Logitech Z533 Computer Speakers Review-- Great value!
When I was recently investigating computer speakers, I was going to buy the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system, a set that has been famous in the space for over a decade.
Then I saw the Logitech Z533 sitting right next to it, immediately fell in love with how they looked, and bought them instead. I have no regrets.
The looks of this set are quite striking, particularly for speakers costing just 99 bucks. The design has a very classic, iconic look. The speakers look kinda like studio speakers, but smaller and more sleek, and the gold accents on a black base immediately grabbed my eye. The subwoofer has a cool design too, with a 5 and a half inch speaker in a perfectly-sized-for-a-desk box, complete with a side port.
Fortunately, the performance of this system backed up my love its design. The speakers are loud and clean, with a frequency response that exceeds many comparably priced monitor/bookshelf models. Bass is present and powerful without being overwhelming. If you’re looking for a huge boomy theater-type sound, maybe look elsewhere. These are crisp and powerful while still being apartment friendly. Which is great for me, since I live in an apartment.
Let’s talk inputs. The speakers have two rear inputs: one 3.5mm jack and one set of RCA jacks. There’s also a secondary 3.5mm input on the control pod. It’s great to have three sets of inputs on such an affordable system. The control pod is FANTASTIC. The only complaint one might lodge against it is that it’s permanently wired to the sub, so placing it could be a little tricky in some desk setups, but I personally had no issues. It’s weighted quite well for being part of a cheap set, and has a satisfying click to the power switch action at the start of the knob. Volume adjustment is good, smooth, and slow, allowing for lots of fine control. Another big plus to this model is that there’s a bass adjustment slider right below the volume knob, which also has a satisfying feel.
My last set required me to crawl under my desk if I wanted to adjust the subwoofer volume, so this is a huge improvement!
The system is rated for a response of 55hz-20,000hz, but I actually pegged the subwoofer response a bit lower, in the upper 40′s. So, it’s not as punchy/bass heavy as a larger speaker unit or a nice pair of headphones is going to be, but for a desk setup, it’s perfect. The satellite speakers are built at a slight angle, so they face perfectly up at your ears sitting on your desk. You won’t need to elevate them at all. The rubber feet on the bottom of my left speaker are ever so slightly uneven, but it doesn’t affect the performance or the look of the system at all, and this probably doesn’t appear on every unit. The system has a built in amplifier that’s more than powerful enough for a desk. The subwoofer gets 30 watts and the satellites each get 15. My computer has a nice DAC, and if yours does not, you might consider investing in one, as these reproduce accurately enough that you’ll hear any noise coming down the line.
The manual is the most lacking element of this system. It just has a basic wiring diagram which tells you how to hook everything up, and the online manual is not much more comprehensive. Logitech seems to assume that you already know how to properly place a 2.1 system in your home/on your desk. If you don’t, then you might not get the best performance out of this system, and that’s a shame. It’s not that hard to set it up. Here’s some tips: space the speakers out on your desk, and angle them towards your ears in your default sitting position. Place the subwoofer under your desk or on another part of the floor, wherever it’s convenient. And that’s it. Why Logitech didn’t include this type of text in the manual, we’ll never know!
Instruction issues aside, this is a fantastic little set of speakers at a great price. If you’re looking for a compact, affordable 2.1 system with the performance of a nice bookshelf setup, then this is your set. At 99 bucks, I can’t imagine you’d be able to find much better computer speakers. Bose makes a set in this price range that has lots of positive reviews, but I can’t imagine that whatever tricks they’re using to get big frequency range out of just two small drivers will sound better than this set. I’ve never heard those outside of their demo unit though, so perhaps that’s unfair of me to say.
Want to spend 99 bucks on computer speakers? You should probably get the Logitech Z533′s! They’re really nice looking and they sound great in their price range. They remind me a little bit of the Cambridge Soundworks PC Works 2.1 system from the 90′s. If the PC Works system still existed, I’d buy a new one.
