When I received an offer to review the Edifier E3350 speakers, my first thought was – who the hell is Edifier? I took a look at the spec sheet that I was provided and was initially impressed with the unique look of the speakers, and also found it interesting that they won an award at CES this year, the CES Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Awards Honor. I decided to take them up on their review offer, and I was certainly intrigued by the results. These speakers offer a Bose-quality sound at a Creative and Logitech-level price. Yes – I did just compare these on the same level as Bose. Soon, you’ll see why.

Speaker Specifications

The Edifier E3350 is a 2.1 speaker system with the following technical specs:

• Power Output: RMS 32W + 9W x 2 (THD=10%)
• Signal to Noise Ratio:>=85dBA
• Distortion:<=0.5% THD
• Input Impedance: 10K Ohm
• Input Sensitivity: Satellites—550+/-50mV; Subwoofer—200+/-50mV
• Frequency Response: R/L: 130Hz - 20kHz SW: 30Hz - 130Hz
• Bass Unit: 5 inch driver, magnetically shielded, 5Ohm
• Satellite Unit: 2.75 inch oval shaped driver,4 Ohm and 3/4 inch PV dome tweeter, magnetically shielded, 4Ohm
• Dimension: Subwoofer — 248 x199 x 294mm (W X H X D)
• Satellite — 96 x 234 x 118mm (W x H x D)
• Gross Weight: approximately 5 kg
• Power Input: 100V-240V wide range AC power adapter,18V

Initial Impressions and Tests

When I opened the box for the first time and was able to see the speakers, my first thought was, “These look pretty sweet.” I hope by the picture below you can see what I am talking about. The design is definitely unique compared to the typical box-like speakers you will find from many companies – it is somewhat hard to describe exactly why these look cool, but they just do. There are no straight edges anywhere on the speakers or the subwoofer, which are all three shaped like pyramids, and they feature a slick-looking plastic top. The subwoofer is neat in that it fires downward instead of outward, allowing them to play with the design a bit.

My first instinct when it comes to testing speakers is to plug them in, turn the volume as high as it will go, and play the THX trailer on them. I have done this on several different speaker systems, including 5.1 speakers, so I am accustomed to how most systems sound. I played the trailer called “Cavalcade.” I can not tell you how blown away (quite literally) I was by the beautiful quality of sound that blasted out of these little speakers. Not only was it extremely loud, but the pitches were produced perfectly, without the slightest hint of distortion or stress that you get from many speakers when cranked up all the way. These speakers are definitely impressive.

Sound Quality

For testing sound quality, I used several different types of music that would test the different sound ranges, from the very lowest to the very highest pitch possible. My first test was the THX trailer Cavalcade, but after that, I ran it through about everything on my playlist – including these specific songs:

Star Wars Episode II Soundtrack – Love Pledge, The Arena
John Williams

Overture to Candide
Leonard Bernstein

If Everyone Cared
Nickleback

Superman Kryptonite
3 Doors Down

I tried to play a little of everything so I could hear the speaker’s response to a variety of tones and chords. Overture to Candide is probably the best all-purpose tester because it has everything from a very brassy low sound to an extremely high piccolo part. The balance of bass (which is adjustable) does not overpower the mid-range or high-range sound of the speakers – even when the subwoofer is turned all the way up.

Conclusion

Ratings (1 = lowest, 10 = highest)

To conclude this review, let me tell you something: if you are looking for speakers and have about $100 to spend, buy these speakers. I’m not getting paid to say that, nor was I asked to even give a positive review – these speakers just kick ass, period.

You can visit their website at http://www.edifier.ca/

So, I went on down to Best Buy to get a replacement and I ended up getting the Bose Companion 3 Series II. Realizing full well that speaker reviews are subjective and in the ear of the beholder, I thought I would post my thoughts.

The Design

Bose is like the Apple of the speaker world. It is overpriced, and they spend a lot of time on design. So, Bose got a lot right with the design of this set. The sub-woofer is more compact than my Klipsch set, but every bit as powerful. The satellite speakers are much more compact, which is quite nice. I actually VERY much prefer the small form factor of the satellite speakers on the Bose set. They don’t take nearly as much room on my desk.

Another feature I quite liked was the control pod. It is a little round control module, like a hockey puck, that sits on the desk. Turning the knob on top adjusts the volume of the set. A slight touch on the top will mute the set. And, near the bottom, you have an earphone jack as well as an audio-in jack for plugging in external devices like a notebook computer, Ipod, or whatever. The secondary audio input is a very convenient feature I was looking for. My Klipsch set didn’t have it (the new ones do, apparently).

The Sound

There’s not much to a set of speakers to look at. You unpack them, plug them in, and listen. The only real method to evaluate the speakers is how they sound and that is complete subjective. That said, I really dig the sound of these speakers. They deliver every bit as much punch as my Klipsch set did, but out of a smaller package.

I think part of how they do that is, obviously, the design itself. The satellite speakers on the Companion 3 are small, whereas the ones on the Klipsch set were huge. However, the Klipsch set had both a mid-range and a tweeter in each satellite. The Bose satellites are very small and, therefore, have one speaker dome in each. The way they balance out the sound is by moving more of it to the bass module, or sub-woofer.

If you look at the new Klipsch 2.1 set, each satellite is 35 watts and the sub is a full 130 watts using a 6.5-inch driver. That’s certainly a lot of punch. The sound is set up more like a traditional surround sound unit, with the sub doing only the lowest bass and the satellites taking care of the mids and highs. With the Bose unit, my ear is telling me that the sub is taking care of more of the mids. What’s interesting is that Bose seems to be quite secretive about wattage ratings and some of the traditional ratings of their speakers. What I can find in the manual is that the satellites both have 2-inch wide-range transducers and the sub has a 5.25-inch woofer.

The Bose set sounds fantastic. It packs just as much punch as Klipsch set, but from a smaller package that gives me more space on the desk. It packs great bass and the highs are crystal clear, so much so that you can hear fine details in guitar solos and the like.

The Value

Well, this aspect is a little debatable. The current Klipsch 2.1 set is about $160 right now, whereas the Bose Companion 3 Series II is running anywhere from $224 to $249. What are you getting for the extra coin? Yes, a smaller form factor. But, mainly, the Bose name.

Bose takes a card from Apple marketing. They price their products higher, which supposedly positions them as better than the others. Bose sets are quite good, but no, they are not necessarily better than all the others. So, a lot of what you’re paying for is the marketing.

Conclusion

These are great speakers in every way. I high recommend them to people who want a good set of higher end computer speakers. That said, the price is too high, in my opinion. The Bose name is not reason enough to justify the high price tag for a set of 2.1 speakers. For value, I would still recommend the Klipsch set over the Bose. Yes, Klipsch speakers are a lot bigger and take up more room, but you’ll get the same quality sound for less money.

There’s nothing better than sitting back and listening to music and hearing it as if you were sitting right there at a live concert, letting the music flow through you, send electrifying currents down your spine.  The hardware on your ears all the way to the quality of the recorded tunes you’re listening to makes all the difference in the world.  Icemat.com has produced the Black Siberia Multi Headset, which not only totes a pair of “cans”, but a uni-directional mic as well.  This interesting feature included with this headset could be directed towards gamers, VoIP users, and teleconference enthusiasts.  If that isn’t enough to take a look at, Icemat also has a Black Siberia USB Soundcard, which can be used in place of onboard sound or a PCI soundcard.  My ears are very tough to please, so through the course of the review, we’ll see how the sound quality of all these components compares and holds up.

Initial Impressions
When I first opened the shipping box, I was greeted with a nice looking box with a plastic window that allowed me to see the headset fairly easily.  So, even before I tore open the packaging, I could easily see how big this headset was and what I’d expect to be fitting over my ears. 

There was one thing about the USB Soundcard box I noticed right off the bat: a “compatible with a Mac” stamp on the package.  That’s certainly a plus for Mac users out there.  However, there was one downside to the product’s picture on the box: since the item itself was solid black, the photograph of the USB Soundcard didn’t show up so well, so I wasn’t quite sure what would actually appear when I opened the package.  If you dabble in painting, graphics or sewing, you have probably already figured out that that solid black objects never present well.  Don’t fret, though.  If black isn’t your color, Icemat has also has white available for both the headset and the USB Soundcard.

Products & Specs

Pictured here is everything included with the Headset.

Headset: Frequency response: 18Hz - 28,000Hz Impedance: 40 Ohm SPL@1kHz, 1V rms: 104dB Jack: 3.5mm and a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter Cable length: 1m/3.3ft Volume regulator cable length: 1.8m/5.9ft

Microphone: Frequency response: 80Hz - 15,000Hz Sensitivity 1V/Pa@1Khz): -38dB Cable length: 1.8m/5.9ft

USB Soundcard: USB 2.0 Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound 12 Channel Equalizer USB Cable Included

Using the Headset
Upon donning the Black Siberia headset, I was surprised at how snugly it held on to my head.  The “cans” first hold the headset in place like any other headset, but the headband on top is unique in that it is very, very easy to adjust and fit to your head.  The only downside to the headband is that it may press down on your head with a bit more force than expected, making it a little uncomfortable at first. It doesn’t take long to get used to, however.

As for the comfort level of the “cans” themselves, there is enough soft padding to make this a non-issue.  The only thing that some listeners may find annoying is their size.  For some ears, they may be too small, and their ears may not stay inside the round opening in the “cans”.  It may have been more ideal to have these “cans” oval rather than perfectly round.  Nevertheless, they are comfortable, and a large bonus is that your ears won’t get uncomfortably warm.  I’ve noticed with a number of headsets that this is sometimes a problem, but with this pair, you can use them for hours without it ever being a problem.

Operating the headset itself is quite simple.  Plug it in and turn up the volume.  Or, plug the volume regulator in to the sound card, then the headset into the volume regulator.  The control over the volume using the volume regulator is quite good.  The sound volume responds quite well.

Operating the headset itself is quite simple.  Plug it in and turn up the volume.  Or, plug the volume regulator in to the sound card, then the headset into the volume regulator.  The control over the volume using the volume regulator is quite good.  The sound volume responds quite well.

The sound quality in the headset is excellent.  Sounds being piped through these “cans” come through surprisingly clear at very, very low volumes and up through very, very high volumes.  The quality of sound is not an issue with this headset; rather, the quality of sound is largely dependant on your audio source. 

The lows and highs come through very clear and were not at all distorted or splatty.  A few times during testing through various pieces of audio equipment, I had to take off this headset to make sure the audio wasn’t coming from my sound system.  Impressive, no?

My current setup consists of a Creative SoundBlaster 5.1, connected to a Behringer Eurotrack sound mixer, which in turn pushes audio out to a set of Logitech Z-2200 speakers.  Tested through each piece of equipment in stages, the audio quality of the Black Siberia remained constant and pleasing to the ear.  Now that this headset has proven itself through commonplace audio equipment, it’s time to give the USB Soundcard a try.

Quality audio makes the music and the gaming. Its what brings the scene or the music to life-like quality. The Steel Sound 5H headset, from Steelpad, certainly fits the bill. Steelpad has been known to gamers primarily for their Steelpad mouse pads. However, they moved into the sound sector with ease. One explanation for this is that they position themselves as gamers’ suppliers, meaning their hardware is geared towards gamers. We received a set of these to take a look at. I’m an owner of Bose headphones and I like my sound. I’m not the easiest guy in the world to impress when it comes to audio quality. Well, how do these compare?

The Package

The packaging of these headphones is quite nice. It is on a supporting frame under plastic covering and is durable. The design is also aesthetic. Open up the package and you get the headphones, the included USB sound card and the little mini-disc which contains the drivers for the USB sound. In trying on the headphones, I found them quite comfortable. The padding is relatively thick and when wearing the set, they do not grab onto the ear tightly like some thicker sets. You can wear these for hours and they will not hurt your ears. The set has an embedded microphone inside one of the speakers. You simply pull the microphone out to use it. And it is bendable so that you can precisely adjust it to your mouth.

Let’s look at the specs of both:

One of the nice things about the headphones is that they come apart. The headband is detachable, allowing you to easily pack the set into tight places without fear of breaking them. And the cord is plenty long for most scenarios, meaning you do not have to worry about turning your head and dragging your gear around. Midway on the cord is the volume control for the speakers as well as the microphone.

The sound of these “cans” is actually pretty good. The bass is solid and the highs are very clear. All around they have a very good range. I compared them to my Bose set and they are comparable. They are not nearly as sensitive (the Bose set required much lower volume to get the same level of sound), but the sound quality was on par. Of course, they do not measure up totally to Bose, but then again, comparing a gaming headset to a Bose set might not be exactly fair.

Logitech stormed the PC audio market last year with the amazing Z-series of speakers.  The Z-560 system was a massive, powerful system that rivaled the best speakers on the market, while the price was considerably less.  The Z-560 was a solid 4.1 system, that took top honors in review after review.  This led to the inevitable question, Where is the 5.1 system?  When we asked the people at Logitech, we got the standard “We can’t tell you, or we would have to kill you”, wink wink.

Well, the Logitech hit-squad never showed up at my door, but the Z-680 speaker system did.  Times like these, I really feel sorry for the UPS man.  This package was huge.  I mean BIG, as in larger than the average suped-up Civic.  I seriously need to get this poor UPS guy a Christmas gift this year, or a coupon for a chiropractor visit.

Inside this massive box, was the new Logitech Z-680.  At first glance, this system may look like the Z-560’s with an extra center channel speaker, but rest assured, this no repackaged 560 system.  The Z-680 takes everything that made the Z-560 system so great, adds another can of whoop-ass, and again raises the bar for PC audio equipment.  All joking aside, this system just plain kicks ass, lets get that out in the open.  For people that don’t care to read the whole review, stop here, get in your car, or better yet truck, and grab a set from the local retailer.  Now for the detail oriented people, let’s take a look at what makes the Z-680’s tick.

Features

• True Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround sound with built-in hardware decoding
  
• Dolby Pro Logic® II decoding creates a 5.1 soundfield from two-channel sound sources
  
• THX® certification ensures top sound quality
  
• Connects to PlayStation®2, Xbox™, DVD players, satellite receivers, PC sound cards, and more to deliver immersive gaming and movie experiences
  
• Home-stereo style connectors use standard gauge speaker wire
  
• Four stylish satellites stand on desk or mount on wall to provide smooth mid and high frequencies
  
• Center channel speaker rests on your monitor, on your desk, or mounted on the wall
  
• Magnetic shielding in speakers protects your equipment
  
• Internal power supply eliminates bulky wall adapters
  
• Removable cloth grills on satellites deliver improved sound and variable aesthetics
  
• Wireless remote control, batteries included
  
• Uses regular stereo speaker wire (included)
  
• Two-year limited warranty

Specifications 

• Total output power:  505 Watts RMS
  
• Subwoofer power output:  188 Watts RMS
  
• Satellite speaker power output:  317 Watts RMS (62 Watts RMS per channel for satellites; 69 Watts RMS for center channel)
  
• Total peak power: 1000 Watts
  
• Maximum SPL: 114 dB
  
• System frequency response:  35Hz - 20kHz
  
• Input impedance:  10,000 ohms
  
• Shielded satellites for use near video monitors

Source Inputs

• (1) digital optical for DVD or CD player, PlayStation 2, Xbox*, or PC sound card (requires optical cable, sold separately)
  
• (1) digital coaxial for DVD or CD player, or PC sound card (requires coaxial cable, sold separately)
  
• (1) 6-channel direct (3 stereo-mini connectors) for 2-, 4-, or 6-channel PC sound cards
  
• (1) Analog stereo-mini for portable CD, MP3, or MiniDisc® player

Overall, an impressive list of features.  As you will see, though, the Z-680 is one of those rare cases where the total package is worth more than the sum of the parts.

Surround for the Desktop

Video cards have been the big news in the gaming industry since the introduction of the Voodoo cards several years ago.  Advances in video quality and effects offer gamers detail unheard of just two years ago.  While ultimately the video market usually catches the headlines, the audio performance of the PC has also risen to previously unheard of levels.  We have seen the rise of 3-piece systems, 4-piece systems, and now 5.1 PC systems are making it into the mainstream with offerings like the new Altec Lansing 5100.  As users continue to push the limits of the PC home theater system, the 5100 steps up to bring high quality 5.1 audio, without the high price tag.  Priced between the massive 641 System and the 4100 4.1 System, the 5100’s offer gamers solid sound at a reasonable price.

Official Specs from the Altec Lansing website:

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  73 Watts Total Continuous Power RMS (4×7W Satellites; 22.5W Center; 22.5W Sub)

  
  
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  100 Watts Total Peak Power

  
  
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  Ported, Dual Subwoofer Drivers

  
  
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  6-speaker surround sound system

  
  
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  High Performance Micro Drivers

  
  
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  Full-Function Digital Controller

  
  
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  Headphone Jack

  
  
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  Auxiliary Input Jack

  
  
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  Cast Alloy Stands

  
  
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  Color-Coded Cables

The system features six speakers; four satellites, one center channel, and one subwoofer.  The satellites are typical Altec Lansing, with distinctive style, and a very small desktop footprint.  The speakers include integrated alloy stands, for both the satellites and the center channel.  Each of the four satellites features two 1″ neodymium micro drivers in a vertical arrangement.  Each speaker is treated to small crossbar to prevent accidental contact with curious fingers or other objects, something Apple should consider with their odd system speakers.  The alloy stands are quite heavy, and keep the speakers firmly in place on the desktop.  The individual speakers are labeled by position, and have permanently attached, color coded wires.  We would have liked to see wire posts for custom wiring, but given the low price of the 5100 system, this omission is not a terrible problem.  The satellites connect to the subwoofer by way of brightly colored  RCA-type plugs.  The satellites are wired with more than enough cable for the average user, and soldering additional wire would be possible if absolutely necessary.  The system does not come with wall brackets for the rear speakers.

The center channel speaker is similar in size and appearance to the satellites speakers.  The center speaker is oriented horizontally, and features a small attachment to change the speaker angle for desktop or monitor-top placement.  Like the satellites, the wire for the center channel is permanently fixed, and features a color coded connector.  The center channel receives 22.5W, slightly more than the satellite speakers.

The heart of the 5100 system is the subwoofer, which features dual 4″ long throw drivers.  The two drivers are arranged horizontally in a nicely styled cabinet.  The rear of the subwoofer enclosure hides the speaker inputs, Aux input, main power switch, Center channel mode switch, and wired controller input.  The selector switch for the center channel mode can be set to Center Mix On or Off, enabling or disabling the center channel.  The system amplifier is housed in the subwoofer enclosure, as is typical of PC sound systems.  The subwoofer is ported, to maximize the bass response from the smaller 4″ drivers.  The enclosure features wooden construction, with decorative plastic base panels to match the stylized look of the alloy speakers stands. Altec Lansing includes the necessary connectors to attach your gaming console the Aux Inputs on the 5100, adding more to value of this system.

The wired controller closely resembles the unit that ships with the high-end 641 system, and brings all of the necessary controls to the desktop.  A small alloy stand keeps the controller in place when not in use, and matches the styling scheme of the satellites.  A power button, Tri-Mode selector, volume knob, bass/center, and treble/rear selectors.  The Tri-Mode selector is used to choose between the three sound modes of the 5100 system; Stereo X2, 4.1, and 5.1.  In Stereo X2 mode plays the front input through the front, rear, center, and subwoofer channels.  This mode is ideal for music or simple stereo sound, with the added advantage of a room filling 6-speaker output.  The 4.1 mode makes use of the front and rear inputs, mixing the center and sub woofer output from the two active channels.  The 5100 is a 5.1 system, and this is the mode where the system shines.  When connected to a 5.1 capable sound card, the system transforms your PC into a full surround sound experience.  This mode offers five separate channels for maximum spatial effects during movies and 5.1 enabled gaming.  Hidden on the top edge of the controller is a headphone jack, for that personal gaming time when the full force of the system is not needed.

Installing the system is a simple color-matching affair, attaching each of the speaker wires to the appropriately colored port.  The 5100’s include a manual and quick connect poster, detailing the installation process for those not familiar with making the connections.  We had the system up and running with our Game Theater XP in less than five minutes.

Testing speakers is subjective, and based largely on the listening preferences of the reviewer.  It is also hard to compare two different sets of speakers, since most people cannot remember with absolute clarity one speaker system to the next.  For our review of the 5100 system, I placed two of our test systems in the same room, and arranged three different speaker systems for direct comparison.  The comparison systems were Altec Lansing’s own 641 4.1 system, and the Logitech Z-560 4.1 system.  Both test PCs were running identical sound cards, and the speakers were arranged to get the maximum sound quality from each system.  Our testing covered three common PC tasks; Gaming, DVD Playback, and Music, along with a battery of sound quality tests courtesy of Telarc’s Surround Sounds CD.  Each test was run on both system simultaneously, and we were able to simply switch between the competing systems for instantaneous comparison.

Altec Lansing lists the 5100 System under their PC Gaming category, so this was where we started our testing.  We ran the system through several hours of our latest online favorites, Battlefield 1942 and Unreal Tournament 2003, before settling in for the moody atmosphere of Alice.  With all three titles, the 5100’s satellites produced very clear, precise sound fields.  The smallish subwoofer managed to provide just enough bass to rattle the table, but not overwhelm the highs and mids of the satellites.  The speakers produce solid midrange, despite the size of the satellite/center channel drivers, and the subwoofer seemed well matched to the power output of the system.

For DVD playback, we opted to use Star Wars Episode I, Duel of Fates sequence (Darth Maul versus Obi Wan).  Power DVD in 5.1 mode was quite good, and again we found the satellites and subwoofer to be a good match.  While the 5100’s will not create the same ear-damaging sound of the more expensive 641 system, the overall sound is of a high quality and more than enough for the small dorm room or individual viewing.  The 5.1 effects were displayed well in this test, and the addition of the center channel was very obvious when compared with the 4.1 systems.  Dialogue was most noticeably improved by the center channel, which was to be expected.

Music playback on the 5100’s was average.  The overall sound quality was good, but the lower power and smaller subwoofers didn’t quite keep up when the volume was high and the bass heavy.  Rap and dance music pushed the sub to it’s limit, although other types of music less dependant on heavy bass tracks fared much better.  At less than maximum volume, the 5100’s performance was excellent for a desktop system, and should far exceed the requirements of the average user.

We completed our testing with a barrage of 5.1 effects from the Telarc Surround Sound CD.  This CD offers music, sound effects, and surround sound tests to push a system to limits.  Moderate volume levels, like those typically used by an individual sitting at a desk, produced the best performance from the 5100.  Pushing the volume to excessive levels introduced some distortion, but this was generally loud enough to be uncomfortable to the user as well.  As with the other tests, we found that the 5100’s didn’t produce wall-shaking, pounding sound.  Instead, the 5100’s offer crisp, clear music, spectacular gaming audio, and true 5.1 DVD playback, for well under $200.  Don’t get me wrong, these speakers are loud, just not neighbor-calling-the-cops loud like the bigger, more powerful 4.1 systems out there.  For the PC user that wants a sound system that can do it all, without the $400 price tag of a high-end system, the 5100’s are definitely a system to look at.  They sound great, look just plain cool, and the price is about the same as a good 4.1 system.

Z-560’s baby brother

Let’s be honest with ourselves for a minute here, ok?  Hardware review sites, us included, tend to review the latest and greatest on the market.  Our review of the Logitech Z-560 was one fine example; we paired the outstanding THX-certified Z-560’s with the expensive Hercules Game Theater XP sound card, creating an excellent PC sound system with a $350 price tag.  The fact is, not all of us can afford to spend that much money on speakers and sound cards.  Many of us have kids, wives that don’t understand our obsession, a mortgage, car payments, you get the idea, right?  Thankfully Logitech understands, too, and they offer a kickass set of speakers for the gamer that wants to have enough cash to send his kids to college, without suffering through tin-can speakers.   

The Z-540’s are the mid-range speakers in the Z series, coming in with a meager $79 price tag.  Like the more expensive Z-560, the Z-540 is a 5-piece speaker system, featuring four satellites and a subwoofer.  Being the mid-range unit, the 540’s power rating is lower than the 560’s, but don’t let the seemingly diminutive wattage fool you, this unit can wake the neighbors with the best of them.  

As the images reveal, the 540’s share the distinctive styling of the 560’s, black with silver stands and subwoofer trim.  The satellite speaker stands are reversible for use as wall brackets, and are easily removed with a single large screw on the rear of the speaker housing.  The image below shows the bracket reversed for wall mounting:

A total of 40 Watts RMS is divided between the speakers, 20W for the subwoofer and 5W per satellite, with a system frequency response of 35Hz - 20kHz.  The subwoofer utilizes a unique “dual chamber” design that allows the speaker to generate up to twice the bass of conventional designs.  Our media kit included a very informative article about the subwoofer design, and I thought the information was actually pretty interesting, so I am going to pass some of the knowledge on to you, our valued readers whom we love so much.  If you look at the Z-540’s sub, you would assume it is an 8-inch driver, right?  So how could 20 Watts power an 8-inch driver and make it sound good?  This is where the engineers at Logitech got busy.  The secret is that the subwoofer actually uses a 4-inch driver.  Yes, you read that right, a 4-inch driver.  But wait, I said the speakers were LOUD, how can this be you ask?  How about we copy an image from the press kit:

Inside the sealed subwoofer box, we actually have two chambers.  The 4-inch driver creates the bass, and the sound is shot into the second chamber via the driver itself, and the small port at the bottom.  The bass is then reproduced by the Pressure Driver, which is reacting to the pressure created by 4-inch driver, effectively creating the same amount of bass as a true 8-inch driver.  The Pressure Driver is constructed much like an actual driver, only without the magnets and springs to move the cone.  The Pressure Driver also serves to filter out any distortion or high-frequency noises that may be present, allowing only clean bass to be heard by the listener.  Of course this is just the abbreviated description, but it gets the point across.  The whole box is tuned and built to maximize the bass output of the driver, and overall I think the engineers have done an excellent job.  I had to contact Logitech to make sure I was reading this right, because the bass from the 540’s seemed too good to be from a small 4-inch driver.

The satellites are ported, each with a single driver.  The speaker wires are permanently attached to each speaker, with RCA-type plugs running to the rear of the subwoofer.  The front right satellite houses the power switch, volume control, fader, M3D controls, as well as the front and rear input wires.  The 540 does not have a headphone jack, which is something of a bummer for guys that play games late at night while the family is asleep.  A single mini-DIN connector from the front right satellite attaches to the subwoofer, completing the installation.  The sub’s power cable does not have the ugly wall-wart type plug, either, much to the relief of my overworked power strip.  The bass is controlled with a knob on the rear of the subwoofer cabinet; we would have preferred the control be on the satellite, but in this price range we cannot expect all of the comforts of the high-end systems.

400-Watts of gaming goodness

Earlier this year, we were given the chance to review Logitech’s Xtrusio DSR-100 speakers, and we liked what we heard.  While not quite at the level of the ear-bleeding Klipsch Pro Medias, the Xtrusio DSR-100’s were solid speakers for gaming and desktop media.  Somebody at Logitech obviously didn’t like being second to the Pro Media’s, and the new Z-560’s are here to challenge the crown for best 4.1 PC speaker system.  The Z-560’s represent the high-end of Logitech’s Z-series, boasting a wide range of features and sound quality that is absolutely phenomenal, yet still priced a full $100 less than the Klipsch Pro Media 4.1 system.  Interested?  You should be.  High quality speakers can completely change the way you look at computer gaming and movie playback, taking your PC audio system to levels close to that of a home theater system.  We’ve had the Z-560’s connected to our gaming rig for a couple of weeks now, subjected to everything from DVD playback, MP3s, to many, many hours of loud gaming.  Was I impressed?  That would be an understatement.  We broke out the Klipsch Pro Media 4.1’s, and a set of Logitech Xtrusio DSR-100’s for a little comparison testing, and prepared to make some noise, neighbors be damned.  Before we get to the test results, here is a quick rundown of the Z-560’s features and specs:

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  THX Certified 4.1 Surround Sound System

  
  
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  M3D Matrix Technology

  
  
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  Subwoofer with 8″ driver

  
  
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  Four satellites with aluminum phase plug

  
  
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  400-Watts of power (188W Subwoofer, 53W each Satellite)

  
  
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  SoundTouch Control Center

  
  
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  Wood subwoofer enclosure

And a look at our test system:

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  Abit KT7A-RAID

  
  
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  Athlon 1.1GHz

  
  
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  Hercules Game Theater XP

  
  
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  256MB PC150 SDRAM

  
  
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  Ricoh DVD/CDR-W

  
  
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  Windows 2000 Professional

Taking the speakers out of the box, I could not help but be impressed with the quality and shear size of the Z-560.  The subwoofer cabinet is slightly larger than the Pro Media, housing the 8″ long-throw sub and the system amplifier.  The back of the subwoofer cabinet is dominated by cooling fins for the amp, and also features spring-type connectors for the satellite speaker wires.  The cooling fins on our model were squared at the ends, but we were told the actual production units will be cut at an angle to remove the sharp edges.  The SoundTouch Control Center plugs into the back of the subwoofer as well, using a PS/2 type connector.  I like having all of the wires routed to the sub, but I would have had the connectors across the bottom of the sub box, rather than down the side.  This would have made tucking the wires a little easier.  Ok, I’m getting a little picky here, but it would have been a good idea though.  Perhaps I have a future in PC peripheral ergonmics.

The satellites each contain a single mid-range driver, with a unique aluminum phase plug in the center.  The speakers use rubber surrounds rather than cheap foam, and the phase plug is extremely solid, not thin like one would expect.  The speaker grills are removable, for the people that like to see their speakers in action.  I found the satellites produced a slightly more crisp sound with the grills removed, as well.  Logitech used post-type connectors to attach the speaker wires to the satellites, which gives the user a variety of connection possibilities, as well as the option to invest in higher quality wire.  The included wire should be ample for most users, but Logitech should be commended for allowing users to add longer/higher grade wires as needed.  Each satellite also includes a stand, that can be removed by way of a single thumb screw.  Inverting the stand converts it to a wall bracket, leaving the user with several different options for speaker placement.  All of the audio controls are contained in the SoundTouch Control Center, so the front speakers are not limited to the desktop.  The THX logo is splashed prominently on the speaker grills and the speaker itself, for the brand and logo conscious users.

The SoundTouch Control Center contains the volume, master power, fader, bass, and M3D controls, in a compact desktop box.  The unit comes with a small stand that allows the box to sit flat or on its side, similar to the configuration used by Iomega on their ZIP Drives.  The power button is backlit in green when switched on, and the volume knob glows blue (very cool).  Along with the controls, a headphone jack is included with the Control Center.  The jack is active with the main speaker power off, while still allowing volume adjustments with the main control knob.  

For movie testing, I opted to use the Star Wars Episode I DVD; given the THX certification of the Z-560’s, it seemed like the obvious choice (for more info on THX, check out the official site here).  From the opening sequence to the closing parade, the Z-560’s were flawless, even at extreme volume levels.  The bass was incredible, booming from under the desk in ways I had only previously heard in home theater systems.  The satellites provided very crisp, clear highs, and smooth midrange, with no detectable distortion or hissing.  The surround sound was excellent, filling the room with a convincing movie-theater atmosphere.  Now if I could just talk my wife into a 50″ plasma screen, my computer room would be complete.

Gaming on the Z-560’s was pure audio bliss.  I loaded several of my favorites; Counter Strike, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Quake 3, and even a little Nascar Heat, and let the Z-560 shake the plaster from the walls.  Rockets exploded with enough force to rattle my monitor, and the whistle of the falling shells in RTCW gave me that “I’m going to die” feeling.  Racing in Nascar Heat reached new levels of realism for PC gaming.  The visual sensations of the graphics and force feedback effects of the Thrustmaster Nascar Pro wheel, combined with the over-the-top surround sound of the Z-560’s was nothing short of amazing.  For me, it was as close as I will ever get to turning laps at Daytona.  The only drawback with speakers this good is the urge to play them loud.  Neighbors and spouses can get annoyed, and hearing loss is permanent.

Logitech’s M3D Matrix Technology is a surround sound simulation, that plays stereo sound through four speakers.  It can be switched on or off with a button conveniently located on the Control Center.  We toyed with the M3D on both movies and games, and found it to be generally well executed.  I switched the DVD playback to a 2-speaker mode, and then enabled the M3D technology.  The simulated surround sound was very good, rivaling the actual 4-speaker mode.

Looking at speakers in general, the general design has not changed in a very long time. Speakers for the masses are usually just some “compound” of voice coils and cones. There have been some advances in new designs that we can all appreciate. I had the opportunity to review a set of the Benwin GX-6 flat panel speaker set. Just looking at them made me ooh and ahh.
Benwin has come out with a nice product that won’t break the bank the way some other manufacturers will. With their flat panel systems, I can appreciate my computer even more. Whether it be playing game or listening to music, a nice sounding set of speakers will make the difference.

Specs from www.benwin.com : 

• Subwoofer Unit
  Total Power output: 18W (rms) 

• Frequency Response: 20-105Hz 
• Driver: 5.25″ Woofer 
• Impedance: 4 ohms 
• Dimensions: 7.5″ x 8.5″ x 6″ (W x H x D)
  Weight: 6.25 lbs. 

• Satellite Unit
  Total Power Output: 5.5W + 5.5W (rms) 

• Frequency Response: 180-18KHz 
• Driver: NXT Flat Panel Technology 
• Impedance: 4 ohms 
• Dimensions: 5″ x 8″ x 3.25″ (W x H x D) (including protrusions)
  Weight: 1.4 lbs with cable
  Power Source: 100V AC 50/60Hz
  Adapter Power: 12V DC 1.5A 
• MSRP: $49.99 

The GX-6 speaker set comes with two flat panel “satellite” speaker and an adequate sub. Very simple installation. Plug a cable into your “speaker” out port of your soundcard, plug the other end into the sub, and plug the two “satellites” into the sub, turn it on, and you are ready to go. I like the way all the wires interconnect in one place, easier to keep all the wires together, and keep the mess to a minimum.

On the right speaker we have the power switch, bass control, volume control and “3D” sound control. One thing I missed, was no “plug” for headphones, which would have been nice. Other than that install and setup was a snap.
After getting everything running, I decided to play some Q3 and see how much different it sounded than my old Altec Lansings.
What a difference, I heard echoes, screams, falling gun shells and the faint “monastery” music in the background. Something I was missing. In “3D” mode, the experience was even better, it was almost like sitting in my living room with my 5.1 system blasting from all directions. Almost, but not quite. The sounds were very clear, with the volume about 1/3 turned up. I have these Benwins hooked up to an Xgamer (no 5.1). Within the first five minutes, I was sold on the crispness and clarity the speakers give playing games. Not to mention the thump of the sub when I blasted a few rockets down some guys throat!
Now the subwoofer does not use the NXT technology flat panel system. It uses the conventional voice coil and cone type.
For a 5 1/4″ sub in an enclosure, it sounds really good. Low throaty bass that can be adjusted via the controlling knob on the right speaker. good for when the little one is asleep!

To try and explain the technology Benwin uses in their flat panel speakers, I have included a little info on how these things work. 

Now, you’ll find that there are tons of different sets to choose
from. Labtec has long been a major player in the PC audio scene. I
recently went to a local computer show and picked up the LCS-2414
speaker set. This is a low-cost PC audio system, but they sound quite
good.

Before I go into this brief review, let me first say that any
speaker review is quite objective. There are no benchmarks or
performance stats for speakers. It is purely up to your ear to decide.
When buying speakers, don’t let price be the deciding factor. Always
trust your own ears, regardless of what the reviews say.

Now, onto the review…

The Facts

Here are the specs:

• Frequency response: 40Hz-20kHz
• Power output: 25 watts RMS: Subwoofer - 15 Watts; Satellites -
  10 watts, (5W + 5W)

• Speaker impedance: 4 ohms
• 4" Max-X^™ high-excursion subwoofer, and two
  2" shielded Max-X^™ satellite speakers

• AC adapter: UL/CUL or CSA approved
• Cord length: 9′ to each satellite speaker

The Good

The LCS-2414 is a superb low-cost speaker system. Now, you might
get the impression that when I say "low-cost" that I mean
they are "just good for the price". Well, this is true, but
truly, the sound quality is excellent. The high pitch tones and treble
is quite clear the the bass is full and clear. On high volume, the
sound really doesn’t crack much as the cheaper speakers often do.

Another thing I like is the size. Since the sub-woofer features a
wooden enclosure which is bottom-ported, it is designed to go on the
floor or some other inconspicuous area. The two satellites are quite
small and take very little room on the desk. They are both angled
upward to better direct the sound at the listener. The right satellite
is the center of the system, featuring the volume dial which is quite
easy to manipulate.

The Bad

The wiring setup for this speaker system is unnecessarily
complicated, leading to a huge mass of wires, which most of us don’t
need as we already have too many. Fortunately, Labtec has color-coded
the plugs so that a moron could get plug the right wire into the right
hole.

The sub-woofer is not magnetically shielded so you have to be
careful putting it close the your computer or the monitor. The
satellites, though, are shielded.

These are no audio adjustments on this speaker system. The bass is
not adjustable, other than through your computer. Some systems have a
volume knob on the sub…this one doesn’t.

The AC adapter is HUGE.

My Take

This is a good speaker system. Due to its size, you can’t expect to
throw a block party with these things and the bass will not shake the
room in any respect. But, for the size and price, the sound quality is
excellent. For sitting in front of your computer, the sound is great.
The sound put forth by the satellites is directional, so really they
are best for sitting at your desk. There is very little hiss and
little sound distortion.