LOGITECH Z-5500 5.1 DIGITAL 500WATT RMS SPEAKER SYSTEM

zcool202 · TweakNOOB Joined: 19 Dec 2004 Posts: 1

Hi all,

loved the review. my only question is.. can you attach speaker stands to the front and rear surround speakers>?

If you look at the main page on logitech's site, there is a demo/trailer/advert for it, a guy moving the speakers into the middle of the room, then riding the sound (like free falling, pretty kool). but in the ad there are stands connected to the speakers.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2177,CONTENTID=9486

can anyone answer this silly question, if these support speaker stands?

thanks

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Fox-McCloud · TweakNOOB Joined: 26 Dec 2004 Posts: 10

hey there, first time posting on here...

have been reading this thread with great interest as I have just purchased a set of Z-5500's and will be getting a audigy 2 ZS soon.

Theres been lots of info on how to connect these 2 together digitally however as I live in the UK I don't have the joys of radioshack but I believe I have found what I need.

so my question is which of the following cables will I need

Cable 1: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35926&TabID=1&source=15&WorldID=2&doy=26m12

-OR-

Cable 2: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=44052&TabID=1&source=15&WorldID=2&doy=26m12

And then I need some sort of convertor so I believe this one will do the trick

http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=128_120&products_id=626

Could some one please tell me which of those 2 cables I need and if I've found the right convetor

Many thanx
Fox

Ham_fisT · Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2004 10:14 am Post subject:

the first cable you linked is perfect. but the adapter is the reverse of what you need..here is a link to the proper one
>>> http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=128_120&products_id=638 <<<

BTW...Welcome to Tweak News

let us know how all this works out

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Fox-McCloud · TweakNOOB Joined: 26 Dec 2004 Posts: 10

whoops, stoopid me

Thanx a lot dude :)

Now all I need to do is buy an Audigy.....

Fox.

phr33ksho · TweakNOOB Joined: 26 Dec 2004 Posts: 1

I recently bought an xbox advanced av pack along with these speakers, and modded the av pack to take digital coaxial (http://wrongcrowd.com/xboxspdif/)
I booted upa few games and tried it, worked fine with pl2 stereo x2 and what not, but when i put in a dvd with dts, and choose that from the audio menu, and start the movie i get "No Digital Data" on the control pod, and when i put the same movie into dolby digital i get stereo data, but no surround sound (the movie is dts:es if that matters). Also, i am using 3rd party software to play the dvd (modded xbox) rather than ms's dongle dvd player, but should this even matter? sholdnt the output be standard spdif or does the dvd playing software have to encode the track to dts/dolby and if so why would it play stereo in dolby mode and not at all in dts. anyways if anyone can help taht would be awesome other wise i;ll have to go back to watching movies with svideo outtput and analog audio.

Xpression · TweakNOOB Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 2

Hello all i'm new here and very noob about 'sounds' ..hehehe

Anyways i've just purchased these z-5500s and have a few questions for people who has them too.

- What effect should i use when listening to music or playing games?

- What volumes should i put the surround, subwoofer, center at to produce the best sound? Can i use max volume for all, or are there consequences from doing so ? Currently i have the surround on max because it sounds better, and subwoofer around 70% ish, overall volume around 80% and the others are on default. What do you put yours at?

- Why is it when i listen to music or play games on 6 channel direct, no sound comes from the right rear but there's sound from left rear? but when on stereo effect the right rear works, what's the deal there?

- Where should i place the subwoofer and which way should the blow hole face, should the blow hole face me?

- I previously owned the klipsch promedia 2.1 and it was said that sound will sound better after a few hours or days of used, as the speakers are setting in. Does that apply to all speakers? Can i expect the same from my logitechs?

Ok thats all for now, Thanks in advanced, =p

LittleMike · TweakNOOB Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 30

Hello all. Since this thread is drawing lots of new registered users, I figured that I'd add one more. I would like to say that the review was very well informed so thank you for the information.

Anyways, my uber-cool kicking surround system included a pair of headphones for my laptop. I've decided that I wish to make enemies with those who live on each side of my dorm room (which is about 11x12...it's a single so therefore small

) so I want to invest some money into a surround system. I was looking at three systems. The Z-5500, the Z-5300e and the X-530. Each has its pros and its cons and I'm very torn (money isn't an issue here).

Generally, I listen to stuff on low to mid volume and I never use a large amount of bass (maybe a little to just feel it but not so much that the pictures in the next room fall off the walls lol). I'm not a fan of complaints but I understand you need SOME power to a system. I mostly listen to music, because I do all of my school work in my room, but I do play games as well with my free time. I don't really watch movies on my computer but I believe gaming and watching DVDs are comprable actions when compared to listening to music.

I hate making the first post sound so noobish but I might as well...

Firstly, I want to know if it is possible to set the 5500 such that it doesn't rattle the door off the hinges. I have read a lot about how powerful the system is but I haven't read anything about how tame you can make it (other than mute).

Secondly, I would like to hear an opinion or two on the 5500 vs the 5300. I've read that the 5300's bass is just too uncontrollable and that is making me turn away from it because of my personal preferences. Also, the 5300's woofer doesn't (at least to my knoweldge it doesn't) come with a warning stating that you should keep it two feet away from all electronics. I mean, powerful magnetic fields within my vicinity kinda scares me a little because I believe that it does have malicious effects on the body. Also the 5300 doesn't have the control hub that seems to be so convienent.

I've also read many mixed things about the X-530. I mean it's so cheap though. But then again, I'm not stressing over the prices of any of these systems. Any opinions on this system are appreciated (considering that I'm debating between these three).

Lastly, and possibly the simplest question, is regarding a sound card. See, as I said before, I have a laptop and therefore your basic, 2 channel audio port. Since I lack a PCI slot I have to invest in an external sound card. I've read Creative makes an Audigy USB sound card and a Live! sound card. I don't really know what the differences between these two are (other than the fact that the Audigy is $100 as opposed to the $40 Live! card) and which one is more appropriate.

I kinda want to buy a good system now and be able to use it for many years. I would like to have it through college and when I move into my own place. I don't know how often people upgrade their systems but I don't plan on doing so for a long time so I want to do things correct right now and be happy with it.

Sorry for such a long post, but any help addressing any of these topics are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Fox-McCloud · TweakNOOB Joined: 26 Dec 2004 Posts: 10

Well I've finally got my hands on my Z-5500's and I love 'em :) lol

In response to Xpression's questions I would have to say put the sub, center and surround sound levels at whatever sounds best for you. Personally I like the rear channels to sound a little louder than the front, so I leave them on about 60%, the center & sub on 50% which gives me nice sound but the potential to crank 'em up if I need some extra boom.

If you have no sound coming from right rear but there's sound from left rear then it sounds like something is up somewhere, but where could be tricky to find out, try swapping the speakers round see if that makes any difference, could be a dodgy speaker wire, connector, or maybe something up with ya sound card.

The subwoofer can go where ever ya like, just keep it away from monitors, TV's harddrives etc (I haven't tried to see what happens if I put my monitor next to it, but I tend to take heed of such warnings LOL)

LikeMike the Z-5500 are very powerful but they can also be very quiet and subtle, the control pod lets you adjust everything, so you can turn the sub and the surrounds to very low levels at night.

Sorry I can't help with all the problems guys, hopefully someone else will be able to fill in the gaps I left.

Fox

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

I would set everything to 50% for best listening in normal environments.

Even at half, the speakers will still shake the room.

No need to crank it to full volume at all times. Little overkill if you do that.
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LittleMike · TweakNOOB Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 30

LittleMike · TweakNOOB Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 30

*curses lack of edit button*

Anyway, What I mean is that generally I don't want to vibrate the entire room but it's nice to have it for when people are not around.

Also, as I said, I'm looking to invest in a system that will last for years. Is it common to have a system for, say, 7 or 8 years?

Thanks for the input, but help with the above questions are great too.

Fox-McCloud · TweakNOOB Joined: 26 Dec 2004 Posts: 10

Well I dunno about 7-8 years but speaker systems generally last a fair while, my old yamaha 2.1 system was bought for £80 back in early 1999 and is still in perfect working order now (my sister uses them now since I replaced them with the Z-5500's)

Fox

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

These will last a long long time.
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LittleMike · TweakNOOB Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 30

Ya, I'm almost set on these babies. Just waiting to see if anyone can say anything to compare the 5500 to the 5300 (or the 680s). I mean I'll be moving a bit and the 5500's woofer is a monster so we shall see.

I'm also waiting for newegg to get them back in stock...

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

I am trying to get a set of the 5300 for review.
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Xpression · TweakNOOB Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 2

Thanks for the reply Fox and Nathan.

I got another question though.

Currently my z-5500s are connected in analogue. If i were to connect them digitally with a coax cable, how much of a sound difference can i expect?

Is there any improvements? Clarity? Fidelity? ..hehehe

Fox-McCloud · TweakNOOB Joined: 26 Dec 2004 Posts: 10

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

That and the upgrade to a 10 inch subwoofer.
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Fox-McCloud · TweakNOOB Joined: 26 Dec 2004 Posts: 10

Mike89 · Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:28 pm Post subject:

Krilnon · TweakNOOB Joined: 07 Jan 2005 Posts: 5

I have the Z-5500's along with an Audigy 2 ZS, and I'm having some problems with getting true digital surround.

First of all, in the Creative control panel thing, when I test the speakers, I can only hear the left front and right front speakers. When I'm listening to music or w/e, I hear all 5 just fine. When I'm watching a movie, the on-DVD surround tester doesn't work either.

Also, I hear no volume when I select 96Khz as the digital frequency.

Any ideas on what I could do?

Mike89 · Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 10:18 pm Post subject:

I've never seen a speaker tester on a DVD movie. Does the movie play through all the speakers? Are you selecting DTS or Dolby Digital (which ever one the DVD has) through the Logitech control panel? You using Coax with a mono plug hooked into the Audigy 2?
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LittleMike · TweakNOOB Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 30

I ordered the speakers yesterday and it should arrive early next week. I would like to thank you guys for your input.

Now, what kind of connections does it come with? It seems that there is this business with analog and digital and each one has it's strong points. I just want to know what I have to go out and buy so I can hook it up the other way (either analog or digital) if necessary. Thanks.

Mike89 · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 1:23 am Post subject:

I believe this has already been said in this forum.

Everything you need to hook up analog is included. For digital you need a digital coax cable with male RCA jacks on both ends. Then get an adapter which is a metal jack with a male 1/8" mono miniplug on one end and a female RCA on the other. As mentioned earlier, make sure it's not a stereo jack or it won't work at all.

Hook them both up at the same time and just switch between the two in the Logitech control panel. Make sure to go into the Audigy 2 properties and check the spdif bypass so the Audigy 2 doesn't use it's own decoder.
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1sttimer · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 1:59 am Post subject:

damn nice speakers id like to here that sub bumb to some lil john

lol if u all know about that

since im from gary,indiana
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