Logitech Z5500 5.1 Speakers

[M]

I've wanted to get a nice set of 5.1 speakers for a while now after having a low budget set of Acoustic Solutions (with Optical connection), I'm not really looking to spend lots on seperates, recievers, rear and front etc

So, I have looked up for a set I can just plug & play from the box and come across the z5500's from Logitech, does anybody know much about these?

I've seen good reviews but I don't want to just buy them if they don't support all possible audio from the PS3 and Blu-Ray which is mainly what I would like them for, along with some gaming when I have the time.

If they support all forms of audio that I can throw at it then I will most likely buy these soon, but I wanted to ask you guys first as I knew this would be the best place to ask.

Any other suggestions are welcome for other speaker sets.

Edit: I see with a little search on Google that this set of speakers might not support PCM 5.1, but I don't know if that is 100% true.

[azncarbos]

The Z-5500 is awesome system. It will support Doby Digital and DTS. There are some Con I don't like about the Z-5500. First is the speaker cable connection are RCA rather then speaker cables. The speaker stand dose not come off. The sound is just awesome! If you can look for older model Z-680, which are the same but look different.

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by azncarbos

The Z-5500 is awesome system. It will support Doby Digital and DTS. There are some Con I don't like about the Z-5500. First is the speaker cable connection are RCA rather then speaker cables. The speaker stand dose not come off. The sound is just awesome! If you can look for older model Z-680, which are the same but look different.

The z5500 do not use RCA cables (at least mine doesn't), it uses speaker wire. Via optical it will not play any lossless codecs in anything but 2 channel (due to bandwidth issues. However they do have analgue in so if you can get a signal to there analogue in (the three wires) from a device that has a dac capable of decoding a lossless audio track, then they can play lossless tracks (they just cant decode them).

There great bang for your buck, but if you're a movie enthuisiast you will want to upgrade from them sonner or later.

[WriteSimply]

Try Sony's HT-SS360 for US$317 on Amazon. It'll give you lossless audio with your PS3 unlike the Logitech. You can also connect your cable's digital audio there as well as other DVD players and consoles.



fuad

[M]

I have been looking at the Sony HT-IS100 for a while but I don't know what to think of the reviews

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Try Sony's HT-SS360 for US$317 on Amazon. It'll give you lossless audio with your PS3 unlike the Logitech. You can also connect your cable's digital audio there as well as other DVD players and consoles.

fuad

I looked on google and these speakers don't seem to be released for around a month.

I'm still quite unclear on what exactly I'm looking for, just something that will play PCM and everything else.

Edit: A quick look on Amazon's page suggests the Z5500 speakers can use PCM?

PCM (uncompressed stereo): 44.1 kHz / 16 bit through 96 kHz / 24 bit

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Dig...4890840&sr=8-5

Is this the same PCM or are the various forms of PCM sound?

[zanderol24]

i had a set of these pretty good considering the price. logitechs customer service is 2nd to none which is also worth pointing out.

very little room for adjustments however

at the right price though go for it

[zanderol24]

Originally Posted by M

I have been looking at the Sony HT-IS100 for a while but I don't know what to think of the reviews




I looked on google and these speakers don't seem to be released for around a month.

I'm still quite unclear on what exactly I'm looking for, just something that will play PCM and everything else.

Edit: A quick look on Amazon's page suggests the Z5500 speakers can use PCM?

PCM (uncompressed stereo): 44.1 kHz / 16 bit through 96 kHz / 24 bit

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Dig...4890840&sr=8-5

Is this the same PCM or are the various forms of PCM sound?

pcm quoted by logitech

http://forums.logitech.com/logitech/...thread.id=9481

[M]

I think the Sony HT-IS100 set might be good to get, considering all of it's connections and I have read it supports 5.1 PCM audio.

I'm also not too sure if HDMI cables can use audio?

For example, I have a HDTV with HDMI connections, but if I connect HDMI to the sub, would I get the sound from my TV coming out of the speakers?

If possible I would like to have the TV sound come out of the speakers also which would be ideal but I mainly want a set which can support PCM 5.1.

[Johk]

Originally Posted by M

I think the Sony HT-IS100 set might be good to get, considering all of it's connections and I have read it supports 5.1 PCM audio.

I'm also not too sure if HDMI cables can use audio?

For example, I have a HDTV with HDMI connections, but if I connect HDMI to the sub, would I get the sound from my TV coming out of the speakers?

If possible I would like to have the TV sound come out of the speakers also which would be ideal but I mainly want a set which can support PCM 5.1.

HDMI cables carry both audio and video streams.

The proper hook up would be to connect an HDMI cable from the source (i.e. blu-ray player) to one of the 3 HDMI inputs of the HT-IS100 and then connect the HDMI output of the HT-IS100 to the HDMI input of your display. Then set the player to output LPCM (if the player supports internal decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA) and you should be good to go.

Also a word of advice, I would strongly recommend saving up and getting a decent receiver/set of speaker instead of going the HTIB way. Check out this thread for basic systems.

[M]

Originally Posted by Johk

HDMI cables carry both audio and video streams.

The proper hook up would be to connect an HDMI cable from the source (i.e. blu-ray player) to one of the 3 HDMI inputs of the HT-IS100 and then connect the HDMI output of the HT-IS100 to the HDMI input of your display. Then set the player to output LPCM (if the player supports internal decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA) and you should be good to go.

Also a word of advice, I would strongly recommend saving up and getting a decent receiver/set of speaker instead of going the HTIB way. Check out this thread for basic systems.

Thanks for the advice, I don't want anything too expensive as it would just be a waste, but I deffinately want something that'll be easy to setup and ready soon after it's out of the box.

I have a 32'' HDTV and a PS3 which I would like to connect to a set of 5.1 speakers, at the moment I only have the PS3 connected to a set of Optical Speakers which is great for the PS3, but I would like if possible to have the TV audio come through the speakers.

Having looked a little more and finding a few more reviews on the Sony setup I was looking at, I don't think that's such a good idea either now since a few people say it's not very good and the size of the speakers makes the sound pretty bad.

So many choices, I really don't know what to go for, the prices I'm looking at are around £200-£300, trying not to go over that.

[zanderol24]

why not pick up this sure its dirt cheap in the US

Onkyo HTX-22HD heard it and its very very good considering

[zanderol24]

Originally Posted by M

Thanks for the advice, I don't want anything too expensive as it would just be a waste, but I deffinately want something that'll be easy to setup and ready soon after it's out of the box.

I have a 32'' HDTV and a PS3 which I would like to connect to a set of 5.1 speakers, at the moment I only have the PS3 connected to a set of Optical Speakers which is great for the PS3, but I would like if possible to have the TV audio come through the speakers.

Having looked a little more and finding a few more reviews on the Sony setup I was looking at, I don't think that's such a good idea either now since a few people say it's not very good and the size of the speakers makes the sound pretty bad.

So many choices, I really don't know what to go for, the prices I'm looking at are around £200-£300, trying not to go over that.

just realised your in the uk buy the onkyo can be picked up with the extra 3 speakers for £350 worth it imo

[M]

Originally Posted by zanderol24

just realised your in the uk buy the onkyo can be picked up with the extra 3 speakers for £350 worth it imo

I'm not to sure about the look of it, but it's more what it can do than anything and how clear it is which I am interested in most.

I've never gone about buying seperate parts of sound systems before to create a whole 5.1 system, so any help is much appreciated in that area.

Would you be so kind as to try and find some kind of deal in the UK for me as I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for?

Thanks again Zanderol.

[zanderol24]

Originally Posted by M

I'm not to sure about the look of it, but it's more what it can do than anything and how clear it is which I am interested in most.

I've never gone about buying seperate parts of sound systems before to create a whole 5.1 system, so any help is much appreciated in that area.

Would you be so kind as to try and find some kind of deal in the UK for me as I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for?

Thanks again Zanderol.

better looking than the logitech dont forget i have seen and heard both- the onkyos better

try here http://www.ballicom.co.uk/audio-visu...m.p388210.html then buy the extra 3 speakers from anywhere rrp is £99

heres a picture of the fronts setup gives an idea- you now have no excuse, also its not separates as the sub incorporates the amp/receiver you would normally have to purchase

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/4162

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/4174 enjoy. also if you do decide to change the onkyo has built in codecs for true hd and dts hd ma the logitech hasnt as it can only take fibre optic

cheers

oh also the onkyo has audyssey

which is worth the money alone or info http://www.audyssey.com/

[M]

Originally Posted by zanderol24

better looking than the logitech dont forget i have seen and heard both- the onkyos better

try here http://www.ballicom.co.uk/audio-visu...m.p388210.html then buy the extra 3 speakers from anywhere rrp is £99

heres a picture of the fronts setup gives an idea- you now have no excuse, also its not separates as the sub incorporates the amp/receiver you would normally have to purchase

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/4162

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/4174 enjoy. also if you do decide to change the onkyo has built in codecs for true hd and dts hd ma the logitech hasnt as it can only take fibre optic

cheers

oh also the onkyo has audyssey

which is worth the money alone or info http://www.audyssey.com/

So in short, these handle all and any audio streams from BD's?

That's a little more than I was willing to go, I was trying to stay at around £250-£300 but maybe I could do this at some point.

I appreciate all your help and I'm sure there will be more questions to follow sooner or later.

Edit: I knew I would forget something; are there any threads around here that have suggestions about speaker stands or wall mounting etc

[zanderol24]

this can handle all current formats. for an extra 30 quid you.d drop a bollock buyin the logitech, as for stands check out ebay i picked up some mission ones for £20 quid bargain. now make a decision the choice i have given is the best for your price.

[M]

Originally Posted by zanderol24

this can handle all current formats. for an extra 30 quid you.d drop a bollock buyin the logitech, as for stands check out ebay i picked up some mission ones for £20 quid bargain. now make a decision the choice i have given is the best for your price.

I'm soaking in the information you've provided like a sponge, I usually know all about these kind of things but unfortunately never had much experiance with sounds/speakers/connections and all of that kind of thing.

I think I will be going with the HTX-22HD system however I just thought of something, does it come with a remote control?

I've googled up for a remote, but not so sure it actually has one which would be a down point if it doesn't.

Edit: I see some sites say "Remote Control Supplied", yet I can't find a photo of one.

[zanderol24]

Originally Posted by M

I'm soaking in the information you've provided like a sponge, I usually know all about these kind of things but unfortunately never had much experiance with sounds/speakers/connections and all of that kind of thing.

I think I will be going with the HTX-22HD system however I just thought of something, does it come with a remote control?

I've googled up for a remote, but not so sure it actually has one which would be a down point if it doesn't.

Edit: I see some sites say "Remote Control Supplied", yet I can't find a photo of one.

defo has a remote once again i have seen it

[M]

Thanks, the only problem now is I'm finding it hard to find an online store that actually has them in stock in a reasonable price.

Eurotekhsm.net seems to have them in stock, I'm awaiting an email, some sites seem to suggest they arn't released in the UK yet but that seems like BS.

I notice the site you suggested has them in stock, but I would like to knock a little more off if possible, otherwise I'll be waiting a little longer.