Logitech Z5500's. Really worth it?

[Cuiiey]

Sup guys :)

Was thinking of getting these. just wondering if they are worth the amount they are getting priced at right now. Anyone else got some good ideas for some good bang for your buck speakers. I'd rather high quality sound rather than just loud noise :P

Cheers people :D

[onefstsnake]

I have the Z5500's and I really like them.
How much are you finding them for?

I mostly use them for gaming and music. Now my Kenwood 5.1 Dolby Digital does sound noticably better but its digital, and the Z5500's are analog.

For the size of the Z5500 speakers they are pretty good, but if you can find a good quality home theater style sound system for around the same price I would probably go that route.

Now my mobo does have optical out for audio, so this might not work for your setup. Really depends what your going to be using the computer for.

EDIT: Newegg has the Z5500's for $350, so id say try for a home theater setup. Should be some decent Xmas sales coming up. You should have no problem finding a good 5.1 reciever/speaker combo for around $350

[Cuiiey]

Cause im based in Australia. I can find them for around 400ish. I probably would only use them for gaming, music and the occasional movie on my computer. Just wanted to know some nice digital speakers. Or should i get G35 headphones instead?

Don't think i would be able to buy a home stereo system or connect it to my computer. Cause I already have one with my plasma, so not really much point buying another one.

[Sir Barton]

I mostly use them for gaming and music. Now my Kenwood 5.1 Dolby Digital does sound noticably better but its digital, and the Z5500's are analog.


All sound is analog. Your Kenwood is just better at converting a digital signal to analog than your sound card is ;). To the OP, youll find much better value in a 2.0/2.1 bookshelf/amp combo than computer speakers. Ive been through plenty of audio gear over the years, and started with computer speakers. The rule of thumb in audio, 2 good speakers sound better than multiple mediocre ones.

[Conumdrum]

I have the Z5500's. Got them for $250 US when on sale about 1.5 years ago. For a PC they are perfect. I use optical out (digital) on my mobo. So I get digital 5.1 to the Z5500's. Plenty loud, solid bass. Games that use 5.1 really make a diff having the two rear speakers and the center one.

$400 AU? Not sure how that works out. I'll say they are a very nice PC sound system. Hard to do better for the money. They are rated very well in reviews for PC speaker setups.

[>HyperlogiK<]

All sound is analog. Your Kenwood is just better at converting a digital signal to analog than your sound card is ;). To the OP, youll find much better value in a 2.0/2.1 bookshelf/amp combo than computer speakers. Ive been through plenty of audio gear over the years, and started with computer speakers. The rule of thumb in audio, 2 good speakers sound better than multiple mediocre ones.

Probably not, DACs like the EMU10K/EMU20K on the X-Fi wipe the floor with a lot of the stuff in Hi-Fi gear, from what I understand it's power fluctuations, cheap components in output stage and bad circuit design that hurt them.

Z5500s absolutely and definitively kick ass as gaming and movie speakers, but they aren't brilliant for music. The bass kicks pretty strong but it tends to dominate a bit and it isn't very well defined, that doesn't matter one bit if you are playing Battlefield or watching Casino Royale [maybe even listening to Electro] but they aren't up to much if you want to put on some Dylan or anything very melodic.

[Sir Barton]

Probably not, DACs like the EMU10K/EMU20K on the X-Fi wipe the floor with a lot of the stuff in Hi-Fi gear, from what I understand it's power fluctuations, cheap components in output stage and bad circuit design that hurt them.

Z5500s absolutely and definitively kick ass as gaming and movie speakers, but they aren't brilliant for music. The bass kicks pretty strong but it tends to dominate a bit and it isn't very well defined, that doesn't matter one bit if you are playing Battlefield or watching Casino Royale [maybe even listening to Electro] but they aren't up to much if you want to put on some Dylan or anything very melodic.

The EMU10K/EMU20K arent DACs, theyre DSPs ;). Ive owned an X-Fi Xtreme Music...theres nothing HiFi about it. The DAC on it is decent, but a computer sound card compares in no way, shape, or form to real hifi. An X-Fi in comparison to a budget USB DAC sounds like AM radio. When you run a digital connection out of a soundcard, youre effectively bypassing the DAC built on the card, since the receiver is converting to analog. For the price of a set of Logitech Z5500s, the money is much better spent on a higher quality 2 channel setup. Even a pair of powered monitors like Audio Engine 5s would be great.

To the OP: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=12298

Audio Engine 5s fall right within your budget, and theyll give nearly any speaker its size a run for its money, and then some. Go read the reviews on them, they really are a remarkable speaker. They put out tons of bass, and for nearfield listening, theyre perfect. Theyre powered speakers and contain their own amp. Just hook up a pair of RCAs and youre good :).

[Neuromancer]

All sound is analog. Your Kenwood is just better at converting a digital signal to analog than your sound card is ;). To the OP, youll find much better value in a 2.0/2.1 bookshelf/amp combo than computer speakers. Ive been through plenty of audio gear over the years, and started with computer speakers. The rule of thumb in audio, 2 good speakers sound better than multiple mediocre ones.

I agree and disagree.

My 2 good speakers are GREAT for music. But cant beat that surround sound for gaming (JMHO). (and I guess movies to a certain extent although sometimes its damn annoying.)

[Conumdrum]

Probably not, DACs like the EMU10K/EMU20K on the X-Fi wipe the floor with a lot of the stuff in Hi-Fi gear, from what I understand it's power fluctuations, cheap components in output stage and bad circuit design that hurt them.

Z5500s absolutely and definitively kick ass as gaming and movie speakers, but they aren't brilliant for music. The bass kicks pretty strong but it tends to dominate a bit and it isn't very well defined, that doesn't matter one bit if you are playing Battlefield or watching Casino Royale [maybe even listening to Electro] but they aren't up to much if you want to put on some Dylan or anything very melodic.

Agreed. They are for PC use, small room movies and occasional music. The Z5500 rocks for it's nitch.

They are not for serious music listeners. Music is recorded in stereo anyway, not 5.1.

[shard]

I have had my set of them for 3.5 years, and I still use them. Really good design, and their ability for decoding DDL, DTS, and other such formats make them really handy for games and movies. But as said, for music there are better options for the best sound, but other then that, they are a really good deal for what they are.

[Cuiiey]

hm... i think i might bet the Z5500's

Do any of you know if the Z5400's are any good? They are hard to find but cheaper here.

[ArchEnemy]

I thought that the z5400 were only sold in Europe.

Concerning the 5.1 vs 2.0 debate. I really think that for gaming immersion the 5.1 would be a beter choice.

[Cuiiey]

look like in Australia now too haha. My friend has them, he might have gotten from ebay though, not sure. but if i remember correctly, he says he bought them here :)

I wonder, would the G35 or Megalodon be better instead of speakers?

[Burdman27911]

I feel the need to throw in my 2 cents as well.

I recently moved my old home theater receiver into my "office" for music/gaming. Now I do have two fairly large (2x6.5" each) speakers for mains with two surrounds and sub...so my system may be different than your's would be, but it is truly enjoyable to have this system for gaming. I couldn't imagine going to any sort of "computer speaker" setup, no matter how many times they use the word "Gaming" or "l33t" or whatever (in fact, that usually means they cost more than they are really worth).

So my 2c is to get a real surround system for that price instead. You can even find refurbished receivers for cheap and buy some decent quality speakers.

[s.t.a.t.i.c]

look like in Australia now too haha. My friend has them, he might have gotten from ebay though, not sure. but if i remember correctly, he says he bought them here :)

I wonder, would the G35 or Megalodon be better instead of speakers?

Where in Australia do you live?

PM me.

edit: sorry mod/admin

[MadMan007]

No selling outside of classifieds please s.t.a.t.i.c per forum rules.

[Cyrix_2k]

My personal opinion is that you'd be better off buying a cheap home theater in a box or a used home theater off of craigslist.

[>HyperlogiK<]

@Sir Barton - my bad :)

[mattgmann]

Skip the z5500s. They are WAY overpriced. If you're after decent sound, you'll be much happier in buying a cheap ht reciever, a set of bookshelf speakers and a sub. For $400 you should be able to put together a 2.1 that's far superior to that logitech crap. Even a cheap $50 pair of bookshelf speakers will sound better than the logitechs.

Another option that will save some cash is to get a class D amp, and use it to build your own 2.1, or 5.1. Personally, I think 5.1 is lost on a desktop setup, and you're better with a 2.1 if you listen to music, or 3.1 if you really watch a lot of tv or movies on your desktop.

I used an old onkyo 5.1 receiver, some energy C-200s, and a sub I built myself, and spent roughly $500. You could do something similar with less expensive speakers, and still be WAY happier than with the logitech junk.

[adriana]

are the klipsch promedia 2.1 still around? i have them for years and they are awesome! sub 200 speakers.

[antipesto93]

i have the logitech x-540's and they are a fraction of the pric of the z5's but all the extra money you have left over could go towards an ssd or soemthing else nice ^^

[mattgmann]

are the klipsch promedia 2.1 still around? i have them for years and they are awesome! sub 200 speakers.

I believe so, but they're not the same as the ones from 8 or 9 years ago that were awesome. The quality is much much lower in the current models.

Just because the logitech stuff is "made for computers" doesn't mean it's any good. Would you buy a mouse from klipsch, or order a steak at McDonalds? The only thing any logitech speakers are good for is loud game noises. If you plan to listen to music at all, you will never be happy with logitech.

[Sir Barton]

One thing Id like to add about computer speakers. The main thing that kills them most are their very small drivers. Most makers use 2" or 3" drivers in their speakers. A driver that small cannot produce ample midrange frequencies, especially if the sub cuts out at 150 to 180Hz. The smaller drivers probably dont get into the mix until ~1000 to 2000Hz. At that point, youve lost most of your mid range. Mids are the most important in the audio spectrum, as thats were the magic lies. Regardless if youre watching movies, playing games, or listening to music, little or no mid range makes for a dull experience.

[Unclewho]

i got mine for 240 canadian before taxes at a sale. get a 80$ sound card with optical out and you got yourself an awesome system. the subwoofer will shake your lights and vibrate your pants, the speakers will surprise you everytime the rear speakers tells you theres a guy behind you. i would not recommend these if you live near ppl that dont like their walls shaken.

[Cuiiey]

hm, im actually veering more towards headphones. So yeah...still not sure though. I really don't want loud! loud i can easily achieve but i want good quality sound. And now i mostly just chuck headphones on these days. So wat you guys reckon?

Logitech G35 or the Razer Megalodon? hm, i was think the razer but i reckon that sound morphing is neat. Soo undecided. haha, don't programs morph your voices though?

[Rich'[ard]]

hm, im actually veering more towards headphones. So yeah...still not sure though. I really don't want loud! loud i can easily achieve but i want good quality sound. And now i mostly just chuck headphones on these days. So wat you guys reckon?

Logitech G35 or the Razer Megalodon? hm, i was think the razer but i reckon that sound morphing is neat. Soo undecided. haha, don't programs morph your voices though?
headphonesss man.
+1 Logitech G35, although i remember reading the 7.1 surround sound wasn't really accurate...and you can't plug them into mp3s cos it uses a USB head. :shrug:
i still like them over Megalodon though.
swedish company...or was it switzerland. ^o)
anyway, it's good quality stuff.
it looks better IMO as well.
who woudln't wnat to swear in alien voices?

[Cuiiey]

ROFL, i asked marco and he said that you could get a program for that :S i think. i dunno. I was reading this site and it did a comparison and it said the Razer had better sound quality. Ill use my Clearchat ones in my mp3 if need be :)

[Rich'[ard]]

the Megalodons cost more though don't they? about $50 mroe i think.
Patsy has them. i don't like how the built-on audio processor is so chunky and huge though. it kind of doesn't make it a 'portable' headset anymore, rather, it is more of an audio system that sits on your ears.

[Cuiiey]

hm, doesn't patsy have the Fata1ty's? those black and read ones isn't it? or did he do another pointless upgrade? sigh... wish i had his funds. haha, thats wat im looking for. Cause im wanted speakers but parents were saying how if i have it on it'll drown out the surround sound for computer. So instead ill get ones that fit on your ear. I'm happy to pay the extra 50 though for them. I want them cause i already have a Razer Lycosa and Diamondback so yeah, thought i would continue the razer trend :)

[Rich'[ard]]

yeap another pointless upgrade you could call it.
he said it was best headset he's ever used, but he always says that when he buys new stuff...remember his Thermaltake Spedo? :santa:

yeah the Razer headset wil suit your peripherals. a cool feature is the blue Razer icons that light up on both cups of the headphone, when you use them.

[Sir Barton]

Since you were looking at spending $400, why not pick up a pair of nice cans and a headphone amp? The l33t gamer stuff is nowhere close. Sennheiser HD595s and a Little Dot Mk III tube headphone amp can be had for around $400 AU. That setup will be a whole staircase above any of the computer specific offerings.

[Cuiiey]

well, see i was hoping for 400 for a speaker system. My budget for headphones is 200 especially if they wont connect to an mp3 device or anything like that

[Sir Barton]

Most headphones use the standard 3.5mm plug, and they come with an adapter to make it 1/4" for larger TRS type jacks. Use it on a stand-alone amp or on an mp3 player. Itll work either way.

[mattgmann]

once again why the hell look to gaming companies for an audio device. $200 for headphones is a decent budget and the crap put out by logitech and razor are basically children's toys.

here's a start
Grado SR-225, Alessandro MS-2, Sennheiser HD595 and Audio Technica ATH-A900

any of those sets will BLOW that gaming trash out of the water and keep you well within your budget. If you're going to spend, buy some real gear.

[Firey_chasm]

I'd say that headphones will suit your needs better. I am unsuire which yuo should specifically go for though.

as for the logitech, for gaming they are fantastic, for films they are good and for music they are bad.

a similar priced stereo HT set will be the reverse of the above. Fantastic for music, good for films, average for games (loosing the sub and rears is annoying)

I used the z5500 for 2 years and enjoyed them. However I have now gone to the setup in my sig and this blows them so far out of the water it isn't even funny (but at a lot higher cost :/)

[Sir Barton]

The main thing Im trying to get at...dont follow my path. I bought up all the gamer garbage back in my audio newbie days, and I thought it sounded good, since Ive never heard better. Staying clear of the gamer garbage will save you money in the long run, because eventually, you WILL want something better.

[Rich'[ard]]

The main thing Im trying to get at...dont follow my path. I bought up all the gamer garbage back in my audio newbie days, and I thought it sounded good, since Ive never heard better. Staying clear of the gamer garbage will save you money in the long run, because eventually, you WILL want something better.
i guess we all have to go through that stage ey.
i've been following this thread a bit as well, friends with Cuiiey as well.
what dyou recommend?
i, myself, have Logitech Z5400s. i got them solely because i wanted 5.1 surround and enough oomph.
we're just not familiar with any audio brands, other than say Sony, Logitech, Creative and what not.

:)

[jason4207]

One thing to remember about gaming and digital output is that you'll need a sound card to convert the 5.1 sound to DD or DTS if your going to send the signal to the Z5500's. Otherwise you'll only get 2 channel sound over the digital interface. Only movies will give you DD or DTS natively to the speakers. To get around that problem you can run a few 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cables, but then you introduce some noise, and I don't think the Z5500's sound that great over the analog inputs.

I have the Z5500's and in my small office and I think they are great for immersive gaming. I use an X-Plosion sound card w/ DTS-Interactive so that the Z5500's always see a DTS signal while I game. I got my Z5500's brand new for $180, and they are well worth that price. I wouldn't spend much more than that, though.

[g0dM@n]

For the $300-350 price they are at, it may be better to get a real receiver, but given that I didn't have to pay that much I love them. I've been using my set for like 3 years and no issues, paired with an X-Fi sound card, running the coaxial digital to it. I'm wondering if I should just go with the analog, though...

After owning it, I had noticed some sales for like $160-200 after rebate, and even thought about buying a 2nd set, but never did. Hopefully you can find the set for cheaper, but at $350 or so that you've seen, I wouldn't personally pay that.... I'd spend $350 on a receiver instead.

[Cyrix_2k]

once again why the hell look to gaming companies for an audio device. $200 for headphones is a decent budget and the crap put out by logitech and razor are basically children's toys.

here's a start
Grado SR-225, Alessandro MS-2, Sennheiser HD595 and Audio Technica ATH-A900

any of those sets will BLOW that gaming trash out of the water and keep you well within your budget. If you're going to spend, buy some real gear.
This is a very good start.

For speakers, get a real home theater. Seriously. It will kick the crap out of the logitechs. $400 will buy you a decent home theater in a box...
http://www.jr.com/onkyo/pe/ONK_HTS3200/ $324 shipped!

If you don't have the room for that, get a receiver and perhaps the energy take 5s, although I recommend larger speakers if you can fit them. I bought a set of used take 5 classics + sub + speaker stands for <$200 shipped on ebay.

[jason4207]

I think we all need to remember that the prices in Australia are a lot different than in the US.

In the US we can get the Z5500's for ~$200, but in Australia it costs ~$400. So, if we start offering up alternative solutions that cost $400 in the US the cost in Australia might be ~$800 and be well beyond the budget of the OP.

Just some food for thought. I might be way off.

[Rich'[ard]]

I think we all need to remember that the prices in Australia are a lot different than in the US.

In the US we can get the Z5500's for ~$200, but in Australia it costs ~$400. So, if we start offering up alternative solutions that cost $400 in the US the cost in Australia might be ~$800 and be well beyond the budget of the OP.

Just some food for thought. I might be way off.
nah that's about right.
they dropped down to $330 at one stage but now they're back up to a big $400.
a receiver here costs $400 alone, then 2 or 5 speakers on top of that is going to be expensive no doubt.

[s.t.a.t.i.c]

they dropped down to $330 at one stage but now they're back up to a big $400.
a receiver here costs $400 alone, then 2 or 5 speakers on top of that is going to be expensive no doubt.


a pair of M4s from lsk are currently on sale at ~$200. they will give plenty of bass for pc speakers. a gainclone amp can be built under $200 which will give 50-80 watts of power.

although it's only stereo, sound will be clearer and richer than 5.1 z5500hd.

i live in melbourne, if u want to build gainclone amp using lm3886 i can help out for free.

[Rich'[ard]]

a pair of M4s from lsk are currently on sale at ~$200. they will give plenty of bass for pc speakers. a gainclone amp can be built under $200 which will give 50-80 watts of power.

although it's only stereo, sound will be clearer and richer than 5.1 z5500hd.

i live in melbourne, if u want to build gainclone amp using lm3886 i can help out for free.
another Aus member...and from Melbourne! =]
for the average gamer, would the 50-80 watt gainclone setup serve better than the 500 watt Z5500s?

i can tell my Logitech setup has the oomph but doens't have the clarity of quality of sound like the 5.1 setup with Amp and Tower speakers even if the wattage is similar, but 80 watts doens't seem enough for large explosions and sound effects from games? :shrug:

[s.t.a.t.i.c]

it's up to the speakers to convert that power to sound pressure.

it's true that z5500 has that power, but how bout those tiny speakers? can they convert all of that power to sound?

the answer is no, those tiny satellite speakers are not efficient, most of the power are just being wasted (converted into heat).

remember that sound is logarithmic.

ie.

50 watt into 90db rated speakers will be as loud as a 200 watt into 84db rated speakers.

those dB are the sensitivity rating of a speaker, measured at 1m away with 1watt of power.

[Mike89]

It's my opinion here that a lot of negative comments on the Z-5500 are from people who have never heard them. I've owned them since they first came out (three years or so). I liked it so much for my pc, I bought another set and have it in my living room as a home entertainment system to watch TV and DVDs.

The comments about getting a 2 channel setup, I just don't agree with. Stereo don't cut it (for either games or movies or music) compared to 5.1, once you've experienced it. Especially if you can get your two surround speakers placed behind you.

This set has some pretty big sound, I still get some pretty big raised eyebrows (and a lot of "gawd damns") when people listen to my system at my computer. It's just not the kind of sound you would expect from a computer atmosphere.

Sound is pretty subjective. I can't think of a single thing that will give more varied comments and opinions (and a lot of people stating opinions as fact) as when one asks how something sounds.

Best thing to do is listen to one yourself if you can. Even then you'll have to end up taking a chance because anything you hear will always sound different at your house than it will at any other place you hear it.

All I can say is I'm quite happy with mine (both of them). For what you get for the price, there is nothing right now that can compete with them, even three years later.

A further comment I can give concerns my experiences with Windows 7 so far relating to this speaker system. I used to watch DVD movies through the spdif digital connection from the sound card to the Z-5500 cause that is the way to use Logitech's circuitry to get Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1. With Windows 7, I don't have to do this because it already decodes Dolby Digital 5.1 on it's own (doesn't do DTS though). To me it actually sounds better than using the Logitech decoders. Dunno why, just a preference thing I guess. Windows 7 has really improved how it processes sound.

[mattgmann]

It's my opinion here that a lot of negative comments on the Z-5500 are from people who have never heard them. I've owned them since they first came out (three years or so). I liked it so much for my pc, I bought another set and have it in my living room as a home entertainment system to watch TV and DVDs.

The comments about getting a 2 channel setup, I just don't agree with. Stereo don't cut it (for either games or movies or music) compared to 5.1, once you've experienced it. Especially if you can get your two surround speakers placed behind you.

This set has some pretty big sound, I still get some pretty big raised eyebrows (and a lot of "gawd damns") when people listen to my system at my computer. It's just not the kind of sound you would expect from a computer atmosphere.

Sound is pretty subjective. I can't think of a single thing that will give more varied comments and opinions (and a lot of people stating opinions as fact) as when one asks how something sounds.

Best thing to do is listen to one yourself if you can. Even then you'll have to end up taking a chance because anything you hear will always sound different at your house than it will at any other place you hear it.

All I can say is I'm quite happy with mine (both of them). For what you get for the price, there is nothing right now that can compete with them, even three years later.

A further comment I can give concerns my experiences with Windows 7 so far. I used to watch DVD movies through the spdif digital connection from the sound card to the Z-5500s cause that is the way to use Logitech's circuitry to get Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1. With Windows 7, I don't have to do this because it already decodes Dolby Digital 5.1 on it's own (doesn't do DTS though). To me it actually sounds better than using the Logitech decoders. Dunno why, just a preference thing I guess. Windows 7 has really improved how it process sound.



I would counter this by saying that most people who like the z-5500s have never experienced proper audio equipment. Listening to music on 5.1 is not proper. It's all mixed for stereo, and whatever program you use to output it into 5.1 screws it up royaly. Idealy, you'd have a 5.1 system with good 3-way mains to play music in stereo. My real issue with the z5500 is it's price. The speakers are just terrible IMO. Any music quality is only subjective at the highest levels. Low end stuff that were talking about is very objective. A $100 pair of bookshelf speakers and a small sub will outperform any pc specific speakers.

It might be a little extra work, but piecing together a system will be much more rewarding in the end. There are a number of receivers for under $200 (i.e. pioneer VSX-519V-K) that would be great for a small setup. And if you want 5.1, dayton has an inexpensive speaker set (4 satellites and center)for ~$115 that will murder the z-5500s. They give a huge discount if you buy a sub as well. If you tack on a 12" the price barely breaks $200. The energy take classics are about the same price and same quality as another option. Or get 2 energy c-50s and a center and rock a 3.1 until you feel you need rears. The Speaker Company also has great budget speakers.

If all you do is game, the z5500s will suffice. Music wise, unless all you listen to is techno, you will be disappointed. Even if you like them at first, I think you'll find down the road you'll want to upgrade. For a similar price point, you can do substantially better now.

[Mike89]

Well the above post is exactly what I was talking about in the "subjective" area. That whole post was subjective and stated as authoritarian (which it is not).

That's the whole problem with a thread like this. People who supposedly have "knowitall" ears always pop saying what you are supposed to do based on I don't know what really.

As I said before, I personally like them and yes I have heard a lot of "proper" systems. I wouldn't have even commented in this thread if I had not owned them myself. I'm only giving comments from my experience owning them, not what one is 'supposed' to do or who's ears are better than who's. Bottom line is my ears tell me if I like a sound system or not and thankfully my ears don't get caught up in what is proper or not to someone else. My ears are not other people's ears. No better, no worse, not right, or not wrong. For anyone interested in these, take a listen for yourself, cause the more you read threads like this, you'll probably come out no more convinced than before you stated reading. It's the way it's always going to be when listening to people's comments about anything sound related.

[Spawn-Inc]

i own one and love the bass. i'm a bass hore so to speak and these really deliver. they are good if you have a small to medium cubical setup. i have heard they loose there sound in a larger room.

and it goes to 11! see:) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz7IGSRyLI4&feature=related)

[Sir Barton]

Well the above post is exactly what I was talking about in the "subjective" area. That whole post was subjective and stated as authoritarian (which it is not).
Good sound is good sound, period. True, sound is subjective, but when you step into a set of speakers leagues beyond your 5.1 computer speakers, you definitely know it. Ive owned various computer setups, including Promedia 4.1 and Z680s (predecessor to the Z5500), and in no way shape or form do they compare to a 2-way bookshelf/sub system.

That's the whole problem with a thread like this. People who supposedly have "knowitall" ears always pop saying what you are supposed to do based on I don't know what really.
Its not that we have know-it-all ears, we have experience, and most of us have had computer setups before. Obviously the OP wants something that sounds good, so we should point him in the direction that will make the most of his audio dollars.

As I said before, I personally like them and yes I have heard a lot of "proper" systems. I wouldn't have even commented in this thread if I had not owned them myself. I'm only giving comments from my experience owning them, not what one is 'supposed' to do or who's ears are better than who's. Bottom line is my ears tell me if I like a sound system or not and thankfully my ears don't get caught up in what is proper or not to someone else. My ears are not other people's ears. No better, no worse, not right, or not wrong. For anyone interested in these, take a listen for yourself, cause the more you read threads like this, you'll probably come out no more convinced than before you stated reading. It's the way it's always going to be when listening to people's comments about anything sound related.

Those of us "audio know-it-alls" are simply stating the OP will get much better sound for the same amount of money if he carefully chooses his components instead of getting BPC. To state that Z5500s compare to a proper audio setup is complete ignorance. Theyll compare to a HTIB, as theyre the same style of audio setup, but they will never be anywhere near as good as multi-way bookshelves with a sub. Everybody knows what something is supposed to sound like, its how faithful your speakers are to reproducing that sound. Z5500s are a long ways off from reproducing the quality of sound a budget bookshelf/sub combo would.

[Coupe]

For gaming surround sound is your friend. The Z-5500 has analog, optical and coax connectors. Presently I have my computer, PS3 and TV on each jack respectively and it works great.

Sound quality is good.

[Cuiiey]

ok, i was looking at the Z5500's again today but i noticed after the title it reads digital. Is this like a newer version or something?

[Sir Barton]

ok, i was looking at the Z5500's again today but i noticed after the title it reads digital. Is this like a newer version or something?

All sound is analog. You cant hear 0s and 1s afterall ;). The only part of it thats digital is the data of a file, then the DAC (digital to analog converter) converts it into an analog waveform, which is picked up by the ears.

[Conumdrum]

They have a digital input connection and a analog connection. Digital is such a good marketing word.

The sound coming out of the amp portion of ANY speaker/amp setup, ANY SPEAKER, is purly a voltage/amperage analog waveform, the freq of the waveform determines the vibration freq of the speaker cone, the amplitude of the signal determines the volume, or how far the speaker cone gets pushed back and forth.

ANY meaning the cheap $3.99 Walmart earbuds for a MP3 player or a $13,000 speaker coupled to a $20,000 amplifier.

[Conumdrum]

To state that Z5500s compare to a proper audio setup is complete ignorance. Theyll compare to a HTIB, as theyre the same style of audio setup, but they will never be anywhere near as good as multi-way bookshelves with a sub. Everybody knows what something is supposed to sound like, its how faithful your speakers are to reproducing that sound. Z5500s are a long ways off from reproducing the quality of sound a budget bookshelf/sub combo would.

The Z5500's do not compare to a good quality 2.1 setup. They are fully different animals and live in two completly different worlds. They can co-exist, and WE CAN TOO.

Yes, each plays music and plays video games. Each does one better than the other.

I just don't see what the big deal is. Many games have 5.1 sound programmed into it, and it's very nice to have it. You lose that with a 2.1 system.

I have a $2500 5.1 stereo in my living room. When I play my Xbox 360, I have it in 5.1. When I want to listen to a wonderfully recorded piece of music, I put my amp into pure bypass mode, giving me awesome 2.1 sound.

It depends what the OP wants. PURE music sound or okay music sound with 5.1 and not break the bank.

I have the Z5500's too, they are great for my PC. I rarely listen to music on my PC, but the Z's put out servicable sound for music.

Does that help put it in perspective folks?