Z-5500 vs Z-5400?

[Parge]

Heya, I can usually be found lurking in the graphics card section of this forum, but I needed to pay a trip over here:

I want some 5.1 speakers for xmas, and was wondering if anyone knew if there is a substantial difference in sound quality between the Logitech Z-5400 and the Z-5500.

As well as playing games, and watching tv, a substantial amount of my time is spent listening to music so I want them to be good for that as well.

The Z-5500s are a little over my budget, but if the Z-5400s are rubbish then they will be a total waste of money.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[astrallite]

It looks like less power, and smaller drivers (2 1/2in vs 3 inch midranges), the sub driver is a little smaller, though. Logitech subs all have similar acoustical signatures and are tuned similarly, so you aren't really losing any bass.

In a vacuum, looking at the price tag, it looks like the Z-5400s are a much better buy. It has the same (apparent) features as the Z-5500 but with simply smaller drivers on the speakers.

For 2-channel music, you want to look at bookshelf speakers, not multimedia speakers. The reason is, too much % of the pricetag is invested in things that have no acoustical return for music--i.e., shape, design, a multiple input box, multiple speakers. It's a n all-in-one box, and designed for versatility, not designed to be good at any specific thing.

A lot of gamers start off with multimedia surround sets, then replace the satellite speakers with bookshelves as they get older (less gaming, more movies and music). So, buy based on whatever is your highest priority right now.

If you prefer the rush of surround sound in shooting and other first person type games, I would lean towards an all-in-one box like this, if you are more of a music or movie nut, traditional speakers like bookshelves or powered monitors would probably serve you better. It's based on the kind of return on your money that you are expecting: quantity or quality.

 

[Parge]

Wow, thank you, all extremely helpful!

At the moment I do have a pair of bookshelves, which are fine for music, but not very good at all for games. I will keep these anyway, and if I get a sound card with more than one output I can always switch between the two!

Thanks also for the clarification on the speakers, I was on the verge of emailing logitech themselves! From what you have said, and I have read elsewhere it does seem like you get far more bang for buck with the Z-5400s which can be had for as little as £125 (pixmania) as opposed to the Z-5500s which are cheapest on ebuyer, at £200.

There is a almost eerie lack of reviews for the Z-5400 on the net, Im not sure why, the only one I could find was this one if anyone else is in the same predicament: http://www.pcmag-mideast.com/review...Pp&PHPSESSID=3981af3aae999d07c7c46a3d35d3c3a0