5.1 Surround Sound Speakers - Help me figure out if the Logitech Z-5450s are for me

[aswitcher]

I need a relatively cheap but decent true 5.1 surround sound system for my smallish living room. I scored some money for Christmas and birthday and I think a 5.1 system is what I want to spend it on. I would like a couple of optical ins (for PVR and Xbox - and one day a multimedia mac mini ), Dolby DTS, remote etc Wireless rear speakers would be a bonus. I think the Logitech Z-5450 is about right specs and price wise. But I really want some personal opinions on it and similiar speced/priced systems if I can.

Does anyone have the Z-5450 and have an opinion on it?

Does anyone have anything comporable they can recommend? Klipsch? Creative Megaworks THX550 / Gigaworks S750? A DVD 5.1 setup but still affordable surround sound system?

 

[DaftUnion]

The Klipsch Ultra 5.1 THX Certified sounds just as good or slightly better to the Logitech that your referring to...however there isn't an optical digital out on it and you'd probably need an external sound card to do the same thing.

However, it comes down to I prefer the Klipsch 5.1 to the Logitech in terms of sound anyday but I think the simplicity of the Logitech beats the Klipsch...it's a touch call...but both of those systems are great.

 

[Josh396]

Well I just got the Logitech Z-5500's and they are awesome. They have optical out and sound great. What's even better is they are now only $220 on Amazon. I've heard a lot of people say the 5500's are better than the Klipsch, which is why I got them. I've never heard the Klipsch but after setting up the Logitechs I have no desire to.

 

[trainguy77]

Perfect timing on the thread. Don't want to steal the thread or anything but does this system of some umfff(or however you spell it) Its only 38 watts per front speaker. I have never owned Surround sound but is this enough?

EDIT: And that series includes the amps right?

 

[aswitcher]

Perfect timing on the thread. Don't want to steal the thread or anything but does this system of some umfff(or however you spell it) Its only 38 watts per front speaker. I have never owned Surround sound but is this enough?

EDIT: And that series includes the amps right?

Yeah, I am not sure about how loud without distortion it goes. I read that its pretty potent. The Subwoofer has the amp in I understand - not a real amp seperately. I think the wireless satellites have their own as well.

 

[aswitcher]

The Klipsch Ultra 5.1 THX Certified sounds just as good or slightly better to the Logitech that your referring to...however there isn't an optical digital out on it and you'd probably need an external sound card to do the same thing.

However, it comes down to I prefer the Klipsch 5.1 to the Logitech in terms of sound anyday but I think the simplicity of the Logitech beats the Klipsch...it's a touch call...but both of those systems are great.

You have the Klipsch?

 

[steelfist]

altec lansing speakers are quite decent too.

 

[aswitcher]

altec lansing speakers are quite decent too.

I read in the forums here and in the USA that there have been problems with the amp going after less than 2 years usage with the Klipsch. How realiable are the Altecs?

 

[maya]

Logitech all the way. If you choose the Z-5500 or the Z-5450( wireless rear speakers), both a good choice.

 

[trainguy77]

What do you think of the Logitech Z-5300e? Would this be going to low end?

 

[maya]

What do you think of the Logitech Z-5300e? Would this be going to low end?

The Z-5300E is also a good choice, however it does not have optical input, only analog. Budget speakers that sound great.

 

[aswitcher]

The Z-5300E is also a good choice, however it does not have optical input, only analog. Budget speakers that sound great.

And my xbox and stb both have only optical outs for 5.1 sound, no 6 port analog ones or digital coax. So I think I need optical ins, as many as possible.

 

[beowolf]

I just recieved the Logitech 5500's from Amazon.com a couple days ago for 219.99 (and free shipping ). They are amazing and everything the reviews I read said they would be. As for the 5450's, I don't know, but keep in mind that wireless does not equal no wires - you still need to be sending power to the wireless rear speakers (they need to be plugged in). That said, is it worth $120 extra vs. the 5500's for wireless when it means less power and a weaker sub? Personally I chose the 5500's over the 5450's because I knew that if I wanted to hide the speaker wires I could just buy some extra long ones and run them along the corners of the ceiling and down to the speakers on the wall. A little extra work? Yes. Do I think $105 extra ($120-extra speaker wire cost) is worth saving myself ten minutes of work? No.

Some reviews say that they don't come with detachable speaker wire. Logitech must've changed this because mine do detach.

 

[trainguy77]

I have been thinking about that. The probelm with where mine would be is that it would be hard to get cables there. Yes I could tape them to the roof.(doors in the way) I will have to think on that one. I would like the extra power. But I like the wireless idea.......

 

[maya]

I have been thinking about that. The probelm with where mine would be is that it would be hard to get cables there. Yes I could tape them to the roof.(doors in the way) I will have to think on that one. I would like the extra power. But I like the wireless idea.......

Then you are better off going with Sony's Dream System.

Its has wireless 5 speakers.

The woofer is the only thing that has a wire.

 

[aswitcher]

Then you are better off going with Sony's Dream System.

Its has wireless 5 speakers.

The woofer is the only thing that has a wire.

At what price?

Sony seem pretty stngy on optical digital ins as well.

 

[DaftUnion]

You have the Klipsch?

I have two of their 4.1 systems, my friend has their 5.1 (which I referred to before) and I've listened to both before side by side many times in the store...both sound damn good, the Logitech has better inputs no doubt, but I still think the Klipsch surpasses Logitech for sound.

 

[Josh396]

I have two of their 4.1 systems, my friend has their 5.1 (which I referred to before) and I've listened to both before side by side many times in the store...both sound damn good, the Logitech has better inputs no doubt, but I still think the Klipsch surpasses Logitech for sound.

While that may be true, I've heard that the Klipsch have a shorter lifetime. I would have have speakers that last longer than ones that sound great but will die in a year or two. Although what I heard could be wrong too...

 

[aswitcher]

While that may be true, I've heard that the Klipsch have a shorter lifetime. I would have have speakers that last longer than ones that sound great but will die in a year or two. Although what I heard could be wrong too...

I have read online today that some people were reporting this year that their Amp went in the 5.1 Klipsch, both here and in the USA. I might steer clear of them because of this.

 

[aswitcher]

Bump. Anyone actually got the 5450s?

 

[maya]

Bump. Anyone actually got the 5450s?

If you want to compare the 5450 with the 5500 you can look at the pros and cons:


5450:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2177,CONTENTID=10928

The total RMS power for this system is 315 Watts while the 5500 has a total of 505 Watts. The peak output power of the 5500 is 1010 Watts. This system is even better than any of the 1000 Watts Home Theater Systems that are out there that are priced at sub 1000 USD.

However if you really want wireless, which was also a tempting factor for me, I decided to go with the 5500 rather than the 5450.