Logitech Z 5500 Digital Review

(Click title to buy this item for just $235)

Logitech released these speakers a while ago and they are still the high end speaker from Logitech. But are they still a worthy purchase in 2009? More than 5 years after its release.

First digital speakers

Logitech promoted these as the first digital pc speakers on the market. What this means is that multiple devices can be connected to them by digital connections and that the speakers can perfectly output Dolby Digital and DTS. This is a huge plus compared to its alternatives. You can connect devices trough the coax, optical and analog connections. This allows a Playstation 3, DVD player and PC to be connected simultaniosly. Switching can be done with the shipped remote. All connections come together by the Logitech z-5500 decoder, a small box that can easily be hidden. The only issue I had with the decoder was that the backlit can’t be turned off. This is a pain if you are planning to use these in a home cinema environment. Another problem for some is the giant sub that comes with it. Of course this is great for the performance but can be difficult to place in some rooms.
Performance

The speakers excel in most areas. It’s absolutely perfect for games. The bass absolutely makes the games come alive. Logitech promoted these as being the best for your gaming experience and it wasn’t a lie. Movies are also amazing with these. But problems can arise when you’re trying to adjust the bass to the satellite speakers, because the bass easily overpowers the rear speakers. Lastly it doesn’t fail in music performance either. Because music is still stereo, Logitech added a few options to the Z-5500 speakers. We can switch between the following modes:

• Stereo: Z-5500 produces sound only through the front 2 speakers.
  Stereo X2: As the name suggests you’ll get stereo sound with both the front and rear speakers.
  PL2 movie/music: Z-5500 tries to recreate Dolby Digital. This is called Pro Logic.
  And lastly for games: 6ch direct. This is the standard for most games. Basically all modes are available for developers without restrictions.

If you only want speakers for music I would get high end stereo speakers though. The options Logitech gives us are great but can’t compete with high end stereo speakers. And for the high end surround market the Creative S750 is slightly better for die hard music fans.
Value

Overall these speakers are amazing value. I’ve had them for 4 years now and they aren’t lowered in price and are still performing extremely well. Just one time I had an issue when the speakers suddenly lost power, but this was quickly fixed when Logitech send me a replacement part even when I was outside of warranty.

Conclusion

You just can’t go wrong with the Logitech Z-5500. It performs well in almost all fields. Only possible issues are the huge sub and the purchase price. But remember: these speakers are actually amazing value.