Logitech Z-640 5.1 Speaker System
Logitech
has a full line of multimedia speaker systems ranging from very basic
2.1 models to full featured 5.1 systems. The Z-640 being reviewed here
is the least expensive 5.1 system offered by the company ($79.95) and
includes five magnetically shielded satellite speakers and a subwoofer.
The center speaker has controls for adjusting the center level as well
as the master volume. A fader control is also provided for setting the
rear levels. The matrix button creates sound for the center channel that
is derived from the left and right channels when using a two-channel sound
card or limited source material. Three stereo plugs are attached to a
long cable coming from the center speaker and are designed to mate to
a 5.1 sound card on the back of a PC. Our setup included an M-Audio Revolution
7.1 sound card installed in a Sony Vaio PCV-RX550
computer. The sound card was specifically
configured for the Z-640 speaker system, which is an available option
in the Revolution 7.1 menus. InterVideo's WinDVD 4 with full Dolby Digital
5.1 support worked great in our setup. We played Toy
Story to get a feel for something we've heard in a full high-end
surround system.
Performance
It's difficult for me to believe that a powered 5.1 speaker system can
be produced and sold for $80, let alone sound good. However, Logitech's
Z-640 fared well for something priced this low. Sound panned nicely through
the room and provided a true three-dimensional feeling while watching
Toy Story. The small cube-sized speakers did have a bit of an edge
to them and left a slight hole in the frequency response between the satellites
and the subwoofer, but they did give a satisfying experience when watching
movies on the PC screen. The center channel has more power than the other
satellite channels and produced clean and intelligible dialog. The subwoofer
played at reasonably high levels and fairly deep, making movie watching
far more enjoyable than what one would hear with typical PC speakers.
Conclusion
Certainly for the money, the Z-640 is a no-brainer. The system performed
well and was a snap to install. If you have a limited budget and still
want the experience of a good sounding 5.1 system for your PC, you can't
go wrong with what the Z-640 offers. The bass extension is very respectable
and the satellites produce adequate sound levels. Again, this is all for
$80 (Street price under $70). Simply amazing.
- Kevin
Nakano
