Logitech Z-640 6 Speaker Surround Sound System

Inputs include a stereo analog (left/right) RCA pair and multi-channel analog inputs for decoded surround sound from any four- or six-channel sound card (or audio/video surround receiver).

The satellites are powered by 7.3 watts each, and the center channel, which handles up to 70 percent of most surround mixes, gets 16.3 watts. Logitech's innovative, dual-chamber subwoofer delivers twice the bass energy of similarly sized subwoofers, and the company's use of an internal power supply obviates the bulky wall adapters found on many surround systems.

All speakers are video shielded to allow distortion-free placement on or around your monitor, and the satellite speakers--imbued with easy-position rotating pedastals--may be mounted on stands, your desktop, or the wall. The system is covered by a two-year warranty. A handy supplied adapter ensures instant connectivity with gaming consoles.

What's in the Box
Four satellite speakers, one center-channel speaker, one subwoofer, requisite speaker cabling, one adapter cable for hookup with video-game consoles, and a user's manual.

As usual, Logitech did a first class job on packaging the speakers. Everything arrived in great condition all protected in plastic bags to avoid any cosmetic flaws. Unpacking and set-up of the speakers was very easy -- all of the plug/cables are clearly marked and the cables are of reasonable length (important for the rear channels).

The performance of the speakers is good, especially considering the price range. They are a bit light on the midrange but for most computer applications (ie. games!) this is not an issue. The subwoofer is incredible -- I have to keep the sub set to minimum (there is a knob on the sub itself) since I live in a townhome with shared walls. I just popped a Techmaster P.E.B. audio CD in (a CD that is VERY heavy on the bass - commonly used in car audio competitions) and the sub does a wonderful job of reproducing the extremely low frequencies.

The high-range is good, as one would expect from satellites of this size.

All of the controls are positioned on the center channel speaker and include a Volume, Power, Fader, Center, and Matrix (for if you don't have a 5.1 soundcard) knob/button. The satellites stand on nice matte aluminum stands. The sub is probably around 10 inches cubed, with the speaker exposed on one side (behind a grille) and all of the connections on the opposite side. Cosmetically, these are nice speakers.

So, for the price, I cannot complain. Compared to my previous set of Logitech speakers (Soundman Extreme) and other speakers I have listened to, my only complaint is the midrange reproduction. Other than that, if you are a gamer or a basshead, these speakers will please you.

Mike


Great value for money   October 11, 2003
BuzzCut (WA USA)
64 out of 67 found this review helpful

I just picked these up after seeing a deal at Amazon. I read all the prior reviews on this site and was left with a realistic set of expectations.

Pros:
Great price
Good build quality
Solid bass
Great high end

Cons:
Mid range a little weak
Bright blue LED on center is just plain stupid
Bass control on sub - would be better on the center with all the other controls

Note: I have these connected to an Audigy 1 sound card.

Setup:- system was very easy to connect up due to color coding but the packaging and tape over the wires was a pain to try and remove - that took longer than the connections. The build quality of the components seems good and the cable lengths were about right for the way I needed to set it up. However the blindingly bright blue LED on the center is just plain stupid and I had to put electrical tape over that within the first 5 minutes.

Sound quality:- I play games, listen to some music and watch some DVDs. It was clear to me that the default settings on my setup gave a less than stellar sound and required a fair amount of tweaking. Once the settings were correctly configured the sound went from "merely ok" to "very good".

I agree with reviewers that have said the system is a little weak in the mid range but it is not so bad that it detracts greatly from my enjoyment of the system.

Music is good, movies are very good and games are excellent through these. Battlefield 1942 through them is an entirely new experience compared to the (good quality) stereo+subwoofer speakers these replaced.

Bass is sufficient for a small to medium sized room, the highs are clear and the channel separation is good. Mid range is a little weak.

Clearly you can get better quality but not until you go up to 3 or 4 times the price.

Overall summary is that these are great speakers and well worth the money - I would recommend them to anyone and I think they will keep me happy for a few years.


Excellent speakers for the price   July 8, 2003
Ivan K. Samuelson (Hilliard, OH USA)
29 out of 30 found this review helpful

I wanted a set of speakers that I could eventually use with a 5.1 surround sound system away from my PC. Testing out various speaker systems at a local computer shop, the Logitech Z640s had the best sound for the best price - $... with a $... rebate.

I was already looking at eventually getting a Sound Blaster Extigy to use as my Dolby converter, but with the Logitech Z-640s, it has the "Matrix" surround option which simulates surround sound from 2-channel sources. I was actually impressed with how well it could simulate surround sound. In many areas of movies, it actually worked! However, once I obtained the Extigy, I can attest that nothing can take the place of true Dolby Surround decoding. However, for those on a low budget, the Z-640s with the Matrix surround sound is an excellent buy.

The stands on the two front and two rear satellites allow to you either leave the speakers standing on a table or mount them to the wall. The center speaker's stand only gives you the option of leaving it on top of your monitor or TV set. It allows only two positions: angled up or angled down depending on whether it's placed below or above your listening level. I do wish it allowed mounting to a wall, since that is where I have my front speakers and the center channel should always be inline with or slightly behind the two front channels.

The sub-woofer pounds out the bass so well that my wife is constantly telling me to turn it down! From our rec-room in the basement, she says she can hear it up in our second-floor bedroom. Now, that's some powerful stuff!

Hooking up the speakers is pretty simple. The satellites hook into the subwoofer. From the woofer, another cable comes out with the standard lime-green (front), black (rear) and orange (center/subwoofer) connectors for 5.1 sound cards. Logitech provides a connector that allows you to hook up the speakers to a 2-channel source and utilizing the Matrix option, you can get simulated surround. The front and rear connectors hook in on one side and on the other are standard RCA jacks so that you can take the audio-out of a DVD player or game console and hook it up directly to the speakers. That is an excellent move on Logitech's part. The power supply is internal, so no bulky power supply block is needed to plug into your outlet which can take up space.

The rear speaker cables only allow about 10 feet, which wasn't enough for me. The wires would be running across the floor, except I went and purchased a pair of RCA extension cables and that fixed the problem real well with no degradation of sound.

All the controls are placed on the center speaker EXCEPT for the bass control, which is inconveniently placed on the back of the subwoofer. For me, it's not that bad as the subwoofer is not out of place. But, for those that love to hide it behind furniture in the corner of the room, it could be a problem. The controls on the center channel consist of the power button, volume control, fader, center channel volume and the Matrix button.

The look of the speakers is pretty slick and professional looking. I haven't had any problems with distortion of sound nor interference with the TV.

For the price, this is a definite buy for those people on a budget, but who want some great-sounding speakers. Other people who are more particular with the way their sound system works would probably do better looking elsewhere.

If you want to spend some more money, there are other speaker sets out there that have Dolby Digital decoding built in, but some are over $...(THX certified) while others are around $... (Dolby Digital only), but I don't know how well they sound.

The best thing to do is shop at a store that has the speakers set up for testing so you can determine for yourself if they are the right choice for you.


Awesome sound at a great price!   June 10, 2003
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

I just hooked these speakers up to my Sound Blaster Audigy 2 soundcard and all I can say is WOW! I've played games, music, and DVD's at deafing volumes and these speakers stay clean. I can't believe how hard the sub hits, the highs are great, and the mids are full. The controls on the center speaker are very handy as well, especially the headphone adapter for late nite gaming sessions.

One thing I learned was to dramatically improve the bass response was go into the audigy 2 settings and set the low-pass filter to 20hz. The speaker specs don't claim to go this low, but I can hear and feel the sounds way down there!


An OK intro 5.1 system.   July 20, 2003
Scott Williams (Austin, TX USA)
16 out of 29 found this review helpful

This system is OK for those who are on the cheap and want to upgrade to a 5.1 sound solution. However, there are much better alternatives out there, for a little bit more to pay. And as I'm about to expose, you get what you pay for.

The main factor detracting from this product is weak bass. This comes as a result of the included 4" LABTEC Subwoofer Driver. Yes, you heard correctly, a 4 inch driver. My brother purchased the system and wasnt happy with the bass at all, so we took the subwoofer assembly apart. Lo and behold, behind the Plastic and Cardboard that makes it appear to house a 8" Driver, there is a wimpy 4" cleverly disguised. The low-end manufacturer Labtec is clearly stamped on the driver. Feel free to pry yours open, if you don't believe me.

I hope this isnt a sign of what is to come from audio products. They should advertise what the product truly is, and not try to cover it up with cardboard and plastic. Shame on you logitech for this cheap trick.