Logitech Z515 Wireless Speakers: Because Your Laptop Speakers Suck
by Dustin Sklavos on October 14, 2010 2:00 AM ESTConclusion
If we're grading strictly on sound quality, the Logitech Z515 is a tough sell. If you're planning on paying $99 for a pair of speakers that will spend their useful life sitting at your desk, you can do a lot better. The Z515's an improvement on notebook speakers in any capacity, but if it's just going to be stationary throughout most of its life, you can do better with a pair of conventional computer speakers. Fortunately, we aren't grading strictly on sound quality.
The Z515 is clearly designed to be as portable as humanly possible, an effort to strike a balance between sound quality and mobility, and on that front they feel like much more of a success. Playback over the Z515 was perfectly fine for casual use, and with the volume cranked up it can definitely fill a room (and it does sound much better at higher volumes.) But it was meant to be on the move, as aptly demonstrated by the space for the receiver in the back and the black zipper case it comes with. Supporting three different methods of connectivity—wireless dongle, Bluetooth, and 3.5mm minijack—makes it as flexible as you could ask for, and the wireless range is outstanding.
Something else to consider is that with the USB wireless adapter, you're not saddled with the built-in audio on your laptop, and you don't need to use the headphone jack. We've encountered quite a few laptops over the years where the internal speakers and audio jacks both have a lot of electrical noise/interference. By going the USB audio route, Logitech eliminates that concern.
That's where you're really going to have to decide whether or not the $99 MSRP is worth it to you. If the flexibility and wireless range are attractive, I'm not sure where you can expect to find better on the market. As a strictly stationary speaker the pricetag is onerous, but under those circumstances you aren't using the Z515 as it was intended. I've been in situations where a pair of speakers like the Z515 (because it is essentially a pair of stereo speakers) would've been incredibly useful and worth their weight in gold, but it's going to be up to you to determine whether or not the Z515's mobility and flexibility are going to be relevant enough to make up for the $99 pricetag.
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Sebec - Thursday, October 14, 2010 - link
I agree. Also, the writing is pretty shoddy by Anandtech standards. I've never seen "suck" as a word in a title article on this website EVER, until now. There are also several grammatical errors, mainly ending sentences with prepositions. Frankly, I found this article worse than the stuff on Tom's HW.Dustin Sklavos - Thursday, October 14, 2010 - link
Seriously?I'll admit "suck" probably doesn't belong in a headline, but you're going to call in the grammar police?
I try to keep my writing style fairly conversational and casual, too dry makes for a dull read. I'm sorry if that doesn't work for you, but it's kept my readers pretty happy since I started.
bahamakyle - Saturday, October 16, 2010 - link
I registered for the first time after frequenting this site for 10 years to chime in the harsh responses to this review. By AnandTech standards the article was just fine. You provided all the information that one should need about a low-end set of speakers in a clear and coherent manner. And I don't think that there's anything wrong with having the work "suck" in the title. It was nice to see a bit of lightheartedness added to the front page. Can't please everyone I guess. Keep up the good work Dustin.Cheers
softdrinkviking - Thursday, October 14, 2010 - link
"This is the part where a lot of audiophiles would be ripping their hair out, but hear me out: the Companion II's produce excellent bass and dynamic range provided they're connected to a good sound card"look, it has nothing to do with whether or not you're using a "dedicated subwoofer," there are plenty of great full-range speaker options out there, but Bose are, well, an acquired taste.
Some folks really like how Bose speaker color the music to their own particular sound, but many "audiophiles" are not looking for speakers that change the sound so much.
however, i am not one of them. i used bose laptop replacement speakers for a long time and i think they gave a good, full sound for a low cost.
i know that sounds crazy, because bose are not the cheapest option, but when you compare them to a real audio system that actually sounds really good, the cost is negligible.
they do not produce excellent anything,
not by a long shot,
but they do a very good job of covering up poor recordings and bad mp3s.
warisz00r - Thursday, October 14, 2010 - link
lolgitechand Bose = Buy Other Sound Equipment
For the same amount you're paying to get a Bose, you can build a much better sounding setup, sometimes for even less.
http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html
therealnickdanger - Thursday, October 14, 2010 - link
No highs, no lows... it must be Bose!softdrinkviking - Friday, October 22, 2010 - link
ha. that takes me back.actually, i think they have changed their design philosophy since the days when that rhyme was coined.
to me, they sound more bassey/muddy then they used to, and less mid-rangey.
but the highs still suck.
Dustin Sklavos - Thursday, October 14, 2010 - link
For a home theater system, sure.My Companion II's are a $100 pair of computer speakers. I've tried other similarly priced speaker sets and found them to deliver the best sound quality, at least for my needs. We're talking about a budget here, for a computer, not a home theater speaker system.
softdrinkviking - Thursday, October 14, 2010 - link
for the more expensive multispeaker setups, i agree with you, but the companion 2s that i got for 85 bucks are hard to beat if you don't have any space for something bigger.now, i'm using JBL control 2p speakers, and they do kick the crap out of the bose, but they cost more than twice as much.
once you start looking at the 350 dollar or greater options, your absolutely right, bose really suck.
i also find it really abnoxious that they won't publish their speaker specs.
they rely on their sound coloring techniques rather than accuracy and power.
frankly, i understand the approach, because most people don't even understand speaker specs anyway, so bose focuses on making a rich, recognizable sound that will capture people's attention.
what bothers me about them is that they are probably using their 'secret sauce' to mask inferior components.
however, there is no way to say that for sure without ripping them open and testing them, and who wants to blow cash on that?
in the meantime, i still stand by the cheaper bose speakers as a good way to cover up flaws in poor sources like mp3s and bad transfers.
in fact, if you have really good speakers, your mp3s will actually sound worse, because you can hear how poor the quality is. (even without superb hearing)
when you are talking about non-computer, non-mp3 usage, like a home stereo, all of this goes out the window of course.
tleeds - Thursday, October 14, 2010 - link
Get your hands on a set of Wharfedale Audio Diamond 8.2 Active Studio Monitors. Should run you about $350.00USD .. Unbelievable sound for that money.