Cheap Computer Speakers

Summary: The Logitech Z-4 is an award-winning 2.1 set that boasts a sleek design, clear sound and a great price.

Disclaimer: Every user has a different setup and different expectations. Take their comments with a grain of salt and note that what they experience with the speakers do not apply to everyone.

Official Overview and Specifications

Professional Reviews (click the links for more information)

  * Editor’s Choice

Average User Reviews (click the links for more information)

Good

"… they deliver truly impressive sound – smooth, room vibrating, bass, crisp highs, and a midrange nearly perfect for computer games… With a little equalizer tweaking, these speakers deliver exceptional music performance and are a true pleasure to listen to (rock, classic rock, jazz, or country). "

"… no distortion from the speakers what-so-ever. No crackles or fizzles, not one. They are fantastic even when it was blasting my ears into bits and rattling the windows. Perfect audio through and through."

"Gamers and film buffs who care only about rattling their walls with low-end thunder can find a more powerful set elsewhere, but if you value a balanced mix with an emphasis on clarity, the Z-4s are a great option, and at $100, worth every penny."

"The Logitech Z-4 should be at the top of your list of <$100 speaker systems if you’re in the market for a good 2.1 setup… The Z-4s can be driven hard and loud and still belt out accurate sound, and with a sleek modern appearance, you can be assured that they look as good as they sound."

"It’s far more than adequate for heavy gaming or listening to music, and I won’t be going back to headphones any time soon. I’d highly recommend it for anyone with limited space or for those who don’t want to pay a small fortune for a high-end system, but want the absolute most for their money."

Bad

"At times… the subwoofer sounded disconnected from the satellites, a common issue with computer speakers that avoid using woofers and go straight to the subwoofer. The absence of a regular woofer means some frequencies, namely low-mids, get a bit less attention than they deserve."

"This model is very poor in midrange, all you can hear is bass. My mobile phone speakers are better thatn this interms of midrange. I got this and hooked up and returned it on the same day. Waste of time."

"The Z-4 system has a muffled mid-range, poor transient response, and relatively high subwoofer distortion. Subwoofer position makes a significant difference in perceived bass response. Imaging is average, with a limited sound stage."

"These speakers look good, but the sound suffers from the small satellites which lack in mids and highs… also the sub is only a 4" with an 8" passive radiator (no bass port). This all comes together to create a sort of muffled sound with weaker bass."

"The Z4’s speakers are not matched well to the subwoofer. I feel you lose midrange and the overall sound is flat. They are comparable to the cheapest 2.1 systems that are optional with most new computer systems and cost half the price."

Personal Opinion

The Logitech Z-4 has won many professional accolades, and for good reason. The pressure-driven technology ensures crystal-clear sound with very little, if any, distortion even when cranked up to ridiculously high volumes. I know I’m a sucker for convenient additions, and the wired remote that allows you to control the volume, subwoofer and power, while providing a headphone output and auxiliary input is just a heart-melter for me. It doesn’t hurt that they look really sleek too, and each component is fairly small, especially when compared to other 2.1 systems.

As has been mentioned many times by the reviews, these are great for both music and games (as well as movies), providing a balanced, accurate sound with a sense of 3D-awareness that’s beneficial in many video games. Common complaints are in the mid-range frequencies, and in some cases how far the bass extends, although I personally think they’re fine. An interesting complaint to the design is in its external branding – the Logitech logo is fairly prevalent in the components, appearing multiple times in each. Of course, this is just nitpicking and 99% of its users won’t even be bothered by this at all.

Buy Now (click vendor to purchase)

Vendor	Price
Amazon.com	$57.56
mwave.com	$82.66
TheNerds.net	$73.99
TigerDirect	$69.99
OnSale	$66.99
eBay	See Below