plus.
However, I own an Audigy 2 ZS (has Dolby Digital 5.1/EX and DTS/DTS-ES/96-24 already) and in order to get the full surround sound working (via DVD or game) you need to disable the decoder in the sound card. This is very pesky! You need to get yourself a 3.5mm mono to female RCA adapted (3.99 at Radio Shack). Then use an RCA cable to hook up the speakers (controls are on back of control unit) to get the surround sound. Then, you need to adjust a few settings, one of them being "use digital output only" and set the control panel to stereo speakers (otherwise only center is being outputted through speakers and not surround sound). You can also use the 6 channel direct hookup and get great sound, but I don't believe it's the exact same as 5.1 or DTS. If you want your nice control module to display DOLBY DIGITAL or DTS logos, you need to use the hookup with that special adapter / RCA cable.
Once this is working, the system is powerful, clean, good-looking, and easy to use. I do recommend it, except for the lack of clear instructions with the unit. They need more information in there.
One more thing. This can be used as a home theatre system directly from a DVD player or XBOX, but please people, it's not the same as a full blown system. Yes it has the power, yes it has the features, but why would you ever want to watch a plasma or lcd tv with a high-end brand dvd player, and listen to Logitech speakers? They are a name in computers, let's leave it at that.
Does this mean I still love the speakers for my PC? Yes. They are worth every penny for your system. But, save your money, and get a different starter brand for a full blown non-pc home theatre. There are ONKYO systems out there for not much more money, and the quality is far better (even their speakers I'm sure).
I wanted to clarify these things after reading reviews and test results that were all over the place.
Another plus was the item shipped so quickly, I could not believe it. I'm sure if you order on a Wednesday, you'll have it by the weekend. It also dropped 10.00 in price a few days after I purchased it, and Amazon is refunding me the 10 dollars. Where else would you want to buy besides Amazon? (oh and Newegg :)
18 Z-5500's will make your ears orgasm!
First of all, I didn't expect my shipment to come so soon since I chose the super savings shipping. Wha la! I ordered them on a Thursday and it was on my doorstep Monday. Thank you amazon!!
The speakers and the subwoofer are a grand experience with the Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS audio card. Clean sound, and the bass...wow! no distortion whatsoever. It's the best bass subwoofer I've ever owned. Listening to music just makes my ears tremble and quiver with satisfaction...lol. I've not tried the digital sound yet, so I know whats gonna happen when I do...Ear orgasm!!! LOL!
I purchased them for $279.99 with a $30 rebate, so I actually paid $249.99 for them. What a deal! I almost made the mistake at buying them at my local Best Buy for $399.99. Those bastards!! lol!
The downsides to this speaker system is that if your not careful, you young people can damage your hearing :(, the subwoofer is heavy and is not easy to take out of box. So, if you are a female ordering this you better have a guy around to help you lift that sucker out of the box.
Setup is not to bad. Takes a little while to setup everything, but not hard at all.
Overall, this is an awesome system. I recommend this to anyone just wanting to improve their sound system especially on PC for games, movies, music..etc and want the best speaker sytem that money can buy and of course having the gratification that every dollar spent was well worth it. :)
19 AWESOME
These speakers are unreal, I got blown away by the quality and loudness of them. Paired up with an Audigy 2 ZS they produce superb sounds and bass. They are also feature the new, revised, speaker wiring.
And how about the price here at Amazon? You just can't beat it. Plus free shipping... they arrived in 2 days!
Highly recommended.
20 You must by this system
I bought the Logitech Z5500 from Amazon a week and a half ago, for $279... a great price already. I chose super saver shipping, expecting my package to arrive in 2-3 weeks, but to my suprise it arrived about four business days later! Right away, when you take the speakers out of their cartons, you know Logitech was out to make a killer system. Wait till you see the sub -- it's a monster. Hookup was a little difficult, as with most tech manuals, they only give you 3/4 of the information you need to do what you want. After a quick trip to a local electronics store and the purchase of an RCA to mini-jack adapter, I now have my Sony Wega HDTV playing in clear crisp, surround sound. You talk about clarity. Try hooking up your DVD player to the Z5500s with a toslink cable, and wait to be amazed. The first movie I played was "Collateral" and heard sounds that previously went unheard. Long story short, these speakers may be a little intimidating at first, but are VALUE priced, especially when you compare them to the "big boys" that have been around for years. I highly reccomend these speakers to anyone who wants a $600+ home theatre system, but doesn't want to pay that much. Thanks again to Amazon for the lightening fast FREE shipping!
21 Z5500 Rocks!!!
I had the Item shipped to my friend via Super Saver shipping. Got there in good condition and ahead of time to boot!!!
Opened it up, connected it, and plugged in my MP3 portable into the side of the control unit for 3.5mm plugs. It sucked big!!!! Absolutely no bang at all, while static and strained notes ruled when the volume knob was twisted to the high power levels.
Connected the THX optical cable which I also got bought, and inserted a good music disc in the DVD player. WWHOOOAAAAAHHHH!!!!!. Made the mistake of putting the volume to high before starting and my neighbors have yet to forgive me!!!! Suddenly, everything came to life. My music sounded just like at any good HiFi shop, and playing movies in DTS mode, plomps me right in the middle of the best house seats in a THX hall!!!!!!!
I could hear notes and sounds which on my old system, never showed up. Playing some classical inspired Audiophile discs played through a Marantz CD player brought out the missing sounds and minor 'mistakes' made by the artistes clear as ice. Watching Star Wars 2 on the DVD made me turn around and wonder whether the skies were pouring during the Kamino scene, and had me dodging during the battle scene of Droids versus Clones.
However, not everything is perfect just yet.
The small problems with the unit which caused me to feel less than 200% satisfied, include, hard wired speaker cables, cheapest of the cheap remote control design, slightly uneven Subwoofer rubber legs (stubs), and the aforementioned problem with my MP3 portable (which can be rectified with a 3rd party item).
All I can say is if you can live with the small flaws, Buy One NOW!!! You won't regret buying it for the quality of the sound. And if you do, please use a cotton stick - Ear cleaner to decongest your auditory cannals !!!
EC Ong.
22 Simply great!!!
this set is awesome. great sound quality and the bass is HUGE. Amazon made an incredible 3-day delivery even on free shipping. Right On!!! never hessitate to get this set of speakers if you have the slightest chance. what's more, they're really nice looking.
23 Logitech best bang for the $, Amazon shipping rocks!
Enough people have reviews these speakers here on Amazon, but I just wanted to elaborate on the shipping. I bought these from Amazon for $229 with free shipping(I had $50 coupon). The package weighed 60 pounds and it only took one day to receive. Normally with free shipping, I assumed the worst. But I ordered on a Wednesday morning and they were on the steps by 11am the next day.
Now I bought these to replace my aging Logitech Z-560 4.1 speakers. Wow they get better all the time. I can't believe that they can sell these for that price and make any money. Sure there are minor problems with them like the RCA wires, which aren't all that bad. I would guess they did this to provide some shielding in the wires to help with the THX certification. The brackets for the rear also would work better with a redesign for mounting on the wall.
One other problem with them. I can't keep the walls from vibrating, or me from smiling. They rock!
24 Solid system, great value
I just took delivery of the Z-5500 a mere four days after ordering, even with super saver shipping -- nicely done, Amazon.
The Good:
- Solid construction. Speakers in this price range, in my experience, are often of somewhat suspect construction in terms of materials and assembly. No rough edges here at all, that I can see.
- BIG bass. The subwoofer is nice and punchy, with no audible distortion even at high volumes (have not tried max volume; not sure my walls would hold up)
- The console is very well done. Despite the relatively short cord to connect to the sub, I far prefer this setup than having to fiddle with settings on the sub box manually. The remote is also a very nice touch. Note also that all audio inputs (optical, coax, 3x 1/8" stereo) are on the console as well.
- Sound clarity is very good, using the digital coax input. No hissing, noises, or other distractions.
The bad:
- RCA-style speaker wires. This makes initial setup a snap, but makes it a little annoying to extend the factory-provided wiring. The manual does note that using extensions is OK, as long as they are designed for speakers and not for line-level inputs. As awful as regular 2-strand speaker wire can be for connections, I'd love to be able to use this mountain of spare wire I have to do the extensions.
- Somewhat muddy mid- and high-ranges. I guess this is about what you'd expect from full-range drivers on the satellite speakers, but I was fairly disappointed (based on my expectations after reading all these stellar reviews). There is also no ability to adjust output levels (other than bass) from the speaker console, so if you don't have an EQ on the source audio, there's not much you can do about it.
- Limited volume control. If you listen to music at a low volume (say, while working at night), you'll find there isn't much room for fiddling at the low end of the volume control. One setting is too loud, the next "half-click" is far too soft. I've worked around this by using the computer's volume adjustment to make finer changes. Not a huge deal, but a little annoying for me personally.
FWIW, I bought this setup to serve as my gaming audio, to replace my ancient Bose 301 bookshelf speakers and equally ancient 2-ch amplifier. Given that I paid as much for the two Bose speakers as this entire setup, I think the Z-5500 is a truly fantastic deal -- BUT, for anyone making a similar migration, do not expect the sound quality to quite measure up. Not sure why I did...maybe wishful thinking :)
That said, these speakers blow away any other "all-in-one" surround setup I've seen at the price -- and even at higher prices.
Overall rating is 4 of 5 stars -- the muddy mid and high notes cost it that fifth star in my book.
25 Amazing System for an Amazing Price
I ordered this system of off Amazon on Dec. 31, 269.99 with free shipping, and got it on Jan. 5. Amazon had an estimate for Jan. 10-12, so thanks to Amazon and UPS! Now for the speakers: Awesome. They are one of the best speaker systems for computers that you can buy. They even rival similar priced Home Theater Systems. Setup of the system is simple: Not only are the speakers labeled on the back for posistion, but also have color coded ends that match on the sub. The speakers are elegantly designed and the sub is massive. And when I mean massive, I mean the earth-shaking, eardrum-blowing, take-up-space massive. The control pod is also very well designed and easy to use. Inputs and Outputs are all on the control pod: 6 channel RCA, coax., optical, headphones, and mini-digital inputs. Which speaking of inputs, it has a 6 channel/Stereo 1-3 switch....thats right, either connect to computer OR hook up three input devices at one time: iPods, mini disc players, w/e...Speakers themselves are twistable so they are extremely easy to wall mount if you want to. Now for the big one: sound quality. These speakers sound amazing. I mean absolutely amazing. You expect and get high quality sound all the time. The mid-range, which some people say this system is weak on, is not that much weaker unless you are really want a good mid-range system. The bass is amazing and definitely full. Now, all of these speakers have ton of options. For instance, you have stereo mode (front 2), Stereo 2x (front and rear 2, which means the same thing plays from front left and back laft), Dolby Digital PLS Movie, and Dolby Digital Music. Now, from here, you can change options such as Panorama, Dimension settings (controls Front to rear), the width of the center speaker (narrower means the speaker is centered closer to the center, giving it a louder more direct sound), level change of the sub (more or less responsive), surround level (more = aimed towards rear speakers), and center level (controls center speaker). Also, inputs are easy to go to...just press the button! Remote that comes with this is basic and enough things to make it work, however it doesn't do justice to the rest of the system. Then again, wireless remote is optional, so i'm happy anyway. So in general, these are some awesome speakers. I have mine in my dorm room connected to an USB Soundblaster Audigy 2 NX sound card by optical cable. Which speaking of sound cards, you have to have one that supports surround minimum. Also, the better the sound card, the better the sound. Mine works 96-24 on 6 channel. So the only things to consider when buying this is money to put out. Expect Amazon's pricing to flucuate between 250 and 320. Also, if you don't have a soundcard, my USB Soundblaster for my laptop cost 120. The digital optical cable cost another 20. So it does add up in accessories. But these speakers are worth it.....and don't think about the Klipstech 5.1 Ultra. I tried these at Best Buy...the Logitech 5300e had a better sounding sub than these.
So happy shopping. In general: these speakers are worth every penny. I will definitely have these for all of my high school and college years, and I'm sure they will last. These speakers are the best speakers for this range of prices.
26 Great system - Highly recommended
Just got the system yesterday. Bought it because of all the good reviews and my experience on lower end logitech speakers' quality. I knew Z680 got very high remarks but never actually heard it. All I can say after hooked up the Z5500 is that all the excellent reviews are true. These speakers are simply amazing! They look very nice as well. Very well made. I found the remote control is very useful. The control center looks fancy and works well. No need to mention the sound quality. They are as good as all the other reviewers suggested. I am just very satisfied with my purchase.
27 Exceptional quality and value
Let me preface my review by saying that, during the week immediately following Christmas 2004, I bought the Z-5500s for $269.99 from Amazon. That's a 33 percent break off the MSRP and the Super Saver Shipping was free (normally, it would cost $40-50 to get this extraordinarily bulky package delivered) so be advised that timing might control whether you get a great deal.
As for the product itself, I'm sufficiently impressed. Because I wanted a punchy 5.1 system for my office, and multiple inputs so I could attach my laptop, iPod, PS2, and cable box, this accommodated my needs perfectly. This is an excellent system for smaller rooms and for audiophiles with discerning ears. I heartily recommend purchasing it if you enjoy crisp audio with your games, movies, and music!
28 Speakers worth more than it's price
I was quite impressed by the quality sound produced by my friend's Z680 (also bought from Amazon) which provoked me to buy one for me. But unfortunately the price went up which made me to go for the Z5500 (the next version) as there wasn't much difference in terms of price. Luckily I got a very good deal of $265.99 with free shipping for the Z5500 and this should be one of the lowest price I have ever seen in Amazon. So I ordered and they shipped me the same day and was delivered to me in two working days which is unbelievable for this "Giant" pack.Thanks Amazon!! So, I got it before Christmas and had fun with music and movies during the holidays. After listening to these speakers, I cannot imagine getting such a nice speakers for this low price and I also don't think you will get these low prices anywhere else other than Amazon.
Absolutely "no review" is required in terms of the speaker quality, again it is already "THX" certified. I would also recommend a Monster optical cable (8feet or 4feet) for those who buy this speaker. The outcome is tremendous.
Appearance wise the Z5500 is more cute and sleek than it's predecessor Z680. Also, be very careful handling the subwoofer as it is so heavy and he is the "BASS" guy. The control unit has a much improved look and feel with this version. Otherthan that so far I haven't seen anything negative to talk about. Finally I can say that I am one of the most satisfied customer of Amazon and Logitech products (especially after buying Z5500). I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good 5.1 speaker system. No second thoughts, you will be surprised!! Thanks.
Note : After buying and getting the speakers connected, please be aware that you are always at a higher risk of your neighbours complaints. :-)
29 Simply PHENOMINAL!
So this is the deal, these speakers are the best I've ever had and some of the best I've heard. Logitech has really started to impress me lately with all their products but I've had the Z5500's for only a couple days and I've already fallen in love with them. The sound is beyond crystal clear and the woofer is ridiculously loud. It's actually more then I expected. My previous setup was with a shelf stereo, JVC hx-Z3 which was definately loud but missed the clarity. Amazon hooked me up with a bill of $269.99, literally that was it, no shipping no tax. I WAS PUMPED, especially since the price has gone back up. Not to mention I recieved the package two days ahead of scheduled delivery. They had the best deal I've found in over a month which is what made me spend the money i didn't have to get them, but it was well worth it. Other then that, nextag.com is a good comparison site for many products and usually gives more merchants then pricewatch.
ANYWAYS, listening to the speakers now, they're worth the retail and it makes me happier knowing that and getting them for $270 :)
30 Speakers are probably great....but the service.....NO
Alright, so after about 2 weeks of searching for a speaker system to get I finally decided on the 5500. It's kind of sketchy making this decision because I have never heard the actually sound produced by the speakers...just read countless numbers of reviews. So last night I told me self, "Hey the price is down to 269 with "free" shipping so I'll order them in the morning." Well I woke up and was so angry to find out that the price had risen to 306 (Well there's where the shipping isn't free anymore). I was soo mad. I had remembered reading the reviews and one stuck out in my mind. It is tnhe one from Jim (Texas). He states that he had the same problem as me. His revied says that he e-mailed them many times and they finally honored the lower price (even though the price was still higher). So I decided to e-mail Amazon today and tell them of my concern. I got one of those automated e-mails back which did not address my concerns at all. So then later that night I decided I would call Amazon and see what happened. I was on the phone and after giving them all my information I told them the whole story and how I read the review of Jim. The lady told me she really couldn't do anything for me. She stated something to the effect of: 'I really can't do anything for you...I don't know why Jim's situation was honored....It really depends on the person you talk to on the phone that determines the outcome of the situation.' I was pretty aggravated after getting off of the phone. How can one person be honored their request and then an Amazon associate tells you that the situation will be determined by the person you talk to. Maybe i'll just keep calling and see if I can sweet talk one of them. As for the Logitech 5500 speakers I really can not wait to get them, I am just really disappointed in Amazon's inability to treat customers equally.
1/4/05 update- Well after a very intense e-mail writing to Amazon how I did not want an automated e-mail in return I recieved a somewhat more personal e-mail. After being a little aggressive they were really nice about honoring my request...so I thank them for that...I'll post another review on the speakers later.
31 Incredible sound, Z5500 vs. Z680 comments follow:
I bought the Z5500 from Amazon at $269 with free shipping and it arrived just 2 days after I ordered!
I already had the Logitech Z680's but couldnt resist amazons price and the thought of having a 10" subwoofer, I'm very glad I 'upgraded' its a definate improvment over the Z680s in every category ,Except for the fact Logitech chose to use RCA cable for speaker wire wich cant be changed,it can however be extended if need be.
The bass output is of course noticably deeper and louder thanks to the 10" subwoofer,Certain MP3's that would fall flat on the Z680's 8" sub now rattle the window in my room on the Z5500 10" ,also to my suprise the Satellites sound quality is even more detailed and crisp plus the midrange has been improved. Half Life 2 in 5.1 sounds incredible. (Audigy 2 soundcard)
The one thing that bothered me a lot with Z680's control pod was text visibility, this has been greatly improved on the Z5500's inlcuding the viewing angle. Also it is much quicker at switching through the various inputs and the Volume knob control no longer has any lag ,basicly it responds as fast as you can turn it. The actual design and color scheme of the Z5500 pod is nicer as well, The Headphone and AUX input have been relocated to the right side panel of Z5500's pod, instead of being on the front panel like Z680's, this might be better or worse for some.
The remote control looks the same as the Z680's,not very flashy or impressive looking. but its now Black and has a few extra buttons that give you quick access to each input(Coax,Optical and Direct)
Overall im very happy with this purchase, the Z5500's simply cant be beat for the price ,I've got my Xbox connected via Optical cable and DVD player via Coax and everything sounds superb on this system, Highly recommended.
32 SPEAKER WIRE LENGTH (UPDATE)
I GOT THESE SPEAKERS FOR CHRISTMAS, AND LET ME TELL YOU THEY ARE AWSOME!!!!!!! THESE SPEAKERS WILL BLOW ANY OTHERS IN THE SAME CATIGORY AWAY. THE SUBWOOFER IS VERY VERY POWERFUL, AND THE OTHER SPEAKERS COMPILMENT IT WELL. THE SPEAKER WIRE IS SHORT AND NOT DOCUMENTED ANYWHERE ON THE INTERNET SO THESE ARE THE LENGHTS 7' FOR THE TWO FRONT, 10' FOR THE CENTER AND 15' FOR THE REARS AND IF YOU WANT TO MOUNT THESE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ABOUT 2 HOURS SPARE TIME, BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY DIFFUCULT. YOU CAN NOT REMOVE THE SPEAKERS FROM THE STANDS FOR MOUNTING AND SINCE THEY DO NOT SWIVEL NORMALLY YOU WILL NEED A LONG SCREWDRIVER IN ORDER TO REACH THE HOLES. THE CENTER SPEAKER IS VERY EASY TO MOUNT THOUGH BECAUSE OF A DIFFERENT STAND SYSTEM. IF YOU ARE ON THE FENCE ABOUT BUYING THESE SPEAKERS DO IT, THEY WILL NOT DISSIPOINT, MOVIES SOUND INCREDIBLE ON THESE AS WELL.
33 Phenominal Speaker setup
Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Oh and Did I mention WOW ?
I have three cables for 5.1 going from my sound card into the box. I have the digital out going from the soundcard, into the logitech for 5.1 dvd movies through my computer. As well i have fiber optic coming out of my sattelite into the setup box so i can listen to 5.1 while watching tv. Maybe not 5.1 but emulate pro logic it sounds great. So im definetly making use of all the inputs on the back of this baby.
This has a lot of features, and different modes you can use. It has Stereo (which is just front l/r speakers outputting sound), Stereo 2(front left/right, rear left/right), Pro logic II Movie (i dunno? Uses the center channel, less of the rears more of the sub, pro logic Music (heavy on the sub, uses all speakers). As well it's easy to scroll through the inputs Coax, Direct 6channel, optical.
The remote it comes with is pretty useful you can adjust volume, sub levels, surround output (dont know what this does yet). It is wicked fun!
I paid $270 shipped from Amazon (forget ripoff COMPUSA), got it in TWO Days. I love audio always have, always will. This was a 5.1 for my computer, but I also wanted 5.1 for movies that I watch in my room.
This comes with cables for analog games which is how games output. However I bought a coaxial for digital out for games, and a fiber optic cable for my sattelite to the box. Total cost through circuit city $70. Total cost through amazon $30. Shop amazon! :)
Initial impression
------------------
Lets just say setup wasen't easy. It is pretty standard, connect one speaker, another speaker, another speaker. it just takes a while to light up everything connect everything. It took me probably 1 1/2 hours, but i took breaks to vacuum and relocate my pc so everything would fit in fine. The speaker cables are big, but my front left wasen't long enough. So i bought a little extension 6' cable so I could hide it nicely. I didn't use any gold connection cable just regular circuit city $4.99 for 6'.
Also this setup is large and man impressive. The sub is massive stands just taller then a 2 liter bottle of coke, and maybe 3 bottles across x 3 1/2 bottles deep.
Games
-----
I have connected this with the included three direct cables to get 5.1 sound from my games. It works great it's loud, it thumps, and it scared my sister when she was sitting here and a zombie came up behind her in Doom 3. It's loud, it's clear. I dont know about 500 watts, i've had it to max and it's loud, but 500 watts? Who knows, it's really loud and i'm happy with it anyways. Sounds fantastic and as you move around in games i can see sound shift from one speaker to the other, it fills the room great, and if you've never had a nice speaker setup (with a sub) your in for a surprise. This is a lot of speaker, and will easily last 3 years unless you must have the newest and greatest setup every year.
DVD's
-----
I also have a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum. I had initially planned to hookup the front plate which has a Digital Coax out so when I played DVD's it would play 5.1 sound. However that dosen't work, I played with it a lot and it wont work. However, my 5.1 card has a digital output on the back of it, I bought a 0.99 cent mono adapter from radio shack and run a coaxial cable from the digital out of the sound card into the standalone cool set top receiver. Now when I play dvd's on my computer (didn't want to buy an additional dvd player for my room) it outputs 5.1 clean signal to my settop box that came with the logitech and that decodes either a dolby digital or dts signal. Works brilliant. Sound is clear, loud, shakes the walls, shakes the room.
TV
--
I've got optical going from sattelite into this baby. Sounds great, emulates 5.1 through pro logic or stereo or stereo2. Works fine works great, sports sound great. I always loved 5.1.
Comparison
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I was torn between this setup and the Klipsch 5.1 Ultra which is similarly priced, and also a 5.1 setup. I ultimately chose these because of the various input connectors on the setup box. If I chose the klipsch i couldn't hookuped my sattelite to it, or my dvd's wouldn't decode in 5.1 they would be strictly analogue. Sound quality wise i have a set of 2.1 klipsch (200 watt)for sale, they sound great, but aren't 5.1.
I also have a 5.1 setup for my home theater a sony 500 watt setup. That's with the big screen. Comparison wise? Hard to say, that one is about 3 years old but still sounds great (paid $600 with receiver). This definetly compares to it, and i'm more tempted to watch movies upstairs because this subwoofer is awesome. However I got the big screen downstairs and it comfortably seats 10 of my buddies so we'll be hanging out downstairs also. So I would say this definetly can go head to head with the home theater in a box $500 setups out there. Im not so sure about the $1500+ setups though. Actually I dont think it will compare to those :)
Conclusion
-----------
Long review I know! Lots to say. This setup kicks ass, sound quality is great and will easily last me a long while. I make use of all the features, am impressed by the sound quality, and thump shake shake cause im a bass kinda guy.
If you want the best, lots of options and I mean lots, lots of connectivity great sound nice thump get this setup. You wont be sorry it looks great, sounds great and will easily outlast 2 computers.
-Neil
34 Some Questions - help appreciated
I am looking for 5.1 home theatre system for my DVD player, TV and my Notebook.
Now, after reading the reviews here, I am confused whether to buy this logitech Z5500 or Sony HT-DDW660 Home theatre system.
My first question is: If I buy this logitech one, Do I need to buy the receiver separately to get full 5.1 surround sound when I play DVDs using the DVD player.
Please help me in selecting the suitable system for me.
Which one is the best in the above systems.
Thank you
35 Simply the Best
I absolutly love these speakers, I am getting them for christmas but a imagion they will be great. Amazon got them here it 2 days WOW! Once I start using these speakers I will write a full review. I have listened to them in the store and they sound like they will be better that my bose lifestyle 5 system.
36 These Speakers Rock!
I just got these yesterday, along with a SoundBlaster Audigy Notebook Soundcard (Type II slot) for my Qosmio notebook, and this little package rivals my home stereo system which is no slouch. For the size of these little speakers (with the exception of the sub, which is HUGE)the sound quality and volume they support is AMAZING. I listened to these at CompUsa, along with the Z680s, some Creatives, and the Harmon Kardon soundsticks. These blew away the Z680s and the Creatives (which sounded too airy to me). I must say though if I went with a more simple 3 piece set up, I would buy either the soundsticks or the Bose 3 piece, as they both sounded the best of all the 3 piece set ups. The HK is cheaper and looks cooler than the Bose though. Enjoy!
37 These are great
I really like Logitech's products. I'm not an audiophile, but these speakers sound great to my ear. The bass is crisp and tight, the balance is pleasing and the design is top-notch. The rotatable base of each satellite speaker is a nice touch.
Unlike the previous-generation Z-680's, these speakers do not hiss.
My only criticism is the remote control which feels flimsy and looks cheap, especially in contrast to the rest of the components.
38 The best of the best
First off I must give a great thanks to Amazon. Shipping and prices were great. Ironically the day I received the new Logitec speakers is the same day I received Halo 2. These speakers are amazing and the first thing you will notice is when you open the box is the amazing size of the subwoofer. Expect to need a lot of room for this. The sound is just amazing and doesn't take very long to get used to all the controls on the LCD screen. However, with the big subwoofer and super loud speakers expect to be getting a lot of phone calls from the neighbors. This is really a great system and I recommend this to anyone who has a serious affixation on deep bass and great surround sound.
39 By far, the best speaker system i have EVER used
These new logitechs are by far the best computer/home theater speakers i have ever used, hands down. the sound is unbelievably clean, especially when connected to my Dual 2.5ghz Power Mac G5. i honestly can find no flaws, except maybe that they done include the optical cable which would be nice but no one does so its understandable. if you are considering these and other speakers, just get these. i looked at everything and these are the best.
40 Buyer beware! Logitech will abandon customer.
I was really pumped about getting this system and when I finally did, it was like an early Christmas gift from myself to myself. So I tried it out for less than one day and I will admit, the sound quality is quite good. But I have one major caveat for anyone reading this and considering purchasing the Z-5500's. Do not under any circumstances, detach the speaker stand from the satellite. If you do, you will not be able to reattach the stand with the same screw and consequently the stand will be useless. I did this because I wanted to wall mount the stand and attach the speaker afterwards. Of course, the Logitech technical writer was too asinine to include the same warning in the documentation. And for any of you wiseacres who think I was dumb to remove the stand in the first place, I had the Z-680's, the predecessor, and I had no problems resecuring the speaker to the stand once it was wall-mounted. In case you didn't know it, the speaker table stand doubles as a wall mount bracket. As soon as I realized what had happened, I called Logitech the next morning and told them my story fully expecting they would placate my concerns by sending me a replacement speaker. WRONG! They told me, "Sorry there's nothing we can do, by removing the stand you damage the speaker and void the warranty." What utter hogwash. Well you want to know something Logitech, you can go to hell because in hell there is no reason and you are sadly mistaken if you think anyone is going to accept your obvious cop out.
41 These speakers rock! (ed: I now would give 'em 5 stars)
I purchased this system to get surround sound for gaming, and it sure sounds nice. As the other reviews have noted, the sub is massive. The quality seems good too. I'm sure they will be great for DVDs and stuff. I just used the analog inputs, but it has optical and wired digital inputs too. The only ding I have is that the speaker wire is attached to the speakers, and is not removable. If you need some good speakers for gaming, I can recommend these.
(Oh, it'd be nice if they made some accessory stands for the satellites.)
Ed: 11/23/04
Now that I've had the system running for a bit over a week, I would have given the system 5 stars instead of the 4 that I have it. It's great for MP3s, games, DVDs... any form of audio. As for the speaker wires being integrated into the speakers, that's just not a big deal, since you can always purchase an extension or two.
42 Logitech lover
After getting the MX1000 laser mouse and the Z-5500 speakers i fell in love with logitech. These speakers produce quality sound, they sound better than the Z-680 my friend has. I have SB Audigy 2zs platinum with front panel and an optical output. I am using Monster THX certified optical cable bought from amazon for $22 and my system rocks. the sound on my computer cost me $470 but it is worth it. Thank you amazon! they shipped it the same day, ordered on Monday and got it on Wednesday. I ordered it when the price was $306.99 then the price dropped to $279.95. I love Amazon, they refunded the difference after I emailed them. The speakers sound VERY clear, no hissing as with the Z-680 and an RCA cable. the subwoofer is huge and you need to have a space for it and it has a strong magnet so you need to keep it at a reasonable distance from your computer and monitor. The speakers cable are not adjustable, but i am guessing you can buy an extension cable if you need to, but the cable is fairly long. the Base of the speakers is adjustable so it fits on the table and on the walls.
43 It's a Receiver!
This thing is really cool!
Did anybody else find the "Diagnostic Mode" you get by pressing and holding the "Input" and "Effect" buttons simultaneously for six seconds while the unit is off? It starts telling you stream information from your digital sources, just like a receiver does! Very cool!
I really like all the inputs I get, especially when I flip the switch on the back to get the three independent stereo inputs.
Of course, the "Volume Boost" rocks! Take it up to full volume... and then just keep turning! You get a bunch more volume if you need it... but you won't, unless you have a really quiet audio file, but it's there if you need it.
44 some questions about the cables
I just got them last night and tried them with doom 3 and far cry. This speaker set is really awesome. I do have some questions though, could anyone recommend a good optical cable with reasonable price. Also I am not sure if I need an adapter as the connectors at my audigy 2zs and the control unit are not the same. Any recommendation is very much appreciated.
45 awesome...
I ordered this October 22 2:00 am west coast and got shipped that night. Very fast considering I got free shipping that was expected to be delivered 5 to 9 days. I recieved it October 28. I was one of the lucky ones (I guess) to order it when it was $279 with free shipping. I actually submitted a request for $285 few days earlier. That's for amazon.
As for the speakers... just unbelievably awesome. I've never really had good speakers and can never really tell the difference between of how good and bad speakers sound. But these speakers sound very clean and the bass is just perfect(adjustable to your liking of course) which I can honestly now say these sound way better than your typical speakers. It's as if I'm in the movie theatre. The bass isn't just the usually bass thump, but an enjoyable thump! I'm not a bass person cause I usually get headaches from it, but listening to these speakers and playing movies made me enjoy the sound cause it was natural sounding. The louder I put the volume, the better it gets. There is just no words I can say that can do justice to these speakers. You have to hear it to believe it. The controller is awesome looking and easy to use (automatically detects the type of source e.g. movie, cd, video game). The subwoofer box is pretty big so you gotta have space for it. And to me, they look pretty good too.
I am primarily using this for entertaiment use only(movies and video games) so you know these speakers must be good. Those who think $300 is worth great computer speakers, you will not be dissapointed. The sound card should be able to plug in separate front, rear, and center/subwoofer inputs. And to think, I actually thought about buying a mini system that cost the same price. One thing though, if your system is on the older side, it might be wise to upgrade because these sound a lot better with an optical fiber cable than the basic rca cable with a Y cable adapter. Coax cable I heard is pretty good too( but not the same level as the optical). My primary source is my xbox, so I had to buy an adapter for my xbox to allow optical, as well as an optical fiber cable. All worth it.
46 Logitech 5500 speakers!!!!! Pretty DAMN GOOD!!!!
I just got them on Friday, GREAT Speakers i hooked them up to my PC and PS2, Great sound for $280.00....And here is the BEST part Logitech website listed them for $530.00...GREAT price break...nothing can touch these speakers at that price....
47 AWEsome System!!!
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10-31-04 Update: Kudos to Amazon on fast shipping... I got them in two days! But Amazon's pricing fluctuation still gets under my skin. The day they shipped my speakers the price was down to $286. That was for one day and still not listed as a sale price, then the next day back up to 306.99 again and has remained there. BTW - you can get these at CheifValue for 279.99 in case you're interested. Today (10/31/04) they have a $5 off coupon and $10 shipping!
About the speakers - I'm listening to Matchbox Twenty right now. These bad boys really rock the house, no kidding! Everything Logitech says in their marketing material about the Z-5500's is true.
I'm using Real Media for CD's and it sounds great, everything from ABBA to Ja Rule to Zeplin. Windows Player just sucks in comparison. If anyone uses a better media player than "Real" please let me know.
I've heard certain musical sounds from this system that I don't recall hearing on any other. If, so they were drowned in the mix. This clarity is most notable in the mid to high frequency range. Lows are exceptionally clear as well and you don't get the normal grinding rumble as with most subs. Instead, you'll get a crisp and clean deep bass.
Movies are absolutely astounding on this speaker system. Of course I had to watch Matrix (the first one). Some others were Armageddon, Twister, Blade I and Gladiator. The sound rivaled my 10k home theater system. Again, no kidding! While watching Twister I felt like I was in the "----ing" tornado. Even more so than my big system. I'm assuming this is because I have these set up in my home office where the room is smaller and probably better acoustic ambience. I would not like to think that my $2500 home theater speakers are inferior to the Z-5500's ;-(
THX and dts worked great on my system with the Audigy 2 soundcard. The Direct Connection (analog) sounds great in itself but utilize the Digital connection and you'll be awe-struck! It really brings you into the movie...
Playing Games - haven't tested much in that respect due to time constraints but with these speakers I'm inclined to get back into some serious gaming. Dangerous for me as I already have problems with getting a good-nights-sleep. What I have played Star Wars "Attack of the Clones" and the sound was nothing less than amazing especially when compared to the TDK speakers that previously interfaced my PC to my ears. Other than that I really don't have much of a comparison with the exception of trying out a few speaker models in retail locations including these.
The speakers are very appealing to the eye. One cool feature of the design is if you want to mount them on the wall you just have to rotate the speaker stand 180 degrees and they're wall mountable as is.
The Control center is very easy to navigate. I really like the large dial that controls the volume plus other level adjustments for the various settings to include center, surround, sub...anything that requires an up/down adjustments. The other selection are made by repeatedly pressing the appropriate button. Example: "Input" - Press once = Optical = Press twice = Coax - Press a 3rd time = Direct. From there if an effect is associated with the input you would select "Effect" and press the necessary times to select the desired effect. Very simplistic, and that's a good thing because speaker controls should not be complicated.
The Display is very easy to read, unlike the previous version (the 680's). I can easily see/read the display from several feet away and it's not too bright yet easily readable in the daytime.
A couple of nice extras are the headphone and auxiliary jacks on the side of the Control Center. That is something that I really needed.
The only improvements I can recommend are very minor but here they are:
Speaker wire connections - the wires are fixed so you are limited to the length of wire that comes with each speaker. Although you can buy extensions to fit the RCA type connectors. I feel this may inhibit the sound quality as opposed to the ability to direct wire the speakers with a custom length of good speaker wire.
Even though I really don't have any complaints about the display it would have been nice to include contrast/brightness adjustments for those who would prefer the ability customize the view. But really this is not a big deal at all.
The remote control could use a little dressing up so that it would look like it is a part of the "Nice Package". Instead, what you get is a plain black remote with black buttons and small white lettering. Very Plane Jane in appearance but it does offer enough controls to make it usable.
The main power switch is on the sub with a standby switch on the Control Center. This is acceptable but it would have been a plus if Logitech would have included the logic to be able to detect sound input in the standby mode which would turn the speakers on.
Bottom line - these are all minor issues and are nothing to really complain about. The design and sound that these speakers produce deserve no less than 5 stars in my opinion.
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10-26-04 Update: After much hassle of back and forth emails, Amazon finally agreed to do the honorable thing and make it right. ...my system is on its way! Once received I'll write a detailed review of the Logitech Z-5500
==================================
10-24-04 Honestly, I have tried these speakers and would give them 10 stars! But that is not why I'm writing here today. Out of my 10 stars Logitech Z-5500 gets 5 and Amazon gets a big fat zero!!!
Here's the deal: Just two days ago Amazon's price (not on sale) was $279 with free shipping. This was one of the lowest prices around. I didn't buy then because I was waiting on an Amazon Gift Certificate so I could afford the speakers. Now (2 days later) that I've got it I come back and the price is now $306 still with free shipping.
I know a lot of people were waiting for these to come in stock and I'm sure they're a fast seller. I'm not sure but it looks a little strange that Amazon jacked up their price to cover what would normally be shipping charge that just happens to be "free". Hmmm? Just my thoughts so don't "dog" me on this review since I didn't take away from the speaker rating. Thanks!
48 better than the Klipsch Ultra 5.1's
i dunno about the guy below who had delays in shipping cuz i bought these from somewhere else (for more money), but wherever you buy them, these speakers are awesome and very worth the price.... i tried the Klipsch Ultra 5.1's as well and these are even better than those... they're:
-cheaper
-sound as good or better
-can decode DTS and Dolby (to do DTS you'll need an optical out... with normal three-plug 5.1 sound card output, it can do only regular or Dolby ProLogicII which is still better than Klipsch although you can have software for all the decoding so this stuff really isn't NECESSARY)
-have a wireless remote (if ur like me and too lazy to reach one foot to push the buttons on the controls hehe)
The speaker wires on these are connected to the speakers themselves and connect to the sub via RCA/composite-type plugs, unlike the Klipsch which have just normal speaker wire... i personally like this better because they're color-coded so you know which wire is from which speaker when plugging them into the sub
the speakers themselves are a bit smaller than the klipsch's too (which doesn't hurt the sound quality... they sound amazing... and get VERY loud if needed... i don't think i've even turned it up half way yet and i played it pretty loud... plus they have a "boost" function which can make it even louder if it's a really quiet sound file or something)
All in all, i'm very impressed with these little guys... i've had the original Klipsch 4.1's, the newer 4.1's, the 5.1's, and i tried the Ultra 5.1's for a day or two, and these are as good or better than all of them (i wanted to try Logitech after my Klipsch 5.1's unexpectedly died on me after a couple years which made me hesitant to try them again... we'll see how long these last but they seem good quality so far).... you probably can't go wrong with the Klipsch's but if you were at all deciding between them or these, i'd choose these... Logitech seems to be at the top of their game these days with their MX1000 mouse and other good products... oh and no, i'm not a Logitech representative/planter hehe... i'm a 21 year old guy... i just happened to have bought a lot of Logitech stuff recently and they've all been good
49 Not Sure About the Product Yet - But AMAZON is SLOW
Despite the ordering screen clearly stating "Usually ships within 1 to 2 days" I am STILL waiting for shipment. Currently seeing a 11-13 DAY out "estimated ship date" on my account screen. I'll review the product if/when it arrives - but I'd recommend that others buy this product elsewhere as there are clearly "issues" with order processing / delivery.
50 You get what you pay for! And more! =)
This shiznit is worth its price. If you like crisp bass in your neighbors face and crystal clear mids and highs... save your paychecks to get this. Logitech doesn't screw you like Altec Lansing on their well known amp problems. The Z-5500 is expensive, but if you're already committed to buying a set of these babies, you already know they're worth it. Plus, Amazon.com offers a price absolutely NO ONE can beat! Shipping upgrades and excellent service make this buy a MUST !!!! Seriously, save your paychecks and splurge on yourself! You deserve it! Thank you Amazon!
