The Logitech Z-5450 is the all-around best value for the home theatre.
Written: Feb 08 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Price. Dolby Digital and DTS in hardware. Many inputs. Works with universal remotes.
Cons: No equalizer. The bright blue power LED is distracting.
The Bottom Line: Try the inexpensive Logitech Z-5450 before you spend thousands on a fancy audio deck. It has excellent sound quality, three digital inputs, and is compatible with universal remote controls.
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| dajhorn's Full Review: Logitech Z-5450 5.1 Wireless Speakers |
I bought the Logitech Z-5450 because it was the only amplifier that I could find with three digital inputs for less than $1,000. Additionally, the sound quality of this inexpensive deck is excellent, and it does Dolby ProLogic-II, Dolby Digital, and DTS decoding in hardware.
The front speakers of the Z-5450 are small and they struggle to fill big spaces, but the rear speakers and subwoofer are adequate. The Z-5450 won't be able to shake the windows during a house party, but it is otherwise ideal for a living room, home office, or apartment.
The Z-5450 works perfectly with my Logitech Harmony 880 universal remote, even the input selection.
The headphone jack on the side of the Z-5450 deck disables the main speakers when headphones are plugged in, which is handy for playing video games after the household is asleep.
The rear speakers are wireless and operate in the 2.4 GHz band with microwave ovens, portable phones, and WiFi networks. The Z-5450 hasn't caused any noticeable interference with my phone or laptop computer, and it is not bothered by the microwave oven in the next room.
In three months of use, I have had a rear wireless speaker disassociate from the deck only once. I had to consult the Z-5450 product manual for instructions on how to reset and reassociate the wireless speakers with the deck, which was a minor annoyance.
The Z-5450 does not have a built-in equalizer, but it is not something that I miss having.
The product manual says that the Z-5450 resamples its rear channels to 48 kbit/s regardless of input, but I can't distinguish a quality difference from a deck that can do 96 kbit/s all around.
The only thing that displeases me about the Z-5450 is that its bright blue power LED is distracting when you are watching a movie in a dark room. I've put some black masking tape over the button.
I had low expectations of the Logitech Z-5450 because it had a low price, but I am altogether pleased with it. I don't think that I would get any more value from a more expensive deck.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
dajhorn
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Member: Darik Horn
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
I am educated in mathematics, and I do systems work for Navtech and Techway.
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