Logitech Z Cinéma Advanced Surround Sound System--2.1 Speakers Review

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(More customer reviews)Logitech Z Cinéma Advanced Surround Sound System--2.1 Speakers

Logitech's Z Cinema Advanced speaker system is an incredibly designed high performance product.I own several Logitech speaker products, as well as others by Creative Creative GigaWorks T20 2.0 Speakers, Altec Lansing Altec Lansing FX5051 5.1 powered speaker system with USB connection, Klipsch Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX Certified Computer Speaker System (Black), Harmon Kardon Harmon Kardon SoundStick II 3 Piece Speaker System, and others.I can honestly say, this is a very impressive unit that is well designed for its task.If you have a media center PC setup, this set will make you very happy.Not only is the speaker system ridiculously powerful, the included software is a huge improvement over previous Logitech entries.The included remote rounds out the system and puts virtually all your audio and video applications at your fingertips.

This speaker system will fill a key market niche.The integrated satellite speaker and subwoofer design has more components than meet the eye.Each one-piece satellite speaker has an integrated mid-woofer and tweeter.So these are much more than traditional 2.1 bookshelf speakers.And when you position the speakers as directed and turn on the software surround sound, the sound quality coming out of these approach that of 5.1 systems.

Pros
+ Control your media center PC with a great all-in-one solution and awesome remote
+ Great performing speakers with a ridiculous 35 watts of RMS power per channel, 180 total RMS output
+ Beautifulblack and silver speaker and body design
+ Two tweeters and mid-woofers deliver surprisingly crisp sound with or without surround
+ 110 watt subwoofer is simply monstrous and easily fills large rooms with good acoustics
+ Awesome included remote with media center controls and great features
+ Nice integrated support for apps like iTunes, WinAMP, RealPlayer, Yahoo Jukebox, Pandora and Picasa
+ Remote can be configured to work with any multimedia app or to launch a different media player
+ Very sturdy cables and housing are designed to last a long time
+ Power converter integrated into subwoofer so you can connect with a regular power cable
+ Good looking orange back-lit volume and surround indicators on the right speaker
+ Very nice price point for fully integrated media center speaker system and controls
+ USB cable connection is clean and easy - requires on-board port connection
+ Included standard ports for headphones and auxiliary connections (3.5 mm)
+ Simple instructions and plug and play performance for basic use
+ Very modest hardware, hard-drive space and memory requirements for Logitech software
+ True 24 bit digital audio
+ hardware warranty

Cons
- Perhaps overly sleek minimal design could have been improved with physical power and volume controls
- Very heavy system requires extreme caution and should be installed with care and help if needed
- No simple volume controls on the remote, instead included in adjustment wheel
- Would have been ideal to include a few more ports, such as HDMI and S-Video, on the subwoofer
- Satellite speaker cables, while very thick, could have been longer for more configuration options
- No real expandability of the system is apparent; no obvious ports for other satellites or devices
- Many people still demand RF remote capability, this one is only IR
- Those who don't need the remote for Media Center PCs may opt for 5.1 systems at this price

Installation

Installing this guy is simple based upon the included quick start guide.What's cool is that even before the Logitech software is installed, once you make your connections and turn it on it's automatically recognized as a regular speaker system.You don't need Windows Media Center for this to work as a speaker system.This is awesome, and amazingly a lot of the Media Center buttons still work too.

But just note that in order to really take advantage of this guy you will want a Media Center capable PC, with either XP MCE Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 SP2B for System Builders, Vista Premium Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 or Vista Ultimate Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 installed.

Installing the Logitech software allows you to have desktop control of the speaker settings, including enabling surround sound.It also allows you to see the options to toggle between the different media applications, including iTunes and WMP among others.You can change settings and really get some control over your MC PC.

Physically installing this guy can be a challenge.First of all, this is a very heavy unit, mainly because of so many integrated components built into the subwoofer body.This is probably a sign of good construction, but handle with care.

The satellite speaker cables are long but could have been longer.The included diagrams give you the impression this was really well thought out for desktop or workstation installs.However, if you have a component center or cabinet for your stuff, you need to be patient and creative to get this set up.

The speaker cables could have definitely been longer to accommodate more setup possibilities.However, in terms of durability and shielding, these are some of the thickest strongest cables I've had come with a speaker system.

The subwoofer body has a silver rimmed front-piece that is not flush with the body housing.It's not a huge deal, but you have to kind of set it up either with the front piece hanging off your component shelf or rested up at an angle.Perhaps this was intentional based upon the lower configuration location noted in the included diagrams.

Sound

The power level output of these speakers is sick, to say the least. Some will be hung up on the "simulated" surround sound feature, a gimmick that has been tried before.Still, even though I was initially unsatisfied, I learned that if you set these up in the right acoustical setting it does perform well.There are two possible setups.For the basic workstation setup where you are literally seated at your media center PC, it works awesome.For those, who like me, want to set this up at an entertainment center, you have to center the system in a somewhat square room with unobstructed walls.Then you can get the surround sound feature to properly bounce in your room.

The total RMS power of 180 watts includes a 110 watts RMS Subwoofer with each satellite speaker producing 35 watts of RMS output via the mid-woofer and tweeter pair.That means your total power output is something like 400 watts, which is really in AV power range.

But the sound is clean. The built in amplifier is well tuned for multimedia sound applications, including gaming.If you have a good on-board sound processor, you should be fine.If you experience any sound effects, definitely take a closer look at your hardware and setup.

Some may feel that you can only get surround sound out of 5.1 Logitech Z-5500 THX-Certified 505-Watt 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System or 7.1 Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1 Surround Sound Speaker System systems.Still, I prefer 2.1 system with high quality components over 5.1 systems with small and disappointing satellites.There's a lot of nice 5.1 systems out there, don't get me wrong.I own several.Still, this system sounds better than a lot of those.Definitely have to test drive it to hear the difference.

Features

The power adapter is nicely integrated into the subwoofer, so you power up via a standard plug, no power bricks so many people hate.The speakers have right and left noted on the bottom.The right speaker comes to life when you turn it on with the remote.It has a nice orange read out that shows when it's on, the volume level and surround sound setting.The right speaker also includes jacks for headphones and auxiliary connections.

I really wished they would have also added physical volume and power control buttons and knobs.That way, when I want to hook up one of my MP3 players, I wouldn't need the remote to turn it on.

The Logitech software is actually vastly improved for them.I've not always liked some of the integrated software in the past, but this one was a huge improvement.The only minor negative I can give it is that it is automatically included in the startup folder even if you install the software with the option of not turning on at startup.So you have to manually remove it from your startup if you don't want it on all the time, a minor inconvenience.

The remote is the nicest part of this set functionally.For those with Universal remotes, you may wonder why you need this. This remote allows you to access your multimedia apps seamlessly.You can set up 4 presets, though it's less than intuitive.

You've also got some basic navigational buttons that allow you to go back to your previous app.There are included buttons for shuffle and repeat plays, and multimedia...Read more›

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Audioengine 2 - PC multimedia speakers - 30 Watt (total) - 2-way - satin black Review

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(More customer reviews)I got the A2 for use as a portable studio monitor when recording music with my laptop. As such, I think its form factor is unmatched: I don't know of any other 4"W x 6"H powered full-range (2.0) speaker of this quality.

I appreciate the stated frequency response figure, which is offered with plus/minus 2dB tolerance -- unlike other iPod or computer speakers. The cabinet is made from MDF (medium density fiberboard), a material used in many of the most well-regarded audiophile speakers. The Kevlar woofer and quality binding posts also inspire confidence. A protective grille and front-mounted volume control might have been handy, but that's a matter of preference. I got the white (A2W) model which is understated and attractive.

I'm comparing the A2 with the larger (5.5"W x 8.5"H) M-Audio Studiophile DX4 speaker, which is intended for home music studios. The DX4 is actually a little less expensive, but too bulky for portable use. The DX4 comes with individual frequency response measurements which in my case indicated close pair-matching and equally flat response to that of the A2. Anyone who has built speakers knows, however, that on-axis frequency response measurements don't tell the whole story. I did not compare the A2 with larger or more expensive speakers, and my emphasis is on use as a monitor for mixing music.

Dynamics. The A2's little 3" woofer is surprisingly dynamic: turn up the volume control and you can feel the air pumping in front of the cone and the slot. The speaker sounds balanced at both low and high volumes. A speaker this size is of course only for near-field individual listening. It is not for watching movies from across the room. The DX4's 4.5" woofer has more than twice the surface area and is capable of higher sound pressure levels.

Imaging. Probably a consequence of the well-damped MDF enclosure, the A2 images nicely. Instruments do not seem to come from the speakers but from the space between them. The DX4 had better depth and openness however. I think these characteristics are partially due to the DX4's low-frequency extension and high-frequency dispersion.

Frequency balance. The A2 delivers more bass than you would expect from a 3" woofer. Of course, there is nothing below 60Hz. The mid and upper bass are a little pronounced. (The effect is worse when resting directly on a desktop, so try raising them on stands.) This makes a grand piano sound more like an upright. The DX4 manages to go deeper and sound less boxy. The A2's midrange is smooth and natural sounding. The A2's treble character is quite different from the DX4's. The DX4 is a little hyped without being harsh: grunge guitar has more of an edge and cymbals have a more pronounced decay, yet high-hats sound similar to the A2.

Mixing/Mastering. The DX4 has better bass extension and treble clarity and lets you hear individual instruments more easily, so is well-suited to mixing. On the other hand, the DX4's perceived treble "zing" may in some cases lead a recording engineer to produce dull-sounding mixes. The A2 is probably more representative of small consumer playbacks systems (bookshelf speakers and car speakers), yet is less colored and more dynamic than similar-sized powered speakers. Therefore it offers a useful comparison for balancing mixes and for assessing the final mix. Its small size and smooth midrange make it suitable for portable monitoring.

Incidentally, the A2 has both RCA and 1/8" stereo inputs which are combined if both are in use, whereas the DX4 does not do this as advertised. I was also pleased with their customer service, which was responsive to emails and phone calls.

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Product Description:
Creating powered multimedia speakers to follow the Audioengine 5 was a challenge, but we feel we've managed to duplicate the signature sound of the Audioengine 5's in a much smaller package perfectly suited for your desktop or a smaller space in your home or office. The Audioengine 2 is a great introduction to high-quality audio and the perfect upgrade for your computer or iPod.

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Logitech x-230 2.1 2-Piece Dual Drive Speakers with Ported Subwoofer Review

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(More customer reviews)These little speakers rock! The sound is very clean and full, with a signal to noise ration >96dB.

The bass is very solid and deep for such a small driver, with a slightly noticeable peak in frequency response around 80Hz or so, depending on what you are listening to. I personally have to turn the volume of the sub to it's lowest level, or the bass overwhelms everything else. I think the greatest thing about these speakers is that even at a low overall volume level the sound is very full with plenty of deep bass (very similar to sound you get from a pair of large element headphones). A lot of speakers sound very thin at low volume levels as the bass rolls off, but not these, the little sub box just keeps thumping. One word of warning: The sub unit is NOT video shielded! Do not place it anywhere near your monitor, or you will ruin it, place it in the floor under your desk as recomended.

These speakers will bring the life back to your MP3 collection, and I won't even mention video games. Buy and enjoy!

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Product Description:
Package Contents: X-230 Speaker System (2 satellites, 1 subwoofer), color-coded audio cables, user manual, 2-year limited warranty. Crank up the audio on your PC with the Logitech X-230 Speaker System. It delivers clean, crisp, consistent sound from your games, music, and more. Two wall-mountable satellite speakers use Logitech's patented FDD2 technology to eliminate uneven sound response. The result is a clear, uniform sound field without the "hot spots" and inconsistency of other dual-driver satellites. Master volume and subwoofer level controls placed for quick, convenient access. Satellite speaker stands rotate for easy wall-mounting. Enhance your listening experience. Black finish. Signal-to-noise ratio - >96dB Speaker Dimensions(HxWxD) - 8 x 2.5 x 3 (Satellites); 9 x 6 x 9.25 (Subwoofer)

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Creative Labs PlayWorks 5.1 DTT2500 Digital Gaming Speakers for the PC and PlayStation2 Review

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(More customer reviews)The Playworks DTT2500 is an awesome deal for the current 5.1 surround systems available. Its easy to use control box allows you to switch from 4 point to 5.1 surround easily, and the cables that are included are long enough so that you can put the fronts and rears virtually anywhere. You'll also get a Digital DIN cable, which you can use if you have an SBLive! and would like all digital sound. Even though this is a small system, it is still able to pack a punch. Music sounds great on this system, clarity from the satellites with powerful bass from the subwoofer. Sound is very realistic as you move around in games. A realistic feel. As for movies, the DTT2500 system incorporates the 5.1 dolby digital sound, setting it apart from old technology such as pro logic. Movies, Games, Music: all sound great on this system...A real treat for anyone.

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Product Description:
The PlayWorks 5.1 DTT2500 Digital is a powerful surround speaker system for the PC. With four front and rear satellite speakers plus a center-channel speaker, decoder amplifier, and a subwoofer in wood fiber finishing, it accepts S/PDIF and analog stereo inputs and configurations for either two-channel (stereo) or multichannel (Dolby Digital, Dolby Surroundwith Pro Logic, Creative Multi Speaker Surround) playback. Supplied with 9- and 16-foot wires, the speakers can be placed in room corners or wall mounted. Magnetically-shield satellite and center speakers allow placement close to monitors.
The Dolby Digital decoder amplifier with a built-in 24-bit digital-to-analog converter enables you to enjoy home theater-quality audio without purchasing an expensive Dolby Digital receiver. You can also experience multichannel Dolby Digital movie sound with a PC-DVD or any set-top DVD player. The amplifier houses controls for master, center, bass, and rear volume as well as surround field adjustment and modes for Dolby Digital, stereo, and four-point. It also provides all the outputs for each speaker as well as supporting both digital and analog sound card ports.
Creative Labs provides a one-year limited parts-and-labor warranty on the DTT2500 speaker system.

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Studiophile Av 40 AV40 Desktop Monitors Review

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(More customer reviews)These speakers are genuine music speakers with great response for a small desktop set.They sound fine at all volumes including very low volume which is a problem for so many speakers nowadays.

The highs and midranges are clear and crisp as you would expect.The lows are reproduced through a rear-aimed waveguide that gives accurate and clear response.These are not 15" woofers so don't expect that kind of sound but for what they are, small desktop studio monitors, they are excellent and very much worth the money.So much so that I didn't feel the need to add a sub-woofer with them to reproduce the lows.

Don't get fooled into buying the top-rated Logitech speakers for music.They are primarily gaming speakers and don't generally reproduce music faithfully.The M-Audio speakers are produced by and for musicians which makes all the difference.

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Product Description:
The compact M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 Reference Speaker System delivers the same proven M-Audio technology favored by top producers, recording engineers and musicians around the world. The combination of 4” polypropylene-coated drivers and 3/4” ferrofluid-cooled silk dome tweeters provides punchy lows, crisp highs and a balanced, uncolored response. Custom cabinets with dense wood construction deliver more accurate bass response than you could ever get from plastic multimedia speakers.

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M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 Powered Speakers Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My old Logitech Z-560 developed a short in it creating nasty crackling noises over one channel. The Z560 was a rare beast, a $140 400 watt 4.1 monster that Logitech built to really high standards to create a strong foot forward into the PC speaker market. Sadly, their quality has declined since then, and their current offerings are cheaply made, sound far worse with music than the 560s, and have even fuzzier and more overwhelming bass than the 560 did (the systems one flaw). I decided to try 2.0 systems to see if I could get good PC sound without the added failure risk of a high powered sub and the muddiness that all that extra bass and clumsy frequency transitions between sats and sub causes...

My findings, from worst to best:

Logitech Z-10: 30 watts. Looks good, costs a lot, $150, list. Sounds dreadful. Despite having a largish 3" woofer, and a 1" tweeter, the Z-10 seems to be doing a lot of signal processing of music and the soundstage sounds compressed and artificial. Changing bass and treble makes things worse, and your music will sound different (and worse) on these speakers than it would normally. The touch controls and LCD screen are useless pricy gimmicks that increase chance of failure and add weight and cost to the system. Who in the world needs to see the name of the track playing on the bottom of the speaker? Anyway, these are a disappointment, with the worst sound and tied for the highest price. The speakers are heavy and well made, very stylish, though easily smudged with the reflective black surface on the front of the speaker. Logitech needs to redo these, silly gadgets and useless feature are tolerable, bad sound however is always a deal-breaker. Two stars, for style and build quality.

Klipsch ProMedia 2.0: Also 30 watts. Nice sound, good price, $100 list. Dual 2.5" woofers and a 1" tweeter with a Klipsch high-freq horn in it. These sound pretty good, but they are unexpectedly bulky and poorly made. The oddly formed speaker housing means these take up a lot of space and the volume and bass control knobs look like they come from a $10 CyberAcoutsics set. The cheapie knobs, bulk, and ugliness make these fit for corporate presentations where good loud sound matters and where style is largely irrelevant. For the home user, the cheap knobs may well break over time, which was the Achiles heel for my 560s; quality system, cheap volume pot. Three stars, good though not excellent sound, reasonable price, loses points for ugliness and some shoddy cost cutting in build quality. The bulk is sort of a neutral issue, as the larger box size probably helps the sound and bass extension of the units, but for some users the footprint and added portability difficulties may be an issue.

Creative Gigaworks T20: 28 watts (though the box says 22 watts!) $100 list. Creative obscures most specs on these, probably fearing the single 2.5" driver versus the bigger Logitech and the double same size drivers of the Klipsch may convince buyers that the T20 lacks in comparison to its rivals. Truth is the build and design of the T20s makes them sound much better than either the Z10s or the Promedias. These little speakers can put out an awesome amount of clear accurate sound, and they look great and feel very sturdy. Treble in particular is excellent, and the alleged Bass Xport technology must have something to it, as bass is more than adequate. The separate bass and treble knobs may or may not appeal; to some, they offer more control, to others the added circuitry distorts the signal and gives an added area of complexity in the design that may fail. The portability is excellent. The only real problem is that Creative is so secretive about the wattage and driver size, out of unnecessary concern that buyers may avoid getting these because of a few watts or a half inch. These sound great, look good, and the size to sound ratio is impressive. Four stars.

M-Audio AV40s: 40 watts, $200 list. My personal choice, these speakers are much bigger than the other contenders, but the amazing sound and plentiful bass will convince you that you don't need to even think about a sub system. These wooden cabinets are very attractive and sturdy, but are not exactly portable weighing 14 lbs and being quite bulky. (More so than the Klipsch, but they also look nicer and are built better.) Besides the size and weight, the other issue is cost and maybe availability as few vendors sell M-Audio, and the price for the AV40s even with discount will be $50-$65 more than the cost of the other units I looked at. To me the sound and accuracy (no distortion at high volume, lots of accuracy at low volume) of the M-Audios, at both low and high volume, offsets all the problems. Four stars, loses a star because of higher cost and weight. (Note though these are still theoretically portable, far more so than any 2.1 system or even the average boombox...)

Do You Need More Power, a Subwoofer, or More Speakers? Probably not. If you sit at your desk with the speakers a few feet away from you, you do not need much more than 30 or 40 watts for great powerful sound. A subwoofer (unless it costs a lot!) will just screw up crossover freqs, create too much bass, and encourage the mfgr to give you cheapie satellites on the theory that the loud prominent sub will wow the casual listener who will not care that the sats have 1" uni-drivers and are made of cheap light plastic. Unless you need to entertain parties with your PC, you don't need more power or a sub.

As far as surround sound, unless you watch movies on your PC or play a lot of FPS shooters that need positional audio, the added wires and difficulty of positioning the rear and surround sats in the listening environment are too much of a pain for most folks. Plus a decent PC surround sound system is at least $250, meaning a much higher cost than any of these 2.0 systems.

Buying Recommendations: Don't mind big and bulky? Get the M-Audio AV40s. (Note the company has a smaller less powerful variant, the Av20s, but I did not hear these and they do not seem to be widely available so I cannot comment.) Want small and portable, get the Creative T20. The Logitechs unfortunately have no comparative strengths, and the Klipschs are adequate but offer no real advantage over the Creative. If you can find the Promedias significantly discounted, they may be viable.

Click Here to see more reviews about: M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 Powered Speakers

Product Description:
The compact Studiophile AV 40 powered speakers deliver the same proven M-Audio technology favored by top producers, recording engineers and musicians around the world. The combination of 4-inch polypropylene-coated drivers and 3/4-inch ferrofluid-cooled silk dome tweeters provides punchy lows, crisp highs and a balanced, uncolored response. Custom cabinets with dense wood construction deliver more accurate bass response than you could ever get from plastic multimedia speakers. And for the highest possible fidelity, the Studiophile AV 40 speakers also feature OptImage III wave-guide technology and a 20 watt-per-channel internal amplifier that utilizes Class A/B architecture. The Studiophile AV 40 reference monitors are the perfect solution for traveling musicians or anyone who wants top-notch sound from their desktop multimedia system.


A perfect solution for traveling musicians or anyone who wants top-notch sound from their desktop multimedia system. Click to enlarge.
Convenient front auxiliary input and phones jack.
Rear features balanced quarter inch and RCA inputs, along with bass boost switch for low-end enhancement. Click to enlarge.

Studiophile AV 40 Compact Desktop Speaker System

Professional Components--Professional Results
The Studiophile AV 40 monitors are designed with the same quality materials and internal electronics that are used in M-Audio's acclaimed professional monitors. You'll find features like audiophile-grade Class A/B amplifier architecture and balanced 1/4-inch TRS inputs in addition to RCAs. It all adds up to a big sound that belies the speakers' small size. With the Studiophile AV 40s, you don't have to give up professional-grade fidelity to enjoy the ease and mobility of a compact speaker system.
Extended Low End
If you require extra bass response, the Studiophile AV 40 speakers have you covered. MDF wooden cabinets, bass reflex design and an integrated bass boost switch let the Studiophile AV 40s crank out plenty of low end--perfect for urban/dance music, DVDs and more.
OptImage III Technology
M-Audio's proprietary OptImage III wave guide improves overall detail and clarity while minimizing sound issues that can plague other compact monitors. The system works by improving the overall efficiency of the tweeter as well as time-aligning the drivers. This ensures that the audio from each driver reaches the listener at the same time, guaranteeing precise stereo imaging and accurate response.
Magnetically Shielded for Desktop Use
Unchecked, all speakers emit electromagnetic waves that can wreak havoc with your computer's video monitor or a nearby TV. The Studiophile AV 40 speakers are magnetically shielded so that all of your electronic equipment can coexist on your desktop without interference.

AV 40 Specs

Type: Two-way desktop reference monitor
Low-frequency Driver: 4" diameter, magnetically shielded and curved cone with high-temperature voice coil
High-frequency Driver: 1" diameter, magnetically shielded silk dome tweeter
Frequency Response: 85Hz - 20kHz
Crossover Frequency: 2.7kHz
RMS SPL: 101.5dB @ 1 meter
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > 90dB (typical, A-weighted)
Input Connectors: Left and right RCA line input, left and right 1/4" TRS input and 1/8" aux input
Polarity: Positive signal at "+" input produces outward low-frequency cone displacement
Dynamic Power: 20 watts continuous, per channel into 4 Ω
Input Impedance: 10 k Ω unbalanced, 20 k Ω balanced
Input Sensitivity: 100 mV pink noise input produces 90dBA output SPL at 1 meter with volume control at maximum
Protection: RF interference, output current limiting, over temperature, turn on/off transient, subsonic filter
Indicator: Blue power LED ring around volume knob on front panel
Power Requirements: 100-120V/~50/60Hz, 220-240V/~50/60Hz; powered via detachable 2-conductor line cord
Cabinet: Vinyl-laminated MDF
Dimensions: 8.75" (H) x 6" (W) x 7.25" (D)
Weight: 14 lbs./6.34 kg

What's in the Box
Pair of AV 40 Monitors, Two Power Cables, 1/8-Inch Mini-to-RCA cable, 1/8-Inch Auxiliary Cable, Bare Wire Cable for Speaker Connection, Two Traction Pads, User's Manual.

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M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 Powered Speakers Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My old Logitech Z-560 developed a short in it creating nasty crackling noises over one channel. The Z560 was a rare beast, a $140 400 watt 4.1 monster that Logitech built to really high standards to create a strong foot forward into the PC speaker market. Sadly, their quality has declined since then, and their current offerings are cheaply made, sound far worse with music than the 560s, and have even fuzzier and more overwhelming bass than the 560 did (the systems one flaw). I decided to try 2.0 systems to see if I could get good PC sound without the added failure risk of a high powered sub and the muddiness that all that extra bass and clumsy frequency transitions between sats and sub causes...

My findings, from worst to best:

Logitech Z-10: 30 watts. Looks good, costs a lot, $150, list. Sounds dreadful. Despite having a largish 3" woofer, and a 1" tweeter, the Z-10 seems to be doing a lot of signal processing of music and the soundstage sounds compressed and artificial. Changing bass and treble makes things worse, and your music will sound different (and worse) on these speakers than it would normally. The touch controls and LCD screen are useless pricy gimmicks that increase chance of failure and add weight and cost to the system. Who in the world needs to see the name of the track playing on the bottom of the speaker? Anyway, these are a disappointment, with the worst sound and tied for the highest price. The speakers are heavy and well made, very stylish, though easily smudged with the reflective black surface on the front of the speaker. Logitech needs to redo these, silly gadgets and useless feature are tolerable, bad sound however is always a deal-breaker. Two stars, for style and build quality.

Klipsch ProMedia 2.0: Also 30 watts. Nice sound, good price, $100 list. Dual 2.5" woofers and a 1" tweeter with a Klipsch high-freq horn in it. These sound pretty good, but they are unexpectedly bulky and poorly made. The oddly formed speaker housing means these take up a lot of space and the volume and bass control knobs look like they come from a $10 CyberAcoutsics set. The cheapie knobs, bulk, and ugliness make these fit for corporate presentations where good loud sound matters and where style is largely irrelevant. For the home user, the cheap knobs may well break over time, which was the Achiles heel for my 560s; quality system, cheap volume pot. Three stars, good though not excellent sound, reasonable price, loses points for ugliness and some shoddy cost cutting in build quality. The bulk is sort of a neutral issue, as the larger box size probably helps the sound and bass extension of the units, but for some users the footprint and added portability difficulties may be an issue.

Creative Gigaworks T20: 28 watts (though the box says 22 watts!) $100 list. Creative obscures most specs on these, probably fearing the single 2.5" driver versus the bigger Logitech and the double same size drivers of the Klipsch may convince buyers that the T20 lacks in comparison to its rivals. Truth is the build and design of the T20s makes them sound much better than either the Z10s or the Promedias. These little speakers can put out an awesome amount of clear accurate sound, and they look great and feel very sturdy. Treble in particular is excellent, and the alleged Bass Xport technology must have something to it, as bass is more than adequate. The separate bass and treble knobs may or may not appeal; to some, they offer more control, to others the added circuitry distorts the signal and gives an added area of complexity in the design that may fail. The portability is excellent. The only real problem is that Creative is so secretive about the wattage and driver size, out of unnecessary concern that buyers may avoid getting these because of a few watts or a half inch. These sound great, look good, and the size to sound ratio is impressive. Four stars.

M-Audio AV40s: 40 watts, $200 list. My personal choice, these speakers are much bigger than the other contenders, but the amazing sound and plentiful bass will convince you that you don't need to even think about a sub system. These wooden cabinets are very attractive and sturdy, but are not exactly portable weighing 14 lbs and being quite bulky. (More so than the Klipsch, but they also look nicer and are built better.) Besides the size and weight, the other issue is cost and maybe availability as few vendors sell M-Audio, and the price for the AV40s even with discount will be $50-$65 more than the cost of the other units I looked at. To me the sound and accuracy (no distortion at high volume, lots of accuracy at low volume) of the M-Audios, at both low and high volume, offsets all the problems. Four stars, loses a star because of higher cost and weight. (Note though these are still theoretically portable, far more so than any 2.1 system or even the average boombox...)

Do You Need More Power, a Subwoofer, or More Speakers? Probably not. If you sit at your desk with the speakers a few feet away from you, you do not need much more than 30 or 40 watts for great powerful sound. A subwoofer (unless it costs a lot!) will just screw up crossover freqs, create too much bass, and encourage the mfgr to give you cheapie satellites on the theory that the loud prominent sub will wow the casual listener who will not care that the sats have 1" uni-drivers and are made of cheap light plastic. Unless you need to entertain parties with your PC, you don't need more power or a sub.

As far as surround sound, unless you watch movies on your PC or play a lot of FPS shooters that need positional audio, the added wires and difficulty of positioning the rear and surround sats in the listening environment are too much of a pain for most folks. Plus a decent PC surround sound system is at least $250, meaning a much higher cost than any of these 2.0 systems.

Buying Recommendations: Don't mind big and bulky? Get the M-Audio AV40s. (Note the company has a smaller less powerful variant, the Av20s, but I did not hear these and they do not seem to be widely available so I cannot comment.) Want small and portable, get the Creative T20. The Logitechs unfortunately have no comparative strengths, and the Klipschs are adequate but offer no real advantage over the Creative. If you can find the Promedias significantly discounted, they may be viable.

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Product Description:
The compact Studiophile AV 40 powered speakers deliver the same proven M-Audio technology favored by top producers, recording engineers and musicians around the world. The combination of 4-inch polypropylene-coated drivers and 3/4-inch ferrofluid-cooled silk dome tweeters provides punchy lows, crisp highs and a balanced, uncolored response. Custom cabinets with dense wood construction deliver more accurate bass response than you could ever get from plastic multimedia speakers. And for the highest possible fidelity, the Studiophile AV 40 speakers also feature OptImage III wave-guide technology and a 20 watt-per-channel internal amplifier that utilizes Class A/B architecture. The Studiophile AV 40 reference monitors are the perfect solution for traveling musicians or anyone who wants top-notch sound from their desktop multimedia system.


A perfect solution for traveling musicians or anyone who wants top-notch sound from their desktop multimedia system. Click to enlarge.
Convenient front auxiliary input and phones jack.
Rear features balanced quarter inch and RCA inputs, along with bass boost switch for low-end enhancement. Click to enlarge.

Studiophile AV 40 Compact Desktop Speaker System

Professional Components--Professional Results
The Studiophile AV 40 monitors are designed with the same quality materials and internal electronics that are used in M-Audio's acclaimed professional monitors. You'll find features like audiophile-grade Class A/B amplifier architecture and balanced 1/4-inch TRS inputs in addition to RCAs. It all adds up to a big sound that belies the speakers' small size. With the Studiophile AV 40s, you don't have to give up professional-grade fidelity to enjoy the ease and mobility of a compact speaker system.
Extended Low End
If you require extra bass response, the Studiophile AV 40 speakers have you covered. MDF wooden cabinets, bass reflex design and an integrated bass boost switch let the Studiophile AV 40s crank out plenty of low end--perfect for urban/dance music, DVDs and more.
OptImage III Technology
M-Audio's proprietary OptImage III wave guide improves overall detail and clarity while minimizing sound issues that can plague other compact monitors. The system works by improving the overall efficiency of the tweeter as well as time-aligning the drivers. This ensures that the audio from each driver reaches the listener at the same time, guaranteeing precise stereo imaging and accurate response.
Magnetically Shielded for Desktop Use
Unchecked, all speakers emit electromagnetic waves that can wreak havoc with your computer's video monitor or a nearby TV. The Studiophile AV 40 speakers are magnetically shielded so that all of your electronic equipment can coexist on your desktop without interference.

AV 40 Specs

Type: Two-way desktop reference monitor
Low-frequency Driver: 4" diameter, magnetically shielded and curved cone with high-temperature voice coil
High-frequency Driver: 1" diameter, magnetically shielded silk dome tweeter
Frequency Response: 85Hz - 20kHz
Crossover Frequency: 2.7kHz
RMS SPL: 101.5dB @ 1 meter
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > 90dB (typical, A-weighted)
Input Connectors: Left and right RCA line input, left and right 1/4" TRS input and 1/8" aux input
Polarity: Positive signal at "+" input produces outward low-frequency cone displacement
Dynamic Power: 20 watts continuous, per channel into 4 Ω
Input Impedance: 10 k Ω unbalanced, 20 k Ω balanced
Input Sensitivity: 100 mV pink noise input produces 90dBA output SPL at 1 meter with volume control at maximum
Protection: RF interference, output current limiting, over temperature, turn on/off transient, subsonic filter
Indicator: Blue power LED ring around volume knob on front panel
Power Requirements: 100-120V/~50/60Hz, 220-240V/~50/60Hz; powered via detachable 2-conductor line cord
Cabinet: Vinyl-laminated MDF
Dimensions: 8.75" (H) x 6" (W) x 7.25" (D)
Weight: 14 lbs./6.34 kg

What's in the Box
Pair of AV 40 Monitors, Two Power Cables, 1/8-Inch Mini-to-RCA cable, 1/8-Inch Auxiliary Cable, Bare Wire Cable for Speaker Connection, Two Traction Pads, User's Manual.

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BOSE(R) Companion 3 Multimedia Speaker System - Graphite / Silver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)When i first opened my $200 (i bought them early when they were only 200 then they uped it to 250) speakers i thought the sound would be amazing.WEll the bass was great but the satelites weren't "heavenly".Then i went online and found out that you need to break in new speakers for 20 hours to get best performance.So everyday when i left for work i started leaving them on until i hit 20 hours.I put on a good song and it was awesome.The sattelites were unbelieveable and the bass was even more great.So this really woke the lion.One little thing that annoys me, The sattelite speakers hiss a little when no music is on but nothing nerve racking.All i do Is just hit the snazzy mute (touch sensitive) and its the hissing is gone, nothing to not buy them over.So i absolutely love mine and bose surely held up its name.Great for music and works ok for games but go for 5.1 if you're into hard gaming and movies.One more thing these speakers aren't the best on hard rock or something where there's guitars and drums banging alot.But it's awesome on pop techno hiphop classical etc.Also be sure you got a good sound card i have an audigy LS and it's great for the price.TWo thumbs up!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: BOSE(R) Companion 3 Multimedia Speaker System - Graphite / Silver

Product Description:
Experience a new level of audio performance from your computer. These premium multimedia speakers provide exceptionally clean, high-quality audio while freeing up valuable desktop space. Satellite speakers can attach to your flat panel monitor or right on your desk. A compact Acoustimass module fits neatly under your desk and delivers impressive lower tones that make movies and games come to life. And an all-in-one control pod houses a headphone jack, adjusts the volume and includes an auxiliary input. companion 3 speakers represent a premium choice for all your computer audio sources. From MP3s, CDs and Internet radio to DVDs, streaming video and games. Hear full, rich sound from tiny satellite speakers designed to complement - and conveniently attach to - flat panel monitors. It's a unique combination of elegance and convenience, whether you place them on your desk or opt for a speaker-free desktop.A compact Acoustimass module adds impressive, resonant lows for intense movie and gaming effects. Bose proprietary TrueSpace stereo signal processing circuitry adds enhanced spaciousness for lifelike sound that most conventional computer speakers simply cannot match. companion 3 speakers also feature an easy-to-use, multi-function control pod, no bigger than a computer mouse. Speaker volume control, headphone jack and an auxiliary input for an additional audio source are all within reach.Available in Graphite with Silver trim, Companion 3 speakers let you hear music, movies and sound effects on your computer the way they meant to be heard.

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