Experience exciting Dolby Digital home theater sound on your PC with Logitech's Z-640 5.1 speaker system. Its revolutionary subwoofer delivers twice the bass of similar systems, and five elegant satellites provide silky smooth mids and highs. Enjoy immersive sound with PCs, video game consoles, and more.
Get the most from your computer games and DVD movies with Logitech's Z-640 surround-sound speaker system. The system's four satellites (left/right, front/surround) and center-channel speaker fill your room with sound, while the 25-watt powered subwoofer rounds out the bottom end to a deep 35 Hz, a good octave below the range of most bookshelf speakers, delivering floor-shaking bass from your music or a DVD's low-frequency-effects channel, the ".1" in a Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1-channel presentation.
Inputs include a stereo analog (left/right) RCA pair and multi-channel analog inputs for decoded surround sound from any four- or six-channel sound card (or audio/video surround receiver).
The satellites are powered by 7.3 watts each, and the center channel, which handles up to 70 percent of most surround mixes, gets 16.3 watts. Logitech's innovative, dual-chamber subwoofer delivers twice the bass energy of similarly sized subwoofers, and the company's use of an internal power supply obviates the bulky wall adapters found on many surround systems.
All speakers are video shielded to allow distortion-free placement on or around your monitor, and the satellite speakers--imbued with easy-position rotating pedastals--may be mounted on stands, your desktop, or the wall. The system is covered by a two-year warranty. A handy supplied adapter ensures instant connectivity with gaming consoles.
What's in the Box
Four satellite speakers, one center-channel speaker, one subwoofer, requisite speaker cabling, one adapter cable for hookup with video-game consoles, and a user's manual.
1 Love it!
Good price, great value!
This system was a real steal for $40 ... I'd highly recommend it! Pretty easy to use, and cool blue light on the center speaker (which is bright, but very space-age).
2 The best sub $100 5.1 speakers by Logitech
I've bought 2 of these since they came out, and I couldn't be happier with them. The sound quality speaks for itself, and the construction of these speakers is both classy and functional. The feet are reversible (so you can mount them on a horizontal or vertical surface), and have rubber grommets on them to cut down vibration against whatever surface you mount them to. Those two features alone make these some of the best and highest quality speakers you can get for the money. Since I've had to mount my speakers in a variety of positions on a variety of surfaces (including a couch and the back of a computer chair), I can tell you that the adjustable feet on these speakers are definitely one of the best selling points for them. Most speakers in this price range come with feet that are only meant to sit on a desk. Some don't even have feet, just little rubber pads at the bottom of the speakers.
Also, compared to their replacements, the X-530, the Z-640's have seperate volume controls for the fader and the center speaker. This makes it very easy to focus the sound on the center of the room without having to rely on a sound card's equalizer. Also, the Z-640's have a button for Matrix mode. Matrix mode takes the stereo signal and balances it between the front and rear speakers, which is a great way to turn a stereo source into a semi-surround sound experience. This feature is missing from the X-530, but is found on Logitech's more advanced Z-3500, Z-3500e, and Z-680 (along with the controls for Center and Fade). In fact, the Z-680 has much more in common with this set than any other speakers made by Logitech. The only difference is that the Z-680 has a built-in Dolby Digital Decoder. And you can buy the Creative Labs DDTS-100 (a standalone Dolby Digital Decoder) for about $120, add it to these speakers, and have yourself a functional replica of the Z-680 for $100 less.
Sure, some people don't like the extra bright blue LED in the middle of the center speaker, but a piece of black electrical tape will easily cover it and blend in with the speaker so well that you'd never know that LED was there.
Because of their excellent sound, great design, super price, versatile mounting, and their fader and center volume adjustments, these speakers deserve a 5 out of 5, and are still superior to the X-530 that's supposed to replace it. Just do the math, 640>530!
Now that Logitech stopped making the Z-640, the only comparable replacement for them is the Z-5300 or the Z-5300e. But, both of those systems cost 2-3 times as much as the Z-640. So in short, if you've got these speakers, you already know how good they are. If you're looking at getting a 5.1 speaker setup, and you want to spend less than $100 on quality speakers, you need to hunt down a set of these. You'll thank me as soon as you try them.
Pros:
Excellent sound quality
Versatile mounting feet
Seperate controls for Center volume and Front/Rear Fader
Matrix Mode for converting stereo to surround sound
Front Headphone Jack
Sleek and subtle design
Includes an adapter for Stereo RCA inputs (from a game console or other stereo source)
Cons:
No longer produced
Bright blue LED in the middle of the center speaker (which is easy to hide with a piece of black electrical tape)
Replaced by the sorry X-530's or the expensive Z-5300 and Z-5300e
3 ok for the price...but
i've owned many an item from logitech and have never had a problem, until now. i'm no speaker expert but i know i've definitely heard better quality sound. i'm one that likes to blast music for the whole world to hear. but with these speakers, once the sound gets too high you can't decipher the lyrics. needless to say i've had this system for less than a year and the subwoofer just blew out on me and i'm ticked. this time i'm going to spring for a more expensive system that has a reputable sound. all in all it was a good buy for a beginner like me, but i would have liked to be able to hear more from than less than a year's worth of music.
4 Great bang for the buck
For a 5.1 system, these speakers give you great bang for your buck. The sound quality is not amazing, but in this price range, I'd say it is hard to find something comparable. Recommended.
5 outstanding for the price
i bought these based on the reviews here and i am not regreting it one bit. i wanted some 5.1's and these are simply oustanding, no static, nothing but clear sound and deep bass.
6 great speakers for an unheard of price
These speakers are unbelieveably powerful and clear for such a low price. Run. Buy them. Now.
7 great for xbox
I used the adapter that came with the speakers to hookup my xbox and it sounds great. Remember to turn on Dolby 5.1 sound support in your xbox settings. What an improvement over my TV and projector speakers. The small speakers have limited power output, but still great for $40! Great for xbox lan parties. We connected xbox to an LCD projector and xbox audio to Z-640 speakers, and bingo, we were rocking in surround sound for only 40!
8 This is a great value without a doubt.
I have had it for many months now. I am not a big audiophile so I don't know if the sound quality is really great, but...
Likes:
best price around.
doesn't pick up static radio noise.
so many satellites.
massive bass,
dislikes:
blinding lcd on the matrix speaker, the middle one.
the cables aren't long enough.
it's a great value for 5.1. I found it on sale at the time from WhoSave dot coom so it was too hard to pass up. I use logitech mx duo and logitech speakers, logitech has a good blend of innovation and value.
9 Satisfied
I was looking for an affordable set of 5.1 speakers because I'm on a limited budget. I have used many different logitech products and have been very satisfied with all of them. I figured for the price and free shipping, there really wasn't much to lose. I received the speakers, which were packed really good, and I set them up with my Sound Blaster Live 5.1 card. The instructions were vague on how to set them up, but all the connections are color coded and the website was very helpful. After a few minor adjustments in the Sound Blater Live control panel, the speakers sound great, DVD's and Doom 3 are incredible in 5.1 surround. The price is what makes these such a value, especially with the free shipping. If you are on a limited budget, for the price and free shipping, I recommend this product, you really can't go wrong.
10 Great speakers
At first, I was skeptical about buying these; since they looked a bit complicated to hook up and I didn't have a 5.1 sound card, but that was no problem at all! Everything is color coded, and even if you don't have a 5.1 sound card, these still work great (only the rear speakers don't work)!
They also come with an adapter cable, so you can hook your game system(s) or even TV (as long as it has an Audio/Video output) to them! I have had these for about 3 months, and they still sound great. Definitely recommended.
11 Great Speakers, A Good Buy
These speakers are increadible, I highly recomend these for anyone who's getting new computer speakers. I hooked them up to the DVD player and they sound great. The price is really good too.
12 Great set of speakers
I saw these speakers on Amazon.com and for under forty bucks and I thought I might as well give them a shot for the price. After I got them set-up I realized that it was a steal! They look great and even more importantly sound great! I'm not really a gamer but I am a music buff who enjoys all different types of music and all types sounds great using these speakers! If your thinking about getting these I say jump on it, they are well worth it!
13 Great price and Great Speakers
Really good speakers for its price i bought them immeditaley when i saw the price and when i told my friends also the price they were shocked!!these r really good..i bought em to use with my laptop which has no sound card and i dont wanna invest in one as the sound card will be more expensive than the speakers so i have two choices i can get the sound from 3 speakers and the sub woofer or all i had to do was buy a separate wire which doesnt cost more than 2$and i manages to get sound out of all speakers without the sound card..and they sound amazing i am just imagining if i buy the sound card how the speakers would sound!!wow!!..i highly recommend these to any person with a tight budget
14 Amazon rocks, Speakers/Sound OK
First off I want to say that Amazon.com definately surprised me. I recieved the speakers in about 5 business days without even paying for shipping! The closest price I could find anywhere for these speakers was $10 more plus another $15 for UPS ground shipping. You can't beat the price for these speakers and Amazon came through in getting them to me 8 days ahead of schedule.
A little about the speakers:
I bought these speakers because I had to remove my thousand dollar home theater system from my computer and put it into the living room. When I first installed the speakers and turned on some music and I was severely dissapointed at the sound quality. It quickly hit me though, I was comparing 50$ speakers to a very nice home theater system. After clearing my head I listened again. The sound quality is actually pretty good. The bass is a little weak but it is surprisingly clean. I would rather have less bass than distorted and muddy bass. A little EQ tweaking gave me much stronger (and still clean) bass. The highs are definately nice and as for those who complain about the mids: Small Front Speakers = no mids/bass. The speakers would need to be incredibly engineered (and probably really expensive) in order to produce good mids from such small speakers.
The blue light is a little annoying, but its nothing a little electrical tape can't take care of.
The packaging is VERY aggravating to remove, but it actually made me think and smile: "hey you couldn't even pay me the price of these speakers to wrap up all these in this plastic." So think positively: you get decent speakers AND a killer packaging job for one low price...
Overall: Definately worth the price, unbeatable in my opinion. If you wanted great sound, spend more money. If you want good sound for basically nothing then these speakers are perfect.
15 A Non Sound Pro Review
For a normal user who couldnt care less about sound quality, this works. Sound impressive enough. My gripe, why were the stand legs made that way? A little weird steel protrusion does seems a little unfinished. Bulky in a sense once I saw my friend's Altec Lansing. But for this price, I'd better not complain too much.
16 AWSOME SPEAKERS !!!
LOOK NO FURTHER. AFTER LOOKING AT AND LISTENING TO SPEAKERS
OF MANY DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS,PRICE RANGE, AND STYLE,I FOUND
THESE SPEAKERS TO PERFORM,SOUND, AND LOOK GREAT.YOU CAN SPEND
MORE FOR LESS QUALITY AND SOUND.SET UP WAS A BREEZE.EVERYTHING
IS COLOR CODED,AND THE SURROUND SPEAKERS GIVE YOU PLENTY OF
WIRE LENTH TO SATTISFY MOST APPLICATIONS.I'M SO GLAD I READ
OTHER REVIEWS ON THIS SITE WICH HELPED TO STEER ME TO THESE
WONDERFULL SPEAKERS.LOGITECH WAS RIGHT ON WITH THE PRICE.
17 A lot of bang for the buck
Alright, I'm heading into a new world with my first review. I'll hold my breath, and make the leap...
I am running these speakers on a Soundblaster Audigy (also been a very nice card), in a nice size bedroom. So, while the front speakers are on my desk, subwoofer, below the desk, the rear speakers are on a dresser and nightstand. For the distance they are behind me, they should probably be farther apart, but that is not an option. I usually use these speakers for music, so 5.1 is not really needed. When gaming (as a student, it is not something I can do that often), the surround sound works just fine. Same story with DVDs.
More specific thoughts...
Sound quality... If something really matters to you, people will try to make money off it. Nothing against the sound quality of these speakers, as they sound great. My previous speakers were regular desktop speakers, with a whopping 1.8 watts amplifier (my sound card had enough power to run the speakers while turned off). After using these new speakers, I would have to be drug kicking and screaming to use the old ones. The bass is good (it can rattle the carpet a little, but is far from making your heart throb). The midrange sound is fine by me (other reviewers say it is lacking). I use the hardware equalizers on my card (usually set on Rock, or New Age), which seem to focus more on the lower end, which is what I want. If you want more midrange, I have found that turning up the center volume and pressing the matrix button on the front speaker will bring more of the mid and upper range to the center channel, which has more power (16 watts as opposed to the 6 or so each sattelite has). Also, try out different equalizers (most software players have them).
Cables... There are two cables coming from the center speaker. One goes to the subwoofer, the other to the computer. Be warned, they are both rather thick, especially the one to the sub (about the same size as a monitor's 15 pin cable and connector). Time, and heat from my monitor, has made them a little more pliable, and I don't consider them to be a problem. Do be warned, though, if you have fancy routing plans. Also, the rear speaker cables were not long enough for me. I had some fancy plans, including a trip into the closet, out at the other end, behind a dresser, etc. I had already counted on this, and got a female to male RCA cable for audio. With the rear speakers, this didn't even mess up the colour coding, and I simply split the audio cable into the two separate cables. All in all, it cost me about $3.
Some sound cards are colour-coded, mine was not, but the speakers input jacks were, and the instructions use the colours. So, if you are wondering, green is the two front speakers (output 1 on my card), black is the two rear speakers (output 2 on my card), and orange is the subwoofer and center channel (yep, you guessed it, output 3 on my card).
Controls... Most of the controls are on the center speaker, which is meant to go either on top of your monitor (where mine now resides), or in front of your keyboard. The stand for the speaker is attached to create the proper angle. The one black sheep control is the bass volume, which is located on the bass unit, or subwoofer. It might seem logical, until you realize that you may want to adjust it. This is a rare occurence for me, and is done without too much difficulty, so I didn't take off a star for that. Most of the controls are fairly self-explanatory. Matrix mixes the two front channels to get an output for the center channel (I'm not using it now, but am still getting an output), and fader adjusts the rear volume (with fader turned all the way up, the rear speakers are just as loud as the front speakers). I don't find the blue power indicator LED to be bothersome, but if you do, I'm sure that electrical tape, as was already suggested, will solve that problem.
Construction/Packing... Everything seemed to be packed well. The box I received had been very, very beat up. However, the box inside of that was in good condition, and the speakers, which were each separately packaged, were in very, very good condition. I prefer things to be over wrapped than damaged. Besides, unpacking took me only a few minutes. As for construction, the satellites can be wall mounted (mine aren't), and all seem sturdy. My subwoofer occassionaly has been my foot rest, which hasn't done it any harm. The four satellites are vented, which is supposed to increase sound quality, from what I've gathered. The stands all have rubber grip pads on them.
In conclusion... All in all, very nice speakers, keeping in mind that they are rather inexpensive. If you think their sound quality is not up to par, I hear (no pun intended) that Klipsch has very nice speakers. If you want more power, the Z680 have that, and some more bells and whistles, and I'm sure better sound quality too. Both of those options, though come at a price that would break my modest wallet.
If you are using these speakers, and think that any speakers would be better than these, I suggest that you look at your sound source before condemning these. I can tell a difference when streaming sound at a bit-rate of 20kbps as opposed to 48kbps, and that was in wma, which supposedly does better at such low bitrates compared to mp3. If you do mp3, I'd suggest at least 128kbps (I use a variable bit-rate, which usually averages 300-400kbps).
All in all, if you don't want to spend a lot of money, these are great.
18 Great Deal!
I just received mine today and I must say, they are better than I had suspected from such a little and inexpensive piece of equipment. I am using this for my XBox and I must say I am not let down in the least bit. For $40 you cannot go wrong, if you happen to have a tight budget and wish to get Dolby Digital Surround Sound. I am impressed.
19 Incredible and Worth Your cash
I had the older version of these speakers, the four speaker setup, and it lasted me for two and a half years. It was a very reliable and cost effective setup. Some improvements have been made in this particular version.
The main plug into the Woofer used to be a 'shove it in' affair, and my connection in the woofer got loose in my old speakers and it caused a short. I have a friend that had the same problem. They improved it by having it screw into the woofer like a monitor screws into the back of a computer. This is a big improvement and will stop the cord from wiggling around and causing a short. This also keeps it from pulling out and losing connection to your woofer. BIG IMPROVEMENT.
The sound is great. The cost of a bose system is several hundred more, and although Bose sounds great, it is not several hundred dollars better.
This is a great deal for the price, and I love my set up. Your games or MP3's sound totally great and you will love it.
BUY IT.
20 Good 5.1 Speakers for the price
Logitech has a way with being able to bring the price down on its products.
First off I'd like to say this is a great bargain. The Highs are high but sound... i don't know... soft and separated? The lows are low (good sub) and the midranges lack bigtime. I'm guessing its good for its purpose but you miss a lot witht he lack of midrange. Sound gets distored at higher levels of music.
Then again you ask for something perfect at this price. Very good deal for people who don't want to break the budget, but don't expect something that'll blow you away.
21 Exellent speakers!!!
I just got these couple of weeks ago and let me tell you....you cant go wrong with these....not for the price. Simply the best bang for the buck!!! I got these for $36 along with Creative Labs 5.1 card for $20. Sound is awesome. Game experiance, music...sounds sooo much better.
Blue LED light is bright, but once you put it on top of the monitor it wont bother you. Black electrical tape will do the trick also ;)
70RMS is more then enough for me...if you need more power, be prepared to take a hit on the price. since 80% of the time music is not played at full volume....what the point.
Subwoofer is exellent also. COnnections and everything is are much simpler to wire up then some of the previous surround sound sets.
I would recommend 100%
22 Absolutely Amazing
I ordered these speakers on a Wednesday morning, and they got here on Thursday afternoon, even though it was free shipping! Setup was very straightfoward, and I was able to set up the 4 satellite speakers, the center channel, and the subwoofer in about 15 minutes (unpacking the well protected speakers took up some time). I'm using a Sound Blaster Live! sound card, and these speakers really let you rock out. The subwoofer is powerful, and the satellites are very clear, even when the volume is turned up.
I managed to get my hands on a video that has 5.1 (the Halo 2 trailer) and I also played some Counter-Strike testing if the surround sound works. Its great to finally be able to tell where your enemies are from the sounds of their footsteps.
Likes - Well-packaged. Crisp, clear, and powerful. Very good price. Almost flawless.
Dislikes - A minor annoyance, the blue LED can be a bit bright. Just cover it up with a square of (duck, masking, eletrical) tape. The manual doesn't really tell you how to mount the speakers on the wall. (I didn't but it would have been nice to know how if I did want to.)
Overall, I highly recommend these speakers. I've already sent a set to my cousin for his birthday, and he really enjoys them.
Hope this helps!
23 Great Price, Great Sound
For such a great price, it's hard to beat this set-up. With the heavy advertising on the box for computer/video gaming, I was a bit worried that it wouldn't do well for a home theatre system, but once I got it hooked up and heard the THX logo sound, I knew it was worth it. We do have a smaller tv room, so that may help out a bit. The only thing that keeps it from being a five-star review is that it doesn't have a remote control. That would have been nice. But, overall, you can't beat the price and sound.
24 Best 5.1 speakers for the price!
I purchased these speakers through a sale on amazon and got them for $37 with shipping. I've seen these for sale at best buy for 70+ dollars, so for 37, these speakers are a steal!
Installation was a breeze, the hardest part was unpacking the speakers since logitech uses so much tape/plastic on the speakers and wires. I've heard many people complain about it but I consider it a good thing since it ensures promotes safe travel. I'd rather unwrap speakers for 10 minutes than receive broken ones.
I hooked up the 640's to my onboard sound since I have an Asus P4B533-E motherboard. If you have the same motherboard or one similar, make sure to read your manual since you might have to make some jumper changes. I first fired these up and tested them out while watching the opening scene in "Saving Private Ryan". I was astonished that sound this good was coming out of $37 speakers.
Next thing to try out was a computer game. Threw in Joint Operations and I had never experienced 5.1 sound gaming so I was very pleased with how they sounded. Explosions sounded realistic as well as bullets and the direction from which they were coming from. Very Pleased!
The highs and bass are excellent, but they were lacking a bit midrange. I did have to tune them a bit to get them working just right but its definitely not a hard thing to do at all. One thing you also notice right off the bat is the bright blue LED light on the center channel. I took care of that right away by putting some electrical tape over it (problem solved).
Speaker quality is good. They seem pretty sturdy and could probably withstand a short fall off a computer desk.
Overall, the z640's are excellent budget speakers. Hardcore audiophiles might want to spend about 5x more for other options, but for the average joe, these will do the job just fine.
Pros:
Great bang for the buck
Good build quality
Nice highs/lows
Cons:
Bright LED light on center channel which is easily fixed
I recommend these speakers highly to anyone that does not want to spend a ton of cash yet wants descent sound.
25 Bang for the Buck
I bought these speakers as i needed an enexspensive replacement for my dead Altec lansings. For a 6 speaker systerm under 50, I do not think you can beat these speakers. They are weak in deep bass but overall are sound really good. The sub is made very well better than many i have seen in a fasion similar to a True sound system sub. The surround speakers and center channel use a heavy RCA cable for connections which is nice as my AL's died due to small cables that just eventually broke down inside of the speakers and no longer work.
The only real gripe i have about these speakers is the length to the rear speakers. they give you 10 ft which is nice but would be great with a lot more wire for running the rears.
26 Amazing $40 speakers
These speakers blew me away. I got them yesterday and was in awe of their quality. These speakers are not cheap speakers, they are great speakers that happen to have a cheap price. The sound is amazing!
Set up was easy. Things are color-coded and setup took about 5 minutes after everything was unpacked.
The only down to these speakers is the fact that the sub volume control is on the back of the sub itself. All of the other controls are located on the center speaker. Even with this I probably would have paid triple what they cost!
Great speakers with the price figured in even with the sub volume on the back I rate them a 5 star buy!
27 HIGH Quality
Forget the "bang for the buck:" these speakers are simply a bang. The sound quality is phenomonal. If you don't have a 5.1 sound card, get one, these speakers go so well with one. Little things i didn't notice in movies before are suddenly clear. Unlike other speakers ive heard, the bass doesn't drown out the voices in movies. These speakers are worth more than the list price, and amazon.com offers it for less than 50% off.
28 You get what you pay for. Dead to honest review.
I am sure all of you are looking to get some kind 5.1 audio setup without spending the big bucks. This is the most dead to honest review you're going to get from a home theater expert. Let's begin!
This system works for PC's, and video game consoles (Xbox, PS2, Gamecube). I have tried these speakers on all 2 items and I will review them from best overall experience to worst. I will also explain each of the most important audio equipment in each review.
Z-640 PC Review:
To achieve Dolby Digital you will need a sound card to decode the signal. A 6-channel sound card will bring you the best possible aural sound. A 4-channel sound card will bring you acceptable sound and with a 2-channel sound card you will get about average sound, in other words your rear satellite speakers won't make a single noise.
I recommend getting a 6-channel sound card because this is the only way you're going to recieve Dolby Digital 5.1 sound out of your PC.
The cables are all color-coded, red plug=right rear speaker, yellow plug=left front speaker, & so on. So you will not have any trouble hooking this sound system up.
I tried these speakers with DOOM 3 and I was totally blown away! You will not find a better 5.1 system for the value than this one. You hear gunshots coming from the right of you, explosions to the left, footsteps from behind, dialogue in the center, etc.
Overall PC Summary : For about $38.00 you are really receiving a bang for your buck. Everything sounds where it should be, nothing too weak or strong, just absoutely perfect. If you feel your desktop shaking, thank your patented-designed subwoofer. Which literally brings you wall-shaking sounds.
5/5
Z-640 Console Review(Xbox, PS2, Gamecube):
Let me get this out of the way, you will not receive a Dolby Digital 5.1 sound out of any of the consoles. So you will only recieve Dolby Surround. Which means, read below:
I tested these on multiple games for each of the 3 consoles such as Halo, Final Fantasy X, Metroid Prime. So if you're playing a game you will not hear bullets to your right or left, or spies creeping up behind you, instead you will hear it coming all around you. Whether it's magic summons, explosions, or just plain story-telling cutscenes you will not get a 5.1 signal from your speakers unless you took apart your consoles and found some way to include a Dolby Digital decoder in your consoles.
Everything is controlled by the Center speaker so that means you'll have to get up and go to it just to adjust settings. Overall volume control, rear speaker(fader) volume, center speaker volume, matrix button(press this to enable the center speaker for consoles), headphone jack. The only thing it doesn't control is the Subwoofer volume which is another thing you have to adjust to your liking.
This is what really sucks for the system. They could have included a wireless remote of some sort or at least a wired one so you don't have to get up just to change additional settings.
The blue light itself isn't bad at all, it's bright but no brighter than that blue light on your PS2 or green light on xbox. I was not bothered even once by the light.
For $38 you will get what you payed for. One thing is guaranteed though, you will receive deep bass that will literally deliver wall-shaking sounds.
The stands on the satellite speakers are also reversable which means you can easily mount them on the wall. Which is pretty neat and saves you money unlike other bulky speakers that require additional wall mounts.
Overall Console Review: Although you will not receive a 5.1 Dolby Digital you will still receive Dolby Surround which is definitely 2 steps up better than television speakers. Just think of 5.1 DD as coordinated sound and Dolby Surround as uncoordinated sound.
2/5
Overall Z-640 product Review: Extremely well-designed and convient. Easy to assemble. I would recommend this to the PC gamer or even console gamer if he doesn't care if he/she will receive only a Dolby Surround signal. To the console gamer I would highly recommend you save a few more bucks and purchase the Z-680's because that system alone can double as a home theater system and it already has a built-in decoder ready for DVD players, PC's, & consoles.
In either case, you will still get a 2 year warranty from Logitech. Cheers!
29 Incredible deal for the price, but...
The reason I say "but" is because it is an incredible deal because of the price, not the quality of the speakers. These are great entry-level 5.1 speakers, but if you want quality in 5.1 speakers you need to make the rather large jump from <50 dollars to over 200 for the Logitech Z-680s, which is what I am doing.
Don't get me wrong, these are great speakers, even without the incredible deal you get. The sub is incredible, window-rattling when you get everything turned up. If you just want something with 5.1 surround sound (i.e. for gaming and movies), get these. If you really care about the quality (for music listening), get some 2.1s. It's sort of like moving all the quality from the other 3 speakers into the front right and left.
30 For the Price? Buy These Little Powerhouses
I do not know what possesed me to wait so long to upgrade my crappy little computer speakers to a decent set of speakers. I finally decided to buy these when I saw them on sale(at $10 more than current price). OMG what a difference. I was playing Everquest a few weeks ago and it started raining and thundering in game. My wife (in the same room) actually went to the window, with a puzzled look on her face, to look outside to look for the storm (was bright and sunny..hehe) Music sounds 50x better. If you are still using the same speakers that came with your computer STOP! For <$40 treat yourself.
31 Great System with very trivial flaws
First off I would like to reiterate that this system is great, especially for the price. It should be noted however that this is not a "budget" product either, and is made by a respectable company. The sound quality is superb and unless you are spending 3-10x more on a system, I really don't see any others that offer any advantages. That being said, there are very few complaints that I could come up with about the product. The only ones I have are that the rear cables could be a little longer (which can easily be fixed w/extenders), and the instruction manual could be a little more comprehensive. As for the blue light... I like it... Otherwise, I stand by the object for anyone wishing to buy a speaker system <$100. Additionally, the "super saver" shipping option is very viable. My speakers weren't supposed to ship until august 30th and got here august 26th (two days after ordering and for free). 5/5
32 Awesome set of Speakers!
Let me start off by saying that these are an awesome set of speakers, if you are heisitant about this buy because of the cheap price just try it, I did and it was one of the best things I ever did for my Dell laptop!
The speaker setup is very easy, and Logitech doesn't give you a million different cords and cables to get confused with, its all color coated, and all the cables plug into the sub. The speaker cable lengths are pretty long actually, and the rear speakers have 10 ft. of cable, but you can always buy rear extender RCA cables from places like radio shack, and other electronic retailers, they aren't too expensive either.
These speakers can go very loud without distorting, they have an awesome clairity level too. Really, you cant tell the difference between these, and the THX certified speakers. I can listen to classical music that will fill the room with sound, or rock which sounds just as good.
The controls are all located on the center channel speaker, which is hopefully in reach, execpt the sub volume, which is on the sub. Its not really that bad if you have the sub close to your desk or under it, but if you put it somewhere really weird, then you might have a problem.
And the dreadful Blue LED, is not that bad, while I'm watching movies, or playing games, it doesn't bother me unless I concentrate on it, but just that I dont have a problem with it, doesn't mean you wont, so just but some duct-tape over it.
Amazon is definetly the place to get these, I'm yet to have one problem with Amazon.
Overall, this speaker system lived up to all my expectations and more, if your considering it, I STRONGLY reccomend this product!
33 Incredible Value
Since this is rated the best of the best in Maximum PC, or a 5.1 PC sound system, then there is little more to say. Bought these speakers ridiculously cheap and based on the specs this combination looked like an absolute no-brainer. That's before knowing it's standing in the hardware category and checking out just how good a value it was after seeing and hearing it for myself. As a P.S. has a killer woofer technology, that is really loud but easily tameable.
34 An awesome set!!!!
I had bought this system for my pc, but after a realized how crisp the sound was, I hooked it up to my tv. Very cool system for the price. The only problem that i have with the system is the bright blue light that glows on the center piece when the system is turned on.
35 WTF LOL ROFL LMAO WOOT
Ok..I am sure you heard the saying "you get what you pay for." Well not here you dont, you get much much more. These speakers sound amazing. I immediately fell in love with them the second I heard a song. The bass is excellent, it is crisp and clear with no distortion. You can turn these up and it will still sound great. For 42 bucks I feel like I am listening to a 150 dollar system. My friend down the block from me has a surround sound that he payed over 200 dollars for. I seriously can't tell the difference between mine and his. Of course I won't tell him this. So anyways, I recommend the Logitech Z-649 6 to anyone and everyone.
36 These speakers kept the party going
First off, these are my second set of Logitech speakers. I origionally had the Z-560's (which were magnificent as well)... which I sold to a friend and bought these as an upgrade.
I was having a house party the other night, which near the end of the night moved to the basement. I won't lie when I say, these speakers had the whole place going. Everyone was dancing, and the speakers held up like champs. In fact, they were so loud that neighbors could hear them from across the street. The Z-680's were cranked, you could literally hear them from every place in the house, and they still had lots of volume to spare. I woke up the next morning expecting the speakers to be shot, but I was totally wrong. They're still sounding as crips as ever (in fact, more crisp than my Sony stereo system upstairs). I can't express how pleased I am of these speakers.
In regards to people talking about experiencing Sub rattle and a hiss, I haven't had any problems with that whatsoever. I did read all of the reviews before I bought these, being a little nervous about those issues, but I think Logitech may have fixed the problems with updated hardware.
I'm running a Sound Blaster Live Audigy, and all of the hookups worked fine. My only problem is that when you use the Direct 6 Channel Direct feed (which sounds the best), I don't get sound from the center speaker. I do get sound in all 5 however, when I'm using the Dolby Pro-Logic Music or Movie settings, but the sound isn't as loud or as crisp as that in the direct feed or in the Stereo effects.
Also, the manual is pretty useless. It doesn't explain what each effect does (hardware wise), and you'll find yourself wanting more information.
Overall, excellent speakers.
37 Could have been great, but they have a couple problems...
The sound quality is fantastic for the price, the bass is excellent, and they look cool enough. So that's all well and good. BUT, they have a few annoying problems that keep them from being great.
First off, the rear speakers only have 10-foot cables, which is entirely too short if you have any kind of obstacles to your sides or behind you that you would need to put the wire around. So unless you have the perfect setup behind you, then add another ten bucks to the price for an extension cable or two.
Second, the blue LED light on the center speaker is incredibly bright. If you've ever used an optical mouse, remember how it felt to look into the red light on the bottom of it (and I know you have, don't deny it)? Yeah, it isn't pleseant. So turn that color to blue and you have the general intensity of the light on these speakers. I had to cut a little piece of electrical tape and cover it up so I didn't go blind, so while it may not be a big deal, it is an unnecessary annoyance.
And lastly, while this may just be a defect in my product (lucky me) and not a problem with every set, I can't get any headphones to stay in the headphone jack on the center speaker. They just... pop back out. I can hold them in and it will work, but as soon as I let go the cord pops out. I can't figure out what is wrong, but hopefully this isn't a common problem with others.
So there you have it. These are good speakers for the price, but I'm getting tired of these little problems. Maybe I'm just being picky, but after all of the Logitech praise I hear I find these things particularly annoying and unacceptable.
38 Disappointed
A few years ago I bought a used Creative Labs FPS 2000. Recently I accidentally knocked one of the connections lose, and thought I'd broken the speaker system. I plunged into researching speaker systems, and after reading a number of reviews I settled upon the Z640. When I got the speakers, I excitedly connected everything together and started perusing my playlist. Much to my dismay, none of the music seemed as clear or powerful as with my old system. I tried fiddling with my equalizer settings or using different Winamp plugins or using the Matrix mode for the speakers, but nothing made them sound better. I may not be a hardcore audiophile, but I can differentiate between broad levels of audio fidelity. These speakers simply aren't up to par. Thankfully, my FPS2000 system was still working, but I regret buying this set of speakers. If you want your speakers to give you a real musical experience, look elsewhere.
39 Nice but...
When I received these speakers, I was greeted with the typical Logitech packing. The speakers were all wrapped in plastic and packed in styrofoam. Once I got the speakers set up, (very easy thanks to Logitech's colorcoded RCA plugs) I found that the satellite speakers were passing way too much bass. The sound was very muddled. If you are using a Soundblaster card, I would highly recommend turning on the bass redirection in the AudioHQ. Once I got the bass under control, the speakers sounded very good, not great, but what do you want for the price? I would highly recommend these speakers to anyone that is just starting into surround sound. However, I would also recommend buying a 5.1 compatible soundcard at the same time. (At least get a soundblaster Live, it's only about 30 or 40 dollars.)
Now for the but. The cables on the rear speakers could be longer, but that's easily fixed with a pair of extension cables. The midrange is not the clearest, and the bass can be overpowering. If you don't have a 6 channel sound card, get one before using these speakers. The tuning and effects make the speakers sound much better.
Overall, not a bad set of speakers. They missed the fifth star because of the hassle of trying to get the bass out of the smaller satellite speakers and because the sound quality isn't the greatest. But, I am used to a Pioneer home theatre system for listening to music with. For a computer, they are more than adequate. I actually would have given them 3 1/2 stars, but the rating system only allows whole stars. They are better than three, but not quite a solid four.
40 Best (though only) surround speakers I've bought
I got these speakers many months ago, and they have yet to dissapoint. the sound is rich and full, though not top quality home theatre system, though nobody asked it to be, since they can be had for about $50. I never turn them past half volume, for two reasons: I don't want to annoy my family.
And it is way freakin' loud past half way!! These may not be the best sounding, THX certified, make your neighbors down the street wet the bed speakers, but they definately get the job done.
If you use multiple equalizers, like the one in the included software and the one for Windows Media Player, there is a good chance you will get crummy sound. I did, and when I leveled hem all out, I was suprised at the clarity and volume of the music.
I'm not a audiophile, so I don't know what genre plays the best, but I know all music sounds very good on these puppies. The speakers have a strong mid-range, however, this I know from turning off all but the subwoofer and realizing I lost a good amount of the kick in the system.
Bottom Line: If you are itching to upgrade your $10 stereo pc speakers, but don't want to spend $300 on the THX speakers, hese will fit the bill easily. Compared with my previous Labtech stereo speakers, these are as good as a movie theater.
41 For a budget set of 5.1 speakers, not half bad...
The speakers are relatively easy to set up, even without in depthg review of the instructions - just plug and play. The subwoofer's volume is a bit disappointing - I expected a bit more from it, but it's still pretty adequate. The highs from the satellite speakers are surprisingly rich, and no hum seems to exist even at relatively high volumes. The speakers are easy to adjust, with all pertinent controls being mounted on the center channel speaker. Overall, these are a nice value.
42 Fantastic Speakers!!!
I was thinking about purchasing some speakers to go with my new computer that I just built. I was thinking about the Creative Labs¨ I-Trigue 2.1 3300($100) and Logitech Z640($43.59). I ended up with the Logitech Z640 and I definitely picked the right one with a fantastic price. I hooked these bad boys up with Turtle Beach 5.1-Channel Audio Sound Card and I could not believe how amazing these speakers perform. It produces an extremely rich sound and base. I garuantee you, if you buy these speakers you will not be disappointed, especially with a very lower price plus free shipping.
43 Good for the price.
I went to Circuit City yesterday to purchase some new speakers. I listened to these among others. In my opinion the quality is good for the price. They are just not that clear. The midrange sounds kind of muffled. The bass sounds good though. Spend a few dollars more and get some Creative labs Inspire speakers, they sound much better.
44 Good Price!
Cheap Price and Good Stuff!
45 Elegant Design with a Punch
Ever since I bought a 5.1 Home Entertainment system, I've become somewhat of an audiophile. I've since upgraded my DVD 5.1 system and I looked into buying a set for my computer. I live in a dorm at college, so I live in a pretty tight space and I end up moving around a lot. (I move in and out at least three times a year.) Here, the system shines as the cords are all well marked and color-coded making setup and organization a breeze. They look great and the black and matte-silver design is subtle enough to where your guests won't notice the system until it blows them away.
First of all, this system has made me the envy of my gaming friends (speakers-wise at least) and never fails to impress when watching movies. The sound that these small speakers can generate is very true to the source in all ranges (this is compared to my several hundred dollar Sony system in the living room.) This system could easily fill a room much larger than my tiny bedroom. Meanwhile, the nuances are so great that I can easily pinpoint and fire on enemies in "Far Cry" through bushes, without visual. The bass is the only problem, and only in that it is almost too powerful that I can't really use it without worrying about complaints. When I get the chance though, it's a blast to crank and play games or watch movies.
I run it off of a 5.1 card now, but at first I ran it off of the stock card in my computer and the Matrix system simulated 5.1 beautifully. More than I had ever expected. It was enough to get this audiophile to delay buying a 5.1 sound card for a while.
Hands down best product for such a low pricetag and should be the first look for anyone taking his or her first steps into 5.1 land.
46 Great Speakers Especially for the Price!!!
These are some great speakers. You can not beat the price for these exceptional speakers. The sound is lound and clear. Make sure you have a 5.1 compatible sound card to take full advantage of these speakers. If you don't have the 5.1 sound card, these speakers can simulate the surround sound nicely, also.
47 Exceeded expectations
I read great reviews about these before I bought them, but still wasn't sure how great they'd be for ~$45. I must say that I am very impressed. I'm certainly not a speaker expert, but I'm very pleased with the speakers, and thrilled that the price is affordable.
48 Excellent for the price
Recently got the speakers and amazed with the sound. Even the Free Shipping also was fast. Can't expect crystal clear as Bose but too Good value for the price.
49 disappointed by the eletric noise
I bought it after several comparation. It's an OK product. But I really expect better sound quality of it. Somewhat disappointed. because the electric noise is unbarable when you turn to a large volume. If you just want a plain speaker , this is fine. if you expect excellent sound quality, NEVER consider this one.
50 Best Speakers
One of the Best Speakers I had at a reasonable Price..Very good..
51 not bad
if u can't afford the price of Z-680 , u may just buy this
52 Excellent system, but lacking in some areas
My first impression with this unit is ease of configuration. There are few extraneous wires, and all the speaker wires are connected to them in shipping. No copper ends here, color coded plugs make installation a breeze. There is also no bulky power supply, which is often a large heavy brick which seems to do nothing; this time it is incased in the subwoofer, where all the satellites are connected.
Sound quality is excellent. When playing HALO on xbox with my normal TV speakers, the sound is very good. I can hear the little pings and whizzes of bullets flying past me in multiplayer. Now with the new surround sound system, I can hear them whiz past me and actually tell which direction they come from! The bass is very powerful even at 1/3 the max power on the subwoofer.
A few shortcomings are in this package. The cables are a bit too short for wall mounting. In my room, cables are stretched as far as they can go. The easy design of the speaker bases allows you to easily mount them, but again, the cables make that difficult. You may want to look for an extention of some form for the two rear satellites, the cables are only 12 or 15 feet long. This is not a problem at all for computer centered mounting, but when used as a home entertainment setup, it is a hassle.
Great setup overall. Sound quality is superb. Allows for 5 channel simulation of 4 channel output (great for GCN games!) via the MATRIX button. Only shortcoming is cable length (although it was excedingly easy to assemble!)
53 Great set of speakers
these are great, this is my first set of computer surround speakers and i have no compliants.
54 Logitech Z-640 vs Cambridge SoundWorks SW-310
In summary, these speakers are horrible.
Now, let me explain why. I ordered these speakers, they came, set them up, discovered I didn't have the right hardware (my fault, and I'm not deducting any points for it), so than I set them up again with the right hardware. Now, the surround sound worked fine and all. The problem? The speakers just flat out have sucky sound.
I did a side-by-side (plugged one in than immediately the other) comparison between the Z-640s and a pair of Cambridge SoundWorks SW-310s. Additionally, I compared both sets of speakers to a pair of MDR-V700 headphones which I trust to have the most accurate sound out of the three. While the Z-640s have a solid sound, they muddled the treble tones and some - only some mind you, the others were to quiet - bass tones were too loud (adjusting the sub did not help). The highs were very bizarre, seeming too loud and yet to quiet at the same time. I know this was NOT because of the speakers being placed behind me, as I tried them with just stereo (the front speakers only), surround, front and back in stereo instead of surround, and I tried each of those combinations with the rear speakers placed beside the front speakers instead of behind me. I also know it wasn't my sound card because I tried placing them on the integrated audio, which sounded exactly the same (excluding the lack of surround sound support).
In a nut shell, these speakers suck. Cambridge SoundWorks SW-310s blow them away in terms of quality, especially at a normal listening level. In fact, the SW-310s sounded very close to the MDR-V700 Headphones. This is quite surprising to me since the SW-310s only cost $60 when I bought them OVER THREE YEARS AGO. Granted they are only stereo (2.1), but they still sound better.
55 Audigy 2 + Z-640 = Awesome
The Z-640 is a very good set of speakers... I just got them and finished a couple o levels of Call of Duty... The airplanes are just like, VOOSH, from behind to ahead. And the Soundblaster software that came with my Audigy 2 sound card makes everything 10X better with the callibration among other settings...
What makes this not 5 stars is its slight lack of Bass, I'm not saying its bad, its just that im used to the 10" subwoofer on my Acoustic Authority A-3640 set. So maybe its just a relative comparison, but if I had never had the A-3640, I'd have to say 2 thumbs up to Logitech for a VERY COST-EFFICIENT way to go 5.1 with the Z-640.
56 very nice
good sound. music GREAT but its not bad either. you have to blast it to really get the good quality. so if youre not lookin for speakers you want to blast, then this may not be for you. but if youre lookin for bass and loudness, this is the best bang for the buck! oh and theres ALOTTAH bass.
57 Budget Surround Sound
I finally got fed up with the plastic case of my subwoofer vibrating with the bass. Plus the volume controls and headphone jack was on the subwoofer which sits on the floor. It was just a cheap 2.1 system I purchased 5 years ago or so.
First, I use a laptop as my primary computer. Like many laptops, it does not have surround sound output, so I looked for a cheap USB solution. I settled on the "Starlogic 5.1 Audio Theater" which costs about half as much as the Audigy2. Then I ordered these speakers from Amazon.com based on the reviews.
The wires were wrapped up in plastic along with each individual speaker. I was really afraid I was gonna snip the wrong thing with my scissors, but I didn't see any other way to free them. There is only one page devoted to setting up the speakers in the little booklet that comes in the box. You really don't need it as all the cables are color-coded. There is a thick stiff black cable (like a monitor cable) that comes off the center speaker down to the subwoofer. The only place I could find for the center speaker was on top of my monitor, and I finally had to tape the speaker legs to the top of the monitor because the heavy cable kept pulling it off.
As for the audio, I'm not a guru, but I notice that these speakers don't sound as good as my Koss C220 Home Theater System. The Koss is a budget system as well, and appears to have a tweeter and woofer in each of the 5 speakers. The Z-640 appears to only have one or the other. After a couple of weeks of owning them, I find I am still tweaking the fader and center controls depending on what I am listening to. The speakers have plenty of volume and the subwoofer produces plenty of bass to suit me. (The subwoofer is only set to about 1/3 of its volume out of courtesy for my neighbors.) My dance music sounds muffled to my ears...maybe too much bass in the surround speakers...or maybe this is the lack in the mid-range that other reviewers have commented about. It could just be my USB sound card. Movies sound good, and I can definitely discern the surround sound effects.
Overall, I've heard better, but I've heard much, much worse. There is nothing like a subwoofer case constantly vibrating to get on your nerves, and the Z-640 took care of that problem. Based on other reviews and my budget, I think I've got the best bang for my money, so I'll stick with them.
58 Decent system
These speakers are pretty good if you want to just see if a 5.1 system is right for you. With these speakers its hard to tell a DVD audio disc from a Conventional CD. Some speakers were just not designed to handle sample rates over 44khz so not much of a difference will be heard. Another thing I want to point out is that the bass is pretty good and solid sounding and does carry a good distance but certain frequencies is just too much for the poor amp and 4" Driver hidden in the back of the subwoofer turned the opposite direction of the "radiator" that appears to be a cone. Another thing is just after 2 months of listening (At normal levels most of the time) The subwoofer developed a vibration noise inside the woofer like something inside the woofer may have became loose. This may be because the ones I bought were recertified but I doubt it. Recertified are only items retured to a store (such as walmart) and reinspected by the manufacturer. If you try to pump too much bass into the subwoofer you will hear a flapping sound because the "radiator" is being pushed out too far. If you cant afford nothing else then go with these. Otherwise I would go with something with the THX certification if you want clarity. Don't get discouraged from buying these just because what me and other audiophiles might say about it. Go with your instincts, you may be satisfied with your purchase.
59 Z-640's are great!
I was a little hesatant about buying these because of their small size, but don't worry they ROCK! And the price can't be beat either. The sound quality is excellent and hook up couldn't be easier. The rear speakers could have a little longer wires, but not a big deal to get extensions. As others have said the vivid BLUE power light is a little distracting, but a piece of black tape fixes that. I am thinking about getting another set for another computer, and see the price has dropped a couple of bucks in the past week. A great bang for the buck!!
60 Mediocre sound and poor quality control
I got one set of these and had to return them - the center channel stopped working. The next set was dead on arrival. So much for good quality control (something I've heard about other Logitech speakers).
The third (and final) set works fine, but I've found these speakers are much better for games than music (and I need something that does both pretty well). They are loud but don't sound very natural, and after a while (listening to music) I get so I just can't stand them anymore.
The Creative 5200 looks like it's at a good price here (with a rebate coupon), or maybe the Altec 251's or the new Creative T5400's (though both are at $99, which is too much) ... I can't bring myself to buy the Logitech X-620's (they are way too much like mushrooms).
61 Awesome Speakers for the price!!
I purchased this Surround Sound System for my Home Computer and am presently using it with both my Notebook and iRiver CD Player. It is extremely convenient to set up and can be easily adjusted to suit a variety of audio devices.
The audio output is astounding; am impressed with the surround sound abilities, and have enjoyed playing a number of games with this set of speakers.
A point worth noting is that for the Surround Sound to work you'll need a 6 channel Sound Card. Logitech provides you with three different connectors for 2 channel, 4 channel and 6 channel sound cards. For most Walkmans and CD Players you'll be able to use only the 2 channel sound i.e. the center speaker, left and right front speakers and the sub-woofer.
A thoughtful feature added by Logitech is the brackets that are included with the front, back and center speakers and you can easily screw the speakers. Also, the Fader knob on the center speaker is useful particularly while listening to music from the 70's - 80's.
Overall, this Surround Sound system is a good buy and Logitech has done a wonderful job in bringing affordable Surround Sound sets to Home Computers.
62 Buy it!
This is actually the first set of speakers I bought and I am happy I did. The only problem I had with these is the fact that in order to have 5.1-channel surround sound you need a 4- or 6-channel sound card which I didn't, but I am the only one to blame for not reading the specs.
Setup is very easy and I am very pleased with the sound which is loud and clear enough for my room so I would wonder why someone would pay more for a set of computer speakers.
63 Good Entry level!
Great speakers for a basic system. They sound good, bass is solid. If you are a gamer, serious gamer, I would look at the Z-680's. The price is a big difference but so is the sound and performance. Otherwise.. This is a GOOD VALUE! Just remember you get what you pay for.
64 GREAT SPEAKERS
These speakers are great!!! They have a ton of bass. I play games and movies on my computer and it makes everything sound great. The hook up is easy and they give you plenty of cord length to space your speakers out. I would recommend these speakers to anyone looking for good speakers at a great price!!
65 PHENOMINAL!!!!
I am a serious audiophile, and I can legitamatly say that there is not a finer set of speakers available for tenfold the price. I was in the market, as it was, looking for some very high quality speakers. I have tested Bose, JLB, Panasonic, Kenwood, et cetera, and I can proudly say that this speaker system delivers more punch than Mike Tyson (on a good, non biting, day. The bass is amazing, truly a must see device. The periferals are astounding. I definitly recommend this set. Buy and bid with confidence, knowing that the system you will get is beyond reality in its quality.
66 Great Price for this Device
For a small room it really can shake the floor. Great for small rooms and DVDs are very enjoyable with this surround system.
Can't get hardly a better system unless you pay over $150 for very powerful systems and good quality. If you want good sound and can't afford the big price tag, this is great for just about everything.
Easy color coded hook up. Can't get any better for the price but I think it has some minor flaws with sound quality but other than that very impressive.
67 Great Sound
Has amazing bass and it shakes my dorm room like no other. My suitemates complain all the time that my speakers are too loud. Can't beat the price either.
68 logitech z-640 computer speakers
if you don't expect these things to give you the world,you will be quite happy considering the price tag of $57.00.at low to moderate volume,they sound pretty good.I like being able to listen to low volume music at night, and still get great bass response.I have only a 2 channel card, so have not tested the surround as of yet.my three compaints are:(1)the power LED light is blinding, put a piece of electrical tape over it (2)the speakers have a very noteworthy hiss between songs, and during quiet passages when listening to symphonic music (3)despite equalizer tweaking, these speakers are quite hard on the ears at higher volumes,as opposed to higher quality, cleaner sounding speakers.
in summary,despite some flaws, these are great speakers FOR THE PRICE. Audiophiles should look elsewhere.I hope to upgrade to the thx certified logitech system, as I would have no qualms buying from this company again.
69 Bose quality, Altec-Lansing Price
These speaker are VERY GOOD. It took me about an hour to get the in an optimal position, but thats only because I put them in each corner of my room. They sound AMAZING. I wasnt expecting much for 80 bucks, but it was some of the best money i've ever spent. My friend just picked up a pair of large Bose speakers and says these speakers have almost the same effect. I really wanted the Z-680s, but when I saw the price difference I gave these a try. I dont think spending all that extra money would be worth it. Speakers dont get much better for computers. I do have to complain about the blue light and the odd wiring setup, but it all works out. If your looking for IMAX speaker quality, you spend the money, but these are perfect for those that do not want to invest over $200 in computer speakers. Watching DVDs is great, especially an epic like "Lord Of The Rings." BUY THESE BEFORE THEY STOP MAKING THEM!!!
70 Horrible bass, shrill highs
How anyone gave this more than 2 stars leaves me astounded. Anyone who has even remotely dabbled in audio and knows what good speakers sound like will view these for what they are: sloppy and harsh. Now, for the price they really aren't THAT bad, but the bass has NO dynamic to it, is extremely sloppy (any kick drum sound is VERY mushy) and even worse can only hit one note (around 100 hz). No deep extension AT ALL. If you can't afford anything else, these will get the job done, but any audiophile out there will puke if he hears these.
71 Small but powerful!
I brought these speakers along with a Soundblaster Audigy 2 card to replace two HP Pavilion Polk speakers. I am not disappointed with this purchase. Not only are they affordable for a 6-speaker system, but they sound amazing too. I'm not an audiophile or anything like that, so I don't know the nitty gritty details, but I trust my ears and they proved to be a huge improvement.
It took me a while to connect these things to the Audigy 2. Unfortunately the card's plugs arent color-coordinated with the speaker's cables, so it was somewhat of a challenge, but once I got it right I enjoyed listening to music a lot more than before.
These are surround-sound speakers. Unfortunately my setup doesn't allow me to place the rear speakers behind me, so I opted to put them on the side instead. Amazingly, it still sounds like surround sound.
The subwoofer is a welcome bonus too. I live in an apartment building, so I have to set the volume pretty low, but I can still feel the vibrations underneath my feet. I haven't tried it at full power, but I wager it would shake the wall on the opposite side of the room. It's incredible how much realism a subwoofer adds to a listening experience, especially with DVD movies.
I agree with the reviewer who said the blue light on the center speaker is annoying. If you like to watch movies or play games in a dark environment and the thing is right in front of your eyes, it distracts from the monitor. It's not a big deal though, I just put some black tape over it and I got back to enjoying the multimedia.
DVD's really sound good on these speakers. You can actually hear sound move from one speaker to another and cycle, depending on the movie. I've never had that experience with two speakers. In fact, you can hear sounds you've never heard before too! It's really amazing.
Games also sound great, though not all support six speaker systems. Most support four, and you can hear the difference, but the sound is still better than with two speakers. It's a fantastic consolation that games like GTA 3 and Vice City sound absolutely fabulous now. It actually feels like you have a sound system in the computer-generated car.
Now, they're not THX certified, as if I know what that means. The only place I've heard THX is in a movie theater and even then, I wouldn't want to get that at home. It would bother too many people to turn it up that loud. At least it gives me an incentive to go to the movies more often. Nevertheless, if you're not an audiophile and you're looking for an affordable upgrade that will make your world rock, literally and metaphorically, these speakers are a good solution.
72 Awesome
Awesome Experience with Logitech Speakers.. would recommend them for sure.. ;)
73 Very Pleased
I bought these speakers not expecting much for the price, as they are 5.1. Let me say that I am as pleased as can be with the sound. No matter where I am in the living room or in the adjacent kitchen, it still feels like the sound is coming directly to me. The highs are crisp and the bass suits my needs very well. The only bad thing is that they pee off my wife, who will not attempt to do anything in the same room if I am using the computer because the sound carries very well and 'disrupts' her concentration. ~>_<~
74 Good sound for the price
I've set up these speakers a few days ago, and I'm pleased with the sound.. Especially for this price tag. Right now I only use the on-board soundcard on my Dell, which gives out a stereo sound only, but the Matrix feature and the adapter for the gaming consoles (a 'workaround' to make all 6 speakers work), i get pretty good quality. I won't know about the real surround sound until my new Audigy 2 arrives (haven't ordered it yet), but overall sound quality is very good. Speakers don't clip, and the bass is stronger than I expected!
I give this 4 stars instead of 5 only because it's not THX certified, but then again with this price I guess it couldn't be!
75 Great speakers for surround sound GAMING
When I hooked the speakers up I didn't really notice that much of a difference in terms of positional audio when compared to my home theater system. Obviously I accounted for the scale and kept the fact that they were computer speakers in mind, but still I thought there was something lacking.
Then I bought Call of Duty and my whole opinion changed. Bullets would whizz past my head from the front, the sides, and behind and unlike watching a movie in which you are stuck in a fixed position while things happen around you, whenever i would move around the audio would adjust to my positioning. For instance, if i were facing one direction with bullets coming at me and turned to the right, the source of the bullets would in turn move to my left field of hearing. AWESOME. And when you think of the price point, you're getting a lot for your money. However, before you buy you should make sure that you have a sound card capable of handling surround sound. The machine I used had an Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2 card with seperate inputs for each speaker.
76 Product as promised. Good sound.
Despite what has been written about this item I found it to be a great buy. The bass is very good for a home office/bedroom setting. If you are expecting a system good enough to play movie-theather like THX soundtracks on then you may be disappointed but it has been good enough for me. I use it to play games and watch an occasional movie and i have no complaints.
The one and only drawback for this item is that the volume control for the subwoofer is on the back of the subwoofer so you may find yourself crawline on the floor a few times to get it right. Also, you may find that the wires are a bit short but a trip to radio shack can cure that.
My experience has been with a new Dell with a Creative Labs 5.1 sound card.
77 Good 5.1 system for the price
This is a great set of speakers for anyone who wants to upgrade to 5.1 sound. It's got great surround and the subwoofer is big enough to rock the foundation of a home. The high-frequency is great as well as the low, making your sound experience on the computer a spectacular one. Whether you are into gaming, MP3's, or other stuff, you'll love this set.
Now, if you're really into acustics and have a fine ear for sound quality, you might want to go with a higher-end system, such as one from Cambridge--the mid-frequencies of these speakers aren't the best. But, unless you've got a very fine ear for these things, you won't notice a difference.
78 Great value for money
I just picked these up after seeing a deal at Amazon. I read all the prior reviews on this site and was left with a realistic set of expectations.
Pros:
Great price
Good build quality
Solid bass
Great high end
Cons:
Mid range a little weak
Bright blue LED on center is just plain stupid
Bass control on sub - would be better on the center with all the other controls
Note: I have these connected to an Audigy 1 sound card.
Setup:- system was very easy to connect up due to color coding but the packaging and tape over the wires was a pain to try and remove - that took longer than the connections. The build quality of the components seems good and the cable lengths were about right for the way I needed to set it up. However the blindingly bright blue LED on the center is just plain stupid and I had to put electrical tape over that within the first 5 minutes.
Sound quality:- I play games, listen to some music and watch some DVDs. It was clear to me that the default settings on my setup gave a less than stellar sound and required a fair amount of tweaking. Once the settings were correctly configured the sound went from "merely ok" to "very good".
I agree with reviewers that have said the system is a little weak in the mid range but it is not so bad that it detracts greatly from my enjoyment of the system.
Music is good, movies are very good and games are excellent through these. Battlefield 1942 through them is an entirely new experience compared to the (good quality) stereo+subwoofer speakers these replaced.
Bass is sufficient for a small to medium sized room, the highs are clear and the channel separation is good. Mid range is a little weak.
Clearly you can get better quality but not until you go up to 3 or 4 times the price.
Overall summary is that these are great speakers and well worth the money - I would recommend them to anyone and I think they will keep me happy for a few years.
79 Good Value Buy
If you want to shatter all the windows in your house and drive your neighbors nuts, then this is not for you. If you want a very good system capable of producing rich sound for a low price then this is perfect.
80 Awesome speakers, great sound
I've had these speakers for more than a year now with no reason to want to replace them. They sound perfect, look great, and work like a charm. No complaints whatsoever!
81 An easy WOW for small wallets!
Wow. WoW! WOW!!!
This is an excellent and exhilarating 5.1 set of speakers that delivers an amazing amount of bang (and boom!) for your buck!
Amazon is simply amazing. I ordered these speakers refurbished from ebay and had to send them back, because they were defective. I ordered from AMAZON the day I sent those back, and I received them two days later (with free shipping!) It was simply amazing the speed that the order arrived considering I used supersaver shipping. Because of this experience I would have to urge that you order these from Amazon... it's cheaper and refurbished items, as my experience shows, are not nearly as reliable as new products.
Enough of that, here's the actual review.
Simply put, I have been impressed with these speakers ever since I heard them at a Circuit City about two or three months ago. Now that they're in my dorm room, my hopes have been fulfilled and satisfied with superb sound quality and quantity. They were out of my price range at 90 dollars which I first saw them for in the store. However, even at that price you'd still get a good value. I was happy to find these for 55 dollars and free shipping from Amazon.
First, you have to realize that THESE ARE NOT TOP-OF-THE-LINE Sony or Eclipse speakers... however, they are incredible for under 100 dollars.
The satellites offer crisp and clear sound, but do not seem to offer enough support at really high volume to avoid distortion probably due to a lack of wattage.
The subwoofer is the best part of the package. Although it is only powered by approximately 25 watts, it sounds much louder than one would be led to believe by numbers. My friend has a 200 watt system, and it is just as loud, if not louder. His was 40 dollars more, too... This baby will make your heart skip beats. It is a small box, but it sounds much larger. My father has a 15 inch subwoofer for our living room, so I know what good bass is like. This subwoofer can shake the floor, although it's more likely to vibrate furniture.
The satellites are a little too high for some notes and the subwoofer's a little too low, so the mid-range frequencies lack a little. But usually, the subwoofer can reach the midrange.
I would definitely recommend this system for budget buyers who are looking for a quality system for under 100 dollars. It will not let you down, unless you are an audiophile... In which case, you will need to spend a lot of money to appease your sound-quality appetite anyway.
A definite must-buy in my book.
82 Fair but still less than satifactory.
I just installed the speakers, and I have to say I am less than satified. The sound quality is pretty good and the fact that it is 5.1 speakers, which attracted me most was somewhat disappointing. And the output of the sounds are surprisingly less than what I expected. Even though the center speaker and the subwoofer seem to have fair power, the satellite speakers are quite less than advertised output as I expected. My old Inpire 4400 (4.1) speakers have less advertised output than these, but these speakers had less than half of the volume my old one could go. I am still battling inside whether I should put the old speakers back or not...
For the price I paid, I would say pretty good, but if one wants to have real loud cinema experience, these speakers would not give that satisfaction as one might expects.
83 Awesome Speaker System with the Budget Consumer in Mind
Whoa, once I opened this baby it was wrapped to the mighty dilgens. The speakers are made of a sturdy metalic substance that looks to keep the system tip top shape for a long time. The cables themselves are seperated to protect the core system from ever breaking the contact between the speakers. Which is good, because if 1 speaker dies, you don't need to trash the whole system. The sound is crisp, with no sign of trempbles, and if you have a great sound card, oh my gosh! Lastly the plug that comes with the system can be used with any other speaker which I used for my XBOX, PS2, and Gamecube! I have the best of all 3 worlds, and now the 4th world of Sound As Well!
84 decent speaker system
i have the logitech z-640s and there decent speakers. one thing to note on the sub though is that it dosent shake the ground at all but the sub do produce amazing deep sounds. but if shaking is what your desire then stay away from these speakers, but if your looking for decent deep sounds then these speakers are the way to go. also the sound if your someone that like stuff full blast and the neighbors compaining then maybe u need to get something a bit mroe expensive cause these speakers do get unclear if u have it a little too high. but for the price i dont think i can complain, good bang for the bucks!
85 Excellent Personal Audio for the Pc
A simple and great way to upgrade your PC sound, I have this speaker system with a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz PCI sound card, and its just amazing.
They look great too!
86 Amazing Sound with effect of Home theater
I am using this set of speakers for more then 20 days and i seriously love it now. It gives you the effect of home theater in a bundle of such a less price. I have shopped around a lot for making the right decision to buy the perfect speakers for my day today use. Well advanced feature with 5.1 speaker combination gives it a good rating and u can get front and rear both sounds, the only thing you need to be sure is that you should have a min. 4 channel sound card to get the maximum sound effect from this set of speaker. Cords of the speakers are a bit short but nevermind if you r using it in a small place .
87 Great sound make sure you have sound Card
The sound of this speaker system is very good... comparing it to the original speakers MY computer came with. Make sure that you have the correct sound board for the number of speakers or you must just be two to four speakers short when set up is finished...
88 An OK intro 5.1 system.
This system is OK for those who are on the cheap and want to upgrade to a 5.1 sound solution. However, there are much better alternatives out there, for a little bit more to pay. And as I'm about to expose, you get what you pay for.
The main factor detracting from this product is weak bass. This comes as a result of the included 4" LABTEC Subwoofer Driver. Yes, you heard correctly, a 4 inch driver. My brother purchased the system and wasnt happy with the bass at all, so we took the subwoofer assembly apart. Lo and behold, behind the Plastic and Cardboard that makes it appear to house a 8" Driver, there is a wimpy 4" cleverly disguised. The low-end manufacturer Labtec is clearly stamped on the driver. Feel free to pry yours open, if you don't believe me.
I hope this isnt a sign of what is to come from audio products. They should advertise what the product truly is, and not try to cover it up with cardboard and plastic. Shame on you logitech for this cheap trick.
89 An OK intro 5.1 system.
This system is OK for those who are on the cheap and want to upgrade to a 5.1 sound solution. However, there are much better alternatives out there, for a little bit more to pay. And as I'm about to expose, you get what you pay for.
The main factor detracting from this product is weak bass. This comes as a result of the included 4" LABTEC Subwoofer Driver. Yes, you heard correctly, a 4 inch driver. My brother purchased the system and wasnt happy with the bass at all, so we took the subwoofer assembly apart. Lo and behold, behind the Plastic and Cardboard that makes it appear to house a 8" Driver, there is a wimpy 4" cleverly disguised. The low-end manufacturer Labtec is clearly stamped on the driver. Feel free to pry yours open, if you don't believe me.
I hope this isnt a sign of what is to come from audio products. They should advertise what the product truly is, and not try to cover it up with cardboard and plastic. Shame on you logitech for this cheap trick.
90 An OK intro 5.1 system.
This system is OK for those who are on the cheap and want to upgrade to a 5.1 sound solution. However, there are much better alternatives out there, for a little bit more to pay. And as I'm about to expose, you get what you pay for.
The main factor detracting from this product is weak bass. This comes as a result of the included 4" LABTEC Subwoofer Driver. Yes, you heard correctly, a 4 inch driver. My brother purchased the system and wasnt happy with the bass at all, so we took the subwoofer assembly apart. Lo and behold, behind the Plastic and Cardboard that makes it appear to house a 8" Driver, there is a wimpy 4" cleverly disguised. The low-end manufacturer Labtec is clearly stamped on the driver. Feel free to pry yours open, if you don't believe me.
I hope this isnt a sign of what is to come from audio products. They should advertise what the product truly is, and not try to cover it up with cardboard and plastic. Shame on you logitech for this cheap trick.
91 Excellent speakers for the price
I wanted a set of speakers that I could eventually use with a 5.1 surround sound system away from my PC. Testing out various speaker systems at a local computer shop, the Logitech Z640s had the best sound for the best price - $... with a $... rebate.
I was already looking at eventually getting a Sound Blaster Extigy to use as my Dolby converter, but with the Logitech Z-640s, it has the "Matrix" surround option which simulates surround sound from 2-channel sources. I was actually impressed with how well it could simulate surround sound. In many areas of movies, it actually worked! However, once I obtained the Extigy, I can attest that nothing can take the place of true Dolby Surround decoding. However, for those on a low budget, the Z-640s with the Matrix surround sound is an excellent buy.
The stands on the two front and two rear satellites allow to you either leave the speakers standing on a table or mount them to the wall. The center speaker's stand only gives you the option of leaving it on top of your monitor or TV set. It allows only two positions: angled up or angled down depending on whether it's placed below or above your listening level. I do wish it allowed mounting to a wall, since that is where I have my front speakers and the center channel should always be inline with or slightly behind the two front channels.
The sub-woofer pounds out the bass so well that my wife is constantly telling me to turn it down! From our rec-room in the basement, she says she can hear it up in our second-floor bedroom. Now, that's some powerful stuff!
Hooking up the speakers is pretty simple. The satellites hook into the subwoofer. From the woofer, another cable comes out with the standard lime-green (front), black (rear) and orange (center/subwoofer) connectors for 5.1 sound cards. Logitech provides a connector that allows you to hook up the speakers to a 2-channel source and utilizing the Matrix option, you can get simulated surround. The front and rear connectors hook in on one side and on the other are standard RCA jacks so that you can take the audio-out of a DVD player or game console and hook it up directly to the speakers. That is an excellent move on Logitech's part. The power supply is internal, so no bulky power supply block is needed to plug into your outlet which can take up space.
The rear speaker cables only allow about 10 feet, which wasn't enough for me. The wires would be running across the floor, except I went and purchased a pair of RCA extension cables and that fixed the problem real well with no degradation of sound.
All the controls are placed on the center speaker EXCEPT for the bass control, which is inconveniently placed on the back of the subwoofer. For me, it's not that bad as the subwoofer is not out of place. But, for those that love to hide it behind furniture in the corner of the room, it could be a problem. The controls on the center channel consist of the power button, volume control, fader, center channel volume and the Matrix button.
The look of the speakers is pretty slick and professional looking. I haven't had any problems with distortion of sound nor interference with the TV.
For the price, this is a definite buy for those people on a budget, but who want some great-sounding speakers. Other people who are more particular with the way their sound system works would probably do better looking elsewhere.
If you want to spend some more money, there are other speaker sets out there that have Dolby Digital decoding built in, but some are over $...(THX certified) while others are around $... (Dolby Digital only), but I don't know how well they sound.
The best thing to do is shop at a store that has the speakers set up for testing so you can determine for yourself if they are the right choice for you.
92 Low Price, Good Speakers
Well, this can be quite the sound system. With it's amazing sound (even though it's only 71.2 watts) and low price, you can't go wrong. Now, usually i will pick a 2 possitives and a negative, but, this has nothing wrong with it. And plus, at 60 bucks, that's amazing. This 6 speaker sound system will go great in your room, but not outdoors. The price is so low, it's valuable! And to top it off, all you music lovers, this is the system you want! Like i said, this has nothing wrong with it and you can't go wrong for this 6 speaker (which can fit just about anywhere in your room) sound system.
93 Low Price, Good Speakers
Well, this can be quite the sound system. With it's amazing sound (even though it's only 71.2 watts) and low price, you can't go wrong. Now, usually i will pick a 2 possitives and a negative, but, this has nothing wrong with it. And plus, at [this price], that's amazing. This 6 speaker sound system will go great in your room, but not outdoors. The price is so low, it's valuable! And to top it off, all you music lovers, this is the system you want! Like i said, this has nothing wrong with it and you can't go wrong for this 6 speaker (which can fit just about anywhere in your room) sound system.
94 Low Price, Good Speakers
Well, this can be quite the sound system. With it's amazing sound (even though it's only 71.2 watts) and low price, you can't go wrong. Now, usually i will pick a 2 possitives and a negative, but, this has nothing wrong with it. And plus, at 60 bucks, that's amazing. This 6 speaker sound system will go great in your room, but not outdoors. The price is so low, it's valuable! And to top it off, all you music lovers, this is the system you want! Like i said, this has nothing wrong with it and you can't go wrong for this 6 speaker (which can fit just about anywhere in your room) sound system.
95 There Just great
This is my 2nd pair of these, one in each bedroom. I use them for my xbox and it was very easy to set up. They sound great and there so cheap, all one can buy them. The bass is woowwww, great with the rap. You should buy them they last about forever and you have that 2 year warr. It was so easy to contect it to my xbox, and you have to do it take the two aduio cables red and white and pug them in the adater the comes with it. Great buy.
96 GREAT FOR TV GAMES OR PC
Bought for the dvd payer to watch tv. Nice sound for the money. Not equal to room shattering equipment but perfect for people who want nice sound. Played 007 and it was awesome. Recommend++
97 ehhhh........these arent that good
For the price, very good. but be sure to get them for under 60 dollars, cuz theyre definitely not worth 80 dollars. These were OK.. i really love how logitech uses the metal stands, theyre so versatile! i can put them anywhere, i put one on my closet, clamping it on the top of the sliding door, and i hung them from my desk, and from my bed and from walls.
however, these speakers werent very strong. And then strangely, they broke within 3 months of me having them. Very very very strange, the blue light wouldn't turn on and there would be no sound. I had to go back to my z340s, ...
For the price, good. But i don't like these because you might as well just spend the extra....60 dollars? and buy the z560s. 330 more watts for 60 dollars more.
Good for the price, i say.
-wes-
98 Awesome sound at a great price!
I just hooked these speakers up to my Sound Blaster Audigy 2 soundcard and all I can say is WOW! I've played games, music, and DVD's at deafing volumes and these speakers stay clean. I can't believe how hard the sub hits, the highs are great, and the mids are full. The controls on the center speaker are very handy as well, especially the headphone adapter for late nite gaming sessions.
One thing I learned was to dramatically improve the bass response was go into the audigy 2 settings and set the low-pass filter to 20hz. The speaker specs don't claim to go this low, but I can hear and feel the sounds way down there!
99 Awesome sound!
I have a sound blaster audigy 2 soundcard and just hooked these speakers up today. I can't believe how good these speakers sound and how loud they are, I had to move the sub away from my metal filing cabinet because of rattling! I've tried games, music, and DVD's and these speakers do a great job on all of them. If you don't want to spend a fortune on computer speakers I would highly recommend these!
100 Would Highly recommend!
April 9, 2003. Just received today. Can't believe that much sound comes out of those little speakers for such a great price. Would highly recommend. Easy to install too and received product within 3 days.
