Digital Trends

Logitech AudioHub September 20th, 2007 | by Josh Norem

Use and Testing

We unpacked the Audiohub and read the Quick Start guide to get it set up. It basically goes like this: Set it on a table, plug in AC power, plug in USB cable, and pull satellites out to desired length. That’s it, and we were up and thumping in five minutes.

It should be noted that we didn’t need to install any drivers, which is always appreciated. After we connected the AC power cable, and plugged the USB cable into our notebook, the orange volume knob turned on and the speakers just worked, taking over duties from the onboard speakers without us having to change anything, which is great.

Our first impression was that the speakers are actually not too shabby. Sure, the subwoofer doesn’t deliver more than a hint of bass that you can feel, but the satellites do a decent enough job with mids and highs. And it goes without saying they are worlds better than the onboard speakers in most laptops.

What is most appreciated is they actually get loud, but not loud enough to be a bother. But much louder than your onboard speakers, and loud enough that you would not want to crank them at full volume.

Since the Audiohub included an AC adapter, it’s a full blown powered USB hub, so power-hungry devices such as external hard drives will work just fine with it. We plugged in an 80GB USB drive, which usually requires two USB cables to operate, and it functioned just fine using one of the Audiohub’s three USB ports. 

Conclusion

The Audiohub won’t blow you away with home theater-like sound or earth-shaking bass, but it offers surprisingly good audio given its diminutive size. The USB hub is a welcome addition too, and we also like the effortless installation and controls. We’ve come to expect as much from Logitech, and the Audiohub does not disappoint. It’s a bit expensive when compared to standard 2.1 speaker systems like the Klipsch GMX A-2.1 which costs just $30 USD more and features thundering bass and crystal-clear highs, but it’s an apples to oranges comparison. The Audiohub succeeds in delivering great sound in a portable, feature-rich package that notebook users will totally dig. 


Pros:

• Decent sound quality
• Doubles as a USB hub
• Easy setup

Cons:

• Expensive
• Not exceedingly powerful