Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
 A Portable Speaker System with Very Smooth Sound Quality September 24, 2009
Lawrence H. Bulk (New Jersey USA)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
I am very pleased with this Logitech Speaker System Z320 (Black). This is the first Logitech product I have ever owned and I am impressed.
Now I must mention that the star rating I give takes into account the size of the speakers, their cost, and the purpose for which they were designed. Overall, within their category, these are, in my opinion, 5-star speakers.
For their size, cost, and portability, they produce absolutely amazing sound quality, among the best I have heard in such small external computer speakers. Are they my absolute favorites in computer speakers? Well, no - the Altec Lansing Expressionist-PLUS FX3021 2.1 Speaker System remain that (they are 2.1 speakers after all, they take up much more room, and they cost more than these Logitechs) - but the Logitech ones are, right now, a VERY close second.
I have mine placed on a cabinet with the speakers about 40 inches apart (the connecting cord between the speakers is approximately 72 inches) and they are about 6 inches in front of a back wall. For best sound quality, and this is VERY important, they should be placed as close to a rear wall as is practicable. This will offer the most bass reinforcement - and small speakers such as these need all the reinforcement they can get.
This placement allows the speakers to perform well, in my opinion. They produce excellent treble and midrange and the bass, while certainly not "bone-shattering," is more than adequate when taking into account just what these speakers are.
With no subwoofer, you are not going to "feel" any bass but you CAN hear the note(s) being played. So far I have played two pieces through them - the first was MÁ VLAST [My Fatherland] by Bedrich Smetana in the performance by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by James Levine. This was an MP3 which I encoded from the original CDs at 128 kbps VBR and was, of course, played from my computer (an Acer Extensa 5620-6419 running Ubuntu [Linux] v. 9.04). The second item I played is one of my favorites (and one of my reference sound discs): Holst Suites 1 & 2 / Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks / Stars and Stripes (Stereo Hybrid SACD). This was played through an Insignia NS-P4112 portable compact disc player (about twenty dollars at Best Buy) and, while it's just a fair player at best, it is worth rather more than its selling price, at least in my opinion.
The first selection sounded absolutely excellent via these speakers. The second selection (which was the CD layer of the hybrid SACD disc) sounded quite good except for the famous bass drum. Now of course it is unfair to play such a disc through speakers such as these but I wanted to give the a good test. I have to say that, for their size and price, they came through with flying colors.
From my listening to these two selections, I can confidently state that these speakers will bring a lot of pleasure to anyone who requires speakers in this category. Do they sound as good as my Klipschorns? Of course not - but then I can't take my Klipschorns on a trip - or even out into my back yard! I CAN take these along (and, from my admittedly limited - so far - audition, these can play VERY loud so they should work fairly well outdoors).
Are there "nits?" You bet - No. 1: why, oh why, do portable {computer) speaker manufacturers insist on hard-wiring their speakers together? While a six-foot separation is often adequate, there are situations in which I should like to separated the speakers even further. (The bass response would certainly be improved, though it still wouldn't be "great," if I could place them in the corners of my room.) I wish manufacturers would allow attaching their speakers together via 3.5mm stereo cords. With that option, the owner could separate the speakers to any reasonable length desired.
No. 2: I wish these speakers had covers for their drivers. Removable covers would be ideal. I am always afraid of damage occurring when drivers are not protected in some way.
No. 3: I wish these speakers had treble and bass controls. While I have found their balance to be excellent, it is always better to be able to adjust these parameters should the occasion arise.
No. 4: I wish these speakers imaged somewhat better. I was quite surprised at this slight deficiency, considering the size of the speakers. If I were to separate them to their six-foot maximum, the imaging might improve. Now I do have to mention that this particular "quality" is relatively unimportant to me personally. Others, however, might wish for more and better imaging quality which is why I mention it.
However --- the above four "nits" are just that - nits, VERY minor quibbles in a low cost, high quality, and VERY versatile speaker system. As a slight bonus they are, in my and my wife's opinion, very good looking.
Now I have to admit that I read the four reviews posted ahead of mine and I must say that I'm quite surprised that the other reviewers did not like these as much as I do. Fingerprints on the cabinet? That, in my opinion, is a non-starter. Why would you touch your speakers with dirty or oily hands? Just wash them first and there will be no fingerprints! (Or, should it be necessary, you could use a slightly damp paper towel to remove any stray fingerprints which did find their way onto your speakers! - And yes, we have a 2-year old granddaughter who visits us and spends time at our house.) No bass? What would anyone expect from small portable speakers with tiny drivers? There is no way to cheat on the laws of physics, they being immutable. A recessed headphone jack? Well, that might be important to some people, but not to me. Why would one want to listen to headphones via these speakers anyway? Just unplug them and plug your headphones into the output jack of whatever source you're using! (I really do not understand why some manufacturers put a headphone jack on their computer speakers; you have to attach a sound source via a 3.5mm headphone or line output jack anyway so there is really no need to have the speakers operating just to listen via headphones and I would rather see the money spent elsewhere, such as connecting jacks for speaker separation as I mention above. I'm sure that some, perhaps many, will disagree with me.) Distortion at very loud levels? Read my comment above regarding "no bass."
As I stated at the beginning of this review, I am very pleased with this Logitech speaker system. I believe that anyone in the market for such small portable speakers will also be pleased. Their price is right and so is their performance (not even to mention their excellent construction quality which is described at length in another review) and this is why I give them, wholeheartedly, five stars.
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Update: September 25, 2009
I listened to many pieces of music yesterday; the total listening time was about eight and one-half hours. I used various sources: my computer and my portable CD player, as noted above, and, later, an older cassette tape player (Optimus SCP-32). In all cases the sound quality was exemplary. (I also have the capability for playing LPs through these speakers with one of my spare Technics SL-Q200 turntable in conjunction with a Behringer PP400 phono preamp; one of these days when I can overcome inertia ... )
I experienced no listening fatigue at all - and, for me, that is one of the main positive attributes of any speaker system.
If anyone reading this is considering a small portable amplified speaker system with excellent sound quality and at a low price, I urge that person to buy these. If you buy them from Amazon and, for some reason, do not like the speakers, you can always return them for credit or refund.
But if you are a thoughtful and careful purchaser, do your research thoroughly (and even audition them if possible), and if your tastes in music are similar to mine (classical, some acoustic jazz, and some Broadway/Hollywood musicals as well as some music from motion pictures) - in other words, music in which the sound is minimally processed - I believe that you will NOT ever return these Logitech speakers and that, in fact, you will like them as much as I do.
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Update: September 29, 2009
I mention this in a 'comment' to this review but I'll repeat it here: the more I listen to these speakers (and I have been listening extensively since I obtained them), the more I like them. They produce SUPERB sound quality. This morning I was listening to an internet radio station [Classic FM, a UK classical music station] and they played, among other selections, The "Toccata" [the fifth movement] from the Organ Symphony No. 5 by Charles-Marie Widor. If you know this piece, you know it has some DEEP organ tones. It is a piece which will really show off your audio system (if it is of high enough quality to thus being shown off!) and these Logitechs acquitted themselves just fine. Could I "feel" the lowest notes? Definitely NOT - see the sixth paragraph in my review above - BUT I COULD hear all the notes. I'll say it again - this is amazing performance in a speaker system this small (and low-cost). Frankly, I have never heard its equal.
It remains my firm opinion that, if you are a discriminating music listener, you will truly admire these speakers and you will be VERY pleased with them. I certainly am!
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Update: October 5, 2009
Some may call me a Luddite but I firmly believe that the best sound quality obtainable today still comes from vinyl LP records. If you are not of such a mind, then you need read no further. But if you are, well I have to tell you that today I have attached a spare Technics Quartz Direct Drive Automatic Turntable System SL-Q200 through a Behringer Ultra-Compact Phono Preamp PP400 to these Logitech Z320 speakers and the system sounds just GREAT! (And don't let anyone kid you - this phono preamp is very, very good and there is NO hum whatsoever with it. I believe that all those who complain about hum need do is to reverse the plug in their electrical outlet or, at the very least, ensure that their outlet is correctly grounded AND that they have their turntable's ground wire correctly attached to the phono preamp's ground connection point!)
I have thus far played several LPs and as I am writing this I am playing Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op.27 played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yuri Temirkanov [Classics for Pleasure CFP 41 4508 1] and the sound really has to be heard to be believed! CDs, MP3s, even cassette tape all pale before the sound I am hearing right now!
I was going to try the turntable/phono preamp with my Altec Lansing Expressionist-PLUS FX3021 2.1 Speaker System and I still may do so tomorrow or the next day, but having heard the sound these Logitechs produce, I am in no hurry to try anything else.
Believe me, these are positively the best speakers of anywhere near their size that I personally have ever heard. The proof is in the pudding, that 'pudding' being called Long Playing records.
These Logitech Z320 speakers sound superb with all of the LPs I have played thus far. Therefore, in my opinion, they will sound superb with anything you choose to play through them.
As I mentioned above in the main part of my review, you cannot and must not expect deep gut-wrenching bass. These are small speakers, each with two 2" drivers and a small port. You cannot get around the laws of physics; no such small speaker can reproduce the deepest tones which come easily to much larger ones. Everything depends, of course, on just what you want out of your speakers. You can have small and portable (with good sound, as here) or you can have deep and powerful bass but you CANNOT have both in the same speaker. It's just a fact of life! (You will HEAR most of the bass tones but you will NOT feel them with these Logitech Z320 speakers.)
However, all that being said, I strongly recommend that anyone reading this far buy them. In addition to offering first-class sound quality and great portability, they offer excellent value for money. Obviously I really like mine very much and I truly believe that you won't regret the purchase.
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Update: December 8, 2009
I have now owned these speakers for about two and one-half months and I listen to them every day. With many speakers, after the first glow of ownership has worn off, many people become tired of them and wish to move on.
In my opinion, this will NEVER happen with these Logitech speakers. As I noted originally, the sound is VERY smooth. I often play them for many hours at a time and I never experience so-called listener fatigue. As a matter of fact, the only thing I experience is pure joy at the quality of the sound they produce.
These speakers, being amplified, will make an excellent second (or, if you're somewhat cash-strapped, first) hi-fi system. They would be especially appropriate for a bedroom or other regular-sized room in your house. They would also be excellent for use in a second home. Giving a pair of these to a child would be appropriate also as they would acquaint that child with what good sound sounds like - and they would do so at small cost.
They sound really good with any source with which you wish to use them.
Now you must realize that they will not replace really high-end speakers such as my Klipschorns. Yet I personally do not regard listening to the Logitechs to be a major step down from those Klipschorns for the situations in which I use them (the Logitechs) - playing mp3, aacplus, or FLAC music files, some CDs, and internet radio (and even, as I mentioned, LPs, though I frankly shall not use them too often for that purpose; LPs demand the best in reproduction so, for them, I shall continue to use my higher-end systems).
But considering the quality of sound produced at the price charged, I cannot praise these Logitech Speaker System Z320 (Black) too highly.
I continue to give them my highest recommendation. Thank you for reading this. I hope it has been informative and will help you in making a purchase decision.
An awesome pair of speakers for everyday use - fantastic sound for the price November 18, 2009
G. Dada (Austin, TX)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Let me start by saying I consider myself an audiophile. I am listening to these Logitech speakers in my studio where I have a Carver high-end amplifier and a pair of B&W studio speakers.
After opening the box, I was first impressed by how beautiful these speakers are. Stylish, modern but not over-the-top. They have a simple and elegant design with black luster finish. The exposed speaker cone gives them a unique look too.
I was originally concerned about the lack of a front cover to protect the exposed cone. In reality the chances of the speakers being hit by something are pretty slim unless you plan on bringing them along with your laptop everywhere you go.
My past experience with Logitech products has been very positive, but you don't think of them as speaker manufacturers. My two other sets of PC speakers are Altec Lansing and Harman Kardon.
The sound quality is excellent for speakers in this price range and size. This means you should not expect the super deep bass that only a subwoofer can deliver (under 100 Hz). If you need speakers to plug into your computer for the music at your next party you should probably look elsewhere. However, for everyday use, I doubt you can find a better set of speakers.
While many speaker manufacturers claim surround sound, these little speakers actually deliver. I don't know how they do it. Music comes out with a spatial richness that is pretty amazing.
The sound is crystal clear, with excellent tonal separation and range from treble to midrange to a very respectful bass. Combined with the WOW effects standard in Windows Media Player, the musical experience is very rewarding.
I am enjoying U2's The Joshua Tree being played in these Logitech speakers as I write this. Vivaldi was very enjoyable. I also played some Enya, which sounded fantastic due to the 360 sound.
Great sound even at high volume October 5, 2009
Michael G. Lustig (NJ USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have Logitech 2.1 speakers on my laptop and that's what I'm comparing these speakers to. The sound quality is good even at relativley high volumes -- unlike the 2.1 speakers. Compared to my logitech 2.1 speakers, the base isn't as powerful. The speakers reproduce mid-range and high-range tones very well. These speakers look very nice and I would recommend them as a great value for the price.
Sounds great to me! October 14, 2009
Leslie Ann Lewis (San Antonio, Texas)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
My husband downloads pod casts for us to listen to together and sometimes that can be a real chore. We have a small set of computer speakers, but the quality of sound from them is a little touch-and-go. I was hoping these speakers would be better, but I never expected them to blow the other speakers out of the water. They were easy to hook up and position - no engineering degree required! - so I was able to set it up quickly and start using them right away. The sound quality is excellent and consistent. Neither of us has had a problem hearing and understanding the hosts of the podcasts, a problem we have frequently had before and attributed to the podcast itself rather than the speakers.
I also tried it out with a little music and found that it works well there too. We set these up in our bedroom about three feet apart and maybe 4-5" from the wall. The sound quality is excellent and I highly recommend these, especially at this price.
Great sound for music lovers!! October 10, 2009
Rizzo (Denver, CO)
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
Wow, I love the sound of good speakers! Granted these won't compare to my Bose on my new computer, but I have put these on an older computer. One note, don't put these on a very old computer, you won't get the sound it produces. I tried an old computer and ditched it for that reason.
The two speakers are attractive, sleek design with cords that are long enough for moving around and hooking up in all those hard to reach places if you have a computer armoire.
The only reason I use speakers is for the music! Strictly for the music, and I get the feel of the 360 degree sound. It eliminates that limited sound from a limited spot.
Raising the sound volume is great, however, maybe it applies to certain music also, but you can get a little distortion the louder the music goes. I think that has to do with the quality of music, more bass, not sure.
For better and private sound, attach to the earphones. You can hear the music instruments nice and clear. Excellent sound!
Although there is only one button for sound volume, you cannot adjust if you have too much bass in a song. Then, turn the volume down. Also, in the back of the speaker set, you have clear view to the actual speaker, feeling the vibration. Maybe to prevent excess dust or accidental damage it should have a cover.
I love these speakers!!
And, for the price, they are excellent. I can play this pretty loud and you get that all-around sound! ..... Rizzo
Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
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