Logitech Z-5300e 5.1 THX-Certified Speakers Review

Logitech’s Z-5300e speakers provide some very good sound for movies, games and music.  While it has THX certification, this 5.1 speaker set isn’t necessarially audiophile quality.  The bass unit does a fantastic job of moving alot of air and delivers a decent amount of LFE for its size, but feels a bit loose.  While this loose bass adds some impressive “umph” to movies and games, music listeners may want a tighter, punchier feel to their tracks.

The build of the speakers are average, constructed completely from plastic, and has permanently attached cable, which end up being a little too short.  The wired remote is a definate improvement over Logitech’s previous generations, but this little taste will leave you wanting the features of more expensive systems (which include wireless remote, optical in, and twice the pricetag).

The inputs are analog only, which is fine if your soundcard will decode Dolby Digital or DTS onboard.  Those with Vista may be out of luck, as Creative’s X-fi drivers for Vista still do not support onboard decoding (as of October 2007) , but do support SPDIF passthrough.  Xbox 360 or PS3 owners should look for a set that decodes Dolby Digital.

This speaker set is great for the PC gamer, as the wired remote is within easy reach.  While the sound these speakers produce is good enough for home theater, the lack of wireless remote does not make this set suitable for the living room.  These speakers are a great value if you consider the amount of quality sound you get for the price.  If you can live without those last few critical features, then this speaker set is a steal.

	REPORT CARD : Logitech Z-5300e THX Certified 5.1 Speakers category rating comments Quality 3 Speaker build quality is marginal, but produces very good sound. Innovation 4 Wired remote design much better than previous generation, but still has some issues.  Good amount of bass for the size. Performance 4 Very good high and bass performance, but a little loose.  Bass sometimes doesn’t keep up with the volume. While very good, audiophiles may have a problem. Installation 4 The hardwired cables are just too short to be routed properly in an average room.  Color-coded cables make it a little easier. Value 5 Bottom line: it produces very good sound and can be had for around $150.  Not bad for THX bass-shakin’ goodness. FINAL VERDICT: 4 out of 5 stars