Review: Logitech Z – 5500 Digital 5.1 Speaker System

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The Logitech Z – 5500 Digital is currently one of the preferred 5.1 speaker systems in the market. This THX certified speaker system is primarily aimed at gaming enthusiasts and movie buffs. I got a chance to try out this beast at one of the electronics mega store in Noida. Here is a review:

Specifications:

Drivers	Satellites: 3” polished aluminum phase plug drivers Subwoofer: 10” high-excursion ported driver with 6th order bass reflex enclosure
Hardware decoding	Dolby® Digital, DTS®, and DTS®, 96/24 soundtracks Dolby Pro Logic II (Movie and Music modes) 6 Channel Direct Stereo x2 Stereo
Supported digital formats	Dolby Digital DTS and DTS 96/24 PCM (uncompressed stereo): 44.1 kHz / 16 bit through 96 kHz / 24 bit
Source inputs	Digital optical for DVD or CD players, PlayStation®3, Xbox 360 Digital coaxial for DVD or CD players or PC sound cards (requires coaxial cable, sold separately) 6 channel direct (3 stereo-mini connectors) for 2, 4, or 6 channel PC sound cards OR 6 channel direct (3 stereo-mini connectors) for 3 stereo analog mini audio sources, like CD and DVD players, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, or 2 channel PC sound cards (some devices may require stereo mini to dual RCA adapter, sold separately) Analog stereo-mini (on side panel of control center) for portable CD, MP3,or MiniDisc® players
Power	Total FTC power: 505 watts RMS Sub-woofer: 188 watts RMS (into 8 ohms, @ 100Hz, @ 10% THD) Satellites: Left/Right: 62 watts RMS x 2 (into 8 ohms, @ 1khz, @ 10% THD) Center: 69 watts RMS (into 8 ohms, @ 1kHz, @ 10% THD) Rear Left & Right: 62 watts RMS x 2 (into 8 ohms, @ 1kHz, @ 10% THD)
Frequency response	33 Hz — 20 kHz
Other	Signal to noise ratio: >93.5 dB, typical 100 Input impedance: 8,000 ohms

Package Contents:

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

Sound Quality (Gaming):

This speaker system seems to be specifically designed for serious gaming.  Hook it up with a PS3 or XBOX 360 and it will simply blow you away. Performance with a 5.1 PC sound card was also mind blowing.

I played a couple of racing games and the experience was leaps ahead of that on a 2.1 speaker system. You can actually hear cars overtaking you from left or right. The excitement doubles when you enter a tunnel.

Score: 5

Sound Quality (Movies):

This is another area in which this speaker system beats all others by several laps. I watched a couple of scenes from The Matrix and it felt like I was watching it in an IMAX. If only I had a 6 storey high screen :(.

The center speaker is far more powerful than it actually looks. This little wonder reproduces crisp and clear sound so that you do not miss even the slightest of whispers in the dialogues.

Score: 5

Sound Quality (Music):

This is probably one area where Logitech didn’t pay much attention. The speakers sound pretty good compared to the other 5.1 speaker systems in the market when it comes to music. However, the bass is a bit loose. This might not be noticeable while you watch movies as there are no continuous beats or rhythm. However, when you listen to some music numbers, you will notice little delay (microseconds) in beats due to this. Many people might not be able to notice this. However, serious audiophiles will find out immediately.

Score: 4

Ergonomics:

Table Top

Wall mount

The satellites stand serves 2 purposes. It can be used to keep them on a table top and can be swiveled to serve as a wall mount. Cool eh?

The controller’s rear panel has optical and coaxial digital audio inputs as well as three 3.5mm inputs. These 3 inputs can be configured as a group to connect a 5.1 channel PC sound card. They can also be used independently for three separate stereo sources. On the side, there is a 3.5mm headphone out and one 3.5mm aux input to connect an iPod or other portable music player. I think giving so many inputs on a small desktop remote controller will result in cable clutter and make the controller dis balanced.

The controller also has a big volume control knob, a power button and 6 buttons to use the menu system. A 2 line blue backlit LCD displays the menu system.

The wireless remote works pretty well from a distance of 20 feet (that’s as far as I could go). It has extensive buttons to adjust the sound and select different audio input sources.

The 10” sub woofer is probably one of the biggest in this category. You might be surprised by its size as it is much bigger than it looks in the images. WARNING: Do not try to move the sub woofer on your own. It might give you hernia.

Score: 4

Overall Score: 4.5

Conclusion:

The MRP of this speaker system is approx 25k INR. However, you can get it for as low as 17k at many electronics mega stores and even for less at Nehru Place. At this price, this is a great buy for people looking for an integrated Home Theater and Gaming Speaker system with good music performance.

Pros:

– Powerful yet crisp sound output
– Multiple format decoding
– Plethora of input options
– Full functional remote
– Stylish controller

Cons:

– Expensive
– Loose bass. Not good for music enthusiasts.