Turn It Up! Logitech Z-5500 Review

[RAID]

Greetings from the desert! It was 110 degrees for most of the day and I did my best to stay out of the sun. But I had to go out and buy a plastic chair mat and then stopped to get some lunch on the way home. Once I got to the house, I pulled the mat out from my car and realized that it melted and formed into the shape of my seat. Awesome. Speaking of heat, today I’ll be reviewing the Logitech Z-5500’s. Since its release, the Z-5500 has been considered one of the best 5.1 speaker systems you could buy for your computer.

It’s definitely not for everyone. At around $300, the Z-5500 is not cheap and a lot of people could use that money to upgrade a different component in their rig. But if you watch a lot of movies, love jamming your Justin Timberlake CD, or do some serious gaming on your computer, you probably already own or at least have thought about buying these speakers.

Why did I choose the Z-5500? Since I was moving my computer back to a desk, I felt it was a good time to upgrade my sounds and I’ve only read good things about the Z-5500’s. Knowing that this system has set a new standard for PC speakers, I thought it would complement my rig very nicely. I spend a lot of time on my computer and if there is a component or piece of hardware that can enhance my environment, I will seriously consider it.






My experience with Logitech’s top of the line speakers started with a surprise. The delivery man rolled a large brown box into my living room with a dolly. After he left, I walked over to the box and picked it up to see how much it weighed. The packaged was pretty heavy at around 50 pounds, maybe more. Here is a picture of the package next to my old subwoofer box.





The speaker box was wrapped in plastic and after opening it up, there was an installation guide sitting right on top along with a warning. You are supposed to keep this at least 2 feet away from your rig and your monitor due to the magnet on the sub.







The set up was a breeze and went quickly. Even if you’ve never set up speakers before, the installation guide is laid out very well with large pictures. My two year old son could probably set up these speakers if he really wanted to. Unfortunately, all he wants to do is eat, sleep and poop. Anyways, my point is the guide does a great job of showing you how and where to make the connections.







Once I had everything in place, I cranked up the system and played a few of my favorite songs. After that, I loaded up Supreme Commander. I never realized just how much great speakers could enhance my gaming experience until now. There is no doubt about it. This system is loud and the bass really hits hard. Having a 10” sub is for your computer is a luxury that everyone should have.









All of the speakers are well made and have a modern design. The four satellites and center speakers have a black cover that can be removed and expose the silver speakers if you desired. They are adjustable and look great sitting on your desk or mounted on a wall or stand. The sub is too large to be on the desk in my opinion. It would be better off under your desk.







The control panel was the deal maker for me. It looks very clean and sophisticated. You can connect lots of different things to the speakers through the panel, making this system extremely versatile. Besides your computer, you can use this speaker system for your iPod/MP3 player, DVD/VCR, or Playstation/Xbox/Wii console. So basically, you can connect any component with an audio output to these speakers. The dial makes adjusting the volume very easy and I actually prefer using a dial versus adjusting it on my monitor via mouse or keyboard. It seems more natural using a dial.







As I’ve mentioned, these speakers cost around $300. When they were released late 2004, they also cost around $300 and Logitech has yet to release a model to replace the Z-5500’s. That alone tells a lot about the speakers. Is there another high-end part of your set up that you bought 2-3 years ago that still sells for almost the same price?

I am 100% satisfied with this speaker system. I can’t imagine that it could get any better than this as far as PC speakers go. Very few people actually need this much power and sound from their computer but once you own the Z-5500, you’ll know that it is there whenever you need it. But I would not recommend these speakers to people who reside in apartments or live with people that can’t stand loud sounds. The sub is loud and could get you in trouble. Other than that, if you can afford this system then do not give it a second thought.

[stinger608]

Great user review Raid

That looks like a awesome speaker system, and I might have to consider this set in the future when I start building my entertainment system

Thanks for a great little review man!!!

[Yellowhello]

Great review. A little to expensive for speakers (for me). Keep 'em comin'!!!!!

[Death_blooms]

good review there im seriously considering getting these

[Jokerswild]

Good review and great pics. I would love to have those speakers.

[gvblake22]

Have you tried hooking them up with the digital connection? Could we get a picture of the backside of the remote (or wherever all the other connections are)?

[robodude666]

Great review :) What camera do you use? I use an old Canon IXY 500 and I have trouble taking pictures without any glare in them >_< Yours are perfect.

Do the rear speakers feature anything special to make it easier to mount them on a wall behind you? I have no places to put the speakers behind me, except on the well.

By the way, what sound card do you use? If you use on-board do you hear a difference in audio quality?

P.S. No one listens to Justin Timberlake these days :P

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

HEY! I listen to Justin Timberlake. And ironically, I jam to the latest album on my brother's Z-5500s. :)

[robodude666]

Originally Posted by wtcnbrwndo4u

HEY! I listen to Justin Timberlake. And ironically, I jam to the latest album on my brother's Z-5500s. :)

Ok... so two people listen to him :P

I jam to metal/rock on my POWERFUL BEASTS! Dell 2.1 10w speaker system!!! Its HARDCORE!!... to the XTREME!!!

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by robodude666

Ok... so two people listen to him :P

I jam to metal/rock on my POWERFUL BEASTS! Dell 2.1 10w speaker system!!! Its HARDCORE!!... to the XTREME!!!

Mine are the 100W Dell 5.1 speakers. I blast teh rap musicks and Christian rock (and I'm not Christian).