Logitech Z623 Review
Though these speakers sound really good, their performance is identical to the Z-2300
Positive: Great audio quality, brilliant for movies and gaming, impressive design, multiple audio inputs, headphone out jack
Negative: Speakers cannot be wall-mounted, no wired or wireless remote controller, no treble adjustment, bit more clarity in the higher frequencies would have been welcome
Expert Rating: 4 Stars
EXPERT REVIEW:
Intro
When it comes to making quality products, Logitech has hardly ever disappointed with very few products that you can call mediocre. This is also true for speaker systems and Logitech makes some of the best speaker systems for personal computers. One such system is the Logitech Z-2300, which was launched last year and impressed everyone with its powerful audio quality that did justice to the THX certification that the product carried.
Although the model is still on sale it is now on the verge of being replaced and so Logitech has now come up with the Z623. It offers identical specifications but in a fresh design.
- Subwoofer
- Two satellite speakers
- 3.5mm audio cable
- Speaker connector cables
- User documentation
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. The volume control is placed on the right satellite speaker, which is a large dial that 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 everything that you will need at your fingertips and you won't have to reach for the subwoofer for doing something simple as adjusting the bass level. I did miss a treble control on the speaker though.
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.
I loved the design of the Z623; 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 Z623 is aimed more at the younger crowd.
Unfortunately, the problem with the satellite speakers is that they cannot be wall mounted. Also, there are no stands that can be tilted to change the firing angle of the drivers, so they always point slightly upward. This also restricts the way you can place the speakers.
Now getting down to the subwoofer; the one on the Z623 is pretty big. As anyone would tell you, when it comes to subwoofers, bigger is better. But if you are short on space, then this might be a problem for you. 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.
Unfortunately Logitech hasn't mentioned the specifications of the Z623. No mention of the individual power outputs of the satellites or the subwoofer or the size of the drivers. All they say is that it has 200W RMS output and it is 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
We tested the speakers by connecting it to a Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 sound card. For music we used a batch of lossless audio files. For playing back the files, we used foobar2000. For videos we used VLC Player.
When playing music we 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 Z623's subwoofer wasn't as tight 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. We found it best to keep the bass knob at 40% volume.
The satellites are also pretty impressive but not as much as the subwoofer. The mid-range is sweet-sounding and the treble is clear as well. However, I would have loved to have some more clarity in the top end of the audio spectrum. A treble control knob would have really come in handy here.
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's the satellites that give up first and you can tell that the drivers are reaching the end of their travel. The subwoofer has no such problems and rocks clean and hard all the way to the limit.
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 Z623 is priced at Rs. 11,495. This is identical to what Logitech charges for the Z-2300. But that's the MRP; the Z-2300 can be purchased for as little as Rs. 7,200 and we are not sure what the actual street price of the Z623 is, as no one seems to have it in stock right now.
As for its performance, the Z623 is identical to the Z-2300, which means it sounds fabulous. But it wouldn't make any sense if you had to pay more for it, as it does not offer anything extra in return. 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 Rs. 10,000 ever since the Altec Lansing MX5021 went out of production. Once the Z-2300 goes out of sale and the Z623's price settles down, it would make more sense to go for Logitech Z623.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Satellite Power: 2x35 watts RMS (6 ohms)
Subwoofer Power: 130 watts RMS (8 ohms)
Satellite Drivers: 2.5-inch dome driver with aluminum phase plug
Subwoofer Driver: 7-inch pressure driver
Inputs: Stereo RCA and 1/8-inch on sub; 1/8-inch on satellite
Outputs: 1/8-inch headphone on satellite
Controls: Volume and bass control on satellite
I loved the design of the Z623; 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 Z623 is aimed more at the younger crowd.
Unfortunately, the problem with the satellite speakers is that they cannot be wall mounted. Also, there are no stands that can be tilted to change the firing angle of the drivers, so they always point slightly upward. This also restricts the way you can place the speakers.
Now getting down to the subwoofer; the one on the Z623 is pretty big. As anyone would tell you, when it comes to subwoofers, bigger is better. But if you are short on space, then this might be a problem for you. 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.
Unfortunately Logitech hasn't mentioned the specifications of the Z623. No mention of the individual power outputs of the satellites or the subwoofer or the size of the drivers. All they say is that it has 200W RMS output and it is 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
We tested the speakers by connecting it to a Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 sound card. For music we used a batch of lossless audio files. For playing back the files, we used foobar2000. For videos we used VLC Player.
When playing music we 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 Z623's subwoofer wasn't as tight 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. We found it best to keep the bass knob at 40% volume.
The satellites are also pretty impressive but not as much as the subwoofer. The mid-range is sweet-sounding and the treble is clear as well. However, I would have loved to have some more clarity in the top end of the audio spectrum. A treble control knob would have really come in handy here.
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's the satellites that give up first and you can tell that the drivers are reaching the end of their travel. The subwoofer has no such problems and rocks clean and hard all the way to the limit.
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 Z623 is priced at Rs. 11,495. This is identical to what Logitech charges for the Z-2300. But that's the MRP; the Z-2300 can be purchased for as little as Rs. 7,200 and we are not sure what the actual street price of the Z623 is, as no one seems to have it in stock right now.
As for its performance, the Z623 is identical to the Z-2300, which means it sounds fabulous. But it wouldn't make any sense if you had to pay more for it, as it does not offer anything extra in return. 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 Rs. 10,000 ever since the Altec Lansing MX5021 went out of production. Once the Z-2300 goes out of sale and the Z623's price settles down, it would make more sense to go for Logitech Z623.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Satellite Power: 2x35 watts RMS (6 ohms)
Subwoofer Power: 130 watts RMS (8 ohms)
Satellite Drivers: 2.5-inch dome driver with aluminum phase plug
Subwoofer Driver: 7-inch pressure driver
Inputs: Stereo RCA and 1/8-inch on sub; 1/8-inch on satellite
Outputs: 1/8-inch headphone on satellite
Controls: Volume and bass control on satellite
