Logitech Z-2300 2.1 THX-Certified 200-Watt Speaker System

Rating:
Summary: Great buy, impressed me.
Review: First of all, I would have to say that you need a real sound card to listen to these properly. Onboard sound is going to get you average results at best, and it can not reproduce what a quality hardware soundcard can. Think about getting a soundblaster audigy2 card.

I use these speakers to listen to mp3s mostly, and some dvds. I am very very impressed with them. The price was right, and it had a mail in rebate, thats what sold me.

I'm real happy with these, I have heard quality home systems, and these sound really good for a computer speaker setup. The size of the powered subwoofer amazed me, it is huge.

The only downfall, I can see is that the mids are lacking just a touch. The highs sound ok, but not like a set of thousand dollar home speakers would, but I didn't expect them to. Remember, these are sub hundred dollar speakers, so I can't complain too much at all. The bass is a bit overpowering until you tune it properly. I am using the dfx plugin for windows media player and that helps a ton.

Just listening to some 320kbps mp3's and some cd's proved to me exactly how killer these sound. Its almost mind numbing how far computer speakers have come over the years.

Rating:
Summary: The Best 2.1 Speakers on the Market.
Review: I got these speakers about 4 weeks ago but didn't want to write a review just yet since I didn't have a sound card to go with it. Nevertheless, the speakers sounded excellent connected to my Apple Powerbook G4. After reading many reviews from online stores and Cnet, I found that a lot of people claim these speakers requires a high-end sound card. So I bought the M-Audio Sonica Theater and boy, the sound coming from the z-2300 is a lot more defined and crisp.

However, I'm not sure if spending $84 (the cheapest, yet best quality sound card for a Mac I could find) for the subtle improvement in an already great sound was worth it. With the sound card, the Bass is a lot more defined, but the energy and power is significantly reduced. I don't really mind, since definement is good, but I guess it depends on what you want.

I did find one quibble with these speakers before I got the soundcard, however. When played at low volumes, the sound does not blend very well; the sound actually blends better when you turn it up! ; ) But combined with the computer volume control, venturing past 85% causes distortion and the Bass goes flat. A sound card would take care of these problems though.

Bottom line, if you are one who doesn't mind the minor lack of "sound blending" at low and high volumes, and better Bass definement, a sound card is unnecessary, as these speakers rock. I live in the college dorms and these babies easily beat out all my friend's 2.1 and even 4.1 systems (of course if someone came along with the Logitech z-680/5500's I would have to kiss my superiority bye-bye). But for $113 and a lot less wires than a 5.1 system, these punchy, BOOMY speakers doesn't allow me to complain, except for my roomate. :o)

Rating:
Summary: Midtones sound a damn phone call
Review: I have a set of Yahama YSTMS50W 2.1 speakers.

[...]

I just got the z-2300 because of the rebate and they looked cool. I was thinking it was time for a change since i've had the yamaha's for almost 5 years now. The z-2300 does NOT EVEN compare to the yamaha's. The biggest weakness are the satellite speakers. They have extremely poor midbass and vocals. I put on Matrix Revolutions and Agent Smith sounds like he is talking through a phone. The highs are just as poor, but not because they are overstated and muffled, but because they do not exist. The lightning and thunder in The Matrix sounds more like someone crunching on potato chips. It just wasn't what i expected. I guess that is why you don't trust a mouse and keyboard company to make speakers. Must have thought they would compensate by throwing wattage at it and covering up the lack of clarity with more bass??? If you want a set of speakers for rap music and rap music ONLY, then these would be ok. Anything else they are not good at.

Rating:
Summary: Great sound for the price
Review: I just recently purchased these from CompUSA and I did a series of tests on them against my Sony MDR-EX71 earphones. The earphones aren't the best out there but it's one of the best for the price ($50).

So I tested them against these Z-2300 speakers, and what I noticed was that the bass sounds excellent on these. I had an old pair of cheap Altec Lansings ($40) and the difference in how the bass performs is very very apparent, the bass on the Z-2300 is much deeper and richer and actually feels like bass rather than just a really deep sound playing out of a regular speaker. As for the higher end of the sound spectrum, that's where the Z-2300s failed a bit.

In playing really high-pitched songs involving lots of bells and dings, I noticed that in the earphones I could hear a bit more, like the bells resonating or just a bit brighter pitch on the upper end of the sound. Compared to the Z-2300, I could barely make out the resonance and the higher pitches just aren't there.

Bottom line is, for the price I paid ($150), these are pretty decent speakers. They won't knock the socks off of much more expensive systems but for affordable 2.1 sound this is probably your best bet.

Rating:
Summary: Impressive sound for the price
Review: I was amazed when I got these for $100 and hooked them up. I wasn't expecting the sound I got-especially bass from the sub. Actually, the bass is kind of boomy and not as tight as I would like, but it is impressive nonetheless for the price. Obviously, the system is not for audiophiles but if you are looking for big bass from an inexpensive system, I don't think you will disappointed. What is even more amazing is I hooked them up to a very cheap Panasonic boombox for the heck of it and got incredible sound. I was stunned at what I could hear. It didn't seem to matter what I threw at them - from Stevie Ray Vaughn to Sting to Pat Matheny and Miles Davis - it all sounded better than I expected from such a system. One word of caution - you need to love bass to enjoy these things. Delicate-it ain't. If you are looking for a speaker system for your Samuel Barber collection, these won't do the trick. But if you want a little concussion that will make your walls expand and knock a few pictures on the floor, give these a shot.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Choice For the Price
Review: It's tax refund time, and I have some money to blow on some things that I could really live without, but would like to have nonetheless. So, I purchased these speakers to replace a set of cheaper competitor's 4.1 speakers. At the same time, I purchased the Creative Audigy 2 ZS sound card to replace my Biostar motherboard's onboard sound. I wanted something that sounded good. After reading many, many reviews, I was stuck on a decision to buy Logitech's Z-5300e or the Z-2300. I decided to go with the 2.1 setup since I would mostly be listening to music. I don't play that many games, and I definitely don't watch movies on the computer, and rarely on TV, either.

The speakers arrived a day before the sound card (ordered from two different stores), so I went ahead and gave them a test drive with the onboard sound card. The loudness and deeper bass was there, and the quality was a little better. I was about to regret the speaker purchase, but decided I'd wait until I got the Sound Blaster card.

The card arrived. After installation, I played the demos which shipped with the card and some MP3's. I even slipped in a DVD movie. I was impressed with everything. I couldn't believe the difference in how the speakers sound with a good sound card. It's like being in a movie theater. The bass is easily tamed, but it can most definitely shake your floors with the right music and volume.

Don't forget to try out the THX demo which Logitech ships with the speakers. You can install the demo or to save hard drive space, you go directly to the CD to play the files. Lots of other samples, but you have to look for them in Program Files or on the CD. Perhaps one of the many applications Logitech gives you lists these sample music files.

Now, my only regret is should I have gotten the Z-5300e 5.1 speakers for a few dollars more. Probably not since my listening agenda will be music. The PC is in a small room (sunroom) with ceramic floors, so I think the Z-2300 set is more than sufficient. They can get very, very loud. Two more speakers in the rear (and a center) probably wouldn't matter much since this is a smaller room with not much sound absorbers. I remember the rear speakers with the old 4.1 set were barely noticeable, anyway. Maybe I'll reinstall them just to listen how they sound with SoundBlaster.

I'll give these five stars because of the price and the quality I heard. However, the full quality would not have been there without the SoundBlaster, or some other external card. Onboard sound controllers don't do these speakers any justice.

Rating:
Summary: Consider this instead of a pro amp for a digital piano
Review: My experience with good computer speakers began in year 2000 when I bought SoundBlaster Live! card and Creative Cambridge Soundworks FPS 2000 speakers for my PC. They found a new purpose after I bought my Yamaha P-80 electronic piano because I couldn't afford a good keyboard amplifier right away. I got so used to these speakers' full piano sound fidelity that I never bought a pro keyboard amp. It would have upgraded only the screeching power of my sound equipment, which after all I (and my neighbors) prefer not to have at home. This holiday season, armed with a gift card and tired of constantly moving my speakers to the digital piano and back to the PC, I tested several far more expensive and far less satisfying solutions at Guitar Center. I still find good computer speakers' sound to be richer, except on far more expensive studio monitor speaker systems. And so I went to my local computer store and bought a Logitech Z-3 following a salesperson's suggestion. They lacked power, especially in the middle range, so after reading some reviews online I replaced them with Z-2300. Good, rich sound. After I lower the bass control to the minimum the piano sounds great, but it's lacking some extra highs and middles that my old Cambridge Soundworks has. It is great for the system to have the extra capacity and power for an extra kick when needed, but I prefer "keeping my lows low" on this one to get it to sound normal. With bass control set at the max it sounds insane and I get a feeling Logitech Z-2300 actually belongs to the back of one of those cars which manage to annoy everybody within a 100 ft radius at the traffic light. I still haven't decided which system will end up with the computer and which with the keyboard, but the Logitech system is far more powerful as it has an extremely rich lower range, so it's probably great for movies with special effects and "disco" music. Unlike my Cambridge Soundworks system, this system has a good mobility and simple setup - all you need for a great party sound is a set of Logitech Z-2300 speakers and a portable MP3 player or a laptop.

Rating:
Summary: Cheap replacement for Z2200
Review: Same like the previous reviewer, I received the Z2300 as a replacement for the Z2200 that had a technical problem with one of the speakers (felt line). Z2200 were WONDERFUL, they were THE speakers, until they broke :) I would expected that the "new" Z2300 to be at least as performant and good looking as its predecessor, but I am very disapointed. The subwoofer looks really really cheap. All the components are lighter in weight than those from Z2200 (the remote control feels like it's empty inside).
I guess Logitech had too many Z2200 returns, so they fixed the problem, and made a cheap replacement model: Z2300 (at the lowest cost possible). I've just got them. I am still looking at them and I can't believe what they did.
The satellites are smaller, lighter and I think they don't sound as good as the Z2200 ones (or maybe is just my total disapoitment that speaks now). I hope that they fixed the problem and that these speakers will last.
It would be unfair not to mention that Logitech customer service is the best I've ever seen. (I had to deal with them last year too and I was amazed then, and now) Great great service. Keep it on!

Rating:
Summary: Great Speakers
Review: These are very good speakers. I have seen reviews which say that the components seem cheap, which I do not agree with. The wired remote is solid and sturdy. The sound is loud and the clarity is very good. I think it's good that the speaker wires are hard-wired to the satellite speakers. I don't like dealing with the connections that usually are associated with speaker sets.

Here are the only negative things I have observed:
1. Before I received them, I wondered if there was a way to mount these to the wall (ie a standard mounting screw hole), and there is not.
2. The cables are short (6 ft built-in speaker cables and 6 ft wired remote cable). The speaker cables can be extended with use of RCA (female to female) adapters and RCA cables (neither are included). The wired remote is not extendable and must be used within 6 feet of the back of the subwoofer.
3. The satellite speakers are tilted upward and are not adjustable.
4. The midranges are not powerful on these speakers. This can be partially overcome by raising the sound levels of midrange frequencies in your equalizer.

Despite the minor negatives, I find these to be an inexpensive, high quality, and fun to use product that I recommend to users who are thinking about purchasing a set. I use them soley for my computer, which acts as my television and stereo. I don't use any other stereo device at home.

Rating:
Summary: Big Sound, Small Price
Review: These speakers are a great buy. I purchased them for use with my computer but decided to test them with my DVD player since I've been looking for a good home theater component system. They sounded great (no surround, of course). They also sound great with an iPod. So I think I'll get the comparable Logitech surround system for the TV and use the Z-2300s with my computer. Only complaint: speaker & controller wires should be a couple of feet longer. This was purchased from TigerDirect & the delivery service was excellent.