Hey guys,

Im on the virge of buying a new set of speakers... Obviously first on the list are the Z-5500's, but i was wondering what other options are there? Are there a set of creative speakers that can almost match the Z-5500's? I have a Creative X-Fi and wouldn't be able to connect the Z-5500's up thru optical or coax so was wondering wt other options i have.....

Is it a good time to buy Z-5500's? Cos they are quite an old product, is there anything new comin out soonish?

Thanks in advance for ur helps!

I have the Z5500s and they are fantastic, got them connected to the DVD player and STB in the living room.

There is a thread about the Z5500 vs some Yamaha HT unit here, check it out. Opinions seem divided though...

Why cant you connect the z5000 digitally to your sound card?

In terms of computer speakers Z-5500s would be the top. The popular choice atm for those wanting a bit more is the Yamaha YHT-185s or something like that.
/forum-replies.cfm?t=926712&p=1

Jebb writes...

Why cant you connect the z5000 digitally to your sound card?

Apparently most creative cards can't.... well they actually do, but only 2 channels, so 5.1 will not work :(

I'll check out the Yamaha unit, if its around the same price ($345 for the Z-5500D's) i mite be swayed to changin my mind! :P

EDIT: Those yamahas are like home theater speakers! sounds a bit lame but i won't have anywhere to put the amp :(
Probably stick with the logitechs and upgrade my sound card to a Auzetech one :P

daniel_viggen writes...

I'll check out the Yamaha unit, if its around the same price ($345 for the Z-5500D's) i mite be swayed to changin my mind! :P

$450 i think.

Those yamahas are like home theater speakers!

Hence sounding decent-ish

daniel_viggen writes...

Z-5500's

Will you use the speakers for games, music, movies?

Z5500 seem to polarize people, the speakers are either loved or hated with not much in between.

Z5500 are undoubtedly very powerful PC speakers and very good value for money.

Many people say the z5500 (and most other Logitech sets) exaggerate the treble and especially bass. I tend to agree with these people.

The z5500 also seem to blow the fuses fairly often.

Best is you *listen* to speakers before you buy, whatever it is.

daniel_viggen writes...

i won't have anywhere to put the amp

Would also not be able to fit amp/speakers into my study. Have a HT surround setup around a Yamaha amp in the living room and 2.0 studio monitor speakers in the study.

Will you be able to place the speaker in the appropriate direction/distance?

www.dolby.com/consumer/h.../roomlayout.html

In the “photos of your rig” threads you see that many place their 6 speakers all over their computer desks in front of them – which will *not* produce surround sound.

didnt want to create a new thread but i have the ASUS p5e board witht he SupremeFX II sound card and the board has 8.1 channel support how many speakers will work if i get 5.1 channel speakers (G51's) ? Will i need a sound card?

And which sound card would you recommend < $200 ?

Thanks

one thing to know about using optical(digital) connection is that it will bypass the soundcard's DAC and uses the speaker's. so getting a x-fi(and it doesnt even support DTS connect or Dolby digital live) and running digital with it is a waste IMO.

take note to get a sound card with DTS connect or dolby digital live to enjoy full 5.1 suround on everything or you would be limited to 2.1 on everything else that isnt DTS/DDL encoded

PeterM writes...

Many people say the z5500 (and most other Logitech sets) exaggerate the treble and especially bass. I tend to agree with these people.

I have the bass down low, the high bass is across all Logitech speakers Ive used...

The z5500 also seem to blow the fuses fairly often.

Everything Ive read says the fuse shipped with the 5500's are dodgy and crap, Ive replaced mine once (it was DOA because of it) and it has worked solidly since then.

z5500 ON SPECIAL AT CPL
www.centrecom.com.au/cat...roducts_id=18605

$349!

Akromatic writes...

take note to get a sound card with DTS connect or dolby digital live to enjoy full 5.1 suround on everything or you would be limited to 2.1 on everything else that isnt DTS/DDL encoded

That’s correct… but a bit confusing IMO. No offense please.

Obviously some sources are stereo = 2.0, eg music on a CD or an MP3 (I don’t think 2.1 sources are common). Other sources are surround = 5.1, eg DVD movies.

Pretty much all soundcards/onbaords – even cheapos - will take the signal and send it down the digital connection. Regardless whether it is 2.0 or 5.1.

So, using digital, you will get 5.1 if your source is 5.1. If your source is 2.0, it will be send to the speakers as 2.0 and if you have surround speakers, only front left/right will reproduce that sound.

I think the main point of your post is upmix a 2.0/stereo signal to surround, right?

Any decent HT amp can do that = upmix 2.0 to surround. If you use a HT amp you can probably live without a soundcard with DTS/DDL.

If you speakers cannot upmix, obviously the computer has to upmix and send a surround signal.

Now many onboard’s cannot upmix at all. (Some recent ones can.)

Creative (and other) sound cards cannot take a 2.0 signal, upmix to surround and send out via digital. Creative cards generally can upmix a 2.0 to surround and send a surround signal via analogue. (Creative calls this CMS-3D or something like that.)

Better soundcards (and some onboard in recent times) can upmix 2.0 to surround and encode this up-mixed 5.1 signal as DTS or DDL and send out via digital. If the speakers can decode DTS or DD, you will get surround.

However, with speakers that have a digital input, but cannot decode DTS or DD, you still don’t get surround sound.

(Eg my speakers have a digital coax and optical input, but cannot decode DTS or DD, but they are 2.0. Most 5.1 speaker will decode DTS or DD because people buy them to play DVD movies and they have DTS or DD soundtracks.)

I’m just saying that because this digital stuff is quite complex and I have certainly just started learning the stuff. People have to understand what each component can or cannot do and how a signal is passed on and processed to achieve things.

That’s unfortunately not always as easy as saying “just buy a soundcard that can do DTS/DDL and you’ll be right”. You need DTS/DD on the receiving end as well.

Thanks for all ur help guys!

I decided to go for the Z-5500's... as its mainly for gaming and music.. Picked em up for $345 from CPL which was the cheapest i could find!

Hopefully fuse replacement wont be needed... If it is DOA is it better to take it back to CPL or just change the fuse myself? (I'm not pluggin em in till fri..)

no offense taken, since this topic is naturally referring to the Z5500 and they have built in Dolby decoder so any sound card with DTS/DDL would be compatible.

expect around $100 for a standard soundcard with DTS/DDL

x-fi DO not support DTS/DDL, but its fine to use if you connect using the standard 5.1 channel outputs instead of spdif

$349! Christ almighy.

$410 buys you a pair, sorry, a PAIR of BRAND NEW powered studio monitors with THD of wayyyyy less than 0.5%.

Who in their right mind would pay three hundred and forty nine for a pair of bloody pc speakers?

Is there some crazy cult out there who thinks this is a good idea?

The 'D' stands for 'Deaf". ;-)

Wimmig writes...

Who in their right mind would pay three hundred and forty nine for a pair of bloody pc speakers?

not a pair but 6 speakers with an amp and digital sound decoder, they worth their price IMO, especially when you compare other home theater packages.

comparing studio speakers with home theater is like comparing apples and oranges, technically they are still fruit but different fulfillment

some are designed for pure music indulgence others are for surround sound for realistic effects

Wimmig writes...

$410 buys you a pair, sorry, a PAIR of BRAND NEW powered studio monitors with THD of wayyyyy less than 0.5%.

Who in their right mind would pay three hundred and forty nine for a pair of bloody pc speakers?

Plenty, but you forgot to mention the centre speaker, rear speakers, subwoofer, DTS decoder, Dolby Digital decoder, Dolby Pro Logic II processor, control panel, IR remote control, S/PDIF inputs and headphone output.

Wimmig writes...

Is there some crazy cult out there who thinks this is a good idea?

That's what I thought - it's a conspiracy!!

LOL, where is this thread going!!

I think MSY sells the z5500 for $350 all the time.

Akromatic writes...

x-fi DO not support DTS/DDL, but its fine to use if you connect using the standard 5.1 channel outputs instead of spdif

Not the OPs position I know, but the Prelude does I believe.

Just unpacked my Z-5500's and I found the speaker connections have the 2 wires that you have to put in urself, instead of normal component connections... I assumed that the component connections came with all the new Z-5500 systems... Should I return the speakers for ones with the newer connection?

Nevermind! They discontinued the single plug ones :P

daniel_viggen writes...

I assumed that the component connections came with all the new Z-5500 systems...

Since when did Z-5500s ever come with Coax connections at all?
Besides it's probably deliberate to have a more HT feel to it, lol. (or maybe people want to use their own better speaker wire)

Very very early versions of the Z5500 had RCA instead of speaker cables. But that has been discontinued many years ago.

So what?

I can think of maybe 1/1000 people have have a space which is correct for 5.1 instals.

2 channel 3 way active monitors will "throw" audio with more acc. than any consumer 5.1 system you can name.

There is not a single reason on this earth to use 5.1 without correct reflections that i can think of.

Centre speaker? - No need.
Rear speakers? - Are your rear relections correct for these?
DTS decoder? N/A All modern tech has this on board.
DDD? N/A All modern tech has this on board.
DPL2P? N/A All modern tech has this on board.
CP? N/A Only for people who lack braincells to press numbers.
IR? All modern tech has this on board.
S/DIF in? All modern tech has this on board.
Headphone output? All modern tech has this on board.

Only cheap ass i live with my mum audio has this an optional. Every-single-thing listed is stock standard on all home A/V gear.

Apart from Klipsch there is not a single reason on gods green earth to buy "PC" over "Home" audio.

Wimmig writes...

2 channel 3 way active monitors will "throw" audio with more acc. than any consumer 5.1 system you can name.

There is not a single reason on this earth to use 5.1 without correct reflections that i can think of.

dude you are missing the point of surround sound, if the OP is a audiophile then you are absolutely correct. surround sound has an entire different purpose to the monitor speakers you are suggesting.

the z5500 are good for gaming and movies where sound travels around your head(sound accuracy is not as important as sound positioning), where as monitor speakers(this is where the 3way speakers shine because it covers all of the frequency)are for music playback where you would want sound coming directly at you

this is not a PC audio vs home audio debate, pretty much all surround sound packages are similar to what the z5500 are(eg home theater in a box) and monitor speakers are in a totally different catagory

Ryo Saeba writes...

Very very early versions of the Z5500 had RCA instead of speaker cables. But that has been discontinued many years ago.

wow never knew this.

my Z560 also uses standard speaker cable with the 2 wires and screw connectors. this wire is a lot better anyway as you can upgrade to better or shorter length cables for your convenience too

What speakers are you referring to ? I'm contemplating as to whether to get the Z5500's or a good Stereo set of speakers, at around $400.

I would be obliged if you could give me some more info on these studio speakers you mention.

Kind Regards,
Jazz

Going for a song people!

Alesis M1 MK2 Active NearField Ref. Monitors. Around $350-$450 used and new. The M2's replaced them late last year. You can pick up new MK2's from audio shops both local and interstate for sub $450 a pair.

You will need to supply your own balanced PC > Balanced XLR cable for each speaker. Each speaker is ACTIVE. They both need to be connected to power points.

cgi.ebay.com.au/ALESIS-M...Z1QQcmdZViewItem

I state again,

There is no 5.1 solution for PC use which has the capability of out-performing a good set of near field monitors. None. Zero. Active monitors have the capability to throw audio into virtual fields. The reason why this is better than "5.1" is "PC 5.1" is not true 5.1, and has shocking THD which destroys the audio and presented fields.

Footsteps behind you? No problem. If you demand to stick with PC audio, then a set of Klipsch is the best around the same as $400 (shock, horror) Logitech's. They come in 5.1 ProMedias. The 2.1 ProMedias are also very good, and give fantastic value for money. Although the "UFO" mixer/wired remote leaves a bit to be desired.

Wimmig writes...

$349! Christ almighy.

$410 buys you a pair, sorry, a PAIR of BRAND NEW powered studio monitors with THD of wayyyyy less than 0.5%.

Who in their right mind would pay three hundred and forty nine for a pair of bloody pc speakers?

Is there some crazy cult out there who thinks this is a good idea?

i think you missed the point, you keep trying to tell everyone they are wrong and they should buy some studio monitors, last i checked the op isn't after a stereo setup, and i really don't think they plan on doing any sort of audio editing.

The is no need for a set of studio monitors for a basic computer setup, chances are they are listening to mp3's and playing computer games...

I'm quite sure Klipsch make a very decent 5.1 speaker set, perhaps google it?

There is no need for 5.1 without the correct room for it either. No need for it for PC games either.

If your going to throw large amounts of money away on excessive audio for no good need, and least get a good deal out of it in both quality and value.

Wimmig writes...

If your going to throw large amounts of money away on excessive audio for no good need, and least get a good deal out of it in both quality and value.

mate the op has already purchased the speakers, for a home pc setup they would be ideal, no need wasting money on a set of studio speakers which will do nothing but make your mp3s sound like crap do to them being to accurate!

have you had any experience in 5.1 pc gaming? let alone 5.1 gaming at all?

Wimmig writes...

There is no need for 5.1 without the correct room for it either.

You can tune most rooms for 5.1 anyhow. Stereo is WAY below 5.1 anyhow, eg no bass.

No need for it for PC games either.

Err? we dont all play 2d platformers anymore... Flight sims it kicks ass, infact most games its way better to have 5.1, it draws you into the game more.

If your going to throw large amounts of money away on excessive audio for no good need, and least get a good deal out of it in both quality and value.

I have Z-540s for my PC and 5500D's for my HT setup. Both work VERY well and are configured with Vistas inbuilt sound level calibration software, so it works VERY well for me.

Your saying that these speakers are crap for hte price and we should be spending ~200 PER SPEAKER or not bother? Were not the ones on drugs here...

Were not the ones on drugs here...
We're not were

PeterM writes...

LOL, where is this thread going!!

same place all z5500 threads go..

monitors vs pc speakers. *yawns*

Hellman109 writes...

Stereo is WAY below 5.1 anyhow, eg no bass.

Because a 2.0 = stereo system does not have a sub?

What’s your point, do you want to discourage people from checking out studio monitor speakers? Definitely nothing wrong with checking them out, if you ask me.

Monitor speakers are generally “full range speakers” and will produce the *appropriate* level of bass. I mean, the level of bass similar to what the sound engineer intended to be in the recording. That’s what monitor speakers are designed for = flat frequency response and truthful reproduction of the source.

PC speakers will have satellites that only reproduce mid/treble and a sub for the bass. Often PC speaker subs are designed to push out a *lot* of bass, because that’s what many people like. (But not all.)

I don’t doubt there are many happy owners of z5500 out there.

For some setups stereo is right for others a 5.1 is right.

For some people studio monitors will be right, for others PC speakers will be right.

It is just not a question of right or wrong, above or below, but a question what people like/need/want/can afford etc etc.

Now no-one feel offended please. This post is just intended to inform and not pour oil in the flames. (Enough flaming going on here.)

well, let's sum it up (or down) as appropriate ...

they are perhaps the most expensive computer speakers you can buy.
they are perhaps the least expensive home theatre speakers you can buy.

oh, what else...

1. the z5500's are and have been the apex of PC speakers for a long while, the basic cheap 5.1 kit with a dd/dts decoder, which alone usually costs $300-$500

the klipsch's make for better speakers, but they are prone to failure and they don't decode DD5.1 or DTS, just 6/8ch audio. if you have the X-Fi, the klipsch make great loud paperweight speakers too, if you can find a store with them. But, so do the other 8ch speaker kits.

2. the z5500's are not fabulous speakers, they are excellent speakers for the money and as a kit, are outstanding value. they are also quite loud, and the bass is quite boomy unless you muffle it with say, a couch, or a bookshelf, two floors of cement, etc. your neighbours probably get more out of the bass from the z5500's than you do, sic.

it could also be tweaked if you had a mind to to do it, but as they are, its an impressive "mediocre" speaker kit and to be honest, actually shames most kits when you get to stand in the same room and compare them. possibly why nobody puts them in the same room is that they do cost about the same to make as the yamaha/sony kits, but have a lower profit margin. or they are just not loungeroom speakers.

as posited by wiser men before me, Ambience sells speakers. if you added all the accoustic floor tiles to your walls and ceilings like the bose stores, even mobile phone ringtones would sound like they cost $4,000.

3. if you wanted excellent, fabulous, cheap speakers, the loudspeakerkit.com speakers for about $200 a pair would be astoundingly better, but you'd also have to get a DTS amp, and the woodglue's a pain to work with. unless you're a fan of IKEA or eBay, LSK's not the best way of getting cheap audio gear, but it is practical.

you'd also have to put in your own mesh for magnetic shielding to put next to a TV/PC. so, $1000 for a 5.1 kit setup with the real deal monitor speakers, decent wood panels, pre-tuned crossovers installed, plus $200 for a DTS amp 2nd hand, there's no comparison with that setup, it would shame most into inadequacy.

4. if you want, z5500's also make great ps3/xbox360 console speakers for a TV, in fact that's where mine are, and they work great for blu-ray's from the PS3, also xvid's and mp3's. also some games, apparently (as if)

4. if you buy a cmedia oxygenHD 8788 chipset audio card like the ht omega claro, blugears benspirer, razer barracuda ac-1, asus xonar, sondigo inferno or the x-meridian and other CMI8788 audio cards, they will output SPDIF coax/optical, encode 2ch stereo into DD5.1 / DTS, and up-cross-mix 6ch DirectX3D into DTS as well. though, most of this is just EAX 2.0 (old-school reverb) for the games side of things.

as for options, the DAC's on the z5500's are quite mediocre and do mellow out the sound, making DD5.1/DTS quite average with the default settings. hooking up all 3 pairs of wires from the PC to the z5500's might sound better than the SPDIF hookup, depends on the setup. most X-Fi users do this, but the X-FI CMSS crystaliser usually blunts the impact of any perceived improvement, you'd probably have to listen to both to make an informed decision.

the only other audio card to encode to DD5.1 are some of the other CMedia audio cards, and the Nforce2 onboard audio that became the xbox's audio chipset.

From what i hear, the cmedia/creative/auzentech hybrid, the X-Fi Prelude 7.1 fails at DTS/DD encoding, and if there's one thing creative fails best at, it's drivers. with the prelude being more epxensive, and not quite being ready, don't expect the Prelude to suddenly support DD/DTS encoding this decade, despite promises, just be surprised if it happens at all, or wait for the x-fi hacks to definitively fix it in a few months.

Toliman writes...

the bass is quite boomy unless you muffle it with say, a couch, or a bookshelf, two floors of cement, etc.

You're kidding right? The level control for the subwoofer is literally one button away. Press the level button on the control panel.

The bass is so easy to rein in that it's puzzling to see people claim it as a major disadvantage.

Fjord writes...

The bass is so easy to rein in that it's puzzling to see people claim it as a major disadvantage.

There are two issues with the bass - the quantity and the quality.

Even by turning the bass down (quantity), you will not give it more "speed" or definition, it will remain mushy.

Don't own a pair of z5500, but quite a few people say that even with the bass all the way turned down it is still too much.

Maybe these people are rather put off by the *quality* of the bass and the mix it up with quantity.

I would never say "don't buy z5500's", but it is always good advice that people *listen* to them before they spend hundreds. Because, clearly, z5500's are a bit extreme with the bass.

If people listen to them and don't mind the bass or even like it, great! We can not all have the same taste.

PeterM writes...

quite a few people say that even with the bass all the way turned down it is still too much.

I initially had that problem using on board sounds or the Audigy 2 ZS.

But after installing the Auzentech X-FI Prelude 7.1. The bass has become much better in quality. It's now much more tighter. Same with the treble and midrange.

Everything, especially the bass sounds much much better on real quality tracks that are in flac or HD CD or DVD Audio when compared to mp3.

PeterM writes...

Maybe these people are rather put off by the *quality* of the bass and the mix it up with quantity.

Perhaps they are but it's usually the level of bass that is mentioned and that is easily adjusted. I think it's wrong to assume people are put off by the fidelity of the bass when they actually only mention the level of the bass. Even in this thread you're comparing the level of bass:

PeterM writes...

Monitor speakers are generally “full range speakers” and will produce the *appropriate* level of bass.

Fjord writes...

I think it's wrong to assume people are put off by the fidelity of the bass when they actually only mention the level of the bass.

Fair enough.

Still, my main point is that people should definitely listen to the z5500 before they buy.

Then they know if they like or disklike the speakers.