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...Read more›
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Logitech Compact Speaker System Z320 for NotebooksProduct Description: The Logitech Speaker System Z320, coming through loud and clear. You don't listen to music from just one place, so you'll enjoy a great sound all the way around the room thanks to 360 -degree sound. Get a full range of sound in a small package - perfect for your notebook computer.
Buy cheap Logitech Compact Speaker System Z320 for Notebooks now
I've long been looking for a truly portable (battery capable) set of speakers for my iPhone that actually have good sound.iHome delivers!For its size and cost, the sounds is among the best I've heard.No, you're not going to get thumping bass from a speaker like this - some sacrifices have to be made for the size.That said, this speaker can get quite loud with good tone and no (or very minimal) distortion at max volume.I also like that it comes with the AC adapter and an auxiliary line cord (for hooking up other equipment) included.It also charges your iPhone/iPod while docked when it's on AC power.When away from power, the 4 AA batteries last quite awhile as well - even at medium volumes (which is pretty loud for this speaker).I'm still trying to kill the original set after about 6 hours of continuous music playback.
