
Logitech Z-5500 Digital

Pricing
$349.99 - $417.09 From 4 Vendors Get Best Prices »
| Performance | Very Good |
| Stereo audio tracks score (best possible is 100) | 80 |
| Spoken word score (best possible is 100) | 80 |
| DVD-Audio score (best possible is 100) | 88 |
| DVD movie score (best possible is 100) | 85 |
| Specifications | Superior |
| Types of inputs | Analog, digital coaxial, and optical inputs |
| Types of controllers | Remote control and wired controller |
| Front and rear volume control | Yes |
| Dolby or DTS decoding | Decodes Dolby Digital and DTS |
| Labor warranty (years) | Two |
| Parts warranty (years) | Two |
| Weekday support hours | 12 |
| Saturday support hours | 0 |
| Sunday support hours | 0 |
| Toll-free support | No |
Pros
Digital coaxial and optical inputs
Good sound quality
Cons
Can be bass-heavy
Logitech Z-5500 Digital
Z-5500 Digital Review, by Narasu Rebbapragada February 7, 2006
Logitech's Z-5500 Digital surround-sound speaker system is expensive, but it offers the best balance of sound and features among the 5-1-channel models PC World has tested recently.
The Z-5500 was simple to set up. Its silver and black design looks sleek with or without the removable black-mesh speaker grilles. (Speaker grilles protect the hardware and--to some people--look cool. In most cases, though, you're better off removing them so there's nothing between the speaker cones and your ears.) The system comes with both a remote control and an easy-to-use hardware controller that adjusts the master volume as well as the volume of the subwoofer, back speakers, and center channel. The controller also has a headphone port and a 0.125-inch input for your MP3 player. Another plus: This was the only system in our currently tested batch that has digital inputs, both coaxial and optical, which will let you keep the audio stream digital as long as possible.
The Z-5500 decodes DTS and Dolby Digital audio soundtracks found on DVD-Audio and DVD video discs. This feature is redundant, however, if your PC's sound card already decodes DTS and Dolby Digital. More interesting is the Z-5500's support for Dolby Digital's Pro Logic II, which can convert stereo audio to simulated surround sound to take better advantage of all the channels on the Z-5500.
Performance-wise, the Z-5500 earned a rating of Very Good and ranked third out of six in our current round of sound-quality tests. I liked its sound best in bass-heavy audio samples such as a stereo music track ("Feel Good, Inc." by Gorrillaz), a DVD-Audio sample ("White Rabbit" on Blue Man Group's The Complex), and the opening space-battle scene in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. During the last sample, I found the surround-sound detail clear and crisp, as starfighters whizzed back and forth around my shoulders. However, the speakers tended to be bass-heavy even on audio samples where I would have preferred a lighter touch.
Logitech's Z-5500 is a slightly older model than the Z-5450, a previously reviewed system with wireless back speakers. We preferred the sound quality and lower price of the Z-5500, which is a better choice over the Z-5450 unless you really want the convenience of wireless back speakers.
Upshot: Cheaper 5.1-channel speakers are out there, but Logitech's Z-5500 presents an optimal mix of sound and features.
Narasu Rebbapragada
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Average User Reviews for Logitech Z-5500 Digital
- Latest User Reviews 3 reviews
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Reviewed by: BigsteelerMd44
Duration of ownership: 1 Year
Strengths: I paid 219.00 for the Z5500's and it was the best purchase I have made in a long time. They sound out of this world. All the inputs and extra's make these a must have. You will not be sorry at any price.
Weaknesses: None, None, None
Overall: If you like Music, Movies and just loud music buy these , your friends will love you , and your neighbors will hate you. I have my DVD player, TV, and computer all hooked up to the Z5500's and it's a whole new way to listen to TV, music, movies.
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Reviewed by: supaphreek
Duration of ownership: 3 Weeks
Strengths: Superior sound quality, easy connectivity amazing bass, digital soundcentre simply kicks @ss!!
Weaknesses: goes tooo loud and my mom tells me to turn it down :P, but i guess thats not logitech's fault
Overall: (true story) I have an old lady that lives next door to me and my room is considerably close to her house. I decided to crank up the system to full, blasting lil jon and the eastside boys. now an important factor of this story is that the woman next door is utterly deaf. The next morning the police came to my door about a noise disturbance, but what had actually happened was the vibrations from my bass had caused the old ladies paintings to fall off the wall! needless to say that this system is soo awesome that it will piss even deaf people off! A MUST BUY!!!
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Reviewed by: jaydeejohn
Duration of ownership: 2 Months
Strengths: Clean,clear sweet and can get loud.Does everything it says itll do including dts and anything digital.I love em
Weaknesses: none
Overall: Got these 2 months ago,and NOT for 400 usd!!I paid 259!!I play games ,listen to the radio over the net and such,but when I got these...all I can say is I want more games and for the first time Im actually watching movies in full surround.I wanted digital and there was a problem...my sound card had a mini jack mono going to the rca jack for the speaker pod,well I ordered a one piece coax with those male ends and I didnt know that certain sounds were in the songs Id been listening to.All I can say is get em
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
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Reviewed by:
Strengths: These Speakers ROCK! My 5-Star rating is for the speakers, not Patriot PC Outlet.
Weaknesses: Too Expensive from a store who "Proudly Serving Those Who Serve Proudly!
Overall: Hey, you can get these same speakers from TigerDirect.com for $259.99. Newegg.com has the same speakers, but costs $302.99. Either way, both are better in price than here! No, I did not buy from here,
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Reviewed by:
Strengths: Bass is amazing, Quality is very good, although my first set, broke, the terminals on the subwoofer shorted out, so I ended up with a 2.1 instead "sigh" I hear its common though
Weaknesses: Since there isn't a tweeter, its pretty bad listening to piano solos and guitar, like real music Doesn't sound that great, their reallllly loud, and good for gaming, dumb and bass and thats it =/
Overall: In short, its really boomy, with alot of bass, some clarity, but if your an audiophile like me, I wouldn't buy them, I would just go with a Klipsch or the Creative S750's because these aren't good for anything other than bass and gaming.
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Reviewed by:
Strengths: clear sound, thummping bass, many add on's
Weaknesses: no hdmi
Overall: i have read dozens of reviews on the logitech z-5500 and watched many vids on youtube too, one or two reviews said the bass was too heavy, while this may be true if you have a half decent soundcard you can simply control the bass with the software. the speakers look great, the control panel is the size of a brick with a big fat dial to control the sound! the sub is i think one of the biggest you can buy for the pc, the sound on call of duty 4 is awesome...tiger woods 2008? not so much. great value for yourmoney am using the z-5500's for my home theatre. logitech have made a great system.
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Reviewed by:
Strengths: pshhh every thing about this product is strong. They made their newer model weaker because of this product. This is like the old hot rods. Too strong for the streets. But they had their time.
Weaknesses: lol none
Overall: If you can still find this product. Get it. Logitech is trying to push their 7.1 system which is less strong in the bass department. Eventually it will be gone. I got mine for $250 2 years ago. It is much cheaper now. GET IT!!! This thing will literally hurt your ears. No joke. It can cause pain in your ears and eventually give you a headache that lasts a while. Also it could damage your hearing. And after all that is what we are looking for aren't we?
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Reviewed by:
Strengths: Crisp, clear, incredible sound, loud LoUd LOUD, optical input, remote control, quality construction with great looks, handy control modual.
Weaknesses: A bit pricey
Overall: This device, coupled with my Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer sound card can really make my windows rattle! The only problem is that my wife won?t let me use it to its full potential while she?s home =( I was not expecting the subwoofer to be the size of a dog house, but I guess that?s what you need to get the huge sound that you do! I use my system mostly for gaming and the surround sound, crisp audio, booming base, and directionality is awesome! Now that I?m playing games with the new sound card/speakers, I feel like I?m hearing whole new games.
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Pricing
$349.99 - $417.09 From 4 Vendors Get Best Prices »
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