Verdict: One step nearer to perfection
Raw power and stunning performance; you expect them from your PC, your monitor and even your mouse, so why not from your speakers? Sadly, while some big claims are made for high-end PC speakers, only a few live up to these assertions. Whisper it, but most home cinema and hi-fi buffs would laugh at the majority of 5.1 PC systems. In a small room at low volumes you might be fooled into thinking you're getting a home-cinema experience, but take these systems into the living room or push the volume past halfway, and they'll sound boxy, weak, or just plain thuggish. The power may be there, but what about the quality?
A few systems break this mould, and Logitech's THX-certified Z-680s, which won our last speaker Labs test, are a perfect example. Their 188W RMS subwoofer, 62W RMS satellite speakers and 69W centre speaker kick sand in the faces of lesser 5.1 sets, while the control centre decodes movie soundtracks with finesse. We liked them enough to put them on our Elite list, but that wasn't good enough for Logitech. With its new Z-5500s, the company has had a second look at the Z-680s and - amazingly - taken them upmarket.
In terms of raw power, there's not much difference. The Z-5500's new satellites, centre speaker and subwoofer have identical power ratings to the old ones.
However, the new subwoofer uses a larger 10in throw driver with a flared bass port, which adds a little more weight (as if it were needed) to the bottom end. The satellites have also been upgraded, with the mid-range and treble drivers combined into one high-performance unit.
Cosmetically, the speakers have had a significant overhaul. The Z-680s' rather dull plastic control centre, which you used to select sources and set volume levels via an LCD screen, five buttons and a large rotary knob, has been replaced. The Z-5500s boast a glamorous brushed-metallic unit, with the sort of heavyweight rotary control you'd find on a decent hi-fi. It practically yells quality at you, but then there's nothing in this system that doesn't. Forget the thin cables and flimsy stands of the wannabes. The Z-5500s have cables thick enough to win an audiophile's approval, and solid pedestals that can be rotated for floor, shelf or wall mounting. The whole set looks great - the satellites are subdued and businesslike with the grilles in place, and cool and modern with them removed.
The real highlight of the Z-5500s is the sound. Like their forbears, the Z-5500s decode Dolby Digital soundtracks as well as the arguably higher-quality DTS standard, so you get true 5.1 sound. Only in dedicated home cinema packages costing £500 or more will you hear better audio. The Z-5500s will fill the average living room with a clear, powerful soundfield that makes the best of any soundtrack you could mention.
The ship-to-ship battles of 'Master and Commander' become a maelstrom of pounding cannonfire, barked orders, and splintering wood. The swarming arrows of the Moria sequence in 'Fellowship of the Ring' make for an experience so immersive that it's hard to resist the urge to duck behind the sofa.
Music is still a strong point. The Z-5500s can cope with everything from 1950s jazz to flamenco. The sub and satellites keep basslines in a tight grip, and allow the high-end details room to breathe. If we had any complaint, it's that the sound can be clinical at times, without the warmth of tone you might get from a good hi-fi, but that's really reaching for criticism.
The news is equally good for gamers. In Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth, the Z-5500s put you right in the centre of the carnage, with dialogue ringing out clearly and the rush of combat hitting hard from all around (like the Z-5500s, the game is THX-certified). Doom 3 is just as immersive. If you're a wuss, bedwetter, and/or any sort of big girl's blouse, you really shouldn't try this combination.
CONCLUSION
Grumpy home-cinema buffs who grumble under their beards about buying separates and spending half their budget on expensive cabling won't like the Z-5500s, but they will have to pay them some respect - or be deafened. Everyone else will be amazed. They're fantastic at high volumes and still sound good when throttled back. Over £200 is a lot to pay for a PC speaker system, but it's £60 cheaper than the price of the Z-680s, and you should consider what you're getting for the money. We'd still hesitate to recommend them for small spaces, as you'd never use them to their full potential, but if you're building a media system or a high-end games PC, the Z-5500s should be yours.
