Customer Reviews

Logitech Z680 5.1 Computer Speakers (5-Speaker, Silver)

5 star:		(99)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have wanted to go digital for long time. My Logitech Z-5300 was an amazing set of speakers, however its lack of digital inputs/outputs isolated its potential to the home PC. Finally, the price of the Logitech Z-680 dropped to an affordable price.

I sold my Z-5300s to another student in my dorm, and purchased the Z-680 from Amazon.com. Amazingly, I received the set within 2 business days via UPS Ground. Needless to say, I am immensely satisfied with Amazon.com.

Thankfully, I had recently purchased a Philips DVP642 player as well, and after reading that the video coaxial RCA cable was the same as the digital audio coaxial, I was all set and ready to go.

So far, I have tested the DVDs Matrix: Revolutions and Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King. I was amazed by the quality of the sound. However, I agreed with the other reviewers that the bass was a bit boomy, especially in Matrix Revolutions. This can be easily remedied by lowering the level of the subwoofer.

When playing my DivX encoded AC3 movies, I saw that changing to Dolby Movie Mode 2 was almost the same as having true Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. It did an excellent job of separating the audio tracks among the voice, music, and sound effects.
Edit 9/25/04: Please read my latest update which explains the difference between Dolby Prologic Decoding and Dolby Digital 5.1. Knowledge is Power!

I have yet to hook my Z-680s to my home PC, but there was very little hiss while my set was hooked up to my DVD player. The hiss was certainly not loud enough to warrant annoyance or disturbance.

Update 9/06/04:

I hooked the system up to my PC via coaxial s/pdif. There is no hiss at all. However, when using the analog connections, there was a very noticeable hiss. I could even hear it 3-4 feet away, which became very irritating.

Trust me, if you buy the Z-680s, do yourself a favor and use the coaxial connection. You won't regret it. I have decided to leave the Z-680s as my personal home theatre system as opposed to hooking them up to my PC.

Last note: the Philips DVP642 is the perfect complement to the Logitech Z-680s. You cannot go wrong with them. Having the two items has been a blast.

Update 9/16/04:

Still loving the Z-680s. I have it hooked up to my suitemate's Xbox, TV, and the Philips DVP 642. Since the Xbox and TV both use analog inputs, I used the handy RCA to 1/8 converter included with the Z-680s. I also purchased a 1/8 splitter. I am considering purchasing the Xbox Advanced AV Pack to utilize the optical connection on the Z-680.

Warning: the subwoofer has become ridiculous...after breaking in the speakers for two weeks, normal levels of bass not only shake my whole 5th floor, but the 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 7th floors-no kidding! Surprisingly, the 4th and 6th floors received the most impact--those vibrations go a loooong way! Remember, if you buy this unit, keep the bass at 20%, unless you are watching Star Wars...then pump it up!

Update 9/25/04:

There have been claims that Logitech has been falsely advertising their product as having true Dolby Digital 5.1 when allegedly, they only had Dolby Prologic II decoding.

Now, there is a big difference between the two. The Dolby Prologic decoding technology has been around for a looooong time; I can remember it since 1991 when my family purchased our first home audio set. Dolby Prologic takes stereo channels and converts them into a surround sound environment--to good effect, but nonetheless hardly comparable to true Dolby Digital 5.1, a more recent technology which directs its sound with far greater accuracy to all six channels, frequency, clear separation of effects and dialog, and clarity than Dolby Prologic.

I too, became a concerned consumer after hearing these rumors on forums and consumer reviews on Newegg and here on Amazon. My product box did not dictate clearly whether it had one decoder or the other or both, so I decided to call a Logitech technician. Thankfully, the the Z-680s came equipped with the ability to decode both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Prologic II.

So when you are playing a DVD you should see "Dolby Digital" appear on the LCD screen of the Digital SoundTouch Control Center. The Dolby Music/Movie Mode that you see when you are playing mp3s or watching a DivX movie is the Dolby Prologic II decoder at work and works very well to its credit.

In a side note, screw Dolby Digital and stick to DTS, the other digital surround sound option the Logitech Z-680 offers, when playing DVDs if the option is available. I have had a greater experience with DTS 5.1 decoding with the Z-680s in the 10 movies I have watched in comparison to Dolby Digital 5.1. DTS makes great use of the surround sound even in movies such as Zoolander [which otherwise makes very little directional use of the rear speakers]. Even my five suitemates agree that DTS has a richer, fuller sound and because of the variety of DVDs we watch during the weekends, it is difficult to say that we are influenced by placebo. There IS a difference :-).

New Setup:

Analog Input - from T.V. & Playstation 2 with stereo splitter
Optical Digital Input - from Xbox
Coaxial Digital Input- from Philips DVP642 DVD Player

Update 10/05/04:

Here is a brief comparison between Dolby Pro-Logic II and Dolby Digital 5.1 using two selected movies:

Dolby Movie Mode with DivX encoded movie Man on Fire:
Voice/Dialogue - mostly center channel with slight residual sound from front left/right speakers.
Music/Score - Evenly divided among front and rear left/right speakers
Sound Effects - Non-directional, evenly distributed. During the gun fight scene when the girl is kidnapped, Pro-Logic II simulates a surround sound effect of gun-fire, making it multi-directional.

Dolby Digital 5.1 for Man on Fire DVD collector's edition:
Voice/Dialogue - Isolated to center channel
Music/Score - Directional music: fades from front to rear speakers or vice versa, varying from scene to scene.
Sound Effects - Directional. Isolated use of rear speakers from rear left to rear right when cars drive by. During the gun scene mentioned above, distinct sounds of bullets "whizzed by" from front right to rear left speakers.

Dolby Movie Mode with DivX encoded movie Star Wars Phantom Menace:
Voice/Dialogue - mostly center channel with slight residual sound from front left/right speakers.
Music/Score - Evenly divided among front and rear left/right speakers
Sound Effects - Non-directional, evenly distributed. Surround sound lightsaber effects can be overpowering as a "large hum" especially with the Z-680's powerful subwoofer.

Dolby Digital 5.1 for Star Wars Phantom Menace DVD:
Voice/Dialogue - Isolated to center channel except in large rooms, echoes can be heard in surround speakers.
Music/Score - Directional music: fades from front to rear speakers and vice versa varying in scenes.
Sound Effects - Directional. Spaceship travel from rear left to front right. Close-up light saber swings begin from rear left and travel to front left, front right, and ends with the rear right speaker.

Update 10-24-05:

OMG! I finally got AC3 to work-but I don't know how! Well, I was playing the Casshern DVD back-up encoded with XVID and AC3. I didn't expect the AC3 to work, so I set the audio effect to Movie Mode. However, I suddenly was hearing discrete audio from my surround sound channels. Bewildered, I went up and listened closely to the center channel, and then the front left channel. Hmmm, either I was having a really good Prologic decode or this was playing in Dolby Digital! I glanced at my control pod and I couldn't believe my eyes--it stated it was decoding in Dolby Digital! Wow! Now I am going to check on all of my AC3 encodes...this is too cool.

If you are looking at any other home theater system in the range of $270, STOP! You have found what you are looking for.

This system is phenomenal, with features that rival home theater sets costing more than twice as much. The sound is amazing, and there is plenty of it; 505 watts RMS(continuous power). This system will rattle the china out of your cabinet, no doubt.

The sub is 185 watts, when most systems around $500 feature a 100-watt sub. It has all the inputs and features you could want, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Pro Logic II, optical AND coaxial inputs for surround sound. I have my computer, tv, XBOX, PS2, and Gamecube all hooked up to this machine, and it wasn't hard at all. I have yet to venture the volume control past 60% because that is when my head starts to hurt. Movies are immersive and music sounds awesome! This system really is incomparable to anything near it's price range.

Recommended without reservation.

I've heard these speakers at my local computer store. These are the best sounding among all the brands offered. Klipsch didn't sound as good and Creative Labs' isn't even an option.
The control center is the best design so far. The display and power button emit a cool blue light that is nice to see at night. Every component looks very sturdy. There are three possible connections - Coax, Optical, mini. You can use all for three different sources. Just press a button from the control center to indicate what source you would like to use.

How good are these speakers? I own a couple. It may not compare to my JBL HT system which are THX-certified for true home theater use, but these cost thousands. With the price you're paying for the Logitech, it's a steal. I have Harman/Kardon Sound Sticks for my Mac and these [are unacceptable] especially for the price. I had Sony Dream System DAV-C990 which I returned after two weeks because the speakers are not only dull, they seriously need some equalization.

Now for the cons:
1. The speaker cords are too thin and short.
2. The cord from the control center to the bass module is way too short and the manual warns against extending it. I want my bass in the corner of the room, and the control beside my PC.
3. The remote needs aesthetic improvement.

These speakers have good, powerful bass right out of the box. Bass lovers will adore these for their games and music. Just reduce the bass from the control center if it annoys you.

Best of all - these are THX-certified. You can't beat the price and quality. Even Apple has adapted these speakers for their upcoming G5 desktops. And if someone knows good design, these people do.

Enjoy!

When I recently saw these speakers online, I was really hopefull that it could live up to my expectations. I already owned the Logitech z-340 speakers for my PC, which are a great set of 2.1 speakers, but I was in the market for something digital for my xbox and DVD player. Of course I considered getting a Digital Reciever, but to get anything decent in audio quality the basic $200+ home theater in a box wasn't going to cut it. No, I was looking at $500 minumum to get what I wanted. With the Z-680's, I have my xbox, DVD, and TV hooked up all at the same time, plus I can still hook up my computer if I want to. It doesn't have the ammount of inputs as a home A/V Reciever, but for what it has it really rocks.

The quality of audio is really impressive. Loud, thumping base made my roommate think there was a thunder outside. and the audio is very clear and rich. My only complaint, the speaker wire that is included is too short for my usage, and the cable that connects the Control module to the subwoofer is also a little shorter than I would have liked. The wall mounting options on the speakers are great though. All the speaker stands are removable and reversable, so wall mounting is easy.

Bottomline. Someday I will buy a Multi-Thousand dollar entertainment center with Dolby 7.1 audio. For now, this Dolby 5.1 and DTS setup is one of the best on the market, and there is none other I would rather have. It's got everything I need for kickin audio, and the look and feel of the sustem is second to none. If you need 5.1 audio for your PC, There is no alternative. Get this. If you want a 5.1 system that is multi-functional for TV, Xbox, PS2, DVD, and PC, This is an excellent combination of size, quality and sound. Believe me, if you get this you will not be dissapointed.

By the way, earlier models were told to have a problem with hiss coming from the speakers. This problem has been resolved with the more recent versions of this product. There is absolutely no hiss coming from my speakers, with or without an audio source attached. These are really great quality speakers.

Every since I blew my money on the Creative 5700 5.1 system, I've been looking for an excuse to buy a new system (because I really regret getting the 5700's). I looked at the Klipsch, and listened to them at Best Buy, but I wasn't very impressed; especially considering the price tag. Although the Z-680 is actually sold for the same price as the Promedia, they completely annihalate the Klipsch in terms of quality!

I've never heard such clean and precise sound in a computer speaker system. These speakers are almost as good as a Bose or JBL home theater system (and half the price, too). The subwoofer is an impressive 188 watts, so even when the volume is cranked, these babies still put out very clean, undistorted sound. Although when the volume and the subwoofer level is at full, distortion can be heard, but I'm not sure if that's the approaching limits of the speakers or of my ears.

So whether you listen to music, watch DVD's, play games, or all of the above, these speakers are sure to kick major a$$ at doing it! This is the first product I've given a full five stars to, and Logitech really earned it!

I looked at several other competing speaker sets before purchasing the Logitech z680's, including Creative's Gigaworks line and Klipsch's ProMedia line (on a sidenote, a good friend of mine has had the ProMedia 2.1's for a few years, and they still sound phenomenal - they are, in my opinion the best 2.1 set out there). Logitech's highend models seemed to beat the others in terms of built-in features, and, more importantly, price. The amazing number of glowing reviews also tempted me to lean towards the z680's.

I ordered my set on Wednesday, July 21, and they arrived Friday, July 23, by Free Super Saver - kudos to Amazon. I hastily unpacked the speakers in the quietest room in my house, set them up, and turned them on. To my horror, what emerged was surround-sound hiss! I'm not talking about the standard-issue hiss you hear when you put your ear up to a speaker - I'm talking about hiss that could be heard 3-4 feet away (I measured the distance with a tape measure)! This, without anything even connected to the speakers! I tried disconnecting and reconnecting the set, using various sources with the analog and optical inputs, and tweaking the settings of the speakers, but nothing made the hiss go away! Where was my beautiful THX sound?! Hoping for an easy fix, I went to call Logitech. I say went to, because it took about 5 minutes before I actually found their support number on their website. Nice touch. After wading through about 5 useless phone menus, I got a support representative on the line, who couldn't have been more disinterested. She walked me through checking the firmware version (hit the top right and top left buttons on the pod at the same time and hold them), then concluded that I needed the set repaired or replaced. I asked how they handled RMA's, and the lady said I'd have to ship it to them myself (which would cost a nice chunk of change), then wait several weeks for it to be processed, even though this was clearly a case of manufacturer defect. AGH!! However, she suggested doing an exchange through Amazon instead, as they might be able to help me better. Again, kudos to Amazon, a new set of z680's is winging its way to me right now, and they're covering the return shipping on the broken set. Hopefully I'll be able to share some better news in the coming week!

Now, Quality Control Issues aside, here's my attempt to present a list of pros and cons regarding these speakers:

Pros:
Price - for this class of speaker, deals don't get better than this.
Sound Quality - hiss aside, what I heard from the subwoofer was AMAZING, and when I ignored the hiss, the highs and mediums seemed great. Not amazing, but still great.
Control Pod - nice design, albeit the bright display gets annoying, and it would be nice to be able to turn it off. Also, reading it at an angle is hard.
Built-in Decoding - I cannot stress this benefit enough; barely any other speakers come with this. Built-in decoding means that your sound card can be a piece of garbage, as long as it has optical output that can pass-through DTS (like the G5 PowerMac's setup). Also, it means that Mac and PC laptop users can much more easily enjoy digital surround sound with a product like the M-Audio Transit (which J&R sells on Amazon), although, if I recall correctly, the SoundBlaster offerings offer built-in decoding. In addition, this feature makes connecting these speakers to a game console (especially the PS2 or XBox) or DVD player for digital surround sound a snap - other systems would require a separate decoder.
Remote Control - a nice touch. Not great, but it serves the purpose.
Speaker Design - remove the covers from the speakers, and they look fantastic and sound better. In addition, the speaker stands make wall-mounting a very feasable option (they flip around, and then can just be screwed into a wall).

Cons:
Hiss - this is simply unacceptable. For a high-end THX rated system, the hiss should be only perceptable at an inch or two away from the speakers. My father has a lower-end Logitech 2.1 system that has performed fairly well, and a light hiss from it can only be heard about an inch in front of the speakers at medium volume.
Subwoofer - it doesn't quite match the rest of the set - a bit on the booming side. That said, turning it down is a snap with the control pod.
Customer Service - should you happen to own these speakers, pray to whatever higher divinity you may or may not believe in that you will never have to have a warranty repair/replacement done. Logitech's CS is AWFUL. Amazon is great about dealing with issues out-of-the-box, but once the warranty is your only resource...

Now, one last issue I'd like to touch on is who this speaker set would be ideal for (assuming the hiss were gone):
-A music buff: the booming bass should fit your need, and the pitch is nice and accurate.
-A movie buff: the surround sound is a snap to setup, and sounds great. Let me put it this way: one would be hardpressed to find a better-sounding Matrix lobby scene :D
-Someone who invests in their peripherals: I'm a big fan of the "buy it once, buy it to last" mentality. Mice, keyboards, monitors, speakers, they all will last through several computer systems without *MAJOR* changes in the technology. Therefore, it is nice to have a high-end model of each of these, which can last for a good bit of time and keep being a top-performer.
-A G5 owner: I mentioned this before, but the G5 has an TOSlink optical jack on it's back just BEGGING to be used. Plug these in, and instant DTS 5.1 surround sound with the Apple DVD Player is at your beck and call.

This is my first Amazon review, so I hope I did a good job. I gave the system 2 stars completely because of the hiss: it makes them barely usable. In addition, I'm rather angry, because I feel like I just wasted my birthday savings :( I had a friend listen to see if the hiss bothered him, and he was amazed I hadn't called to get the speakers repaired/exchanged yet. I would like to say that this is an issue limited to my set, but a quick perusal of CNET's reviews shows otherwise. In addition, the condemnation of Logitech's CS seems somewhat universal. To those of you that have a perfectly fine set: congrats. You dodged a HUGE bullet. To prospective buyers: I would've given this unit a 4.5 (.5 off for bad CS - although ironically I wouldn't have known about the poor CS without the hiss issue, and then they would have garnered a 5) if the hiss were gone. I highly recommend this set of speakers, but be ready to exchange them, maybe several times even, until you get a hiss-free set. I'll be sure to update this review once I've had a chance to put the new set through its paces.

This is an excellent system considering all the features you get for the price. I bought it to replace the Altec Lansing ACS54, and what an upgrade it is.

There are a few compliants I do have with this system. The constant hissing is a nuisance (though it's almost inaudible over computer noise and usually unheard when anything's playing), but I've heard that if you bug Logitech hard enough they'll send you an upgraded control unit that solves the problem. The other problem is that sounds are a bit muddled unless you remove the satellite covers (I got this idea from one of the numerous z680 reviews). With certain instrumental pieces, it sounds almost like a completely different system. (I keep my on because I'm afraid I'd do something stupid and break it.)

But on the bright side look what you do get: Coax and Optical digital connections and the standard 3 port analog connection,DTS and Dolgy Digital Decoding, and Dolby Prologic II encoding in music and movie modes and of course THX certification (though I consider that more marketing than anything else).

Sound quality is of course top notch compared to most other computer systems, comparable to that offered by the high-end Megaworks and Klipsch sets though I do have a few nitpicks. Removing the cover helps sound brightness though the highs still seem to roll off when approaching the upper limit (maybe it's just a placebo effect). The bass is awesome, but sometimes I find it too awesome; it completely drowns out the satellites. The Klipsch isn't without faults either; I'm not a big fan of its sub or its performance at high valume. The Megaworks have excellent satellite performance, and the bass is tighter, but somewhat lacking in games and movies (and I use that term loosely; none of these systems have lacking bass compared to your mid-to-low range computer speakers). Granted no computer speakers are going to equal high-end home audio setups, but these 3 sets come the closest, though each has its own quirks. The price and features provided by the Z680s swung my opinion.

Hello, and welcome to my review. Today, we are going to see how the new Logitech Z680 speaker system can match up to the demanding quality of PC speakers:

One word: AMAZING!

These speakers go above and beyond any Klipsch speaker. To begin, while they have less wattage than the Klipsches, it makes up for the astounding performance at higher volumes. Yes, the Klipschs can go higher, but honestly, the Logtiechs will blow your ears out enough as it is! Also, these speakers, as I mentioned just above, are some of the best sounding I have ever heard! They have interesting things called Phase Plugs, which apparently are supposed to keep the noise at a less destorted rate. I personally think that this was so that the speakers will cost less money, but enough about the judgemental stuff: they seem to work! The only concern I have with these interesting drivers is that the speakers DO sound better with the grilles off.

Next, let's take size into concern. These babies are HUGE! I mean, 21 inch monitor huge! The subwoofer measured as tall as my 21 inch Hitachi monitor! I nearly fell down after taking this gigantic box from my garage to my bedroom which was two floors higher. It was that heavy!

Not only is the sound quality somehting to die for, but the special features beat out Klipsch by a long shot! You see, almost everyone wonders why they get such little content with such an enourmous ammount of money spending when the buy a Klipsch. Logitech has found the answer to this! Not only do they have an amazing sounding speaker system, but everything hooks up effortlessly and easily to a "control pod". This pod includes a nob for the volume. You can also adjust the surround, bass, and treble on this nob. It even has an LED screen so you can see what you are choosing - even in the dark! The pod also, amazingly, has a built in decoder for digital sound! Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround Sound, and more are decoded in this tiny box. And yes, they sound great. You can hook them up via Optical or Coaxil. I hooked up my Xbox through the Optical and my DVD player through the Coaxil, and they BOTH sounded amazing. Also, along with all this, you get a remote control! This is able to do everything you can do on the pod, but you don't have to be at your computer to do the changes you need to make. Great for the lazy ones who like their music sounding great!

Now, if I were you, I would still wait. I, in my own humble opinion, would wait before I bought these speakers. Why? Because these babies cost a lot of money, and it would be a shame to buy these and then see a week later that a new 6.1 Klipsch model had just come out, with one hundred watts more power, and an extra speaker! This has always been an issue with Logitech. When everyone else is developing 6.1 speakers, they JUST released their 5.1. The reason that they may be a year behind may be because of the work put into this system, or it could just be because they entered the market at an odd time. Whatever the case may be, I would wait and see what other competetors like Klipsch and Altec Lansing (hmm - well they really aren't competetors) have in store for you guys in the near future. After all, the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2s have just come out. Use that 6th speaker port to your advantage!

But for those of you that DON'T need an insane 7 speakers in your room at once, and want the best possible sound for your money, and also a plethora of features, then the Logitech Z-680 speakers are for you!

It has been about 2 weeks since the Z-680's arrived at my door and I a can truly say that these are THE set of surround speakers to purchase if you're looking to give your pc audio a face-lift.

Pros
1) Very powerful, very loud, very clear. I'm not kidding when I suggest you secure anything hanging on your walls in the room the speakers are in, and each room adjacent to it. You can literally feel the low frequencies of the sub rippling through your body at mid-high levels. The speakers are also adjustable for wall mounting and/or for pointing down if they are set up above you.

2) Every input you need is included -coax, fiber-optic, and 3 minijacks on the back of the receiver unit, as well as a single minijack on the front, for simple stereo. A headphone jack is also on the front of the unit. All three connection options on the back provide 5.1 capability, so you could connect up to 3 different sources, all taking advantage of the 5.1 surround.

3) Remote...Although not much to look at, functionally it does everything the receiver does, albeit from anywhere in the room. It emulates the receiver exactly, so there is nothing extra apart from the convenience. The only things negative about it is that you must point it directly at the receiver and there is a slight lag.

Cons
1) The bass is too "boomy". The best way I could describe the bass is too direct, and not roomy or spaced-out enough even at very low volumes. The sub doesn't represent all the lower frequencies equally.

2) The satellites represent highs very well and the lower mids are satisfactory, but the upper mids are under-presented. I found the only thing lacking in my music were the voices. The satellites also take on a few more of the subs frequencies than I would like although the cross-over can be fixed in your sound cards control panel.

All withstanding, this is a VERY GOOD system, especially for the price and the few problems it has are expected for a system in this price range. For the money, you cannot purchase a better set of speakers, and I believe these are currently the BEST set you can get for your pc without going in to the high end home theater category. Recommended

Have been using these constantly since 2003 and have yet to have an issue. Logitech makes great sound systems. Good customer service as well.