Customer Reviews

Logitech Speaker System Z323 with Subwoofer

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

At 30 Watts RMS, Logitech's Z323 speaker system is the smaller sibling to their 40 Watt RMS Z523 system. As I indicate in my Amazon review of the Z523 system, I am mightily impressed with it, as I am with the Z323 system. As I say in my review of the Z523 system, it makes the other PC/MP3-player type speaker systems I own and have owned obsolete (one major reason for this being that the system features "360 degree" or omnidirectional sound). The decrease in wattage comes at a thirty dollar decrease in the manufacturer's suggested retail price. The subwoofer is smaller (approximately 8 1/2 inches high measuring from the bottom of the feet by 5 1/2 inches wide by 8 inches deep, compared to approximately 10 inches high by 9 X 9 for the Z523 sub), and unlike the bass control knob for the Z523 system, which is conveniently located right below the volume knob on the right satellite, the bass control for the Z323 system is inconveniently located on the upper rear of the sub. I say inconveniently because I like to be able to change the bass level depending on what I'm listening to, and in order to change the bass level on the Z323 system I have to get up and walk around my desk and get down on the floor. With the Z523 system I just reach in front of me to the right speaker.

The Z323 satellites are virtually the same size, shape, and design as the Z523 satellites. (One difference is that the Z323 satellites have ports on the front while the Z523 have rear-facing ports.) A side by side "experiential" comparison with the Z523 satellites leads me to rate the Z323 satellites equal or perhaps a tad better, and the highs seem slightly warmer. When playing a selection by the German band Seabound on which the speaker whispers some lyrics (in English), I could make out the words when listening with the Z323s whereas I could not make them out as easily when listening with the Z523s.

Classical music sounds great on the Z323 system. A side by side comparison of the Z323 with the Z523 systems playing selections from the recently released recording of Mozart's opera Idomeneo conducted by Rene Jacobs, as well as a sampling of BBC Radio 3, leads me to rate each system equal in sound quality.

When listening to rock music played through my laptop with the laptop volume and the subwoofer bass knob turned to the maximum levels, the Z323 subwoofer's sound became distorted and I had to turn the bass knob down to nearly the half-way point before it was undistorted. I have never experienced that with the Z523 system, and sometimes I play that system very loud (e.g., when working out in an adjacent room).

Like the Z523 system, the Z323 system delivers "360 degree" or omnidirectional sound, made possible by the fact that the satellites have speakers on their backs as well as their fronts.

And like the Z523 system, the Z323 system sounds great whether the source is my laptop, MP3 player, or portable CD player.

If I had to choose one system over the other, assuming floor space to accommodate the subwoofer is not an issue and assuming the additional cost of the Z523 over the Z323 is not a deal-breaker, I would choose the Z523 system over the Z323 system for three reasons: Location of the bass control knob is considerably more convenient (for me, at least); I don't like that the Z323 subwoofer sound gets distorted when I turned the audio volume and subwoofer volume to their maximum levels; and because the speakers on the Z323 satellites are unprotected, unlike the speakers on the Z523 satellites which are protected by metal grills. (Regarding the distortion at high volume and high bass level, nothing appears to be loose; the screws that secure the subwoofer speaker to the cabinet are tight and the port cone is not at all loose. My guess is that the smaller subwoofer simply can't handle that much volume. Regarding the unprotected speakers on the Z323 satellites, this matters to me because I seem to be prone to knocking over PC speakers, causing them to fall from desktop to floor, and I anticipate that one of these days the cat will knock one over.) Having said all that, if my set up was such that I worked in a small room and I could place the subwoofer close enough to me on the floor that I could reach down behind it to adjust the bass knob, and I didn't anticipate ever wanting to play the system very loud (by which I mean really blasting it), then I think the Z323 system would be an excellent choice. (I rated it 3 out of 5 stars for "Comfort" and 4 for "Ease of use" because of what to me is the inconvenient location of the bass knob.)

Having owned several speaker systems through the years and generally finding the Logitech series a bit on the bassy side overall, I was excited to be able to test out the new Z323 set to see how their systems have come along.

Comparison speakers:
Creative Labs SBS260 (~$30), Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 THX (~$400)

Sound Tests:
Music: Janice Ian - Breaking Silence, Eagles - Hotel California (Live - Hell Freezes Over) both FLAC
Games: World of Warcraft, Plants vs. Zombies (because I can!)
Movies: Fifth Element (Opera scene), Top Gun (first dogfight)

Sound Card:
Creative Labs X-Fi, default Windows sound control panel applet

Music Test:
I like using both the Janice Ian and Eagles song because both songs have a very high fidelity requirement. The bass should be punchy but not overwhelming and the treble in the instruments should be clear and sharp. Having a good sound system will also make a world of difference when hearing the vocals.

The Logitechs performed much better than the Sound Blasters (as expected), the sub providing much more "oomph" than the built in woofer in the smaller SBS260's. When compared to the Klipschs' though, the sound quality was noticeably lacking in the clarity department. The treble and higher notes were reproduced relatively faithfully, although the depth of the vocal range felt very flat and limited. What was particularly noticeable however, was the bass bleed. First, the subwoofer had to be turned down to at least half-power in order to stop bass-distortion, but even at that point the bass was very "thuddy". Within the song "Hotel California," the bass drum should strike and feel like a quick blow to the chest, however the Logitech's produced a sound akin to being hit by a hollow funnel bat - a reverberation of bass. So as an example, a bass drum note which ideally should have been about 0.3s long was more like 0.5s long because of the bleed.

Game Test:
Neither World of Warcraft nor Plants vs. Zombies really uses surround sound in their gaming products like some other games (Doom 3 springs to mind), however for the immersion effect, the Z323's worked well enough. While I won't go so far as to say that it felt like I was in Azeroth fighting the Scourge horde, the sound was clear enough to serve its purpose. You could set the Z323s up in a room, turn them up and forget about anything outside that little world.

Movie Test:
Again the fuzziness of the speakers and the bass bleed came into the forefront with the movie test. If you're planning on watching movies at around half volume, these speakers aren't bad, but they're definitely not the first choice for building a media center type PC (unless you're just streaming from the PC, of course). The "surround" aspect of the speakers was firmly planted in the "not bad" area, but not really excelling. These speakers sound immersive for being a 2.1 system, but don't buy the hype that these will replace a true surround system.

Conclusion:
In the sub-$100 range, these speakers aren't bad at all. There aren't too many speakers on the market right now in the $50-80 price range that can truly be called awesome speakers - including these. While these may not be an amazing speaker, they are above adequate. That being said, if you're just looking for a cheap pair of speakers to get sound that's better than the ones built into your monitor, there are cheaper alternatives available which produce sound not too far off from these. On the flip side of the coin, these speakers are not the ones to get if you're looking to build PC to watch movies on or play environmentally immersive games (nor if you're just an audiophile, but I suppose that's implied).

These speakers are a good choice for users who have limited space available and don't plan on playing their sound on very high volume (like apartment dwellers or kids computers).

I own a lot of Logitech products from webcams to notebook risers so I knew I was receiving a quality item.

Setting up the system took about five minutes and that was opening the box and plugging in the wires. I decided to try them out on my desktop computer. I placed the satellite speakers on the each of the monitor on my desk and the sub-woofer on the floor but raised it a bit on a small stand. The system was `plug n' play' and no software was needed.

I tested these out with watching videos on a well known video site. I watched TV/movie clips which came in very clear. I played a few music videos but found myself adjusting the bass level, which is at the back of the sub-woofer to find a comfortable level for listening. Once I found what I considered to be the right setting for me I decided to play some of my Amazon Video on Demand TV shows. I was very impressed with the sound quality. It is very clear and no interference whatsoever from any of the other devices I have in my office. Having the satellite speakers on the side of my desk I had full benefits of the `360' sound. It was nice not to have the sound directional but to be able to walk around and still hear the sound from the side very well.

I have been using these speakers for two weeks now and did not know what I was missing until I plugged these in. The speakers are very attractive as well with a nice shiny look to them. At the time of writing this review I cannot thing of one negative thing about these speakers. I would recommend these to someone looking for a great set of speakers without wanting to break the bank. I would also say these are great speakers for apartments or dorms since you can adjust the bass level on the sub-woofer. Logitech has done it once again with another quality product.

I like this speaker system. . . but. . . I guess you could say that I'm "spolied" . . .becuase I also have the Logitech Z523 system on another computer. . .and there is one BIG difference. . ..and that is. .. on the Z523, the knob to control the bass is also on the right speaker, right below the regular volume knob. On this one, the Z323, the bass control knob is on the back of the subwoofer. I listen to different types of music/movies/videos from different sources, so I like to be able to control the bass, depending upon what I'm listening to. If you want to save a few bucks, and being able to control the bass on-the-fly is not an issue. . . then the Z323 is fine. But if you don't mind spending just a few bucks more, I would recommend the Z523. FYI, the z523 are 40-watt and the Z323 are 30-watt.

Either way though. . . these speakers bring a whole new pleasurable listening experience! If you're like me, and have only had eihter "basic" computer speakers, or a "basic" laptop speaker, then these little beauties blow those out-of-the-water! You'll "FEEL" the music! You'll "FEEL" the movie!

Great for a dorm. . . apartment. . . office. . .etc. I LOVE them!
Logitech Speaker System Z523 (Black)

I have two different Logitech speaker systems, attached to two different computers. I have the Logitech Speaker System Z520, which is almost twice as expensive as the Logitech Z323. I loved the Z520. They have a lot of power and tremendous clarity, but no sub woofer. So while they are splendid speakers, there is a lack of ooomph! in the bass range. The Z323 system has a bit less clarity and power in the treble, but nonetheless with the sub woofer they provide -- in my opinion -- a more satisfying overall sound than the far more expensive Z520 system. Both systems have a lot of power for their size -- 26 watts for the Z520s and 30 watts for the Z323s -- but the cheaper system has vastly more bottom.

I tested these out both on my laptop and on my iPod. The speakers performed well in both configurations, but I was especially impressed by their performance with the iPod. It was actually kind of creepy to hear my iPod sounding that good without headphones. Together they make a great portable sound system.

I definitely recommend these Z323 speakers over the Z520s. Excluding the subwoofer the Z520 speakers are better than the Z323s, but there is simply no way that the Z520s can make up for the lack of a sub woofer. And when you figure in the price, the question of which to get is a simple one. I should add that both systems have 360 degree sound, with speakers on the back of the individual speakers that provide more than one sweet spot in the room.

As an aside, I was reflecting on just how good computer speakers have gotten over the past few years. Only 5 or 6 years ago $60 would have gotten you only a piece of junk, something that would have given you some bad music but nothing more. These speakers will give you really good sound for gaming or music or videos played on your computer. A few years ago I probably couldn't have recommended any speakers in this price range. But these are honestly speakers that I can give a very strong recommendation to. If you want some inexpensive computer speakers for an amazingly low price, you may not be able to do better than these.

Not bad for the price but do not expect it to shake the walls. Also, I had to adjust the sound themes because the highs were too soft.

Speaker choices for those with limited bookshelf or desk space continue to multiply and impress. These Logitech Z323 speakers (Black), from the Amazon Vine Program, look good on my mahogany desk or its matching credenza. The right speaker has the power/volume knob. Both the left and right speakers plug directly into the sub-woofer; no daisy-chaining here.

The sub-woofer is a compact cube, roughly 8"x 8" x 5". From its home under my desk it delivers rich bass without overpowering the satellite speakers. The satellite speakers stand just over 7" tall and are slightly over 3" deep. They have a nice curve and a shiny black finish on the business side of the speakers.

Hooking up everything is straightforward and easy. As indicated, they will handle Ipod like devices as well as devices using RCA cables.

But it is the sound that sells speakers. And these have great sound. Keeping in mind the size and intended use of the speakers,it is hard to find any fault with them. They easily fill my office space, about 12' x 18'ft with all the sound I would ever want in such a space. At half volume the speakers are outright loud. And they do not sound muddy. Highs and lows complement each other, the sound is spacious for such tiny speakers. They are great and I use them every day.

In an era where 5.1 and 7.1 are ubiquitous and where most homes seem to have some sort of a many speaker setup, it is refreshing to hear great sound from a small three piece set.

Nice sound system well shielded. I'm not gettig any static as I did with my old speakers. Its very bassee. I like the extra features it has for mp3 players. I don't get overmodulation at max levels as others complaigned about. For about $30 I like it.

Cheap, reliable, and with good sound. Really good bang for the buck on this speakers, sound is crispy and strong. Buy it with confidence.

I use these speakers for a desktop PC. Sound is very good with excellent bass response. I'm always amazed at today's subwoofer/satellite speaker systems. For less than $100 you can get a system that sounds nearly as good as $1000+ systems available 15-20 years ago.