Logitech® G51 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System
Built
on the success of their G-Series gaming peripherals, Logitech® has unveiled
the new G51, a true 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System with 360-degrees of sonic
impact. The G51 system features dual matrix surround modes for a better gaming
and music experience. The G51 speakers incorporate Logitech's FDD2™ sound
technology, which is said to produce a more uniform soundfield anywhere in the
room. This along with 155 watts RMS of amplifier power gives the G51 gaming speaker
system a high fun factor. The system includes four satellites, center channel,
subwoofer and an easy to use controller. Each of the satellite speakers has a
pair of small drivers that produce surprisingly good sound. The small size of
these drivers limits the bass response, so the subwoofer compliments the system
by filling in the lower frequencies.
Controller
The controller for the G51 is compact, yet features full control of the volume
levels including trims for the subwoofer, surrounds and center channel. The Power
button toggles the speaker system on or off. Pressing the Level button
sequences through each of the levels allowing the control knob to adjust the selected
item. The Master level controls all channels together. A set of seven indicators
display the level of the selected channel or Master volume. Independent
Mute buttons control the main speakers and the microphone input separately.
Headphone and microphone jacks are located in the front of the controller. The
Matrix switch on the controller lets the user choose between gaming or
music setting. The Matrix mode is designed to process 2-channel source
material to create an enveloping 5.1 surround sound. The music mode has a more
natural equalization while the gaming mode provides the user with a more aggressive
profile that boosts the subwoofer and rear satellites speakers, delivering a more
intense gaming experience.
Subwoofer
The
subwoofer features a downward firing driver with a flared vented port on the front
of the cabinet. The cabinet measures 7.7" W x 10.4" D x 13.1" H
and has all the interfaces for the speakers and audio inputs on the rear panel.
The top set of connectors have a pair of RCA auxiliary inputs followed by four
3.5mm input jacks. The control POD uses a 15-pin high density connector. All the
electronics and amplification are inside behind the panel.
The G51 speaker system does not include any digital decoding hardware internally, so it must be connected to a multi-channel sound card to experience true 5.1 audio. We used an M-Audio Revolution 7.1 audio card in our test PC. Logitech provides a set of color coded cables to connect the PC to the G51 system. Three of the cables are for the 5.1 audio and the remaining cable is used for the microphone connection. This allows the user to connect the microphone to the controller POD and control the microphone mute right next to the main speaker mute. Our DTS and Dolby Digital audio was decoded using the latest InterVideo WinDVD 8 Platinum software on our PC. The lower portion of the rear subwoofer panel includes the five speaker outputs through RCA jacks. Each output is color coded to make it easier to identify during installation. The power input also comes in here from a non-detachable power cord. The system drives each of the satellite channels with approximately 20 watts RMS, while the remaining 56 watts RMS of power is dedicated to the subwoofer.
The
satellite speakers have a swivel base that work on the desktop or when mounted
to the walls. The transparent covers hold down the user replaceable
pre-made skins or can be fully customized using the Skin
Mod Software. It is a clever idea that some gamers may find enjoyable, while
others like myself may not use. In any event, it gives the system a personal flare
not typically found in gaming speaker systems. The
center channel is designed to fit
securely onto a flat panel monitor. This works well on this system and previous
Logitech speakers systems we have reviewed in the past. Having the speaker directly
above the display is ideal when watching movies or playing games.
Conclusion
The Logitech® G51 Surround Sound Speaker System provides a PC with a high-value
addition that gives gamers a full sonic experience at
an affordable ($200) price.
The system relies on a 6 channel sound card in the PC to get the full potential
of 5.1 audio. Two channel sound cards can still take advantage of the matrix processing
to simulate the surround effect. The G51 is a great value especially with a street
price of around $135.
- Kevin Nakano
