speaker issue

Dave85 · 13 Dec 2010 at 18:16

had 2 sets of Z5500 over the last 2 years. This brand new set the front left speaker decided to go crackly and then allot more quite than the right speaker. So the replaced the speaker on the replacement set and all was fine.
Now the same front left speaker is again allot quieter and crackling slightly. I tried different shielded speaker cable but still the same.

Any ideas before logitech send me another speaker or set of speakers to replace these?
Actually thinking of going for a good set of 2.1s instead failing a fix. Any idea what to go for say budget of £125 satellites need to be not much bigger than z5500 and will need a sub aswell.

Marsman · 13 Dec 2010 at 18:27

Best 2.1 set around is the AE Aego M, or if you are a fan of the bass the Z5500's provide, the Z2300's. Aego's have better sound quality though, and decent bass, but not thunderous bass like the Logitech's.

Dave85 · 13 Dec 2010 at 19:27

Cheers for the suggestions will look into the AE Aego M, as much as Logitech customer services is awesome I dont like having to get RMA every 10 months heh.

Dave85 · 16 Dec 2010 at 20:17

Hmm cant believe I never checked the obvious. I have a cheapo splitter from ebay on there so the headphones work at the same time. while it was crackling I pushed it in and twisted the cables and it appears to stop the crackling.

Can only use onboard sound due to sli taking the slots on micro atx. Any ideas on if I can get a decent quality splitter or should I look into alternatives like maybe a headphone amp etc?

Marsman · 16 Dec 2010 at 22:08

I have had cheap splitters before, the sockets are awful. The inserted jack just wobbles causing a poor connection. Get a decent one. Doesn't have to cost a lot, just not those cheap as chips really thin cabled ones. Spend about £5 or so, and you should be able to get that will have decent build quality.

Marsman · 16 Dec 2010 at 22:13

Loops make a 3.5mm splitter, which can be bought on the famous auction site, sold by ThatCable. They make very good quality cables. OCuk sell a few audio cables, but they don't sell a 3.5mm splitter. Why not!?

Dave85 · 18 Dec 2010 at 00:13

Will swap it with the belkin Gold plated one. I ordered for my mum pc if its no better will look into that one marsman cheers folks.

Marsman · 18 Dec 2010 at 02:31

If the Belkin one is no better, then the one I suggested will be same, meaning the problem lies elsewhere.

MikeHunt79 · 18 Dec 2010 at 02:47

Marsman said:
Loops make a 3.5mm splitter, which can be bought on the famous auction site, sold by ThatCable. They make very good quality cables. OCuk sell a few audio cables, but they don't sell a 3.5mm splitter. Why not!?

If you care about decent sound quality then using a splitter is a bad idea, so I guess this is why there are no decent quality ones available.

Marsman · 18 Dec 2010 at 13:36

Mike, if you think all splitters offer poor sound quality, that is your choice, and that's fine. This is not about one's idea of good sound quality, this is about whether the cable is of good build quality to allow a good connection. The crackling could be an indication of a cheap splitter being used.

MikeHunt79 · 18 Dec 2010 at 15:02

Marsman said:
Mike, if you think all splitters offer poor sound quality, that is your choice, and that's fine. This is not about one's idea of good sound quality, this is about whether the cable is of good build quality to allow a good connection. The crackling could be an indication of a cheap splitter being used.

Splitters tend to screw up the impedance, if you get an input selector or pre-amp then you can have your cake and eat it too...