Specifications

84
JUL 2011 maximumpc.com
MAXIMUMPC
Logitech Z906
5.1 Speaker
System
A few key features
shy of stellar
LOGITECH’S Z-5500 5.1-channel speaker
system was legendary for its beefy amp
and beastly subwoofer, its plethora of
optical and digital input options, and
its ability to decode popular surround-
sound codecs. The 5.1-channel Z906
speaker system taking its place at the
top of Logitech’s audio lineup is every
bit its equal.
The Z-5500, however, hit the market
in 2004. In the intervening seven years,
HDTV, Blu-ray, high-definition surround
sound, and Class D amplifiers have
elevated our expectations. We’ve grown
accustomed to consumer electronics
that deliver price/performance ratios
that were unimaginable in 2004.
Our chief criticism of the Z906 is
that Logitech positions the system as
a suitable companion for a Blu-ray
player, and we think a PC with a Blu-ray
drive and an HDMI videocard fits that
definition. But the Z906 doesn’t provide
HDMI pass-through, and it can’t decode
the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master
Audio soundtracks that make Blu-ray
movies sound as glorious as they look.
The Z906 is outfitted with three
1/8-inch analog stereo inputs, so you
can still get HD audio if you connect
the system to a PC or a Blu-ray player
with discrete analog outputs, but that’s
messy and not all Blu-ray players have
those outputs. The Z906 also has three
S/PDIF-outs (two optical and one co-
axial), and it is capable of decoding DTS
and Dolby Digital soundtracks, adding
DVD players and videogame consoles to
its list of supported devices.
Logitech puts long speaker cables
in the box (12 feet for each of the front
channels and 24 feet for each of the
surrounds), but you can substitute your
own because the Z906’s subwoofer and
The Z906’s satellite cabinets rest at an angle to direct the sound straight at your ears.
in the lab
9
VERDICT
SPECIFICATIONS
SATELLITE SPEAKERS 3-inch full-range
fiber composite with
synthetic rubber
surrounds
SATELLITE ENCLOSURES ABS plastic
SUBWOOFER 8-inch side-firing fiber-
composite driver with
foam surround in ported
MDF enclosure
AMPLIFIER Class D (seven channels,
with two bridged
channels driving the
subwoofer)
STATED POWER RATING 500 watts RMS total:
67 watts to each of five
satellites, 165
watts to subwoofer
INPUTS Six channel analog
(three 1/8-inch analog
stereo), three S/PDIF
(two optical, one
coaxial), two RCA
analog stereo, and one
1/8-inch analog stereo
OUTPUTS 1/8-inch headphone;
binding clips for
speakers
satellites are equipped with binding
clips. The Z906’s seven-channel Class-D
amp directs 67 watts to each of its five
satellites and 165 watts (bridging two
channels) to the 8-inch woofer in the
sub. As with the Z-5500, the satellites
are equipped with 3-inch, one-way
drivers that must produce both high
and midrange frequencies. Two-way
configurations with discrete tweeters
and midrange drivers, such as you’ll find
in Corsair’s 2.1-channel SP2500 system,
almost always deliver a more satisfac-
tory sonic performance.
The Z906 delivered rock ’em, sock
’em performance with first-person
shooters and other games, and it did a
good job of filling our home theater with
Blu-ray movie soundtracks. The limita-
tions of those one-way drivers, however,
surfaced as soon as we turned our focus
to music. Listening to “If This Is Good-
bye,” from the Mark Knopfler, Emmylou
Harris collaboration All the Roadrunning,
the Z906 rendered Ms. Harris’s angelic
vocals with a slightly harsh edge. By the
same token, the delicious piano work
that figures so prominently in Julianna
Raye’s “Slowly,” from her Dominoes
album, came across as overly bright and
brittle.
So the Z906 is a worthy successor
to the vaunted Z-5500. It’s great with
games and good with Blu-ray movies,
but its weak musical performance, lack
of HD-audio support, and the absence
of HDMI pass-through deny it a Kick
Ass award.
–MICHAEL BROWN
Logitech Z906 5.1 Speaker
System
HDMI Surround sound, a
beefy subwoofer, and plenty of inputs.
TMI Satellites have one-way drivers; no
HDMI pass-through; can’t decode Dolby
TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio.
$500, www.logitech.com