Logitech Z-2300 THX-Certified 2.1 Speaker System with Subwoofer
by Logitech
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List Price: Our Price: $169.95 You Save: $0.04 (0%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Z-2300 THX-Certified 2.1 Speaker System with Subwoofer
Customer Review: Awesome speaker system for the money...
Summary: 5 Stars
I'd read a LOT of reviews here and elsewhere before I finally decided on and purchased the Logitech Z-2300 speaker system for my computer. After putting the speakers through their paces for a couple weeks after I received them, I must say I am fairly impressed.
I have tried many, many different computer speaker systems over the years, and most have been seriously lacking. When I first got into using home computers, computer speaker systems didn't exist. If you wanted to get sound out of your computer, you had to run it through your home stereo system, and you were lucky if your computer system had stereo outputs. Sound was often an afterthought in those days, but as computer technology evolved it became more and more important. (Just FYI - I purchased my first home computer in 1986... so I've been working with them for a while. :))
Nowadays a lot of people consider computer technology synonymous with audio technology: MP3's, iTunes, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, etc. - but until the mid to late 90's this technology was still being developed or didn't even exist; and even while it was being developed most of us didn't have computers powerful enough to use it, or hard drives large enough to store the music files. iTunes didn't even exist until 2001: that's only nine years ago boys and girls.
It makes me wonder after all the years of development and evolution of computer audio technology why so many computer speaker systems still SUCK!! I'm not certain if it was just an acceptance of the initial audio formats, or that the flooding of the market of really cheap headphones, earphones and speaker systems just caused people to become used to sub-par sound being the norm. Whatever the reason, sadly there are many that have never experienced what their computer is truly capable of audio-wise. The best computer speaker system I've heard was one I built myself - It consisted of a Linear Power 652 car stereo amplifier running off of a very large 12V power supply and was powering a pair of the legendary Realistic Minimus 7 speakers (a 4" midbass/midrange driver coupled with a 1" fabric dome tweeter in a cast aluminum speaker enclosure; they were one of the best small "bookshelf" speakers of their era, and are still considered so...even though it was sold through Radio Shack - I guess even they got it right once in a while) and a Kicker 8" car stereo subwoofer in a custom enclosure - the satellites were getting 30 watts RMS per channel and the sub was getting 65 watts RMS... the first time I played the video game Descent: Freespace (circa 1998) with them and picked up the Vulcan cannon, the sub was playing so loudly (without distortion I might I add) it was vibrating my filing cabinet so much my next door neighbors came over to find out what all the gunfire was about!
That being said, I am not going to endorse the Logitech Z-2300 speakers as the best system I have ever heard on my computer - but they are pretty decent. The bass is solid and not over-empowering, despite what a few people have reported; it all depends on how much you adjust the bass control on the speakers vs. your computer audio out vs. how loud you play your speakers overall and how you adjust your music apps and/or audio card's EQ settings. A lot of people have their EQ settings for their favorite music player cranked up for bass and high end because their headphones/earphones lack this response, but then when they connect a decent set of speakers to their computer it sounds bad or the music is distorted; turn off those EQ settings!
I've read some comments that the Z-2300 speakers lack mid-response. Personally I think they have a bit too MUCH mid-response and they sound a bit nasal and/or hollow as a result: I mean, essentially the speaker is one big mid-driver with an aluminum "bullet" center (or "phase plug" as Logitech calls it) to give better high-end response. I've found that adjusting the EQ down a bit in your sound card's settings or your music app in the 1K, 2K and 4K ranges helps... you'll have to play around with a bit to adjust it to your own taste. I have also personally found the satellite speakers sound better without the grills as they are not very acoustically transparent. For those of you that already own these speakers try this simple experiment - gently blow on the palm of your hand from a few inches away and then move the grill in between your hand and mouth and you'll see how much air flow they are blocking. If they are blocking the movement of air from the speakers, then they are blocking sound! This usually affects the high frequencies and upper midrange the most. Regardless of that, these satellite speakers actually image halfway decently.
Overall I recommend this speaker system... for the price of around a hundred bucks you are getting a very solid 8" subwoofer that is powered from a 120 watt RMS amplifier, while the two satellite speakers are getting 40 watts RMS each (if you don't know what the difference between Peak and RMS audio power is, look here for an explanation: [...] The speaker system actually does sound pretty decent.
If you look around you can find very good powered home subwoofers for less that you could attempt to build a speaker system out of. The problem with this is that while most of these subs have gain (volume) and adjustable crossover controls, they are simply an add-on subwoofer... they have no amplified outputs that you can hook up decent pair of satellite speakers to. For that you'd have to have a separate amplifier to hook up some satellite speakers and that means more money and complexity. (Or you could just use your original pair of wimpy and substandard powered computer speakers along with the sub, but that would pretty much negate the whole point of upgrading, wouldn't it?) So, if you don't like the sound of the included satellite speakers, you're not stuck with them. Simply replace them with whatever small (typically bookshelf-type) speakers you'd like - Boston, Bose, Polk, etc. You'll have to create or buy a pair of custom speaker wires, but that's no big deal. I simply used an old pair of RCA audio cables, cut the RCA connectors off one end and stripped the wires to plug them into the speakers and plugged the RCA jacks on the other end into the Z-2300 speaker output RCA connectors. If you can't handle that, stick with the original speakers that came with the set...or get a friend to help.
Either way, you are getting an exceptional powered sub that happens to have a built-in power amp to run a set of external speakers, as well as an external wired remote/adapter that controls power (on/off), volume and sub-woofer level. You can't buy ANY decent home audio subwoofer for around a hundred - hundred-twenty bucks that can even come close to this in terms of power, performance and/or features. And you get a pair of satellite speaker thrown in for free. They have a fair amount of power handling and don't image too bad. I can honestly say this is one of the best computer audio systems I've heard in about the past 20 or so years I've been working with computers and it would probably rival a lot of people's home audio systems.. this is no typical wimpy "boom-box" sound. If you want some serious audio output from your computer, look no further!
Customer Review: Excellent! But some comments from a non audiophile ...
Summary: 5 Stars
So what's left to say after 610 Amazon customer reviews, well, a few things for folks like myself who are not audiophiles and [here's where I date myself forthwith] may still be using the classic and vintage [read: old] "boat anchor" [in sheer weight!] box speakers [** You former vets out there, remember the overseas [including in-country] military Px where brand name electronics [Akai, Marantz, Kenwood, Sansui, Pioneer, McIntosh, et al] could be had at greatly reduced prices and no tax of any kind courtesy of Uncle Sam ... ] -- anyway, once you get used to the sound [and it's 'still' good stuff, BTW, and not to mention my older tape and LP record collection] of the old 'boat anchor' box floor speakers, one is reluctant to switch to 'modern' speakers you can hold in your hand and perhaps weigh no more than a couple of pounds in change and this added square box gadget called a "subwoofer" ==but== when the vintage 'break' is made, the results can be startling!
Soooo, my 40 pound speakers [that's 'each' weighing 40 pounds! Hey! I still have my long ago military Px [overseas] Akai M-10 Sound On Sound with built-in amp stereo tape recorder and which weighs in at 54 pounds .. and still works to this day!] -- anyway, military nostalgia aside, my hefty Akai speakers went downstairs to assist my Hitachi big screen [the Hitachi has 8 Ohm wire speaker connectors on the back of the set --quick tip -- ALWAYS use no less than =16 gauge= speaker wire!] and that did the trick for the Hitachi big screen even without an amplifier while I took this Logitech Z-2300 system and connected it to my computer in place of the vintage stuff. What a difference in sound! I put on the old 90's vintage flick "K2" and when the small but quite efficient Logitech speakers picked up the crackling of the fire [!] in one scene or that subwoofer kicked in as in the scene where 'Taylor' is startled on finding 'Dallas' laying in the snow, whew! Amazing sounds! Why I held out so long before switching to the modern 2.1 stuff became the number one question! I was 'very' pleased! Can a 5.1 or 6.1 'surround system' for my upstairs big screen be far away!
Now for some specifics: The subwoofer in this Z-2300 system is not light and the whole system in its package is about 36 pounds with the bulk of the weight being the subwoofer. But it does an excellent job! I like the on-desk remote too because everything can be done via the remote via the on/off switch, the blue LED "ON" indicator, the sub-woofer +/- adjustment knob [when the subwoofer needs to be toned down or up as the case may be and via individual taste but the fact that it 'has' a subwoofer adjustrment knob is a decided plus!] and then the large master volume knob on the remote. And finally, a headphones jack built into the remote.
BTW, readers are urged to read the reviews of those folks who are heavy into audio gear and various of their suggestions work very well. For example, the tendency may be to locate the satellite speakers right next to your monitor but as various reviewers suggested, leave some space [to the extent possible] between the speakers for that both 'stereo' and 'spacial' effect and let your 'ears' be the deciding factor in terms of satellite speaker placement. In effect, when you can sit facing your monitor and can 'not' tell which left or right satellite speaker is making any more discernible volume than the other, you should be spot-on with the subwoofer on the floor and [to the extent possible] in the middle of the two satellite speakers facing your legs. Again, and all the audio scientific/technical stuff notwithstanding, let your 'ears' be the final guide!
And this too -- I even had a second set of 'boat anchors' attached to my computer system [fed by my equally vintage Marantz 2270 receiver], vintage 100 watt [each] Kenwoods, but I got the best of two worlds by simply using a stereo 'dual' plug adapter into my computer so that if I want to use the new Logitech system, fine, it's plugged in to one side of the dual stereo plug [that goes into the computer ==or== in my case and using the Creative Labs Audigy 2 system, plugged into the sound card] but if I still want to use the vintage speaker stuff, the other side of the stereo plug adapter has the connection from my Marantz receiver! In point of fact, I could use both systems if desired since that stereo adapter plug permits 'two' audio input connections.
Finally, as I do this review, the Logitech Z-2300 system appears to be on sale or at a reduced price but make sure you check out shipping costs no matter who is selling the item! And this -- OK, I admit it, I see the "THX" logo [as I do on various DVD's] and only now do I see that "THX" is not some sort of audio 'system' a la Dolby or whatever but is essentially a "certification of audio standards" where supposedly every effort has been made in the speakers or in a particular DVD to pick up those sounds that various CD or DVD sources produce "as faithfully as possible" but "THX" [or so says the THX literature anyway] is 'not' some special type of audio production or special differences in sound but rather a certification of certain audio 'standards' and basically speaker 'quality' to do the job. Or, conversely, DVD's carrying the "THX" logo but as an audio certifying 'standard' versus any sort of special audio device.
Doc Tony
Customer Review: You will get these if...
Summary: 5 Stars
I am an extreme music/multimedia enthusiast...I won't say audiophile because I have never had the money to really do it right....But, Hard Rock, Classic Rock, Hair Bands, Symphony ( huge Bach fan) So... I purchased the Z-2300's a couple of weeks ago...and if you care to read on, I will provide you with several lines of evidence that suggest that THESE speakers are 2nd to NONE in this price bracket.
Seven years ago I began to travel extensively with my wife. As a result, I sold my Sony component rack system and Cerwin Vega LG-15's as well as other acoustic goodies...all for a set of Bose MediaMates ($99 pr.). Wow, Bose...clarity....yes....but full sound...( ie bottom end) ...almost...or not....and for a while I found that depending on placement, (and we're talking RADICAL room placement) I could use room accoustics to bolster the sound those babies put out....but NEVER to my full satisfaction. A few years later I GAVE them to my appreciative Father-in-law on a trip home and graduated to a pair of Audio Engine A-2's. Well, at twice the cost of the MediaMate's, the A-2's were, in my opinion, twice the sound. OK....right? Well...After a blown speaker right out of the box was replaced...I took em' on the road....yeah they packed well in my suitcase...but after 6 months of RADICAL room placements to try acheive FULL sound, I was nearing my tolerant end to the A-2's. The fact is, I travel alot: my music & my movies are on an external HD - and if I can replicate their artistry and true effect while away from 'home', I am trully lacking nothing in the recreation dept. The A-2's failed me the day I came home and the master speaker (w/the amp in it) was blown...for NO understandable reason. AudioEngine's customer service is 2nd rate to calling India and asking for help, (no offense, but they, (AudioEngine) are NOT offering professionalism to the caliber that their product attempts to represent.
THUS.....and here it is.....are you still with me? I hope so...
I dropped the cash on the Z-2300. I researched extensively for days prior to choosing. The fact is, I was tired of having to play Mr. Sound Engineer/ Acoustic decorator just to get acceptable range out of my speakers so I could sit back and rock out if I wanted....or watch a movie and really expeirence it!! Granted, any auxiliary speakers are a huge step forward from the built in one's in today's laptops....but MAN!! If I'm gonna drop 1 or 2 HUNDRED dollars on a set of speakers...bro, they better ROCK MY WORLD....WHENEVER....and HOWEVER I want!!! Right?
So.....let me tell you (faithful readers...this has been quite dragged out, I admit) these Z-2300's are IT. Let me qualify is important.......read on:
When I got them and hooked them up, I was intitially........INITIALLY....let down. The clarity wasn't there. It's true. But you know what? You know that 'break-in' period of? The 2-3 days of soft listening to adjust them.....blah....blah....blah! My friend, this is a DUAL break in:
1. Yes, your speakers are waking up to the reality that their life is about to consist of rocking out...better deal with it...and stretch out a bit too.... OK.....but!!!
2. The prime listener's EAR... is also adjusting to the spectrum available to him/her.
THUS, my first 2 days with the Z-2300's was one of slight disappointment....not because of lack of bass....I mean come on, the bass was SO gratifying - it was/is ridiculous. The mids and highs just weren't there - initially. And, truth be told: The spectrum of sound put out by the satelites provided with the Z-2300's are somewhat poor...yes, limited mid-bass/mid-range....( of course if you know how to run an EQ - no biggie...we can 'make it right [ take my advice, and read on] ) especially standing them up side-by-side with Bose or Audio Engine's clarity.
So.....here is MY final take on all this:
I prefer the Z-2300's 2 to 1 over the Audio Engine's A2's! And 3:1 over the Bose MediaMates. Here it is...the down and dirty: these audiophile folks are all like, "oh this system is lacking mid range, the bass all sounds the same, and the other thing!" Well, ya know what? I am a 33 year old dude who rocks out harder than most....bro, let me tell you, I rip it up at least 3 times a week...and push my system to what it can do for me - because THAT IS MY RECREATION....I rock out - or I watch a movie with the intent on EXPERIENCING the movie - Fact is: with my earlier speakers, I was able to do this to some extent....but NEVER to my satisfaction. I'm sorry, but I was grew up in a time where ROCK was LOUD and AWESOME!! Sure I dig an occasional bass track or some classic hip hop....and these 2300's tear it up - huge! But I listen to Rush, ok? And while sure, Neil Peart's cymbol's aren't quite as piercing into my head as I would like - the mid-low and low end is SO full and wonderfull that I have fallen in love again with all my old stuff ~ because it rocks so hard now ~ I'm a rocker, people....and if you are too.....
If you are looking for clarity and audio precision so that you can experience all the nuances of your media - than my man, the Z-2300's are not for you - M-Audio, Bose, among others are calling you. However, for the rest of those about to ROCK?......
Need I say more?
Customer Review: If you want the skinny on these speakers read this.
Summary: 5 Stars
First, I will have to say that I am a music engineer/producer, so when it comes to music, I know what I'm talking about. Secondly, I just bought this product and, no I don't work for Logitech, or anyone else who`s related to the company, or their distributors.
Setting up:
For those who are curious a bit about the speaker set up, it is very easy. The subwoofer acts as the "motherboard", so to speak. Everything hooks into it, from the back. The subwoofer is the power supply source (there's no adapter, just a standard plug, so this will save room on a power strip), and the wired remote plugs into the sub, and the computer. The satellites plug into the sub as well. If you wish to plug the speakers up something else (a videogame console, a DVD player, VCR, etc.) a RCA splitter cord is provided to hook it up. When plugging this thing up, do NOT plug it up to the electrical socket first and then connect the components. Plug it into the wall last. Additionally, there is a on/off feature on the wired remote, as well as a switch on the back of the sub. The ON LED light on the wired remote is a pretty blue color.
When you set up the speakers, you should note that the satellites are very directional sensitive. That is, adjusting the angle of the speakers will have a great deal to do with the how the sound is directed towards your head, and thus the overall quality. Take the time to adjust this to the best sounding position. These speakers are decently compact. My computer is sitting on a tiny IKEA computer desk, along with other studio gear, including two rack-mounted processors. I have plenty of room for these speakers. Do NOT sit these speakers next to your head. It's a good idea to have them farther away from you than your monitor is sitting, if possible. As for the subwoofer, do the smart thing and put it on the floor. It doesn't need to be elevated no more than a foot off the ground, if that much. Also give the sub room to breathe, and for the love of common sense, don't block the side air hole, and don't direct the woofer at your computer tower.
The Sound:
Like I said before, I am a music producer, additionally I am a classically trained musician with 20 years experience (I'm 28). So I know what I'm talking about. Also I should note that I am using a fairly new desktop computer, an Emachines, which is about a year old. I also have a nice Sony 5.1 stereo system. These speakers kick my Sony's tail, all around. The only way it could be better is if it was a perfect surround sound system, and that would be a pain to deal with, unless you have the room and money for it.
Some people have said the mids on these speakers are weak. I'm not hearing it at all. What I have noticed is that the upper highs are very strong. If you are having this problem here's simple solution. I'm using Windows Media Player 9.0. On the "rock" EQ setting just move the 16kHz level down a wee bit. If you're using another kind of media player, just turn down the EQ between 12-20kHz down by 5-10%. If you're hearing hiss out of the speakers then you might have them too close to your head to begin with (I can only hear it when I lean over next to it, and if the volume is past 60%). Otherwise, you might have a shielding problem.
These speakers are quite loud. Be careful not to damage your hearing with these. I really see no point in turning the master volume past 40% and the sub past 25%.
Also keep in mind that these speakers are quality. Don't play hip hop on a classical EQ setting. You should get used to switching your EQ setting (which is easy enough on Windows Media Player) for the appropriate thing you are listening to. If you're listening to talk radio, set it to "speech", and turn the woofer down to zero.
The only draw back on this speaker system is that you can't turn the woofer down to perfect zero, meaning that you can't bypass it. That would be a good bonus. But turning down the EQ in the 20Hz to 50 Hz range should do the trick if you want to by pass it.
For this price, these speakers are a steal. The quality of these things in my opinion are triple the price, if not more.
The z2300 as well deserving of 5 stars. If you want killer sound on your computer without spending a few thousand bucks, this is the way to go. I bought these for my home studio to mix the record I'm working on, and I'm so glad I did it. It far beats spending $400 on a single studio monitor.
If anyone wants so advice or semi-technical assistance as far as these speakers are concerned, I'd be more than glad to offer some advice if you wish, just email me at GSFU (at) aol (dot) com.
Customer Review: Returned my new Bose Companion 3 system to get this instead...
Summary: 5 Stars
I spent several days going through reviews, home audio sites, looking at the huge back and forth swing regarding the quality of the Bose Companion 3 system, reading posts from all the Bose bashers, and the people who liked them. I'm not a Bose basher, and having heard some other bose systems in the past that did decent sound, I was really wanting to like their system. I mean, I *really* wanted to like them. I'm needed speakers for my media center PC, and having just replaced a larger pc unit with the tiny Dell Hybrid, I wanted to also get some smaller form factor speakers. I really liked the small size, so unobtrusive, and the Bose would've worked so well where the LCD TV is across the room from the couch.
I was looking to replace an older Logitech 5.1 system, which currently only has the front left and right plugged in due to not having a good layout in the great room at my new house for rear channels. They worked well and had good sound, but I was looking for a little more punch across the board with a little better clarity for highs and mids than they could do since I listen to a lot of music on this system.
I opened the Bose and unpacked, laid everything out right as my current system was, and had both systems plugged in and running, so I could just unplug the 1/8" jack from the rear of the media center PC and swap between the two of them at will to hear the difference.
Since the 80's I have used the same two songs as my "reference" sound checks. "Take Me Home" from the Phil Collins 12 inchers album since it has a good variety of percussion, highs and lows, good bass punches, and cymbals and such. It gets very good high and low frequencies right in the intro. I also use a german recording of Mozart's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 23 in A Major.
I heard the immediate difference in both. As so many others have reported, there's an unmistakable tinny, hollow sound from the Bose. And I half expected it just from the small speakers, because they just can't move as much air as something with more area. But the startling difference between my lobotomized 5.1 system only running 2 channels, and these Bose, was hugely disappointing.
And I did go through my HD audio card and worked with presets, but the fact that the other speakers worked so well with the settings I had, and other ones I tried worked well, it just seemed like too much work to have to go through to force a "slightly more expensive than comparable" set of speakers to sound as good as "inferior" ones.
And no matter what tweaking or sound settings I did, there was no mistaking the fact that they just did not sound good.
So I returned them and replaced them with the Logitech Z-2300 set since that had good reviews. And I did the same thing with my old logitech set and the new one that I did with the Bose. Set both up identically, in the same locations, and swapped the plug between them as I played the same songs. And I heard an immediate difference between the old and new ones that was even more startling than the difference between the old ones I had been using and the Bose. I really wish I had the Bose and the Z-2300's both plugged in to do side by side comparisons because it would have made the new ones sound even MORE incredible.
I live in a house with some space around me so I don't have a fear of neighbors complaining to me, but I still don't pound out the volume. Sometimes I will turn it up and enjoy something, but for the most part I'm listening to low to mid level volume settings, whether TV, DVD, or music. And these 2300's perform incredibly well for all of them, where the Bose just did not compare at all.
I tried, I really did, I ignored most of the posts on the audio video forums that told me not to get the Bose, because I really wanted them to work for me due to the form factor. But I wish I had followed the advice all these audiophiles were offering and saved myself a few days of wasted research and the purchase of two different speaker sets, and just bought the Logitech 2300's right off the bat..