Logitech Z623 2.1 Speaker System

The last Logitech product I reviewed was the S715i, which I absolutely love. So when I heard that they’d launched a THX certified 2.1 speaker system, I just had to take a closer look at it.

Proudly wearing the THX tag

Design and Features
This speaker set will take up a substantial amount of space. The satellite speakers aren’t that big at 7.8 x 5.6 x 5.4-inches, but the subwoofer is massive, measuring 11.9 x 11.1 x 10.4 inches. The controls for the speakers are on the right satellite speaker, although both speakers have to be connected to the subwoofer individually. The left speaker has a regular RCA-type cable, but the right one has this thick cable that looks a lot like a standard computer VGA cable.

The back of the sub has two connections for the left and right speaker as well as a 3.5 mm headphone input and a stereo RCA input for when you want to hook it up to your DVD or Blu-ray player. The wires can get a little messy, and they are fixed as well. so if they do end up getting damaged, it’s bad news. However, they seem to be pretty sturdy, so they should last for a couple of years at least.

Connections at the rear are pretty standard

One thing that I think that this speaker system lacks is a remote. I’m not saying it should have plenty of function; even basic volume control and mute would’ve been nice, though.

Performance
I was totally blown away when I plugged in my iPhone at the back through the 3.5 mm jack, as the music was loud, and clear. Even when I pumped it up all the way to maximum output, and set the subwoofer on full, the speakers did not rattle or distort. I was already impressed. What I really liked about the Z623 was the tight, well rounded bass sound. But even though the satellites deliver 35 watts each and the subwoofer pulsates at 130 watts, I did feel like the overall level could’ve been louder.

I also hooked the speakers up to the LG BX580 3D Blu-ray player to see what an audio CD sounded like, but there was quite a startling difference. It was a lot louder, and the sound distorted when I turned the knob over 70%. My suggestion would be to keep the bass at around 50-60%, and the output volume to around 75%. However, when I played a movie, the volume went down again and everything seemed fine with no distortion.

Subwoofer control in the front - nice!

I also ran a few test tones through these speakers, and it seems like they really start to perform at around 63 Hz. The struggle to reproduce frequencies below this is quite evident.

These speakers are also THX certified, and if you don’t know what that means, let me take a minute to explain. THX stands for the Tomlinson Holman Experiment, which sets standards for movie theatres and surround sound gear. Now, of course, they’ve expanded to accommodate systems such as this one, which aren’t surround sound. THX certification isn’t something you apply for and receive immediately. The product has to go through a rigorous testing procedure, and only if it does pass all the tests, does it gain the THX tag. And these speakers wear the tag proudly.

Verdict
At the market price of Rs. 7,000, the Z623 is not exactly cheap, but it definitely belts out high quality sound. I don’t think you’ll get too many other 2.1 speaker sets in this price range that sound this good. So if you look at it that way, the Z623 does provide value for your money.

I give the Z623s a 3 ½ star rating, as they sound great with music and movies. And even though they’re not cheap, they provide excellent value for money. I’ve cut points for the lack of a remote, the monster cables and the fact that the sound jars when pushed towards the peak. But if you could turn down the volume a little bit, and get off the couch to change the volume, this is definitely a keeper.