Digital Trends

Logitech Z-5500

December 3rd, 2007 | by Brandon King

So, with such a rocking system, where is there room for improvement? Our list is predictably short, and nit-picky, though we expect to see some of these upgrades in whatever replaces the Z-5500. First, we’d recommend updating the decoders to offer Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital II and DTS-HD to keep up with the these heady days of HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players (and, perhaps, HDMI passthrough). The speaker wire also needs upgrading to something thicker than a human hair. Stands should be designed so that they can be aimed at a downward angle when sitting on a bookshelf too. (As is now, the speakers angle upwards when sitting on a flat surface and down when switched into a wall-mounted configuration, and associated stands cannot be easily removed or inverted.) Finally, a smaller, but equally powerful subwoofer would prove a nice addition as well. (Some companies such as Yamaha have been able to release some nice subs with smaller footprints, which can prove a premium when looking at PC speaker setups.)

At $400 USD a shot, Logitech had best be sure to keep the Z-5500, or its replacement, up-to-date or run the risk of facing stiffer competition from weaker systems with the latest whiz-bang technology. Inside tip, however – don’t worry about actually paying the full MSRP, as the Z-5500 can be found at several outlets in the $250 USD range.

Conclusion

The Logitech Z-5500 is the best all-around PC speaker system we have used to date. The sound quality is first-rate, the system looks stylish and the added features/decoders are merely frosting on the cake. Though the system is now slightly dated, the Z-5500 is that rare breed of gadget that, even when an update does come down the pipeline, we would not have any regrets having purchased. As far as PC speaker setups go, you can’t do much better in terms of overall performance and feature set – go get you some.

Pros:

• Excellent sound
• Plenty of power
• THX certified
• Several processing modes

Cons:
• Lacks TrueHD and HDMI passthrough
• Minor design foibles