Anyone have logitech z5500?

[DareMe55]

Or know anything about sound systems in general?


I'm looking to buy the logitech z5500 and I want to connect both my PC and my xbox 360 to it. I do not have a sound card for my computer and I do have a optical cable for my xbox. Do I need a soundcard for my computer? Or can I use onboard?

[BenF]

I recently picked up the z5500 and I'm very pleased with them. With onboard sound you are probably going to get just stereo from the speakers but you don't need to get a soundcard. You can have the optical from the xbox plugged in at the same time too.

[DareMe55]

I would also Like to play computer games on it too, so I would need a soundcard with optical out correct? And I would also have to switch in between my xbox and computer. right? Im currently googling and looking around for some soundcards. I found a member on this forum with a 7.1 sound card and logitech z5500, but I think he isnt on right now( I added him to msn). The sound card he has is kinda cheap too so it wouldnt hurt me that bad. Im just making sure I get the right one.

[icantfindone]

If its the motherboard in your sig, you could connect the z5500s to your onboard sound via either the coaxial or optical spdif, and it supports 8 channel audio, so it is more then sufficient for your 5.1 speakers (6 channels). If you would like, you could connect your computer with the coaxial, and the xbox with optical, and just switch inputs on the control center instead of having to change over wires everytime you go from your computer to xbox.

[DareMe55]

And it would have the same sound quality? or close enough? That sounds good then.

[BLOOP!]

I have these speakers and an X-Fi card. Dude it ROCKS! if you can afford this speaker I'm pretty sure you can get atleast a low end X-Fi card.

[DareMe55]

Well I plan to game on my xbox mostly, and listen to music on my computer. If I get a soundcard I would need a coax out one... Most of these X Fi cards are only optical, if I get optical I would have to switch between my xbox and computer, which is doable, but it's not really practical with my setup.... Any recommendations on soundcard?


edit: let me rephrase that


xbox>optical>z5500
computer> ???? >z5500


That's how I want it setup. At the moment I can go computer(motherboard)>coax>z5500

[Sir Barton]

If youre listening to music on the computer your money would be better spent on an amp and some decent bookshelf speakers. 2 good sounding speakers sound much better than 5 crappy speakers. Ive been through both the Z5500s and the Klipsch 5.1s...those little 3" drivers make loud noises, but not quality sound. A 6.5" driver with a separate 1" tweeter, now thats rockin' :attn: If you do get the Z5500s...they dont sound nearly as good running an optical or coaxial digital cable to them. Having that noisy amp and DAC in a cute package really distorts the audio quite a bit. Hook them up via the analog jacks, the DAC on the soundcard is much better. Since youre not gaming on your computer, stay away from Creative cards. Id look into something from Auzentech, E-MU, or M-Audio. Another good choice would be an AudioTrak Prodigy 7.1 HiFi. You can get them on eBay for ~$120, plus they have swappable opamps. If you want a different sound signature, just swap the opamps and away you go.

[webdevour]

I have the Z-5500's, I wouldn't trade them for anything, especially if you can find them for a good price (amazon usually has sales on it). They come with their own reciever, which can recieve multiple sources. I have mine plugged into (currently) Xbox 360-Optical S/PDIF, DVD player-Digital Coaxial, and TV on Direct Stereo, coming out in StereoX2 (simulated surround sound). Bass is great, sound is clear (through all inputs for me), and they look sexy too.

[DareMe55]

well I got them and they sound awesome.

[jimmsch]

If your mobo supports multi channel sound (and someone already said it does) then you can use the coaxial output from the mobo to the z5500 controller and use the optical from the xbox into the same z5500 controller. The mobo also most likely has the 3 mini rca plugs for outputting decoded 5.1 sound, that you can use with this controller, leaving the coax input open for something else...maybe a cable box. There is absolutely NO difference in sound between optical and coax, they both carry the EXACT same signal.

I love these speakers because they allow me to connect all of my equipment at once and just switch the input on the controller. Currently I have my optical from DVD standalone...coax from set top cable box...and the multi channel through my soundcard using the 3 mini rca plugs.

The z5500's decode the sounds from the coax and optical and they disburse to the proper speakers the already decoded sound from my sound card.

The only problem I have is the massive size of the subwoofer...man is it BIG!

I vote for buying the Z5500's and using the onboard sound until maybe you can save a few dollars and get a better sound card...who knows? maybe you will never need one if the onboard sound is acceptable to your ears.

[Dak9767]

I've had the older Z-680's (replaced by the Z5500's) for quite some time now. I have the optical hooked up for movies and gaming and the analog for my music. I love them they have held up great over the years and I will continue to use them until they die.