Which 5.1 speakers? (alternative to Z-5500?)

Sweey · 7 May 2007 at 00:11

Hello,

I'm looking at buying some 5.1 speakers to replace my old Creative ones. I was after a good quality set with excellent bass for my PC only and to be set-up in a relatively small area.

After reading lots of reviews I decided on the Logitech Z-5500 but I've been put off by the number of people I've read about experiencing problems with up to three different sets. Is there anything better out there I'm not aware of? Would I be better going for separates? Should I bite the bullet and buy the Z-5500?

My budget is around the £200 mark but can stretch to £250 if required.

Thanks.

squiffy · 7 May 2007 at 00:16

Need to spend more than £250 for quality 5.1
You'll get a budget stereo system for £250. You'll get better bass from a mid size pair of standmounts, over a cheap n nasty 5.1 with bas from the "subwoofer"

Do you need 5.1? What is your use? Games? Music? Movies?

Sweey · 7 May 2007 at 00:20

Games and music mostly although I want the 5.1 for games. Movies to an extent but games are certainly the over-riding factor.

I'm guessing for a fantastic stereo system I'm looking at way in excess of £250?

squiffy · 7 May 2007 at 00:24

Sweey said:
Games and music mostly although I want the 5.1 for games. Movies to an extent but games are certainly the over-riding factor.

I'm guessing for a fantastic stereo system I'm looking at way in excess of £250?

Depends what you class as "fantastic" you might find a £500 stereo system fantastic (and it will be be a step up from budget seperates) others might demand something in four figure range.

A £200 5.1 system will "do the job" and will provide multi-channel surround sound but a stereo system of the same cost will have superior sound quality.

I use a Rotel (bottom of the range 25W stereo integrated) and B&W 601 for my PC audio system, games, music. Sounds great, and far better than any PC sat/sub system. I don't need a subwoofer. In fact I need to use bass tone controls on the amp and knock it down a quarter, as it's too bassy. You can pickup something of similar quality / components for £250 easily, secondhand.

Phil2008 · 7 May 2007 at 01:48

If only you could still buy the z-680s. Ive had my z-680s for a year now and I make mine work hard from time to time, and I never had 1 problem with them. Plus the sound quality is ment to be better then the 5500s.

I have manage to place all my speakers properly for true 5.1 sound. The 4 speakers about 1 meter away and just ubove head hight tilted downwards at a angle so the looking at me. Centre speaker about 0.5 meter away in the centre of the 2 front speakers, tilting down also. Subwoofer is directly under the left front speker on the floor, under the desk.... AND IT SOUNDS AMAZING.

Sweey · 7 May 2007 at 10:30

Allow me to shift the focus of this thread slightly for the moment:

As a little test, I've got a stereo system I want to try and plug into my PC (good luck to me :eek:

). I currently connect it to a small TV for audio output when using my PS2. It has two RCA connectors at the front (for left and right audio as it is a two-speaker system) which I would presumably have to connect to my soundcard, an X-Fi. My question is this: what sort of cable/converter do I need between the soundcard and the stereo?

Apologies for the lack of understanding/knowledge as this is something I've never looked into previously.

Rebelius · 7 May 2007 at 11:14

RCA to minijack

Sweey · 7 May 2007 at 11:21

Cheers

(I should've known that!)

willhub · 7 May 2007 at 11:51

squiffy said:
Need to spend more than £250 for quality 5.1
You'll get a budget stereo system for £250. You'll get better bass from a mid size pair of standmounts, over a cheap n nasty 5.1 with bas from the "subwoofer"

Do you need 5.1? What is your use? Games? Music? Movies?

I wouldent say the Z5500 is cheap and nasty allthough now your proberbly going to bite my head off and say they are.

Anyway if he needs 5.1 for £250 there is always the S750 and PM5.1 but PM5.1 amps keep blowing apparently.

But after owning the Z5500's, I can say that the Z5500 bass output is not low, its very, very loud and not boomy like everyone thinks it is and good sound quality for what it is anyway but I would not buy 5.1 for my PC again, would need to be a propor setup.