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

Rating:
Summary: It's good, but I have to prepare you for it
Review: I bought these speakers primarily for halo 2 on xbox. That said, there weren't clear instructions (at least not to me) on what I needed to do this. I read in the logitech instructions to purchase either Xbox Advanced AV Pack or (OR!!??) the High Definition AV Pack. I bought the High Definition AV Pack, but couldn't find the optical openning in the wire. I took it back, thinking I needed the Xbox Advanced AV Pack instead, so I ordered it. It ended up being exactly the same as what I bought at the store in "real life." I called XBOX to see if I could hook the optical cable into the wiring, and he showed me how (it's near where the male end of the wire connects into the back of the xbox). The person at xbox also told me that if I didn't have a high definition tv, the picture would be black and white, and that if I wanted to connect the xbox with an optical wire to a sound system, I'd have to use the Xbox Advanded AV Pack (which I tried to buy before. He was right. I played a little with the speakers connected to the xbox with the High definition AV Pack, but the black and white picture was just unacceptable.

I ordered the Xbox Advanced AV Pack again; this time I noticed a difference from the High Definition AV Pack.

Okay, here's the summary of what you need to connect the logitech z680 to your xbox:
- optical wire
IF YOU DO NOT PLAY ON A HD TV:
- Xbox Advanced AV Pack
IF YOU PLAY ON A HD TV:
- Xbox High Definition AV Pack

It sounds real good on the xbox. On my computer (slackware linux 9.1, kernel 2.4* series) that has a regular on board old sound card that connects to this system with a wire they provide, it sounds good, but sound is quite terrible sometimes on internet radio and low quality mp3s. To hook it up like I did, just connect the wire they send you with the speakers (it has green ends) into the "front" port on the back of the unit, kind of next to the optical port.

Things you want to ignore when you read these reviews: People complaining about the base in these speakers. The base is a BIG issue with some songs. Sometimes it just thumps too much. When it does, you have to use the "level" button to toggle the lcd to "subwoffer," which allows you to adjust the base in the same way you do the volume. A car is only as good as its driver.

On a bad note, you don't want to turn these speakers up to their max volume level very quickly or if you think there's alot of dust on the subwoffer. I was upset today, so I wanted to blast my music out of my logitechs. I spun that volume dial so fast to it's max setting, and felt my skin ripple with that oh-so-good sensation. Then I saw some sparks form inside the subwoffer, and a heap load of smoke came floating out. The music was still loud, but the base wasn't working, and the subwoffer was still smoking. I turned it off. Big mistake. Now the whole system doesn't turn on.

I can't figure out if this happened because I have a dusty room or because I spun the dial up too quickly. Maybe it was a mixture of both.

I called logitech (number found in the back of their instruction manual), and calmly explained what happened in all honesty. I'd only had the speakers for about 3 months, so she said I'll be getting new speakers in 7-10 business days. I don't even have to return the damaged speakers. It was like a 10 minute phone call. The customer care rep. didn't even probe to find out if I'd done something stupid to damage it. Example: "Did you get it wet?" The way they were able to verify who I was without asking for too much personal info and how they tracked my order back to amazon.com without an order number is amazing. Logitech has made a very good impression on me, and I'll be buying more from them in the future, because they try for their customers :) Thanks, logitech and Amazon!

Rating:
Summary: Just plain awesome....
Review: I bought the speakers in november looking for something i could play some serious music with and be impressed. I read the reviews on here and everyone liked it so i went ahead with it. Best thing i've ever done, well sort of. The only bad thing was there is a closet nearby with a florescent lightbulb, and the speakers rattled it out and it shattered. But other than that best system ever. The Bass from the woofer is fantastic for an at home system, and couldn't be better for music. I use this system for my MMORPG's and it plays intense sounds from the envrionments and makes it feel realistic.

1 Thing to do:
1) I would suggest going out and buying a better guage wire for this system. The wiring it comes with is very low quality and is very short. I have not done this, but i probably will in the next few weeks if i get around to it. Speaker wire is cheap and could really intensify this sound system even more!

Great system, don't go and buy the $500+ ones, this is the one to get!

Rating:
Summary: This System Is IT!
Review: This is the only system you would need for your TV/Computer. I installed it and relized when the BASS was on halfway my Ceiling lamps shook, to the extent that they were about to fall. If u live on the second floor of and apartment Be AWARE! This Baby Make A Lot Of Noise But Is Worth EVERY PENNY! You Will Not Be Unsatifiyed with a product like this. Amazon is Great Shipping and Customer Service.

Rating:
Summary: I love the speakers. They just rock, plain and simple
Review: If you have a chance to pick the speakers up. I highly recommend it. I would from a two speaker and a sub set up to these bad boys. It is night and day you will not be disappointed. The base on these things will shake the house is great.

I used to not be that much in the sound. I do to speaker set up was in the music didn't really think about it. Man I wish I bought these a long time ago! They're that good enjoy them. I know you will.

One thing that makes these great is that they use speaker wire so you can set the speakers at any length of wire. Just get a cut to fit.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best surround sound systems you can buy
Review: The Logitech z680's are by far one of the best sounding systems on the market. And for the price, you can't go wrong. This thing has POWER! A 185 watt sub with crystal clear center, rear, and front speakers. It's got 505 watts total, which may not seem like a lot to some people, but believe me, these things can BLAST. I've turned them up to extreme volumes, and I didn't notice any sound distortion at all. An amazing system, to say the least. The sub rocks the house. At times it can be a little too loud, but you can control the bass channel separately as well as the center channel and the surround speakers. If you're looking for the best 5.1 setup (especially if you're on a budget), then you've found it. It comes with a nice simple remote that's easy to operate. And the control center has optical, coaxial, and PC inputs. One drawback is that you will need to buy a 1/8 Y splitter if you plan on hooking up your RCA plugs to this thing. But that will only set you back about 6 bucks. Also, the control pod is extremely hard to see. I often have to get up to see what mode it's in. I think Amazon is currently out of stock with this item, but when they get it back you'll be able to buy it for 200 brand new. Definitely worth the price.

Rating:
Summary: No Hiss - Just Music!!!
Review: I'm a non-techie who got this system set up in one night and it works perfectly. (I had an optical digital cable ready and waiting for the hookup to my G5). No hiss at all! Just good, clear, loud music! Even my DVD player, which is hooked up via a cheap coax I found in a drawer, is crystal clear and hiss free!! Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Got a sweeeeeet deal
Review: I'm glad I ordered these when I did....in the past 3 days, they have gone up 15 bucks. Either way, I ordered them on Sunday for 201 bucks....free shipping....then applied and got accepted for an Amazon credit card (which gave a 30 dollar credit on this order). So I got these 350 dollar speakers for about 171 bucks....VERY NICE!!!
Oh, and as far as the speakers themselves? Sturdy construction, high quality, easy setup, and not to mention the AWESOME sound. Clear highs, deep lows, nifty little control box (with wireless remote...although this remote will probably go into a drawer). I'm 100% satisfied. Of course the only bad thing is that I really don't have a good location to put rear speakers...but that's my problem...not Logitechs.
One more thing. The estimated delivery date was 10 days after the actual order (I'm assuming because I chose free shipping). I actually received these speakers in 2 days. I'll buy from Amazon again.

Rating:
Summary: It's Great
Review: Highly recommended for its' qualities and prize, better than -and as good as - most "small" surroundsystems around, and I have listened to a lot of those (do of course not compare this system to the far more expensive hifi-kind). I agree that the bass (when playing music) can be experiensed as a bit tense, but I who love deep, pure bass in all sorts of music have absolutely no problem with that. In fact, because I am a musiclover, I use it more to music than I do to movies - the sound is amazingly clear compared to the size of the speakers, yes - functions extremely well as a stereo system as well, I have no complaints, and I have experienced no problem with mine so far. I've had mine for almost a year now. In any ordinary livingroom this is all the home-cinema you'll ever need. Great sound, clear sound - deep and rough bass - take a listen...

Rating:
Summary: Great Sound
Review: These speakers are still very good, although I imagine they have been superceded as "The Premier" units to have. The auxilliary control unit is a nice feature, it gives you some additional means to monitor and control sound and settings, and it can be adjusted directly and from a remote, which is handy if the control unit is out of reach when the phone happens to ring.

Sound reproduction is clear and crisp and the sub woofer is quite capable of rattling whatever is on your desk.

A note about connections to your pc: although the Logitech speakers are capable of an optic cable connection, I discovered after buying an expensive cable, my sound card did not have a digital/optic output connection. So, until you are certain what your sound card capabilities are, don't order a digital/optic connector. The speakers ship with a typical 3 plug connection cable[s] that will get you started for 5.1 Dolby sound.

Other than that confusion, these speakers are great and don't take up all that much desk top space for the amount and quality of sound they deliver. They are a great value it seems to me, if not the extreme top shelf unit they were when they first came out.

CR