M Jarve
10-15-2008, 02:09 PM
My never ending quest for high fidelity for my computer has taken me to yet another set of speakers. As we left off previously, I had taken in an Advent AV-290 2.1 channel system, and while I have generally high regard for its build quality, the overall sound left something missing- mostly due to poor integration between the subwoofer and satellites. That, however I could live with, given that I don't often listen to music on my home computer, and it performed well enough on the sorts of things I do listen to on my computer: clashes and bangs from games.
There was, however, the infinitely irritating issue of the auto-mute/power off cutting out the sound during sneaking missions in caves. Unless I had background music cranked and playing constantly (throwing off the immersion of the game), I would be unaware of the footsteps behind me indicating a troll was about to knock off my head.
So, I called up my ever helpful and eager to sell vendor about what new-fangled speakers he had to offer, and what he might recommend. If they worked well with music, all the better. He recommended a set he had purchased for himself, the Logitech Z-2300.
In terms of computer speakers, these are on the mid-high-end of the price/performance spectrum, much akin to Denon or Yamaha in the current audio world. Their only real price/performance competition was the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system, which has since been discontinued.
The Z-2300 system is also THX certified, for what it is worth. From what I understand, the THX specification for multi-media sound merely indicates that a maximum SPL and frequency response can be achieved, but says nothing about the relative quality of the sound. Still, it is supposed to be a Good Thing™.
The amplifier is specified for 200-watts RMS output, divided up as 40-watts to each satellite and 120-watts to the subwoofer. Before even listening to them, I opened up the speakers to see what makes them tick.
The sub uses a single 8-inch driver with a very large, unshielded magnet that looks a good deal like the old Heppner woofers found in the green-cone DLK model 1-1/2's. The cabinet is made up of 5/8-inch thick MDF, and is well braced. There is a large bass reflex port that turns at a 90-degree angle internally, and is flared on both ends. The subwoofer also houses the three amplifiers used in the system. All are LM-something or other chip-amps, four in total. I am assuming that they are stereo units bridged to mono, one for each satellite and two bridged together for the sub. The chips and board are mounted to a generously large external heatsink. The power supply consists of a large toroid transformer, a heavy-duty FWB rectifier, and two 35V/10,000uFd capacitors.
The satellites use a single driver each, a roughly 3.5-inch full-range driver in a sealed enclosure, with a stationary metal phase-plug. The enclosure looks ported, with a generously flared opening immediately above the driver, complete with a bit of foam dabbed in, but the internal side is, sadly, closed. It baffles me as to why Logitech would go to such lengths to pretend the satellite enclosure is ported. Surely, the effort could have been better spent elsewhere. I can only surmise that this was a mid-run production change and that at some point in the past the satellites were actually produced as a ported enclosure. The enclosures are made of molded plastic and feel kind of light and cheap for a system with high-end aspirations.
Finally, there is a wired remote control that is simple and intuitive to operate. There are only three controls- Master Volume, Sub (Bass) level, and a power switch. The power switch is of the soft-power variety, meaning that if you actually want to power down the system, you need to use the toggle switch on the sub. There is a headphone jack in the remote that automatically mutes the speakers when phones are plugged in.
Installation was easy enough, but because of the large, unshielded motor structure on the subwoofer, you must keep it well away from your computer or CRT monitor.
The system is quite good sounding, overall. The sub-sat integration is much improved over the Advent system, though not quite as seamless as it was with my old Yamaha setup. The satellites are a bit rolled off on either end of their designated spectrum, requiring a boost of +4dB at 16kHz and +2db at 8kHz, as per my iTunes equalizer, but mids and bass are all balanced enough.
The subwoofer is obviously the star of the show, and the most effort went into its design it would seem. Bass is very powerful with excellent impact and a good sense of speed. It can, in it's current location, get a little boomy at some frequencies, but they are in a range where it contributes to the gaming experience (though lowers the musical one, except if you want boomy bass for electronic music). Unfortunately, the speaker and remote cords are too short to offer much placement flexibility.
The satellites are surprisingly good, aside from a roll off on the high-end. Vocals are clear without any undue coloration, and stringed instruments are crisp have a nice “live” quality to them.
All and all, its musical capability is good, and seems to justify the price relative to other computer speakers, but for about the same price, if you have the space, you may be better off with a set of bookshelf speakers and a decent midrange A/V receiver if music is of high importance.
Gaming audio performance is another matter. In this regard, the system is nearly incomparable. Explosions are deafening and shake the whole room. Bullets whiz by your head. And I can hear a troll sneaking up behind me from a mile away. Spatial cues and imaging are excellent. The speakers also resolve detail well enough that I can differentiate amongst many different sounds simultaneously.
I give the system high marks overall. Musical performance is about as good as you can get for a multi-media sound system, and for computer/gaming use, it is without equal for the price and size.
There was, however, the infinitely irritating issue of the auto-mute/power off cutting out the sound during sneaking missions in caves. Unless I had background music cranked and playing constantly (throwing off the immersion of the game), I would be unaware of the footsteps behind me indicating a troll was about to knock off my head.
So, I called up my ever helpful and eager to sell vendor about what new-fangled speakers he had to offer, and what he might recommend. If they worked well with music, all the better. He recommended a set he had purchased for himself, the Logitech Z-2300.
In terms of computer speakers, these are on the mid-high-end of the price/performance spectrum, much akin to Denon or Yamaha in the current audio world. Their only real price/performance competition was the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system, which has since been discontinued.
The Z-2300 system is also THX certified, for what it is worth. From what I understand, the THX specification for multi-media sound merely indicates that a maximum SPL and frequency response can be achieved, but says nothing about the relative quality of the sound. Still, it is supposed to be a Good Thing™.
The amplifier is specified for 200-watts RMS output, divided up as 40-watts to each satellite and 120-watts to the subwoofer. Before even listening to them, I opened up the speakers to see what makes them tick.
The sub uses a single 8-inch driver with a very large, unshielded magnet that looks a good deal like the old Heppner woofers found in the green-cone DLK model 1-1/2's. The cabinet is made up of 5/8-inch thick MDF, and is well braced. There is a large bass reflex port that turns at a 90-degree angle internally, and is flared on both ends. The subwoofer also houses the three amplifiers used in the system. All are LM-something or other chip-amps, four in total. I am assuming that they are stereo units bridged to mono, one for each satellite and two bridged together for the sub. The chips and board are mounted to a generously large external heatsink. The power supply consists of a large toroid transformer, a heavy-duty FWB rectifier, and two 35V/10,000uFd capacitors.
The satellites use a single driver each, a roughly 3.5-inch full-range driver in a sealed enclosure, with a stationary metal phase-plug. The enclosure looks ported, with a generously flared opening immediately above the driver, complete with a bit of foam dabbed in, but the internal side is, sadly, closed. It baffles me as to why Logitech would go to such lengths to pretend the satellite enclosure is ported. Surely, the effort could have been better spent elsewhere. I can only surmise that this was a mid-run production change and that at some point in the past the satellites were actually produced as a ported enclosure. The enclosures are made of molded plastic and feel kind of light and cheap for a system with high-end aspirations.
Finally, there is a wired remote control that is simple and intuitive to operate. There are only three controls- Master Volume, Sub (Bass) level, and a power switch. The power switch is of the soft-power variety, meaning that if you actually want to power down the system, you need to use the toggle switch on the sub. There is a headphone jack in the remote that automatically mutes the speakers when phones are plugged in.
Installation was easy enough, but because of the large, unshielded motor structure on the subwoofer, you must keep it well away from your computer or CRT monitor.
The system is quite good sounding, overall. The sub-sat integration is much improved over the Advent system, though not quite as seamless as it was with my old Yamaha setup. The satellites are a bit rolled off on either end of their designated spectrum, requiring a boost of +4dB at 16kHz and +2db at 8kHz, as per my iTunes equalizer, but mids and bass are all balanced enough.
The subwoofer is obviously the star of the show, and the most effort went into its design it would seem. Bass is very powerful with excellent impact and a good sense of speed. It can, in it's current location, get a little boomy at some frequencies, but they are in a range where it contributes to the gaming experience (though lowers the musical one, except if you want boomy bass for electronic music). Unfortunately, the speaker and remote cords are too short to offer much placement flexibility.
The satellites are surprisingly good, aside from a roll off on the high-end. Vocals are clear without any undue coloration, and stringed instruments are crisp have a nice “live” quality to them.
All and all, its musical capability is good, and seems to justify the price relative to other computer speakers, but for about the same price, if you have the space, you may be better off with a set of bookshelf speakers and a decent midrange A/V receiver if music is of high importance.
Gaming audio performance is another matter. In this regard, the system is nearly incomparable. Explosions are deafening and shake the whole room. Bullets whiz by your head. And I can hear a troll sneaking up behind me from a mile away. Spatial cues and imaging are excellent. The speakers also resolve detail well enough that I can differentiate amongst many different sounds simultaneously.
I give the system high marks overall. Musical performance is about as good as you can get for a multi-media sound system, and for computer/gaming use, it is without equal for the price and size.