Logitech Z-5500 THX-Certified 505-Watt 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System Reviews

• Powerful, distortion-free bass: The new, larger 10-inch long-throw subwoofer driver with flared bass port delivers 188 watts of thunderous bass.
• Innovative driver technology: Polished aluminum phase-plug satellites combine two drivers into one--the clarity of a tweeter with the richness and fullness of a separate mid-range.
• Digital equalization: The Z-5500 Digital actively adjusts frequency response in real time for the cleanest, most accurate sound reproduction.
• DTS® 96/24 support: Enjoy studio-quality sound thanks to the Z-5500's support for 96 kHz / 24-bit digital audio streams
• Amazingly powerful controls: The Digital SoundTouch™ Control Center lets you control volume to all speakers, set inputs, and much more. And the separate wireless remote is great for home theaters and video game consoles.
• Innovative satellite design: Cloth grilles are removable for a pro-audio look. Pedestals rotate for easy wall mounting or desk placement. Center channel can be mounted on wall, above or below monitor.
• Connect to multiple sources: Simultaneously connect 6 audio sources including PCs, video game consoles, and DVD, CD & portable music players… and control it all from the Digital SoundTouch™ Control Center.

Digital SoundTouch™ Control Center

• Digital LCD: Clear, crisp high contrast display
• Input: Select audio source (optical, coax, or direct)
• Effect: Select digital surround sound effect
• Settings: Adjust parameters of digital surround sound effects
• Mute: Mute the entire system
• Level: Adjust volume, subwoofer, center, and fader levels
• Pro-audio style knob: Oversized, weighted control knob with digital precision
• System Power
• Auxiliary input jack: For convenient connection to portable audio devices (CD, MP3, MiniDisc®, etc.)

• Logitech lover

  
  By A1DHB6ZW2SMU7O on 2004-11-10
  After getting the MX1000 laser mouse and the Z-5500 speakers i fell in love with logitech. These speakers produce quality sound, they sound better than the Z-680 my friend has. I have SB Audigy 2zs platinum with front panel and an optical output. I am using Monster THX certified optical cable bought from amazon for $22 and my system rocks. the sound on my computer cost me $470 but it is worth it. Thank you amazon! they shipped it the same day, ordered on Monday and got it on Wednesday. I ordered it when the price was $306.99 then the price dropped to $279.95. I love Amazon, they refunded the difference after I emailed them. The speakers sound VERY clear, no hissing as with the Z-680 and an RCA cable. the subwoofer is huge and you need to have a space for it and it has a strong magnet so you need to keep it at a reasonable distance from your computer and monitor. The speakers cable are not adjustable, but i am guessing you can buy an extension cable if you need to, but the cable is fairly long. the Base of the speakers is adjustable so it fits on the table and on the walls.
  
  

• Awesome

  
  By ARNC8S59XW6OV on 2005-07-04
  These speakers are even better than I read about. The main thing that nobody seems to mention is that these speakers basically have a built-in receiver so you can plug your DVD player or whatever directly into the speakers. This, imo, is so important that all the other competing speaker systems really don't compete. Obviously, it's not as good as having a real receiver and can't amplify as much as an external system, but most people that want to hook these speakers up to their computer and other devices simultaneously, and would like to save space and money, would really appreciate this. The toslink output is the highest quality I've heard. Also, I made the mistake that others have made of removing the screw on the back of one of the speakers, rendering it impossible to put the stand back on. And if you open it to fix the problem, you'll void your warranty, so I have to send it to Logitech to be replaced. So, if you need to put these on a stand, whatever you do don't remove any screws on the speaker.
  
  

• 2 weeks with the Logitech Z-5500 .....

  
  By A2HE23YLSUUP5G on 2005-10-26
  I, like alot of people, eagerly awaited my arrival of this system. I am quite pleased with the system, but there are a few things I am not fond of.
  PROS: VERY LOUD, very good to use as a home theatre system, the control box is very easy to use and the rotary knob is very precise. The subwoofer is HUGE and will shake the room, or in my case, the entire dormitory. Speaker quality is very clear, even when pushed to the limits. The price was astonishing for 1000 watts of power, although, I did not order it from Amazon.
  
  CONS: The subwoofer is huge, thus it does not play rock music very well, as it has no 'kick'. It does play rap, hip hop, or anything where the bass drops ASTONISHINGLY, but this doesnt help me too much. At low volumes, you can hear the sub, but it is not very defined because its so big that it needs alot more power to get it working in its efficiency range. Also, I was wishing that there was a seperate 'subwoofer volume' and 'main volume'. There is a subwoofer control, but that only works like a bass control, playing the bass deeper, but not necessarily louder. In order to get the loud bass, the main speakers also get quite loud, but at the parties we have here, bass is what gets people moving, not high-frequencies.
  
  VERDICT: Although I am still pleased with the system, I do not think that it rivals Kiplisch Ultra line of speakers. My roommate has Kiplisch Ultra 2.1's, and although my sound quality is better, and louder, his subwoofer makes up for the difference, easily playing all kinds of music with no need to change equalizers, and his also has 2 seperate volume controls for main speakers and subwoofer. Its little extras like that that make the difference. It is a great system, but if you are a music lover, this might not be the best system, however for an all around system, pricewise, it is a good deal.
  
  

• AWEsome System!!!

  
  By A1H2FQSPIAXIQC on 2004-10-24
  
  ===============================
  
  10-31-04 Update: Kudos to Amazon on fast shipping... I got them in two days! But Amazon's pricing fluctuation still gets under my skin. The day they shipped my speakers the price was down to $286. That was for one day and still not listed as a sale price, then the next day back up to 306.99 again and has remained there. BTW - you can get these at CheifValue for 279.99 in case you're interested. Today (10/31/04) they have a $5 off coupon and $10 shipping!
  
  About the speakers - I'm listening to Matchbox Twenty right now. These bad boys really rock the house, no kidding! Everything Logitech says in their marketing material about the Z-5500's is true.
  
  I'm using Real Media for CD's and it sounds great, everything from ABBA to Ja Rule to Zeplin. Windows Player just sucks in comparison. If anyone uses a better media player than "Real" please let me know.
  
  I've heard certain musical sounds from this system that I don't recall hearing on any other. If, so they were drowned in the mix. This clarity is most notable in the mid to high frequency range. Lows are exceptionally clear as well and you don't get the normal grinding rumble as with most subs. Instead, you'll get a crisp and clean deep bass.
  
  Movies are absolutely astounding on this speaker system. Of course I had to watch Matrix (the first one). Some others were Armageddon, Twister, Blade I and Gladiator. The sound rivaled my 10k home theater system. Again, no kidding! While watching Twister I felt like I was in the "----ing" tornado. Even more so than my big system. I'm assuming this is because I have these set up in my home office where the room is smaller and probably better acoustic ambience. I would not like to think that my $2500 home theater speakers are inferior to the Z-5500's ;-(
  
  THX and dts worked great on my system with the Audigy 2 soundcard. The Direct Connection (analog) sounds great in itself but utilize the Digital connection and you'll be awe-struck! It really brings you into the movie...
  
  Playing Games - haven't tested much in that respect due to time constraints but with these speakers I'm inclined to get back into some serious gaming. Dangerous for me as I already have problems with getting a good-nights-sleep. What I have played Star Wars "Attack of the Clones" and the sound was nothing less than amazing especially when compared to the TDK speakers that previously interfaced my PC to my ears. Other than that I really don't have much of a comparison with the exception of trying out a few speaker models in retail locations including these.
  
  The speakers are very appealing to the eye. One cool feature of the design is if you want to mount them on the wall you just have to rotate the speaker stand 180 degrees and they're wall mountable as is.
  
  The Control center is very easy to navigate. I really like the large dial that controls the volume plus other level adjustments for the various settings to include center, surround, sub...anything that requires an up/down adjustments. The other selection are made by repeatedly pressing the appropriate button. Example: "Input" - Press once = Optical = Press twice = Coax - Press a 3rd time = Direct. From there if an effect is associated with the input you would select "Effect" and press the necessary times to select the desired effect. Very simplistic, and that's a good thing because speaker controls should not be complicated.
  
  The Display is very easy to read, unlike the previous version (the 680's). I can easily see/read the display from several feet away and it's not too bright yet easily readable in the daytime.
  
  A couple of nice extras are the headphone and auxiliary jacks on the side of the Control Center. That is something that I really needed.
  
  The only improvements I can recommend are very minor but here they are:
  
  Speaker wire connections - the wires are fixed so you are limited to the length of wire that comes with each speaker. Although you can buy extensions to fit the RCA type connectors. I feel this may inhibit the sound quality as opposed to the ability to direct wire the speakers with a custom length of good speaker wire.
  
  Even though I really don't have any complaints about the display it would have been nice to include contrast/brightness adjustments for those who would prefer the ability customize the view. But really this is not a big deal at all.
  
  The remote control could use a little dressing up so that it would look like it is a part of the "Nice Package". Instead, what you get is a plain black remote with black buttons and small white lettering. Very Plane Jane in appearance but it does offer enough controls to make it usable.
  
  The main power switch is on the sub with a standby switch on the Control Center. This is acceptable but it would have been a plus if Logitech would have included the logic to be able to detect sound input in the standby mode which would turn the speakers on.
  
  Bottom line - these are all minor issues and are nothing to really complain about. The design and sound that these speakers produce deserve no less than 5 stars in my opinion.
  
  
  ==================================
  
  10-26-04 Update: After much hassle of back and forth emails, Amazon finally agreed to do the honorable thing and make it right. ...my system is on its way! Once received I'll write a detailed review of the Logitech Z-5500
  
  ==================================
  
  10-24-04 Honestly, I have tried these speakers and would give them 10 stars! But that is not why I'm writing here today. Out of my 10 stars Logitech Z-5500 gets 5 and Amazon gets a big fat zero!!!
  
  Here's the deal: Just two days ago Amazon's price (not on sale) was $279 with free shipping. This was one of the lowest prices around. I didn't buy then because I was waiting on an Amazon Gift Certificate so I could afford the speakers. Now (2 days later) that I've got it I come back and the price is now $306 still with free shipping.
  
  I know a lot of people were waiting for these to come in stock and I'm sure they're a fast seller. I'm not sure but it looks a little strange that Amazon jacked up their price to cover what would normally be shipping charge that just happens to be "free". Hmmm? Just my thoughts so don't "dog" me on this review since I didn't take away from the speaker rating. Thanks!
  
  
  

• Buyer beware! Logitech will abandon customer.

  
  By A3FZZCXRPBAR4T on 2004-11-19
  I was really pumped about getting this system and when I finally did, it was like an early Christmas gift from myself to myself. So I tried it out for less than one day and I will admit, the sound quality is quite good. But I have one major caveat for anyone reading this and considering purchasing the Z-5500's. Do not under any circumstances, detach the speaker stand from the satellite. If you do, you will not be able to reattach the stand with the same screw and consequently the stand will be useless. I did this because I wanted to wall mount the stand and attach the speaker afterwards. Of course, the Logitech technical writer was too asinine to include the same warning in the documentation. And for any of you wiseacres who think I was dumb to remove the stand in the first place, I had the Z-680's, the predecessor, and I had no problems resecuring the speaker to the stand once it was wall-mounted. In case you didn't know it, the speaker table stand doubles as a wall mount bracket. As soon as I realized what had happened, I called Logitech the next morning and told them my story fully expecting they would placate my concerns by sending me a replacement speaker. WRONG! They told me, "Sorry there's nothing we can do, by removing the stand you damage the speaker and void the warranty." What utter hogwash. Well you want to know something Logitech, you can go to hell because in hell there is no reason and you are sadly mistaken if you think anyone is going to accept your obvious cop out.
  
  
• Phenominal Speaker setup
  By A1OM470EGH74B6 on 2004-12-20
  Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Oh and Did I mention WOW ?
  
  I have three cables for 5.1 going from my sound card into the box. I have the digital out going from the soundcard, into the logitech for 5.1 dvd movies through my computer. As well i have fiber optic coming out of my sattelite into the setup box so i can listen to 5.1 while watching tv. Maybe not 5.1 but emulate pro logic it sounds great. So im definetly making use of all the inputs on the back of this baby.
  
  This has a lot of features, and different modes you can use. It has Stereo (which is just front l/r speakers outputting sound), Stereo 2(front left/right, rear left/right), Pro logic II Movie (i dunno? Uses the center channel, less of the rears more of the sub, pro logic Music (heavy on the sub, uses all speakers). As well it's easy to scroll through the inputs Coax, Direct 6channel, optical.
  
  The remote it comes with is pretty useful you can adjust volume, sub levels, surround output (dont know what this does yet). It is wicked fun!
  
  I paid $270 shipped from Amazon (forget ripoff COMPUSA), got it in TWO Days. I love audio always have, always will. This was a 5.1 for my computer, but I also wanted 5.1 for movies that I watch in my room.
  
  This comes with cables for analog games which is how games output. However I bought a coaxial for digital out for games, and a fiber optic cable for my sattelite to the box. Total cost through circuit city $70. Total cost through amazon $30. Shop amazon! :)
  
  Initial impression
  ------------------
  
  Lets just say setup wasen't easy. It is pretty standard, connect one speaker, another speaker, another speaker. it just takes a while to light up everything connect everything. It took me probably 1 1/2 hours, but i took breaks to vacuum and relocate my pc so everything would fit in fine. The speaker cables are big, but my front left wasen't long enough. So i bought a little extension 6' cable so I could hide it nicely. I didn't use any gold connection cable just regular circuit city $4.99 for 6'.
  
  Also this setup is large and man impressive. The sub is massive stands just taller then a 2 liter bottle of coke, and maybe 3 bottles across x 3 1/2 bottles deep.
  
  Games
  -----
  
  I have connected this with the included three direct cables to get 5.1 sound from my games. It works great it's loud, it thumps, and it scared my sister when she was sitting here and a zombie came up behind her in Doom 3. It's loud, it's clear. I dont know about 500 watts, i've had it to max and it's loud, but 500 watts? Who knows, it's really loud and i'm happy with it anyways. Sounds fantastic and as you move around in games i can see sound shift from one speaker to the other, it fills the room great, and if you've never had a nice speaker setup (with a sub) your in for a surprise. This is a lot of speaker, and will easily last 3 years unless you must have the newest and greatest setup every year.
  
  DVD's
  -----
  
  I also have a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum. I had initially planned to hookup the front plate which has a Digital Coax out so when I played DVD's it would play 5.1 sound. However that dosen't work, I played with it a lot and it wont work. However, my 5.1 card has a digital output on the back of it, I bought a 0.99 cent mono adapter from radio shack and run a coaxial cable from the digital out of the sound card into the standalone cool set top receiver. Now when I play dvd's on my computer (didn't want to buy an additional dvd player for my room) it outputs 5.1 clean signal to my settop box that came with the logitech and that decodes either a dolby digital or dts signal. Works brilliant. Sound is clear, loud, shakes the walls, shakes the room.
  
  TV
  --
  
  I've got optical going from sattelite into this baby. Sounds great, emulates 5.1 through pro logic or stereo or stereo2. Works fine works great, sports sound great. I always loved 5.1.
  
  Comparison
  -----------
  
  I was torn between this setup and the Klipsch 5.1 Ultra which is similarly priced, and also a 5.1 setup. I ultimately chose these because of the various input connectors on the setup box. If I chose the klipsch i couldn't hookuped my sattelite to it, or my dvd's wouldn't decode in 5.1 they would be strictly analogue. Sound quality wise i have a set of 2.1 klipsch (200 watt)for sale, they sound great, but aren't 5.1.
  
  I also have a 5.1 setup for my home theater a sony 500 watt setup. That's with the big screen. Comparison wise? Hard to say, that one is about 3 years old but still sounds great (paid $600 with receiver). This definetly compares to it, and i'm more tempted to watch movies upstairs because this subwoofer is awesome. However I got the big screen downstairs and it comfortably seats 10 of my buddies so we'll be hanging out downstairs also. So I would say this definetly can go head to head with the home theater in a box $500 setups out there. Im not so sure about the $1500+ setups though. Actually I dont think it will compare to those :)
  
  Conclusion
  -----------
  
  Long review I know! Lots to say. This setup kicks ass, sound quality is great and will easily last me a long while. I make use of all the features, am impressed by the sound quality, and thump shake shake cause im a bass kinda guy.
  
  If you want the best, lots of options and I mean lots, lots of connectivity great sound nice thump get this setup. You wont be sorry it looks great, sounds great and will easily outlast 2 computers.
  
  -Neil
  
  
• Best for the price...
  By A18UCATYWNU4HO on 2006-04-25
  Let me start off first by saying that my experience with Logitech products has been mixed so my review is fairly unbiased. I had a much much smaller 6 piece Logitech setup before this and the subwoofer burned out because it had no ventilation ports (excellent.) However, I bought this set after much research. The way I have my computer set up is kind of like a HTPC, although it sits at a desk. I have a big 27" LCD TV that is great for watching movies so I wanted some speakers that could supplement the experience. I have a motherboard with Dolby Digital support (older Nvidia Soundstorm) so I planned on buying a receiver and some nice home theater speakers. However I changed my mind after reading the reviews on this, and I'm glad I did. It saved me a lot of hassle, and I got a nice integrated system with DTS encoding. As far as sound quality goes, this system is excellent. It is very clear on Half Life 2 and Call of Duty 2, among others. Additionally, when running a DVD through PowerDVD and with DTS enabled, the sound quality is unparalleled for the price. As far as bass output goes, some people have a tendency to exaggerate. At first the bass output is very unimpresive until you tweak some settings. Once you get it figured out, the bass on this setup is king, as far as computer setups go. However, it is not earth shaking like some proclaim. I have a feeling some people have never heard a loud car subwoofer or bigger home theater sub. I will say though, that at about 3/4 volume with bass turned all the way up, all the pictures in my room shake and the disturbance in the living room is very profound. The other great aspect of the sound quality is you can crank it up to max with no distortion. At max volume it is so loud I can't be in my room but it is perfectly loud enough for when having small parties. Being as loud as it is it keeps people from snooping around in my room during these parties :)
  
  There is one somewhat minor problem that leads me to only give it four stars (this may have been mentioned.) The speakers will often make a loud pop noise whenever another electrical device is turned on. Having two roommates, this happens more than I would like. My neighbor, who bought the same speakers after hearing mine, experiences the same issue. There may be a fix for it, I just haven't gotten around to looking. All in all though, I would recommend these speakers.
  
  
• Very Good
  By A2P4BO4TRXFW1D on 2006-04-16
  I am very impressed with these speakers. I have not yet gotten a digital connection, but I can't wait. The sub is quite powerful, but not as big as so many people mention. I have a little hiss from my front right satellite, but I think I can fix that. I got the speakers refurbished, so that is why they're like that. The controller is very nice to have and I use it all the time, and I'm in a small room. I just like to be adjusting the volume wherever I am. Like others have said, the midrange is a little lacking, but its so small of a problem that it doesn't matter, unless your an audiophile. It would bother you then. The control box is very nice and has quite a bit of good functions. You can select input, the effect of the audio, the settings for the input, the volume level of the Sub, Center speaker, and back two surround speakers, mute, adjust the master volume, and Turn the whole system to standby. Also it can go very loud. I keep my computer volume all the way turned up so I only listen to the speakers turned up about 4 bars. There are 20 total bars and 11 boost bars. I don't know if the speakers can take going that loud, but I know that my ears can't. I don't like listening to music very super loud, but I know that I can anytime I want.
  
  The Subwoofer.
  The sub is a ten inch long throw woofer. Looking straight at the woofer, Its 13 inches tall, 13 inches wide, and 18 inches back (including the cooling fins and speaker grill). The cooling fins must be 6 inches away from anything (according to the manual). They are 1.5 inches long, 9 inches tall, and 8 inches wide. There are the five wire connectors for the speakers which are labeled for easy assembly. There is also the connection for the control pod, the power cable, a fuse, and a master power switch on it.
  
  The Satellites
  The satellites are 3 inch drivers with a metal spike in the middle that doesn't move. The center speakers stand twists up and down for wall mounting and aiming the speaker. The rest of them only point one way unless you want to wall mount them. Then you just twist the base counterclockwise and it twists up. There are no included screws for wall mounting though.
  
  Speaker Wire length:
  Front left/right and center-15'(4.6m)
  Back left/right-25'(7.6m)
  
  Direct Connection Cable:
  7 feet with three mini connectors on each end.
  
  DSUB cable:
  7 feet. This is the cable that connects the control pod to the Subwoofer.
  
  The Remote
  The remote has 16 bottons. Power, Test (sends hissing sound through all the speakers one by one), Direct input, Optical input, coax input, effect, settings, sub + and -, center + and -, surround + and -, main volume + and -, and Mute. Its about six inches long and two inches wide. It takes two AAA batteries. Also it doesn't go through objects but it can bounce around if pointed right. I'm not sure how far the remote reaches because I went all the way to the other side of my house and it still worked. Thats more than fifty feet.
  
  I am very happy with my purchase. I only paid [...] dollars for it with free shipping refurbished off of Ebay. It costs [...] at Best Buy so I'm very glad that I found it at that price. I recieved it very fast too. Nothing except for a little bit of hiss out of the front right speaker is wrong with it either. I recommend this product to everyone. :-)
  
  
• Great Value
  By A1YCOFL5BV1S4U on 2006-09-04
  Very nice speaker set.
  
  Pros: great sound for the price and size
  speaker wire included
  easy setup
  remote and control panel
  nice looks
  
  Cons: The sub is not magnetically shielded. Make sure you have room for it away from your computer
  Knob on the control panel is not smooth so I use the remote
  
  I highly recommend this system. I looked at the Klipsch but they apparently have some defect. Also, I considered this set with the wireless rear speakers, but word is the range is short and interference is an issue.
  
  
  
  
• Great sound, but with one major flaw
  By A1VWGJ32CBVPT1 on 2006-11-16
  I purchased my Z-5500 speaker set in April of 2006. I was immediately impressed with the sound quality they produced for such a low price, compared to high end manufacturers. But the system is not without its fault, one in particular.
  
  The speakers have some sort of flaw that results in them popping when things such as ceiling fans or fluorescent light fixtures are turned off. If you search the internet, you will find similar experiences from lots of people. Logitech has acknowledged the problem and offered replacement or refund to existing owners. I had my speakers replaced recently, but the popping was still there, although it was reduced considerably.
  
  If you can live with the popping or if you get lucky and get a set that doesn't pop, this is a great product. But for me, as soon as I heard the popping it was always on my mind and it just interrupts my listening experience. I am a big fan of Logitech but no longer for their audio equipment.
  
  
• Five stars if you're not an audiophile.
  By A1VVD885ZY1WVT on 2005-09-16
  These speakers sound awesome for an all in one system. I bought them for my pc and have been very happy with the sound quality. But they do not even come close to sounding like my high end home theater. But what do you expect for 250$ to 450$. Ignore all the comlplaints. If this is the type of system you are looking for it is one of the best. All the complaints you have read are from people trying to sound like audiophiles. If you are an audiophile you would not be looking at this in the first place. However if all you want is an easy to install all in one system with great sound that plays more than loud enough to piss people off, for under 500$. Then look no further. If you want a top quality audiophile system. Then go spend thousands on a component system. Great for what they are. Sound better than most home theater combos from the big boys.
  
  
• Solid system, great value
  By A1P705GXGCWO41 on 2005-01-12
  I just took delivery of the Z-5500 a mere four days after ordering, even with super saver shipping -- nicely done, Amazon.
  
  The Good:
  
  - Solid construction. Speakers in this price range, in my experience, are often of somewhat suspect construction in terms of materials and assembly. No rough edges here at all, that I can see.
  
  - BIG bass. The subwoofer is nice and punchy, with no audible distortion even at high volumes (have not tried max volume; not sure my walls would hold up)
  
  - The console is very well done. Despite the relatively short cord to connect to the sub, I far prefer this setup than having to fiddle with settings on the sub box manually. The remote is also a very nice touch. Note also that all audio inputs (optical, coax, 3x 1/8" stereo) are on the console as well.
  
  - Sound clarity is very good, using the digital coax input. No hissing, noises, or other distractions.
  
  The bad:
  
  - RCA-style speaker wires. This makes initial setup a snap, but makes it a little annoying to extend the factory-provided wiring. The manual does note that using extensions is OK, as long as they are designed for speakers and not for line-level inputs. As awful as regular 2-strand speaker wire can be for connections, I'd love to be able to use this mountain of spare wire I have to do the extensions.
  
  - Somewhat muddy mid- and high-ranges. I guess this is about what you'd expect from full-range drivers on the satellite speakers, but I was fairly disappointed (based on my expectations after reading all these stellar reviews). There is also no ability to adjust output levels (other than bass) from the speaker console, so if you don't have an EQ on the source audio, there's not much you can do about it.
  
  - Limited volume control. If you listen to music at a low volume (say, while working at night), you'll find there isn't much room for fiddling at the low end of the volume control. One setting is too loud, the next "half-click" is far too soft. I've worked around this by using the computer's volume adjustment to make finer changes. Not a huge deal, but a little annoying for me personally.
  
  FWIW, I bought this setup to serve as my gaming audio, to replace my ancient Bose 301 bookshelf speakers and equally ancient 2-ch amplifier. Given that I paid as much for the two Bose speakers as this entire setup, I think the Z-5500 is a truly fantastic deal -- BUT, for anyone making a similar migration, do not expect the sound quality to quite measure up. Not sure why I did...maybe wishful thinking :)
  
  That said, these speakers blow away any other "all-in-one" surround setup I've seen at the price -- and even at higher prices.
  
  Overall rating is 4 of 5 stars -- the muddy mid and high notes cost it that fifth star in my book.
  
  
• great initial quality, poor durability
  By A3GRRDOYGIEZ45 on 2008-02-07
  This is the 2nd surround sound system I have purchased from Logitech. The first one didn't have the wireless remote nor all the inputs (it was really for PC use only). With that system, shortly after I bought it, one of the speakers got gently knocked over on the shelf it was sitting on. That blew out the amplifier. Fortunately Amazon sent a new one, and it has worked well since.
  
  I got the Z-5500 when I needed more wattage for my emerging home theater setup, and the ability to use it with my Logitech wireless Harmony remote (which is awesome). It sounds great, looks great, and is simple and intuitive to use. One thing that would be nice is if it had more digital audio inputs. There are 4 analog audio inputs, but only 2 digital inputs (one optical, and one coaxial). I use the optical input for the PS2, and have to route the digital coaxial signals from my cable box and 2 DVD players through a switcher, which is connected to the single digital coaxial input.
  
  People have noted Logitech's warning to keep the subwoofer at least 2 feet away from other electronic components due to magnetic field issues, but I have kept it right next to my DVD recorder, cable box, PS2 and Wii without any problems.
  
  Shortly after getting it, the subwoofer began making loud popping noises (not just when lights were turned on or off, as another reviewer noted, but constantly). Fortunately Logitech replaced the system and it worked well until just after its 2-year warranty expired. Now suddenly I'm getting softer, but still annoying, popping from all the speakers (again, constant). I haven't changed anything with my setup/wiring. I called tech support and they said my only option is to buy another one. Now I have to decide if I like it enough to risk being burned again with poor durability.
  
  
• a few issues considering this price range
  By A17IZXXVPZL8JB on 2005-05-08
  The system is OK, but I expected a little more attention to detail at this price range. Here are my gripes, in order of importance:
  
  1) loud thud emitted when digital coax input detects a signal, or a change in signal format - This happens often when you are navigating the menu of a DVD (e.g. stereo to Dolby transition), and even from the DVD's title loop running on its own. As Supper Nanny would say, "that's not acceptable". (I guess there is some chance that the issue is with my DVD player.)
  
  2) system is very susceptible to power line surges - I have an unusual washer/dryer appliance which has a motor that kicks in every few minutes while running. Every time the motor starts, I get a loud pop from the system.
  
  3) adjustment of speaker direction is limited - except for the center channel, the satellites cannot be adjusted to anything other than an upward-facing angle.
  
  4) "night mode" feature not documented anywhere - I assume this is some kind of dynamic range limiting function. It's not mentioned in the manual or website product pages.
  
  I bought this system because of the controller and the wide range of inputs (no need for an A/V receiver). The subwoofer is too large and heavy for my taste-- I didn't realize how large it was looking at the pictures.
  
  
• Logitech z-5500 vs Klipsch 5.1 ultra
  By A2HCIEUEKTQ20W on 2005-06-27
  First of all I am a musician and a sound engineer so I do know what I am talking about. I own both speakers and have compared them side by side with the same sound tests.
  \
  Logitech is priced reasonably and offers alot to the common person such as the decoding and the fancy control unit. You can hook it up in place of a home theater system and be fine. The speakers have decent lows and mids but not very good highs.
  
  Klipsch on the other hand is priced conciderably higher, does not offer a remote controll, nor can it be used in lieu of a home theater system *no decoding*. The bass on the system is by far superior to Logitech's, the mid range is a little bit clearer, and the highers are unparalleled *in comparasion to Logitech*.
  
  Logitech is a computer company that focuses on general computer components such as key boards and other such items. Klipsch is solely a speaker company, as least to my knowledge, and also focuses on home theater systems.
  
  Extra information: The bass on the klipsch is approximately twice as loud at Logitech's. There is pretty much no high range on logitech since they do not incorporate tweeters into their speakers. Klipsch has more static noise than Logitech. Klipsch speakers are also a little bigger and in my opinion looks nicer. Logitech is better for a home entertainment system.
  
  There are good things and bad things about both, although for me I will chose Klipsch over Logitech any day.
  
  
• Very nice
  By A3B7FDYXS8TU4J on 2005-10-24
  I am very happy with these speakers. I bought them for my computer, but I decided to use them for my TV which is in a different room. I am not too impressed with them for playing music, however they are great for watching dvds in surround sound. I would have given them 5 stars, but I noticed a lack of highs. Sometimes the speakers sound like they are clipping when a high frequency sound is emited. These speakers are VERY clear and the bass definatley rattles the windows of my house. If you are buying speakers for movies and gaming these are the speakers for you. If you are going to be soley using them for music I would look elsewhere. Overall, I am very satisfied.
  
  
• These speakers rock! (ed: I now would give 'em 5 stars)
  By A36U085D1P9KJ9 on 2004-11-18
  I purchased this system to get surround sound for gaming, and it sure sounds nice. As the other reviews have noted, the sub is massive. The quality seems good too. I'm sure they will be great for DVDs and stuff. I just used the analog inputs, but it has optical and wired digital inputs too. The only ding I have is that the speaker wire is attached to the speakers, and is not removable. If you need some good speakers for gaming, I can recommend these.
  
  (Oh, it'd be nice if they made some accessory stands for the satellites.)
  
  Ed: 11/23/04
  Now that I've had the system running for a bit over a week, I would have given the system 5 stars instead of the 4 that I have it. It's great for MP3s, games, DVDs... any form of audio. As for the speaker wires being integrated into the speakers, that's just not a big deal, since you can always purchase an extension or two.
  
  Ed: 03/15/07
  Still love 'em.
  
  
• Great system, annoying hookup.
  By A1B0LNUCV2U75C on 2005-03-01
  Let's start off by saying this thing has a lot of power. Lots of bass, plenty of everything else. The controls are nice whether it be the remote, or the nice lcd display that looks nice sitting on the desk. The speakers seem to be pretty well-made, with the newer shipments allowing you to detach the speaker wires completely, and use your own length/brand speaker cable. This is a huge plus.
  
  However, I own an Audigy 2 ZS (has Dolby Digital 5.1/EX and DTS/DTS-ES/96-24 already) and in order to get the full surround sound working (via DVD or game) you need to disable the decoder in the sound card. This is very pesky! You need to get yourself a 3.5mm mono to female RCA adapted (3.99 at Radio Shack). Then use an RCA cable to hook up the speakers (controls are on back of control unit) to get the surround sound. Then, you need to adjust a few settings, one of them being "use digital output only" and set the control panel to stereo speakers (otherwise only center is being outputted through speakers and not surround sound). You can also use the 6 channel direct hookup and get great sound, but I don't believe it's the exact same as 5.1 or DTS. If you want your nice control module to display DOLBY DIGITAL or DTS logos, you need to use the hookup with that special adapter / RCA cable.
  
  Once this is working, the system is powerful, clean, good-looking, and easy to use. I do recommend it, except for the lack of clear instructions with the unit. They need more information in there.
  
  One more thing. This can be used as a home theatre system directly from a DVD player or XBOX, but please people, it's not the same as a full blown system. Yes it has the power, yes it has the features, but why would you ever want to watch a plasma or lcd tv with a high-end brand dvd player, and listen to Logitech speakers? They are a name in computers, let's leave it at that.
  
  Does this mean I still love the speakers for my PC? Yes. They are worth every penny for your system. But, save your money, and get a different starter brand for a full blown non-pc home theatre. There are ONKYO systems out there for not much more money, and the quality is far better (even their speakers I'm sure).
  
  I wanted to clarify these things after reading reviews and test results that were all over the place.
  
  Another plus was the item shipped so quickly, I could not believe it. I'm sure if you order on a Wednesday, you'll have it by the weekend. It also dropped 10.00 in price a few days after I purchased it, and Amazon is refunding me the 10 dollars. Where else would you want to buy besides Amazon? (oh and Newegg :)
  
  
• The typical flaws....
  By A1C2X02TIB1HLY on 2005-09-02
  This system has got the goods and the bads just as I expected them to be. I'll put things pointwise:
  
  
  
  - Value for money! - Can't get a system as complete as this [with the control pod cum decoder ..etc.] for 25000 Indian Rupees.
  
  - The Sub "booms" - mind you, this one won't give you a tight punchy articulate bass. If there's an explosion in the movie you're watching you'll hear and feel it alright but don't expect bass strings to sound resolved on this Sub. I'll like to discuss this matter in a little detail: The older model z680 had a 8 inch woofer as compared to the 10 incher on this one, but the power has remained the same - 188 watts. Now subwoofer construction is a complex subject, especially when you are considering a 10 inch woofer. Most PC speaker systems have about 6 inch woofers. One can expect to push that to 8 inches. But frankly making a 10 inch woofer and making it sound articulate is in my opinion beyond a company that specialises in computer peripherals. Secondly, the notorious shortcoming of Subwoofer-Satellite systems is the lack of coherence between the Subwoofer and Satellites. The bass and highs are taken care of but the midrange suffers. Now this shortcoming will only be exaggerated when the woofer size is increased from 8 to 10 inches making it even more difficult to bridge this gap between the low and high frequencies. Thirdly, a 10 inch woofer will take more than 188 watts to be properly controlled. Most 10 inch woofers are powered by 250 watts or more. Logitech having enjoyed good success with z680 have pushed the envelope by replacing a 8 inch woofer by a 10 incher. I think this effort should have been directed elsewhere. An excellent solution is what Klipsch [A speaker specialist] has done - used 2 8 inch woofers instead of 1 10 incher. This solves 2 problems : one is that such a woofer would in some ways be easier to make. Secondly, with a single woofer room interactions can get very problematic causing booming at some frequencies. Infact room interactions are an almost incurable disease in the subwoofer breed. The only satisfactory solution is to have more than 1 woofer!
  But all in all the sub is alright. It gives a good visceral impact. the bass output is kinda variable. At times is excessive but sometimes you gotta turn it up.
  
  - The control pod is fine. The signal decoding works without a glitch.
  
  - No complains regarding the Remote. The good thing about the remote is that the button layout is simple and feel of the buttons is good.
  
  - About the satellites - well nothing much to say about them. They are above average in terms of sonic clarity. Construction is good.
  
  - Although the other reviewers have mentioned that this system is loud enough to scare you neighbour, I beg to differ. It gets loud but not so loud. A related point is that there is absolutely no distortion at max volume - indeed commendable. But is the max volume deliberately kept low so as to avoid distortion? Anybody's guess!
  
  Overall I'm happy with the system - be it movies or music. [I'm not a gamer]. There are no serious flaws. It has the shortcomings that most sub/sat systems have. A point of improvement would be the subwoofer. I guess logitech should toughen up the woofer [now that they are committed to 10 in woofers!]. It vibrates quite a deal and need more bracing and more power.
  
  Guess that'll be it.
  
  
• Very nice and recommended
  By AVV9HI108LH88 on 2005-12-19
  My sound room used to be the whole house, complete with a high vaulted ceiling and a big, open living space. The Klipsch 4.1 system worked so well for me for about four years that my husband bought me the 5.1 system two years ago, and he got the hand-me-down 4.1s. We're now in a different house, and my music room is only 12' x 15'. Although I could crank it and shake the room, the system was missing something. I kept cranking it up, but it didn't quite get it like it did before. I thought that the small size of this room had a lot to do with why the music sounded like it was missing something.
  
  I visited a friend who knows how much I appreciate quality sound, and his Soundblaster Live! card (same as mine at the time) and lesser Klipsch speaker system sounded far better than mine, which bothered me because I missed the big, spacious sound. He kept suggesting that I upgrade to the Soundblaster X-Fi card, which I eventually did. However, in the meantime, the Klipsch 5.1 speakers died (probably the subwoofer - wasn't a fuse). Although the Klipsch 4.1s are still working well, albeit with a short in the volume control, after having the 5.1s die and reading several reviews from people whose 5.1s did the same thing, I didn't want to go with Klipsch again. I'm loyal to a brand, but only until the quality starts to deteriorate.
  
  I went with the Logitech 5500s, because I want to hear crisp sound above a healthy bass that doesn't overpower the highs. I want the full, spacious midrange too. There's far more sound than I hoped for. I really did take a chance, and until I heard them I was afraid the Klipsch 4.1 hand-me-downs I gave to my husband would sound better than the Logitech 5500s system. Luckily, these kick butt, and I don't at all regret the purchase or paying the price for what I got. Phew!
  
  The highs are crisp and full and not at all harsh or shrill. The bass is capable of wall-pounding, but at a lower volume supports the music quite well. The control tower, which is about the size of the satellite speakers, is convenient and has several functions to affect the sound of the music without opening software. If you have a 5.1 speaker system, set the Effect to "6 Ch Direct." We got all the software settings right but didn't have sound until I played with the Effect choice on the control module.
  
  Highly recommended are the Logitechs with the Soundblaster X-Fi MusicXtreme sound card. Awesome.
  
  
• Sound awful - perplexed by the glowing reviews
  By A183HAZ40480Z3 on 2006-02-08
  I bought these speakers less than a month ago and after trying really hard to like them for a couple of weeks, I promptly shipped them back to Amazon. I like logitech products (their mice are second to none) and the 5500 is definitely an interesting concept but the execution is poor. Not only is the subwoofer huge and heavy (not necessarily a bad thing) but it sounds boomy and is all over the place - one of the worst subwoofers I've heard. The satellites sound tinny and they do not blend with the subwoofer and there's a huge hole where the midrage should be. I could go on and on, but let me sum it up: If you care about sound quality, save your money and get something else. I gave them two stars because I liked the whole design concept but that's about all I could find positive about them.
  
  
• Excellent sound, Bad design
  By A3GH3TG5H2DIKV on 2006-11-12
  As most anyone will tell you, these speakers do have excellent sound and if you're just going to set them up on your desktop, then I'd give them 5 stars. However, the design for wall mounting these is horrible and you can't ceiling-mount them. Logitech does not make separate mounts for these and no "universal speaker mounts" will work with them. If you want to see how they mount, go to Logitech's website, go to product support and enter wall mounting. Some might argue that they're computer speakers, not home entertainment center speakers, but for $300, I expect a little bit better design.
  
  
• It's a Receiver!
  By A17R1JASDZMKI3 on 2004-11-05
  This thing is really cool!
  
  Did anybody else find the "Diagnostic Mode" you get by pressing and holding the "Input" and "Effect" buttons simultaneously for six seconds while the unit is off? It starts telling you stream information from your digital sources, just like a receiver does! Very cool!
  
  I really like all the inputs I get, especially when I flip the switch on the back to get the three independent stereo inputs.
  
  Of course, the "Volume Boost" rocks! Take it up to full volume... and then just keep turning! You get a bunch more volume if you need it... but you won't, unless you have a really quiet audio file, but it's there if you need it.
  
  
  
  
• Amazing System for an Amazing Price
  By A6QPVALIN7L7Y on 2005-01-08
  I ordered this system of off Amazon on Dec. 31, 269.99 with free shipping, and got it on Jan. 5. Amazon had an estimate for Jan. 10-12, so thanks to Amazon and UPS! Now for the speakers: Awesome. They are one of the best speaker systems for computers that you can buy. They even rival similar priced Home Theater Systems. Setup of the system is simple: Not only are the speakers labeled on the back for posistion, but also have color coded ends that match on the sub. The speakers are elegantly designed and the sub is massive. And when I mean massive, I mean the earth-shaking, eardrum-blowing, take-up-space massive. The control pod is also very well designed and easy to use. Inputs and Outputs are all on the control pod: 6 channel RCA, coax., optical, headphones, and mini-digital inputs. Which speaking of inputs, it has a 6 channel/Stereo 1-3 switch....thats right, either connect to computer OR hook up three input devices at one time: iPods, mini disc players, w/e...Speakers themselves are twistable so they are extremely easy to wall mount if you want to. Now for the big one: sound quality. These speakers sound amazing. I mean absolutely amazing. You expect and get high quality sound all the time. The mid-range, which some people say this system is weak on, is not that much weaker unless you are really want a good mid-range system. The bass is amazing and definitely full. Now, all of these speakers have ton of options. For instance, you have stereo mode (front 2), Stereo 2x (front and rear 2, which means the same thing plays from front left and back laft), Dolby Digital PLS Movie, and Dolby Digital Music. Now, from here, you can change options such as Panorama, Dimension settings (controls Front to rear), the width of the center speaker (narrower means the speaker is centered closer to the center, giving it a louder more direct sound), level change of the sub (more or less responsive), surround level (more = aimed towards rear speakers), and center level (controls center speaker). Also, inputs are easy to go to...just press the button! Remote that comes with this is basic and enough things to make it work, however it doesn't do justice to the rest of the system. Then again, wireless remote is optional, so i'm happy anyway. So in general, these are some awesome speakers. I have mine in my dorm room connected to an USB Soundblaster Audigy 2 NX sound card by optical cable. Which speaking of sound cards, you have to have one that supports surround minimum. Also, the better the sound card, the better the sound. Mine works 96-24 on 6 channel. So the only things to consider when buying this is money to put out. Expect Amazon's pricing to flucuate between 250 and 320. Also, if you don't have a soundcard, my USB Soundblaster for my laptop cost 120. The digital optical cable cost another 20. So it does add up in accessories. But these speakers are worth it.....and don't think about the Klipstech 5.1 Ultra. I tried these at Best Buy...the Logitech 5300e had a better sounding sub than these.
  
  So happy shopping. In general: these speakers are worth every penny. I will definitely have these for all of my high school and college years, and I'm sure they will last. These speakers are the best speakers for this range of prices.
  
  
  EDIT: 3 years later....
  
  Sadly, I must say that these speakers are gone. During a vacation away from home, we had a thunderstorm send a power surge through the electrical lines. The surge protector was useless as the surge was enough to go through that unit, the subwoofer, and one of the speakers. The fuse was completely ruined in the sub, along with its internal components. So right now I'm holding off on waiting to replace the sub and speaker as these speakers have had too long of a shelf life span and will undoubtedly be getting replaced by Logitech in the near future.
  
  
• definitely worth the money
  By A2KH0F8F8OJ4N4 on 2005-12-10
  I just recieved this 3 hours ago and i LOVE it.. i never had good pc speakers (i used the JBL sonnet m310J for 3 years until i cracked the bass open by stepping on it) but after comparing these to my sony surround sound system in the living room of my suite, i must say i'm impressed, especially with the bass.. although it sounds boomy at times, i adjusted it with the mixer that came with the sound card and it sounds fine now.. be sure to fasten anything hanging on the walls because it WILL shake..
  
  performance
  i'm not much of a audiophile and i'm not really sure what to look out for in a good sound output, but after watching a couple of dvds such as "band of brothers" and "kill bill", it gave an impressive theatre-like performance.. i'm a personal fan of all genres of music EXCEPT country so i tested all types of music i had on my computer.. because of the monstrous bass, genres such as hip-hop and r&b stood out the most.. heavy beats featured in songs by rappers such as common and 50 cent benefitted the most from the deep bass.. However, i was a little disappointed on how these performed on rock songs but then again i didn't really mess with the mixer too extensively so i can't really tell for now.. the overpowering bass took over the instruments in songs performed by artists such as coldplay and the killers.. unfortunately i didnt have any classical music cd's lying around so i had to test with a high quality mp3 version of "Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20", which still lacked in quality by a significant amount.. but i was satisfied by the concert-like atmosphere.. the strings had a crisp sound as if my sister was performing it right in front of me.. but it's important to have the right settings on the equalizer since it makes a HUGE difference when it comes to classical music.. for electronica, i tried out titles such as "superfabulous" by BT and "in love with the dj" by ATB and it sounded great even though i only listened to the songs for 10 seconds due to the walls shaking with both the volume and bass half way up.. the overall performance recieved a 9 out of 10 in my opinion..
  
  setup
  this is a big box.. and i had to carry this 50+ pound box from the pickup office to my dorm and it wasnt an easy job.. you'll need a dolly to move this stuff around.. from the pictures it's hard to tell the size of these speakers but they are pretty huge.. i've realized that this system is definitely not something you'd want in a 10x12 suite like mine.. also, because of the huge magnet that powers the bass (or i think thats how it works), it has to be at least 2 feet away from most electronics, such as a computer or a monitor, so i had to change the layout of my room thanks to that.. the rear channel wires are long enough to reach half way around my room along the walls but i doubt they will reach the back in a full living room so you might want an extension wire from radio shack.. the wireless controller is a godsend even for my small room because now i can adjust the volume while i'm watching a movie on my bed or if i'm too lazy to reach the control tower.. another useful feature is the coaxial input.. since my monitor is capable of the PIP function, i can now connect my dvd player to it so i can watch dvds without slowing down my computer.. you can also connect your ipod or cd player but its useless(you'll need to buy the wire with a 1/8" plug on each end).. the setup recieved a 9 out of 10 with the only negative coming from my fingers losing blood circulation after lifting it 200 yards and up the stairs..
  
  overall
  after comparing with my friend's klipsch promedia ultra 5.1, the logitech z5500 performed much better in bass tests but lacked just a bit in the overall performance.. but for $130+ less, i couldnt ask for more considering i'm not a die hard audiophile who's willing to spend that extra money for a minuscule difference.. i know i can use the cash to save up for a nice plasma tv or a month's worth of gas money.. my suitemate's already complaining and i feel bad using these speakers to their full potential in such an environment.. can't wait till my suitemates are at the cavalier's game tonight.. then i'll have some fun.
  
  
• A review? From me? What the?
  By AARM1EZ66FAD3 on 2007-01-05
  I have no prior reviewing experiences. Of anything. Yet, Amazon in their divine internet wisdom has emailed me to review this Logitech stuff I bought. Well, well, hold your empty goblets at the ready, for my review is about to spill forth. And I am wordy loon, so better make that a big gulp goblet.
  
  I paid 244 buckaroos for this set up. So that has to be considered. Somehow. I am not sure how but maybe you can figure it out.
  
  Lets see. It is exaclty what it says it is. It was easy to put together and start using. I would've liked slightly longer cords for the rear speakers so I could run them around the entire room and have people either trip on them or duck their heads from being garrotted, but, I can't have everything.
  
  I managed to drop one speaker and the face plate thingy fell off. I almost cried. But it went right back on, no damage done. No tears wasted.
  
  The highs are high. And there. You don't have to strain to hear them. I got no problems with the highs.
  
  The lows are really there. Like the lows you don't notice until some other distracting sound is gone like a nagging loved one complaining about how much you spent on a set of speakers just to play games.
  
  Also, if one was to turn up the bass, so as to say, test how loud they get, one could almost drown out the badgering of said person but not really. Maybe a jumbo jet could do that. But these things get loud enough that I feel very concerned about my neighbor who shares a common wall with me. So I don't turn it up past halfway much.
  
  However, it lacks what I want to call 'punch'. Yeah yeah, it's loud and stuff and has a decent range from what I can tell with my neophyte experience with speakers. But, it just doesn't have that kick to it. It's almost all a nice low rumble or a deep rumble or whatever. Which might not be the basses problem it all. And have more to do with my next part of my wonderful review you have been enjoying so far. And remember, I am doing this review for free, and for the kids. So, don't hate me. Hate the review. Or uh, something like that.
  
  Also, the bass box is large. I use it as a coffe table.
  
  THe mid range is not there. There is no equalizer or settings to change the mid range. Maybe I am too picky but I expected to be blasted out of my chair at full volume. Instead, I just had my ears hurt a little and I think my hearts rythmn reset. But no just rolling on the floor screaming and ducking for cover from the sounds of battle.
  
  I believe this might happen to be because only the center speaker is doing the mid range? I have no idea. I just thought I noticed that when the center speaker is not being over powered by the rears and stuff, that the mid range starts to show up better. But is still way too quiet.
  
  It worked with everything I plugged into it. My computer, my craptastic Zen player, my xbox360, and my aging vcr.
  
  I haven't used the remote, NAY, I haven't even put the batteries in it. So, I will not comment on this other than to say it exists.
  
  I do have another issue at hand with this fearsome foe. The lack of fine tuning. I wish it had some simple equalizer or some such.
  
  The rest of my disappointments lie with me not having any idea what 5.1 was used with and where and when or how. When I watch a movie in 5.1, the rear speakers rarely seem to be used. So, maybe I got it set up wrong. Somdeay I will figure out all this tech stuff or not.
  
  Anyway, for 244 bucks I expect quality, or well, whatever. I don't care anymore. I have games to play.
  
  bahbaye.
  
  
• You get what you pay for! And more! =)
  By AU0HGV793FZ8R on 2004-10-16
  This shiznit is worth its price. If you like crisp bass in your neighbors face and crystal clear mids and highs... save your paychecks to get this. Logitech doesn't screw you like Altec Lansing on their well known amp problems. The Z-5500 is expensive, but if you're already committed to buying a set of these babies, you already know they're worth it. Plus, Amazon.com offers a price absolutely NO ONE can beat! Shipping upgrades and excellent service make this buy a MUST !!!! Seriously, save your paychecks and splurge on yourself! You deserve it! Thank you Amazon!
  
  
• One Word: Amazing...
  By A1NA2JGI3GNDN2 on 2005-04-11
  I was recently searching for a new speaker system for my computer, but I was looking for something with all the specs. I looked at all the different [high quality] brands like Altec Lansing and Creative Labs. I did a lot of research for speakers [about a few months] before I decided to get the Logitech z-5500.
  
  Pros-
  
  -Crisp sound... AMAZING quality.
  -Able to use it on your tv or home theater system.
  -Able to use it for playing games on your tv or whatever you want.
  -Remote.
  -Nice control box.
  -Bass is incredible.
  -Volume for it is the best. It has 20 bars for the volume, but you can go past that... 11 more times [boost 11]. My walls begin to shake with the volume on about 4 or 5 [that's pretty loud already].
  -There are different settings for the center speaker, the surround, and the sub. [Set it to what you like best.]
  -There are also settings for if you're watching a movie, playing music, stereo, stereo x2, 6 channel direct. These settings will maximize your quality.
  
  Cons-
  
  -Too many wires - it took me a while to set it up, but it was worth it. There's a red and black wire [one of those wires that has 2 different ones but are connected] that you need to connect to each speaker. It was kinda annoying. The wires are very long, but the purpose of that is for you to mount the satellites in the corner [I haven't gotten the chance to do that so I have a whole bunch of wires sitting in 1 place]. Not a big deal for me when I get the chance to mount them.
  - When you turn off the speakers, there is still a red light that glows from the control box. I don't really like to leave things "on" [even tho it's really off], so I have to put the plug into a circuit breaker and turn the whole thing off every time.
  -After I set it up, it was a bit confusing to figure out how to turn on the speakers and later I found out that the switch for the whole speaker is located in the back of the sub. [Not a big deal]
  
  
• THIS SYSTEM BITS BOSE'S got it by accident
  By A2TA5TMGUTPVQ2 on 2005-04-23
  I din't have to much to say becouse my english sucks,, just that I had logitech Z-5300 with me for about 6 months, I was really happy I took them to my country,, lot of people offered me 400 bucks for it, becouse these systems are really hard to find them in that country, I came back to america, my brother asked me to order the Z-5500 online, while he came to vacation, I did order the system online, but it does not arrived in time , my brother left 2 days before the system was here, so I had to sell him the 5300 for 120 bucks that I had in my country and I kept this one, I was really sad until I opened the box of Z-5500,,,, "amazing system", it was exiting becouse this baby looks a litle different than the other, nicer, simply better, I could not wait to hook it up, and,,,,and,,, and,,,, man, what a sound,, clear, bass very strong, i'm still amazed with it,,, it is a refurbished item, 216 bucks and no shiping, but, i would not change it for any other, even those famous BOSE,,, if you are planning to get a good quallity sound, get this baby, you won't be dissapointment,,,
  
  
• Don't bother
  By A2SYAJ8K6VSUIY on 2005-08-30
  This sytem looks very nice and has all of the functionality I could want in a speaker system...except decent sound quality. I only wanted it for movie/music audio and this system has almost nothing in the mid frequency range. I listened to it, fiddled with the wiring, listened some more, then sent it back immediately. If you have an ear, use it to listen for other options.
  
  

• Logitech Cordless MX Duo 967300-0403
• Sennheiser PX 100 Collapsible Headphones
• Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sound Card
• Sennheiser PC150 Noise Cancelling PC Headset
• Creative Labs Sound Blaster Extigy Sound Card

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