Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 Digital Speaker System

Pros: Packaging was very well done. 25 Ft of wire for each rear sat, and 15 Ft for each front L/R/C. Plenty for most needs. I set this up in the same room and config as my Onkyo HT-S760(6.1 750 Watt HTIB) to compare side by side so here's my rating of this system:

Treble(satelites): Awesome 9/10, only highest highs might be a little muddy, but sounded nearly as good as my Onkyo

Medium tones: Great, 8/10, some lower mid tones come through the sub but still has the presence of full sound spectrum (required for THX certification).

Bass(subwoofer): Awesome 10/10, just as good as my Onkyo, if not better, and has more watts

Movies: 9/10, Decodes DTS and DD through Coax or optical inputs (I tried with LOTR:return of king DTS and Star Wars II Dolby)

Music: Great 8/10, may sound a little hollow to some ears, great bass though.

Cons: At this price, I can't get too picky for a THX system with 500+ RMS watts. This system will hold it's own against most HTIB or PC speakers under eight hundred $$$, especially, S**y, Panason*c, Sams*ng, Phill*ps, and RCA HTIB. The only system I would rather have under one thousand $$$ is my Onkyo HT-S760 (also see HT-S770 and HT-S780). Avoid B-o-s-e as well (way overpriced for medium sound quality) I also will mention that I chose this over the Kxxxsh 5.1 ultras because of price, and some reliability problems with their Amp (tends to overheat and blow).

Also, since it uses normal speaker wire, you can upgrade the satellites for even better sound(not really necessary but leaves your options open) and still keep the subwoofer.

Oh, this box is for cons so I better list one:

Dongle for Control Center could be longer for placing sub farther away.

Overall Review: I read hundreds of reviews and went to a few stores to compare these in person before making my purchase and decision. Your own listening preference and liking is always most important so listen to the systems you are thinking about and then order from Newegg (best prices on products and shipping!).

I also looked at the Logitech Z-5300 which sounded alright, but the bass was too boomy and not as accurately produced and the highs were not as crisp so if you can afford the extra $$$, this system is much more bang for the buck.

Pros: -Powerful subwoofer.
-Long speaker wire, color coded so you don't get confused.
-Dolby Digital/DTS decoding without a huge A/V Receiver.
-Dolby Prologic effects that take 2 channel stereo and output 5 channel surround.
-Optical input, Coaxial input, 5 channel 3.5mm input, 2 channel 3.5mm input
-Headphone 3.5mm output.
-Speakers are much better than typical computer speakers.

Cons: -Speakers are a far cry from good bookshelves. This is a con depending on the price you pay for this.
-Control pod has a short, 6 ft connection to the subwoofer. This can put serious limitations on where you place the subwoofer/control pod.
-Does not decode HD audio formats (DTS Master HD/Dolby True HD) as it does not have HDMI inputs.

Overall Review: I know that price isn't supposed to be discussed for newegg reviews. But you need to know whether or not this is worth the money. And, the price of this item fluctuates a ton. I'm letting you know that unless you really need to save space, this item is a ripoff if it costs $300+. For $300+, you can buy a 5.1 set-up with much better speakers, much better subwoofer, and an A/V receiver with multiple optical/coaxial and hdmi inputs. That A/V receiver will also be able to decode HD audio formats. You'll have a set-up better in every possible way, except for space.

Also, don't forget that by going with a traditional, 5.1 set-up, you have complete control over the components you get. That doesn't happen with this.

My advice: see how much this currently costs, compare that cost to a traditional 5.1 set-up that uses an A/V receiver at the same cost, decide if your room has space for an A/V receiver, then make your decision. Good luck! The world of sound is an expensive one.