Logitech Z-640 6 Speaker Surround Sound System Reviews

• Great speakers for the price -- incredible sub, light mids

  
  By A2LUZL874WGUW8 on 2003-01-27
  After using my previous Logitech 2.1 (satellite + sub) speakers for several years (and loving them!) I decided that for the price, these 640s would be worth the "risk" to gain 5.1 sound.

  As usual, Logitech did a first class job on packaging the speakers. Everything arrived in great condition all protected in plastic bags to avoid any cosmetic flaws. Unpacking and set-up of the speakers was very easy -- all of the plug/cables are clearly marked and the cables are of reasonable length (important for the rear channels).

  The performance of the speakers is good, especially considering the price range. They are a bit light on the midrange but for most computer applications (ie. games!) this is not an issue. The subwoofer is incredible -- I have to keep the sub set to minimum (there is a knob on the sub itself) since I live in a townhome with shared walls. I just popped a Techmaster P.E.B. audio CD in (a CD that is VERY heavy on the bass - commonly used in car audio competitions) and the sub does a wonderful job of reproducing the extremely low frequencies.

  The high-range is good, as one would expect from satellites of this size.

  All of the controls are positioned on the center channel speaker and include a Volume, Power, Fader, Center, and Matrix (for if you don't have a 5.1 soundcard) knob/button. The satellites stand on nice matte aluminum stands. The sub is probably around 10 inches cubed, with the speaker exposed on one side (behind a grille) and all of the connections on the opposite side. Cosmetically, these are nice speakers.

  So, for the price, I cannot complain. Compared to my previous set of Logitech speakers (Soundman Extreme) and other speakers I have listened to, my only complaint is the midrange reproduction. Other than that, if you are a gamer or a basshead, these speakers will please you.

  Mike
  
  

• Great value for money

  
  By AO0C1HCHCJ120 on 2003-10-11
  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.
  
  

• Excellent speakers for the price

  
  By A2TOX3E4WZ8BSQ on 2003-07-08
  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.
  
  

• Awesome sound at a great price!

  
  By AZZIO7C2V7V34 on 2003-06-10
  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!
  
  

• An OK intro 5.1 system.

  
  By A3G4ML4HJ62KOF on 2003-07-19
  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.
  
  

• Small but powerful!
  By A31Y316PIE6PKC on 2003-12-20
  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.
  
  

• You get what you pay for. Dead to honest review.
  By A2HTLUIR18J2MS on 2004-09-09
  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've tested these speakers on all mediums 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 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 receive 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 suprised by the quality of the sound. 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.
  
  3.5/5
  
  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 receive "Simulated 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 really a downfall 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.
  
  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 signal you will still receive simulated surround sound which is definitely 1 step up better than television speakers. Just think of 5.1 DD as coordinated sound and simulated sound as uncoordinated sound.
  
  2/5
  
  Overall Z-640 product Review: Well-designed and convient. Easy to assemble. I would recommend this to the PC gamer who is low on cash. 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.
  
  The biggest downfall in this system is that the cords are too short!! You need a 2x4 room to embrace the above average sound.
  
  
• Good 5.1 system for the price
  By A3L60UJZQ0O0R5 on 2003-10-16
  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.
  
  

• Awesome sound!
  By AZZIO7C2V7V34 on 2003-06-07
  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!
  
  
• A lot of bang for the buck
  By A3S933F13MHZL4 on 2004-10-03
  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.
  
  
• Awesome set of Speakers!
  By AV4NH4HLZN575 on 2004-08-13
  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!
  
  
  
  
  
• Would Highly recommend!
  By on 2003-04-09
  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.
  
  
• An easy WOW for small wallets!
  By A1XM111JO8ELMY on 2003-09-22
  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.
  
  

• Great speakers for surround sound GAMING
  By on 2003-11-05
  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.
  
  

• Logitech Z-640 vs Cambridge SoundWorks SW-310
  By A113N394P09P28 on 2004-03-13
  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.
  
  

• Nice but...
  By A3V1Z75S383NC1 on 2004-06-30
  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.
  
  

• Amazon rocks, Speakers/Sound OK
  By AGFCBRUTK6C72 on 2004-10-17
  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.
  
  
• Horrible bass, shrill highs
  By A3UPNMHL8XG05Y on 2003-12-22
  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.
  
  
• Decent system
  By on 2004-03-03
  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.
  
  
• Best 5.1 speakers for the price!
  By A1IC93HOQ2QM76 on 2004-09-17
  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.
  
  
• Excellent system, but lacking in some areas
  By A37XARVJ0A7RZP on 2004-03-17
  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!)
  
  

• Disappointed
  By A2W6LUC6W39FO on 2004-07-06
  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.
  
  
• Great System with very trivial flaws
  By AGQ9USA8E6BF5 on 2004-08-27
  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
  
  
• Incredible and Worth Your cash
  By A2ACJ55JHHJ3FU on 2004-09-28
  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.
  
  
• Great set of speakers
  By A24E3T45QL2G3B on 2004-10-23
  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!
  
  
• Great Speakers, A Good Buy
  By A1EWI9ZYCKHNQX on 2004-10-24
  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.
  
  
• This is a great value without a doubt.
  By A2EAPHDHNS3ONC on 2004-11-16
  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.
  
  
• Good Value Buy
  By on 2003-10-04
  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.
  
  
• Exellent speakers!!!
  By AUSDUU8493J0S on 2004-09-18
  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%
  
  
• Terrible Sub design
  By A29R3O02O0PON4 on 2005-05-20
  OK, bare with me here...
  
  I got a set of these with a purchase of a DELL computer in the fall of '03. The sub went bad in a matter of less than 3 months. The internal amp just died. Just all of a sudden up and died one day.
  
  Contacted Logitech and they sent me a whole new set without requiring me to send them back anything. (Probably would have cost more in the shipping than it was worth the effort to.)
  
  Starting about November or December of '04, I noticed a rattling noise coming out of the sub. Sounded like the speaker had come loose from its mount. Disconnected the sub and attempted to take the grill off and see for sure. No success. Couldn't get the grill off. Unscrewed the back panel to have a look inside. Again, no success. Some wiring holds the panel close to the case.
  
  Anyway, a little while later, I started noticing crackling sounds coming from my whole speaker system. Finally discovered that it was due to the sub. Because the sub started to cut out on me again, and when it did, the crackling would stop, but of course, I had no bass. Leaving me to believe that the internal amp was causing the crackling.
  
  The sub continued to cut out from time to time, and I could get it to kick back in by pounding on the side of the case with my closed fist. Talk about "getting this old bucket of bolts" going again. Ironically the thing has been working somewhat well for the past week or so, but as of today (5/19/05) it looks like it's finally cut out on me this time for good. So here I am looking for a replacement set.
  
  BTW, I will now have two complete sets of satellite speakers. If anybody needs a replacement. Let me know. We can work something out.
  
  EDIT: Forgot to explain the title of my review.
  I said that it's a terrible design for one main reason. There is no ventilation. It's an enclosed box. It also gets extremely hot, which leaves me to believe that the heat is what burns out the amp. Therefore, I'm leaning towards to the Z-5300e system which includes a sub that has a "blow hole" for just over $100.
  
  

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