Logitech Z640 5.1 review
By: Deathzone
Introduction -
Sound is a very important aspect of gaming, but not everyone can afford a state-of-the-art sound system. The Logitech Z640's are perfect for the gamer wanting a good surround system at a great price.
Lets start off with the specs:
Heart-Pounding Home Theater Sound on a Budget
Experience Dolby Digital sound for music, movies and games
Included adapter provides instant connectivity to video game consoles
Innovative, dual-chamber subwoofer delivers twice the bass energy of similar subwoofers
Four stylish satellites stand on desk or mount on wall to provide smooth mid and high frequencies
Center channel speaker with system controls rests on your monitor or your desk
Magnetic shielding in speakers protects your equipment
Internal power supply eliminates bulky wall adapters
Two-year warranty
Specifications
Total output power: 71.2 Watts RMS
Subwoofer power output: 25.7 Watts RMS
Satellite speaker power output: 45.5 Watts RMS (2 x 7.3w front; 2 x 7.3w rear; 16.3w center)
Total peak power: 140 Watts
System frequency response: 35Hz - 20kHz
Signal-to-noise ratio: >75 dB
Input impedance: > 5,000 ohms
Shielded satellites for use near video monitors
System Requirements
PC
For 5.1 surround sound: any 4 or 6 channel sound card
For Dolby Digital 5.1 sound: sound card or software DVD player with built-in Dolby Digital decoding
Video game consoles
A PlayStation®, PlayStation®2, Xbox™, or Nintendo GameCube™ using stereo RCA (red and white) audio cables
TV
TV with stereo RCA audio output jacks (stereo RCA cable not included)
Design -
The speakers are well designed, the 4 satellites are rather small and come with swivel stands for easy placement anywhere in the room, while the center channel is wide and houses all the controls, such as volume, fader and Matrix, which is a nice feature that converts any sound to 5 speaker formal, utilizing the center channel. The subwoofer is nice-looking and one of the best aspects of this system, and has bass controls on the back of it. Overall, the system is quite nicely designed, even though the speakers look a tad cute, but you forget all that when you turn the things on.
Sound -
Obviously the most important thing about the system, the Z640s dont disappoint. They produced a very clear sound, and the subwoofer was more powerful than I thought it would be, the mids and lows were nice sounding, and the highs were better than I thought they would be since this is a sub-$100 system, but they held up well when I cranked them. In Ghost Recon, the sound was very nice, and the rear channels added alot to the experience. I played an hour worth of music on these things. The sound was good and very bassy on some of the heavier songs, and that was with the bass at 1/2 power, so the sub is definately an attractive part of the system. Now, I didnt test this things with a Dolby Digital reciever, so I wasn't using them with positional effects, but the surround sound feeling is still there. If you dont have a reciever capable of decoding Dolby Digital, you wont get sound positioning like a right gunshot only coming from the right speakers but you are still surrounded by sound and, with or without Dolby Digital, its a whole different world compared to normal television speakers.
Convenience -
Logitech went the whole way and included console cables, which is perfect if you wanna connect these things directly to your Xbox, Gamecube or PS2. The only real flaw I can think of is the choice of controls, now the center channel may work fine if you hook these things up to a computer, because your only a couple feet away, but with console gaming, your usually on a couch and a good distance away from the center channel, so it can be a pain to have to get up and walk to the T.V. every time you wanna adjust the volume. It woulda been nice if they included a wireless remote or even a wired control pod, but seeing as computer use is the main focus, its understandable why they skipped a remote. Also, it would be easier if they included the bass control on the center channel and not the back of the sub, since some people hide the sub under a desk or behind the computer, so its hard to get at the back of it if its concealed. Still, these are the only flaws I can think of with this system, and they're minor ones at that.
Value -
The MSRP is $99, which is more than reasonable, and if you shop around online, you can find them as low as $67, which make these things an awesome buy for the gamer who doesnt have alot of cash to burn on a surround system. I would highly reccommend these things, even without a Dolby Digital reciever, these things will still be a great upgrade from television speakers.
Overall -
With the exception of the lack of a remote, there is nothing terribly wrong with these speakers, and for as low as $67, its hard to pass up. The minor flaws are easy to look past when you can pick them up for that price. Logitech has done a great job with this system, it definately stands out of the competition in its price range, and the sub is very nice for an entry-level system.
If you have a bit more to spend, look at the Z680's (check back for a review soon), which are a full-featured home theatre system, with a built in decoder, wireless remote, and 500 watts of power. Also, Monsters new speakers are very nice for the money, and come with a wireless remote, powerful specs and an MSRP of $199, making them an attractive system too (check out the review in the articles section).
Pros -
Great price
Good sound
Powerful, bassy sub
Console cables for easy access to Xbox, Gamecube or PS2
Matrix feature converts any sound format to 5.1 surround
Did I mention the price?
Cons -
Controls on center channel
Bass controls on subwoofer
no remote, but isnt a big con since this is an entry-level system
Statistics
Design - 8.5
Sound - 9
Convenience- 8.5
Value - 9.5
Overall - 9.5
Manafacturers link: www.logitech.com
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