The logitech Z-2300 2.1 system a Review

[rishiguru]

Review of Altec Lansing MX-6021 and comparative analysis with the older MX-5021 & Logitech Z-2300

After long long time, Altec Lansing launched a new model for a powerful 200W RMS 2.1 system namely MX-6021. Going by what my MX5021 have accomplished, not to mention the mighty Logitech Z-2300 this new model, numbered MX6021, has a lot to prove. This one doesn't come with THX certification like the MX5021 or Z-2300, but has a name to go along with its model number; expressionist ULTRA. Something like the ultimate experience for a 2.1 computer speaker system, I suppose. Let's not waste much time on Altec Lansing's marketing gimmicks, time to see what's there for real.

The expressionist ULTRA is a really modern looking speaker system. The speakers have a unique design. They can easily put anyone in awe of them. The expressionists ULTRA can easily standout on any desktop. Actually my Logitech Z-2300 looks like it belong to Stone Age against the MX6021. But looks can be deceiving. Let's now take a closer look at the design.

The satellite speakers have a frame for a face onto which the driver and the tweeter are attached. The frame is a transparent tinted plastic piece. This gives the impression that the satellites are just pieces of plastic suspended and producing sound. The driver has a nice aggressive look because of its cover. The enclosure has a plastic ring which surrounds the driver and it's finished with steel grey and thread work like a screw. The actual cover placed in front of the driver is fabric. The tweeter is left almost naked with just a cap over the cone. Turning around to see the rear of the satellites you can see the extension for the 3-inch drivers. It's a large enclosure and will help in the speaker reproducing good vocals. The satellites have rubber feet as well to hold them in place and these feet are neatly hidden though the rubber feet placed at the bottom end of the driver enclosure tends to fall of rather too easily.

One thing that caught my eye while unpacking the system was 132 W RMS of power is distributed to the satellites. If you consider the ratio of the power distribution to other systems of this segment you will find a stark ling difference

Logitech Z-2300 -> Subwoofer : Satellites :: 120W : 80W :: 3:2
Logitech Z-623 -> Subwoofer : Satellites :: 130W : 70W :: 13:7
Altec Lansing MX-5021 -> Subwoofer : Satellites :: 50W : 40W :: 5:4

where as

Altec Lansing MX-6021 -> Subwoofer : Satellites :: 68W : 132W :: 17:33

So. we see in the first three cases the subwoofer gets more power than two satellites, i.e. the low frequency response gets a higher precedence over the higher frequency. Amazingly these are all THX certified sets where as MX6021 have more power delivered to the satellites rather than the subwoofer and interestingly does possess have THX certification.

Coming to the sub-woofer, I found it to be rather too large. It is not something that is suitable for a PC desk. The sub-woofer too features the same design as the frame satellite speakers. Here, it's a whole body and makes it look like a miniature Mayan Temple. Matching the overall design, the sub-woofer houses a large 6.5-inch driver with the same driver cover and aggressive ring design. The space for the tweeter is replaced with an air-vent. The height of the sub-woofer is quite a bit as compared to those of most 2.1 systems around. At the rear, the sub-woofer has a Power ON/OFF switch. Inputs include just a single stereo cable, and outputs to the two satellite speakers. The last port at the rear is for the desktop controller. The bass driver is much smaller than the 8 incher found in Z-2300 or 7 incher found in Z-623. But this is understandable since it has to handle only 68W where as in the case of Z-2300 its 120W.

The remote of the expressionist ULTRA follows with unique styling which we see with on speakers. The remote, in fact, is the coolest looking piece of the system. It is a desktop controller so it is a wired piece. Unfortunately, there isn't a wireless remote which, I feel, is odd, given the pricing of the system. Anyways, getting back to the controller, it is shaped like an inverted cone. The top isn't pointed but is sliced off to occupy few buttons. There is a Power ON/OFF button and there is also treble and Bass controls. These buttons are backlit and the backlighting is amber in color, which is pretty cool to look at. The entire cone turns left right to increase or decrease the volume. There is a volume notification which shows on the base of the controller. The volume notification has visualization like effects which is really cool to see in action. At first, I thought it was it worked in accordance of the audio track but then realized it was just some random sequence.
In addition, the control pod houses two 3.5mm ports; one for AUX input and a headphone port. It's a nice control pod and really adds to the essence of the expressionist ULTRA which is style.

Performance: The expressionist ULTRA was quite a surprise to say the least. I got chills just thinking about the bass this large sub-woofer could reproduce from its 6.5-inch driver. The expressionist ULTRA system produces really clean and clear audio. The tweeter and the driver of the satellites produce really high audio quality. The highs and the mids are really good. They are perfect for vocals and the shrill effects to freeze your tummy in a horror scene.

The bass, on the other hand, was quite a disappointment. The expressionist ULTRA is quite a loud system. With 200 watts to release one can really pump up the volume. The speaker doesn't crack at high volumes. Instead, the bass is lost with the mids and the treble taking charge. The sub-woofer was seriously missing a punch. The Z-2300 has a much powerful bass or for that matter, even other serious 2.1 systems have really good bass as compared to the expressionist ULTRA. All-said-and-done, these speakers could have been so much better. Considering the fact that the Z-2300 which is also cheaper, means that expressionist ULTRA doesn't have what it takes to become the class leader.

The sound coming out of the MX6021 does not seem real to me, sound like the highs have been over exaggerated where as the lows are completely missing at higher volumes and lacked the neutral, natural feeling sound found in Z-2300 which is so pleasant to listen to.

The subwoofer of Z-2300 lets itself be known with its slamming tight & precise bass which at times are powerful enough to knock the wind out of your lungs. The satellites of Z-2300 feature a nice, natural sound with excellent representation. If the user wants, they can boost the subwoofer levels through the roof though my ears will be bleeding by then.

With Z-2300 you get one of the best solutions for pure listening pleasure, with a clean sound devoid of any colorings, embellishment or ornamentation in the sound, commonly found in Altec Lansing MX6021. Now I can easily hear many of the previously obscure details in the compositions of a complicated music composition, and can clearly set apart all the instruments used in the music composition, thus I am able to focus not only on the primary instrument, which is audible, but also on the fact that what instrument I want to hear.

Verdict: The Altec Lansing expressionist ULTRA sell at a much higher price than Logitech Z-2300. The pricing of the system is quite high for a 2.1 system. Comparing it to the MX5021 and the Logitech Z2300, the expressionist ULTRA has the looks to go for. However, the performance of the expressionist ULTRA isn't at par to either the MX5021 or the Z2300. I would really suggest you to pick the Logitech Z2300 or Z-623. Both of these THX certified are great choices. If you are really interested in something that looks good or unique the Klipsch GMX-A is the better option as compared to the Altec Lansing expressionist ULTRA.

The Altec Lansing expressionist ULTRA is not "All Show & No Go" for which it does deserve appreciation but when you are going to be spending this amount of money, it's got to be worth it completely.

 

[ksen]

About Z2300 but slightly off-topic,

My Logitech Z2300 sub stopped working all of a sudden after a year and 1 month. Still under warranty, though. But the authorised service center says that Logitech has phased out Z2300 and I would be getting a replacement speaker set with similar specs (guess it must be the Z623). The caller said she would be informing me about the replacement model shortly. But the Logitech India website still displays Z2300 at an MRP 11495.

Any suggestions if it is already phased out or just that they are planning to give me the less expensive replacement possible.

Thanks

 

[theironhorse]

are the speakers working... as u stated that sub stopped.. check the fuse behind.. it might be just the fuse.. if not that... few dealers still have z-2300 few dont.. depends but if its not there you will get a z-623.. also indian website get updated very slowly..

 

[theironhorse]

amazing review rishi... thanks for info on the speakers..i had them cpl of years back ..

my friend took em off now i got z-5500..

enjoying them..

 

[ksen]

are the speakers working... as u stated that sub stopped.. check the fuse behind.. it might be just the fuse.. if not that... few dealers still have z-2300 few dont.. depends but if its not there you will get a z-623.. also indian website get updated very slowly..

Yes, the speakers are working, it's just the sub. Not working as in, the sub started producing a constant booming noice when the set is switched on.
Before, taking it up to the service center, I checked the fuse and it is intact.
Hope, I can get the Z2300 itself as the replacement.

 

[theironhorse]

call them up.. generally there are like 3-4 centers of logitech in every city... hyd got 3 of em.. call of them n chk if any one has z-2300.. get it replaced from there..

else just go to the service center referred. and tell them that this partiular center has a peice .. they will take your set and give you receipt to pick it up from that centre..

might be hectic but again if you wanna have what u want.. worth a try..

 

[rishiguru]

About Z2300 but slightly off-topic,

My Logitech Z2300 sub stopped working all of a sudden after a year and 1 month. Still under warranty, though. But the authorised service center says that Logitech has phased out Z2300 and I would be getting a replacement speaker set with similar specs (guess it must be the Z623). The caller said she would be informing me about the replacement model shortly. But the Logitech India website still displays Z2300 at an MRP 11495.

Any suggestions if it is already phased out or just that they are planning to give me the less expensive replacement possible.

Thanks

Logitech Z-2300 is out of production. It will be replaced by Z-623. Though Logitech claims that Z-623 have same performance as Z-2300, i take this with a pinch of salt. Any way it will be near there and believe me when you get the Z-623 you will not be disappointed.

Remember though the Z-2300's majestic 200W RMS class AB amplifier powering a 8 inch long throw bass driver and the classy torridal transformer is gone.

I am almost certain Z-623 has a class D amplifier[no heatsink] powering a 7 incher. It also does not use any torridal transformer but an SMPS as required by class D amplifiers. So cheapish.

 

[ksen]

theironhorse, rishiguru, i'm going to try to find if it is available as suggested and see if I'm lucky to get the z2300 itself.

 

[rishiguru]

There is a common saying in this forum that Logitech Z-2300 produce maximum bass, even more than its monster big brother Z-5500. How? Here is how.

In general a 5.1 or a 7.1 system will produce significantly less bass response than a 2.1, provided all of them have same maximum power output. The subwoofer is dedicated to produce lower audio frequencies where as the satellites produce middle to higher audio frequencies. In other words the subwoofer produces bass where as the satellites produce vocal and treble.

Now if we look at the power distribution of Z-2300 & Z-5500

Z-2300 -> 200W RMS[Total] -> 120W [Subwoofer] : 80W[Satellites] :: 3:2
Z-5500-> 500W RMS [Total] -> 187W [Subwoofer] : 313W [Satellites] :: 11 : 18.4

Now, suppose if you are listening to both the systems at 100W RMS which is happens to be pretty loud,

Subwoofers will receive

Z-2300 -> {100/(3+2)} X 3 = 60W
Z-5500 -> {100/(11+18.4)} X 11 = 37.5W

The satellites will receive

Z-2300 -> 100 60 = 40W
Z-5500 -> 100 37.5 = 62.5W

So, at 100W the Z-2300 is supplying 60W of power to the subwoofer against mere 37.5W of Z-5500 and thus producing much deeper & pronounced bass response. Every song fells much more deeper, slamming & chest thumping in the case of Z-2300.

Where else Z-5500 at 100W will definitely have much more clearer vocal and treble responses against Z-2300 because 62.W of power is delivered through five satellite speakers where as only 40W is supplied to the two satellites of Z-2300.
This difference of sound characteristics between Z-2300 & Z-5500 remains true up to a maximum of earth shattering 200W RMS as shown below.

Subwoofers will receive

Z-2300 -> {200/(3+2)} X 3 = 120W
Z-5500 -> {200/(11+18.4)} X 11 = 75W

The satellites will receive

Z-2300 -> 200 120 = 80W
Z-5500 -> 200 75 = 125W

By this time your ears have already started bleeding [Z-2300 is producing 107dB] and you are slowly turning deaf and are no more capable to stay in the same room.

To rival the maximum bass of Z-2300, Z-5500 needs to pump out a minimum of 320W RMS. At that point Z-5500 will be producing

Subwoofer will receive

Z-5500 -> {320/(11+18.4)} X 11 = 120W [which rivals the 120W max of Z-2300 subwoofer]

The satellites will receive

Z-5500 -> 320 120 =200W

If you can sustain this 320W of power and still not deaf enough to hear, you can feel the monster Z-5500 takes the bass charge from Z-2300 from this point onwards [320W RMS] and goes beyond until it turns you completely deaf.

 

[rishiguru]

Comparative analysis between the amplifiers of Z-2300, Z-623 and Z-Cinema

Audio design has always been a subject that stirs the passions of most electronics engineers and a subject where the pursuit of perfection has many times comes before considerations of cost. That aside sometimes the simplest circuits can offer the best solutions in terms of cost and performance.

Logitech Z-2300 amplifier uses:
i) Two STMicroelectronics TDA7295 80 watts Class AB amplifiers bridged together to provide a total of 2 X 80W=160W for the subwoofer.
ii) Two STMicroelectronics TDA7296 60 watts Class AB amplifiers each powering one of the satellites.

Electric power is provided to the Z-2300s amplifier using an expensive toroidal transformer & there is a huge heat sink at the back of the subwoofer to suck out the waste heat from the amplifier. All this adds up cost.

Logitech Z-Cinema amplifier uses:
i) One TDA8920 100 watts Class D amplifier for the subwoofer.
ii) One TDA8922 50 watts Class D amplifier supplying 25W to each of the midrange speakers of the two satellites.
iii) One TDA7269 20 watts Class AB amplifier supplying 10W to each of the tweeters of the two satellites.

Electric power is provided to the Z-Cinemas amplifier using switching power supply which is far less expensive than the toroidal transformer of Z-2300 and a small heat sink is provided for the 20W TDA7269 Class AB amplifier where as Class D amplifiers required no heat sink. This all saves cost and Logitech only provided Class AB for tweeters because in the year 2008, Class D amplifiers were not good enough to provide full frequency response of 20Hz-20Khz. This was the first time Logitech introduced cheap Class D amplifiers in their high end multimedia speaker system lineup.

Logitech Z-623 introduced in 2010 uses fully fledged Class D amplifier and are very cost effective to produce.

A quick look at many new low power speaker amplifiers on the market highlights the move to class D audio performance, but when it comes to low distortion and low noise and best sound quality, class AB still has the edge.

Class AB architecture offers a signal to noise plus distortion ratio of up to 10 times better than its equivalent Class D neighbour as well as providing a much simpler architecture which can be tweaked as required, without the need for reactive filter components on the output and the electromagnetic radiation resulting from an output stage switching at a few hundred kHz.

Class D amplification has inherent distortion in it and therefore is predominantly used in lower bandwidth amplification like in subwoofers. In other words it is quite impossible for a Class D to achieve the level of linearity in frequency response produced by a Class AB amplifier. Class D achieves about 90% power efficiency compared to about 60% respectively for Class AB.

Ultimately it comes down to what you want, for efficiency and cost effectiveness Class D is best, but if you can sacrifice some efficiency & increase cost for the sake of sound quality then Class AB is the best.

In other words Class A amps sound the best, cost the most, and are the least practical. They waste power and return very clean signals. Class AB amps dominate the market and rival the best Class A amps in sound quality. They use less power than Class A, and can be cheaper, smaller, cooler, and lighter. Class D amps are even smaller than Class AB amps and more efficient, because they use high-speed switching rather than linear control.

The most important reason behind which multimedia speaker manufactures are switching from Class AB to Class D is to increase profit margin for the company. Class D is very cheap to produce and does not need require a big extruded aluminum heat sink or expensive toroidal transformers. They are basically switching power supplies but utilize pulse width modulation so as to be able to reproduce and amplify an alternating current. There ok for subwoofers, but I honestly think that it is ridiculous to use a class D amplifier in a high end studio monitor.

In short, Class D amps are more efficient but are only good for low frequencies applications like subwoofer amplification. Class AB amps are generally 30% less efficient but can be used full range amplification i.e from 20Hz 20kHz.

Class D amps cannot be used on highs frequency response because of the way they work. They only produce square waves because of the technology involved, so they will make your highs sound lifeless and tinny. Class AB amplifiers produce full variable signals and can capture subtle nuances better and sound more warm and generally have more depth in sound.

 

[greenhorn]

rishi, have you tried swapping the satellites with bigger speakers ?
I used to think the drivers were W3-926SD, but youre right, the W3-594SB has a paper cone ( the 926SD has a PP cone apparently).
I've read that people have tried swapping them with bigger speakers, but didnt get any improvement as the satellite output was lpf'd to 150 hz.
I'm interested in changing the crossover frequency to 100 or 125 so that the bass is less boomy, and getting a pair of bookshelves. But am not sure if circuit surgery is feasible.

If you do have time, do post a detailed shot of the PCB/any idea where the HPF/LPF are

 

[rishiguru]

Personally i have never tried to switch Z-2300 satellites since i am quite happy with their sound quality. But if you are not satisfied with it you can try Polk Audio Monitor 40 or any book shelf speakers provided they impedance of the speakers are of 8 ohms and can handle a minimum of 40 watts per channel.

 

[greenhorn]

its not sound quality - one of the drivers is damaged, and i felt that swapping them with bigger speakers might be a better idea than trying to find the driver which seems to have stopped production

 

[rishiguru]

If your speaker are within warranty Logitech will provide you a replacement. Probably it is going to be Z-623 as Z-2300 is discontinued from September, 2010. Anyway, have you found any distributer or dealer from where TangBand speakers can be purchased in India.

 

[quad]

Folks, any idea if these are still available in Hyderabad? I called
a couple of computer vendors and they did not have them.
Even a used z-2300 in good condition will do for my needs.

 

[theironhorse]

lemme chk buddy i was outta town back to jaipur for diwali.. will chk for the 2300 n get back to you..

 

[rishiguru]

I made a visit to our local electronic mall and took a demonstration of Klipsch Promedia 2.1. No other 2.1 models from Klipsch are available in our country. It costs Rs.5000 more than Z-2300's Rs.7000. I expected a lot from it, but was very disappointed with its performance.

Promedia provides a very good soundstage and the highs are definitely better than Z-2300, but that is the only advantage it has over Z-2300. What they seriously lack is in low frequencies, the lows are all very boomy & muddled and definitely lacks the slamming, chest thumping feel of Z-2300.

The addition of the tweeter with a midrange driver in the satellites have provided a better top end in the frequency spectrum, but Z2300's unique phase plug driven satellites are able to produce 99% of this with out the tweeter. Again this sound reminded me of my Altec Lansing MX-6021. You get that crispy boom from this Promedia satellites, but they are not as natural sounding as Z-2300. After some time your ears get fatigued.

In comparison to the Z-2300's 120W humongous subwoofer with its 8 inch long through driver the Promedia's 50W subwoofer with its 6.5 inch driver looked tiny. It also lacked the thump & the pump the Z-2300 could provide. Z-2300 definitely have the upper hand in the subwoofer department. Furthermore, the Promedia speakers never quite replicated the expansive feeling found in Z-2300. Even the widest sounds felt like they were very close by, as opposed to projected over a large area.

Since more power is delivered to the two satellites[70W] than the subwoofer [50W] , when i go half past the volume the satellites takes charge and all you can hear is the shrill rom the satellites and the bass is completely lost. ProMedia suffers from this enormous Achilles Heel - a sub-par subwoofer whose bass is so boomy & weak I could only ameliorate it by drastically cutting its bass volume.

Promedia's technical specs says it has a 120-watt digital hybrid amplifier, but all i can a gather from the net it uses a simple conventional EI type transformer powering class AB op-amps. Even the 200W, Z-2300 uses a toroidal transformer to power its op-amps.

Overall Z-2300 wins over Promedia hands down. Even though they cost Rs.5000 more than Z-2300, i will say it was even unable to provide 75% of the sonic feel of Z-2300. It reminded me of what i have found in their reviews, simple multitmedia speakers costing a lot just because they are "Klipsch" .

 

[rishiguru]

Folks, any idea if these are still available in Hyderabad? I called
a couple of computer vendors and they did not have them.
Even a used z-2300 in good condition will do for my needs.

I think it is near impossible to get a brand new Logitech Z-2300. In India there is only one Logitech Brand Store and that is in Kolkata. All the Logitech products are first imported/ shipped to Kolkata's Brand Store, from where they are distributed throughout India.

You can find the details of the brand store in Logitech website:
Contact

or

Logitech Brand Store
Emall, Shop No.-10, Ground Floor,
6, C.R. Avenue, Kolkata- 72
Tel: +91-33-22128753

I recently went to their shop from where i bought my Z-2300 is 2008 & they said there is no Z-2300's in stock & their replacement Z-628 may arrive at first in Kolkata at around 20th Nov, 2010.

I was chatting with the store keeper and he was saying to me that hundreds of phone calls are coming each day all looking for the out of stock Z-2300. No body wants any other speaker set, they just want the Z-2300.

The last lucky person actually took the demo set which was lying bare open for the last three years having all the dust & daily rigorous full volume demonstration to the customers!!! He sold it at Rs.8000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It seems now hunting a Z-2300 is like finding a gold mine!!! Best of luck though.

 

[rishiguru]

Review of Logitech Z-623 and comparative analysis with Logitech Z-2300

When it comes to making quality speaker systems, Logitech makes some of the best speaker systems for personal computers. One such system is the Logitech Z-2300, which was launched in 2004 and impressed everyone with its powerful & highly detailed audio quality that did justice to the THX certification that the product carried.

Although the model is now on the verge of being replaced and so Logitech has now come up with the Z-623. Logitech clams Z-623 has identical 200W RMS power but in a fresh design, although I take this statement with a pinch of salt.

Design

The Logitech Z623 is a pair of 2.1 speaker set that has primarily been designed for use with a desktop computer. That explains the lack of a remote controller with the system. So, it first looses the versatility that Z-2300 had with its control pad and the wires are much shorter in length & thinner compared to Z-2300. When using with the LCD TV i use to keep the satellites of Z-2300 far apart with RCA extension cables easily available in the market. This is not possible with Z-623 as the right speaker does not use RCA out.

The volume control is placed on the right satellite speaker and feels nice to operate. There is a bass control dial and the power button next to it. On the side of the speaker you will notice the headphone out jack and the auxiliary input. Due to this arrangement, you have to reach your hand out every time you need to control the volume or bass. Very annoying and it seems Logitech is on a cost cutting mode.

The satellites have a single driver in the front taking care of the mid-range as well as the treble. The drivers have a phase plug that helps improve the high frequency performance of the drivers by preventing collision of the sound waves emanating around the center of the driver. The metal grille on the front is fixed and cannot be removed. The satellites are fairly heavy and feel well built.

Z-2300 satellites are better looking though I loved the design of the Z-623; I know it won't appeal to everyone, but I really wouldn't mind having them on my desk. They have a bold and raw appeal to them with a powerful presence that won't go unnoticed. The Z-2300 in comparison has a much more laidback design that may appeal to many people. The Z-623 is aimed more at the younger crowd. The quality of the plastic casing used and the fit & finish of Z-2300 satellites are of a much higher order and definitely costs more than Z-623 satellites.

Now getting down to the 130W subwoofer, you will realize that it is pretty big. If you have seen the Z-2300 subwoofer though you will fing it is pretty small though. As anyone would tell you, when it comes to subwoofers, bigger is better. The driver is placed on the front and the bass reflex port on the left. On the back you will find the 3.5mm input as well as RCA stereo input for connecting devices such as DVD players or game consoles.

130W RMS of power is delivered to the 7 inch driver of the subwoofer & 70W RMS to the two satellites and are THX certified. To be honest, those two details are enough for anyone to figure out that this system will kick ass when it comes to audio quality.

Performance

When playing music I noticed that the big subwoofer was not just occupying space but also moving some serious amount of air. The punch from the subwoofer was powerful enough to knock the wind out of your lungs at higher volumes. It was amazing how comfortably the speaker managed to do it and it never felt as if it was under strain. The bass from the Z-623's subwoofer wasn't as tight as Z-2300 as I would have liked but it wasn't loose or muddy as well. It does need to be kept under a tight leash though or it can drown out the sound from the satellites easily.

The satellites are also pretty impressive. The mid-range is sweet-sounding and the treble is clear as well. The Z623 can go really loud. Most people would never go beyond 50% of the volume. However if you do, then you would notice that the sound starts distorting slightly after you cross 70%.

It is where you realize that Z-2300 Class AB amplifier with its fat toroidal transformer is far superior to Z-623 cheapish Class D amplifier with switching power supply. Z-2300 plays undistorted even at full volume since its amplifier had good headroom and is capable to provide 280W of peak power. Since any amplifier will produce a lot of distortion & noise at the peak, in order to produce distortion free, ultra linear sound the amplifier is been down tuned to provide only 200W RMS.

Music sounds excellent on the Z623, but it's in movies and gaming where the Z623 really shines. The big subwoofer makes a big difference here and the satellites manage to create a nice soundstage. Gaming especially was fun with the sounds of gunfire and explosions in Modern Warfare sounding just the way they should with a solid impact.

Verdict

The Logitech Z-623 costs identical to Z-2300. As for its performance, the Z-623 loses a little bit of the natural & defined bass response as well as the sweeter treble response of Z-2300, but still sounds fabulous. I will say there is no difference between the two when you are watching movies or playing games.

When you listening to music though Z-2300 have a fair bit of advantage. Music through Z-2300 is more natural and the experience is more immersive representing the warm analog nature of human voice where as the Z-623 sound more like modern digital techno type very efficient sound but not as natural as Z-2300.

It wouldn't make any sense if you had to pay for it, when you have the chance to get your hands on Z-2300. As such, I would suggest you stick with the Z-2300 for now as long as it is available, as it is clearly the best 2.1 speaker system that you can get under $150.

Once the Z-2300 goes out of sale, it would make more sense to go for Logitech Z-623 and will be a far better choice than current generation of speakers powered with Class D amplifiers. Z-623 will be a far better choice than Altec Lansing MX-6021, Creative Gigaworks T3, Klipsch Promedia 2.1, Razar Mako & even Bose Companion 3.

 

[rishiguru]

Review of Bose Companion 3 Series II and comparative analysis with Logitech Z-2300

Bose Companion 3 Series II is the base 2.1 model from Bose for a computer speaker system. Being a base 2.1 model does mean that Bose has taken a step back in providing a great sound solution for your PC.

Build & Design

The Bose Companion 3 Series II follows the same design and build of the range. The 2.1 system feels like a sibling from the Bose computer speakers line up. The speakers aren't anything outstanding to look at and won't make you go wow! However, they do look elegant. They mean business and are not meant to add flaunt to your desktop.

Satellites

The Companion 3 Series II has two tiny satellite speakers that sit on small stands that direct the speaker in such a way that they provide a good surround effect. The base of the stand is large and made of metal, so it holds the satellites firmly in its place. It does have rubber feet to get a better grip on the surface it stands. The satellites seem to have 2-inch drivers to deliver the highs and the mids. The drivers hide behind a metal grill and the same goes for the Acoustimass Module. The grills aren't detachable. The fit & finish is of very high order and is even better than the benchmark Z-2300. The satellite drivers are on the other hand not as good as the 2.5 inch ones of Z-2300.

Acoustimass Module

The Acoustimass Module is quite small in size, very much in line with dimensions of other computer speaker system sub-woofers. It looks tiny in comparison to Z-2300 120W RMS sub with its 8 inch long throw bass driver. The design of the sub-woofer looks similar to that of the satellite speakers of the system. It is a front firing sub, and though it's hard to say with conviction the size & power of the driver, it seems to be a 5.25 inch driver and a maximum power of 50W RMS. The woofer is long and not tall making it easy to slide into smaller spaces. At the rear of the Acoutimass Module are the connectors of the system. More than 60 percent of the rear is a heat sink to the in-built amplifier. The connectors include the RCA outputs to each of the satellite speakers, 3.5mm jack for audio input, Control Pod connector, and AC plug connector. There is also a power ON/OFF switch placed at the rear to completely kill power and save electricity.

Control Pod

The Control Pod is similar to the one in the Companion 5; the yo-yo look-alike. It has two parts a lower and upper. The upper part has a rotating ring, which controls the volume of the system. At the top, in a depression, is a grey patch that is touch-sensitive and has the BOSE logo embossed on it. Tapping the patch turns the system to Active Mode or Standby. There is a tiny LED on the grey patch, which has different lights to indicate various modes. Amber signifies Standby and green indicates Active. The Companion 5 had an additional Mute feature, which is not present on the Companion 3 Series II.

The lower part has a headphone jack and audio-in jack. This system gives you the flexibility of connecting two audio sources to it; a PC or a laptop at the rear of the Acousitmass Module. The second device can be connected to the audio-in port. It is advisable to use one source at a time unless you are looking for some kind of a weird fusion. That's funny because ideally the default input should switch off the moment there is a device connected to the audio input on the control pod. The jacks are standard 3.5mm making it possible to connect a host of media devices. The Control Pod has a rubber base to prevent it from sliding around. I dearly miss the bass volume on the control pod though.

Overall the Companion 3 Series II is a neat well-designed speaker system with just aesthetics in mind. There isn't anything to fall in love with its looks, but to me it looked elegant.

Performance

The Companion 3 Series II is a system from Bose, which means good sound quality is part of the package but also is the heafty Rs. 17,500 price. But now its time to define how good these speakers really are. Well the Companion 3 Series II would have been a really good set of speakers if their price would have been less or equal than Rs10,000. The performance is good for a 2.1 system but not anything exceptional. From what I've heard of till date these speakers sounds just like Creative Gigaworks T3. Though Bose is very coy to provide out power output of their speakers I assume they have at around 100W RMS of total power since the bass driver & the satellites are small units.

The Accoustimass Module (sub-woofer) even though small in size packs good power. The bass may be not like the benchmark Logitech Z-2300 but still fills up the room. It's not a sub-woofer that has tight, thumping, chest slamming, take the wind out our lungs feel of Z-2300 sub, but instead, is soft and resounding. Its range is wide and not the in-your-face kind. Bass heads will be definitely be disappointed.

Playing the track Chant from Foreplays album, Z-2300 sub was able to accurately produce the sound of the kick drums and did not have any kind of bass decay or bottoming out problem, courtesy 8 inch bass driver. On the contrary Bose bass driver being small in size was bottoming out a lot and was producing mellow bass.

The two satellite speakers are tiny, they produce sharp highs and deliver ok mids. They satellite drivers are not as sophisticated as Z-2300 polished aluminum phase plug drivers which produce a more natural sound being equally good on the highs and mids. If at all I did have a problem with the Bose speaker it would be the lack of bass adjustment on the control pod; it should have been there and now every time you have to adjust the bass from the back of the Acoustimass Module. All in all a good but not great sounding speaker, but does not justify the heafty Rs.17,500 price tag.

The Z-2300 with 200W RMS power output and Rs.6,800 price tag will blow the Bose in the waters in terms of sound quality & raw power being at the same time a great value for money product. If I have 17 grand to spend I would definitely get the Audio Engine 5 rather than this Bose.