Logitech X-540 - 5.1 surround for the masses

A short while ago, I wrote a short post on my speaker buying adventure before Christmas. I eventually settled on the new Logitech X-540 5.1 speakers and promised a review. This is that review.

The X-540s are a pretty standard set of PC speakers. A 25W sub-woofer, four 7.4W satellites and a single 15.4W centre speaker make up the set. These aren't perhaps the most powerful speakers out there, but they are certainly enough for most tasks. The satellites and centre speakers each have two 2" drivers with something Logitech like to call FDD2 (Frequency Directed Dual Driver) that ensures uniform sound reproduction rather than "hotspots" of sound produced by other speaker systems. This works well in practice, and I have found that the sound is consistently good anywhere in the room.

The sub-woofer is downward firing, which means that, like the satellites, the sound is not directional. The driver is not enormous at 5.25", but at 25W it kicks out enough power to add a good bass to the sound, and the sound reproduction is much better than in most PC speaker setups I've tried.

Logitech have been thoughtful enough to add some niceties to the system to help it fit in with its intended environment. The satellite bases swivel to become wall mounts, and the centre speaker base unhinges to become a clip to attach to the top of a monitor or, in my case, a flat-panel TV. It isn't a clip in the most common sense of the word, and is actually more of a hook, but it sits in place securely and ensures that the centre channel comes from the right place rather than just whereever you could find room to put it.

All the controls are on a wired remote that can be positioned anywhere you like (within the limits of the not-very-long cable), thus allowing power, volume and the individual bass control and the all important Matrix Mode button to be up front and convenient. In reality I have it right on top of the sub, but it could be positioned under the monitor for easy access.

Of course, all this talk of hardware is well and good, but what does it sound like? I'm not much of an audiophile, but I know what I like, and I like these. The bass is very good, not intrusive as in many PC speakers, and has good sound reproduction rather than the "dull, thumping noise" of many others. The treble is handled very well, too, with a good range and clear reproduction of music and sound effects (explosions et al) with no distortion at all. It's nice to be able to listen to music and appreciate all the sublties of it, from the percussion to the rhythm to the vocal, without any of it being overwhelmed by lacklustre treble or over-enthusiastic bass.

The piece de resistence of these speakers that sets them ahead of previous Logitech offerings is the aforementioned Matrix Mode. This is a clever bit of electronic gimmickry that converts a standard 2 channel stereo input into full 5.1 channel output. I've not been able to find details of how this works, but from my experiments it seems to push more bass to the sub and mid-range to the centre speaker, making it a bit "meatier", and then pushing high-end to the rear speakers enhancing the ambience and giving a fuller sound. Of course, turning off the Matrix Mode makes them act like any other 2.1 speakers and, frankly, I can't imagine why anyone would do that.

Overall, then, and if you couldn't tell, I'm very happy with this purchase. I would recommend them to anyone looking for general purpose speakers for music and film, even if you only have standard stereo output. Turn on the Matrix Mode and the only way you could possibly upgrade is to listen to everything in true 5.1 surround, and given that most music doesn't come in that format yet anyway, this is the best you're going to get, at a very reasonable price.

Up!

Pixar's Up has been the most hyped 3D animated movie of 2009. Billed as a children's movie, an Animated Adventure Comedy according to IMDB, I didn't really know what to expect except a film about a house with balloons on it. I honestly didn't think it would be that great. How much mileage could they get out of that one gimmick? But I was wrong. Very, very wrong.

Underlying the child-like elements (adventure, talking dogs, a house with balloons on it) lies a tragedy. A story of loss, eviction, fallen heroes and unfulfilled ambition. The opening montage had me tearing up, and the sadness underpinning the entire rest of the movie is well played and poignant. Though I laughed at the comedy, I felt a terrible heartache at the same time as I watched a widower, lonely and angry at the world, battle to make up for a life of disappointment, to finally do what he had always planned with his first love, his wife Ellie, who he still talks to even as the urban developers threaten his home and his life.

Of course, the comedy is excellent as can be expected from a studio like Pixar. From slapstick to in-jokes, from set pieces to subtle, knowing observations on life, this film has it all. As an action adventure, it works well, with the laws of physics suitably ignored to provide an entertaining romp across South America.

Kids will love this film for the jokes, the slapstick comedy and the action sequences. Adults will enjoy it too, but will appreciate the reality of the story, and the ultimate redemption of Carl Fredricksen as he finds his place in the modern world. And true to style, the sentimental ending, unseen by the characters but appreciated by the audience, ends the film on a high note.

This film deserves every accolade afforded it, and is definitely worth watching. 10 helium balloons out of 10.

On the quest for better sound

When I got my current set of 2.1 speakers I was pretty skint so picked up a random set, some G-Star SS-2180s, from Maplin. If I were to review these speakers, I would have to be harsh. A smudgy, distorted bass, no mid-range and treble to rival any pair of 99p headphones. Noticing that my JVC earphones sound better was the final nail in the coffin of these speakers.

So I went on the hunt for something to replace them. Living, as I do, in a tiny little studio flat (read: bedsit), I didn't think I really needed anything too amazing. A second consideration was that my primary source of music is my iPod Classic, which is stereo only, so I didn't think it really important to look into 5.1 surround systems.

Bearing the iPod in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to get one of the many iPod docks that are so popular these days. I had a look around and was quite disappointed in what I found. They are massively more expensive than ordinary speaker sets, the primary function being iPod control more than sound quality.

However, I happened upon the Logic3 i-Station Studio at HMV. It was a snip at a mere £49.99, half the RRP for this unit. Sounded like an ideal solution. A small speaker solution that could charge my iPod and be remotely controlled for little more than an ordinary set of 2.1 speakers.

Unfortunately, HMV have long since sold out of these devices. Everywhere else is selling them for £80 or more, so the shine of the price was taken off. Reviews didn't sound too promising either, most of them avoiding the subject of sound quality altogether and focussing on the remote control and iPod dock features. Couple with the fact that there are no satellites, I wasn't filled with confidence and so I decided to look elsewhere.

Next port of call were stalwarts of the PC speaker market, Logitech. They do a wide range of speakers to suit every pocket, so seemed like a good target. After browsing their wares for a while, I happened upon the new X-240 speakers. The X range are highly regarded, from what I've read, and these ones include an MP3 player dock that, they claim, allows you to charge and sync your iPod or Zune while you play music.

Unfortunately, these claims all turned out to be marketing hype. Reading reviews and looking deeper, I discovered that the MP3 dock does not, in fact, include any sync or charging facilities. Rather, it has a little hole under the device so you can plug in your existing charger or sync cable. To play music, you still have to plug a 3.5mm stereo jack into the earphone socket. Not nearly so cool. Add to that the reviews, which hilight the complete lack of mid-range, and I wondered if getting these speakers would just be replacing my current ones like for like, with the addition of a little shelf.

At this point I figured that I really should be looking a bit more up-market. Staying with the Logitech theme, and on 23inertia's recommendation, I switched over to looking at the X-540. No pretence of iPod dock here. No focus on extras to detract from the lousy sound.

The X-540s are a relatively recent addition to the range, replacing the X-530s. They are basically the same speakers with the addition of a little electronic gizmo that sits in the front. The main thing that appeals is the new "matrix mode", which will magically convert a stereo input to fill the 5.1 surround output. Even the little clip on the central speaker so you can attach it to your TFT monitor or telly makes it fit nicely in my flat.

So a set of Logitech X-540s are on their way to me even as I type this post. I will set them all up and post a follow-up when I figure out if this was a good decision, or a mild disappointment. Based purely on the reviews, I'm pretty convinced that they will be brilliant, and I can't see how they can possibly be worse than what I already have.