Logitech Z-2200 Review

Who needs 5.1?

by Josh Walrath

            Logitech is a company that has always been famous for their keyboards and mice, but in the past few years they have broadened their product base to turn into one of the largest computer accessories company in the world.  Their latest MX series of USB mice are considered some of the best yet (and I can attest to that), and their lineup of keyboards stretch from the basic to the most decked out of any manufacturer.  Several years ago Logitech stunned the computer audio market with the release of their Z series of speakers.  The Z-560 shocked the enthusiast community as well by being very moderately priced, yet sporting a true 400 watts of power and very good sound.

            The second generation of Logitech speakers has built upon the foundation set by the Z-5x0 series, and these are even more impressive than the first generation.  The Z-680’s are now the high end offering from Logitech, and they pack a very significant punch in terms of sound, quality, and functionality.  While the initial revision had some problems with hiss from the center speaker, they have since fixed that.  The result is a 5.1 system that rivals any other product out there for the computer market.  This high powered beast could push out some serious sound with little to no distortion, and the unique satellite design allows the 3” drivers to reproduce not just midrange, but the top end as well.

            Logitech then took this design and transitioned it downward.  One of the products of this transition is the capable Z-2200 set of speakers. 

Everything is nicely packed, as well as the RCA adapter and manual.

Statistics

            These speakers are rated for a very high 200 watts RMS, and this is a true rating.  The amplifier built into the subwoofer on this set is HEAVY.  While more power does not always translate into better sound, in this particular case it does.  What higher wattage allows is for a stronger impulse to be sent to the drivers.  This impulse not only affects the movement, but also the dampening of the drivers.  So, the more power supplied to a quality driver, the tighter and more responsive the driver will be.

            The satellites feature 40 watts of power to each speaker, while the subwoofer takes up 120 watts.  This 120 watt rating is the same as the larger Z-680’s, so the bass response should be nearly identical.  While there are slight differences in the subwoofer design, they both utilize the same 8” long throw ported driver.

            The speaker wire is of medium gauge, and this is an area where a user might want to upgrade.  40 watts for satellites this size is pretty impressive, but with such a small wire there is probably some loss in there.  The posts on the satellites allow the user to swap out the wire if they desire.  If a user was a bit more concerned about overall sound, then getting a couple of feet of high quality speaker wire would be a very good thing in this instance.

Next: Out of the Box

Copyright 1999-2004 PenStar Systems, LLC.