Installation:

   As this is a 2.1 system, there isn't much to installation. You need only to plug three things in; firstly, plug the DIN connector from the remote in to the back of the subwoofer; then plug the mini-stereo plug from the remote into your soundcard/sound source; and finally, plug the subwoofer into an electrical outlet. You can then turn on the system. While this isn't a complicated process, the fact that the control pod wires and speaker wires are all stuck together can makes things tricky when you are trying to place the speakers around your monitor or other objects, as you'll have to snake the satellites/wires around, over and through other wires. As mentioned previously, this could have been alleviated by making the wires separate.

   The subwoofer doesn't take up much room and easily fit underneath my small desk; similarly, thanks to the metal stands, the satellites take up little desk space and even if you're short on space you shouldn't have trouble fitting these in. The control pod also occupies little space. Overall, installation wasn't too hard, except for the problems due to all the moulded together wires.

Testing:

   I was initially impressed by the physical quality of these speakers. Not only did they look neat and professional, but the quality of the stands was more than I expected for a 2.1 system in this price range. Rest assured that the Z-3s do not give an impression of cheap quality in this respect. After spending a few minutes setting them, I went right on to testing them out by listening to some tunes.

   Again, I was impressed, but more so this time. While I was expecting the Z-3s to beat out the sound I expected from a "budget" set of speakers, not only did the Z-3s easily do this, but they went far above and beyond! Not only did the sound stay clear and precise up to near-max levels, but the full spectrum of frequencies was well represented. Starting at the low-end, the sub pumps out massive amounts of bass; at times, I almost found the system too bass-heavy, but adjusting the sub's volume corrected this. Though I think it depends on your room's acoustic properties and how you've set up your system, I believe the Z-3's have toned down the bass a bit compared to previous Logitech systems such as the Z-340s, which I though had too much bass.

   The satellites do a very good job of pumping out mid-range and higher frequencies. Guitar riffs and cymbal hits were clear and didn't sound hollow; vocals also sounded full in both music and movies. It's in this area that the Z-3s impressed me the most, as I was expected this system to falter here but it appears that the design of the satellites really has helped them achieve good sound reproduction; these satellites don't just look good, they sound good as well.

  While I have had nothing but good things to say about the Z-3s so far, only when it is tested side-by-side with some other systems do shortcomings show up. I compared the Z-3s to my own Logitech Z-560s (using only two satellites) and the old but venerable Altec Lansing ACS-48s. (The latter system I've had since 2000, and they've been around for before that - but I still consider them to be a good 2.1 system.) At first, comparing them to the Z-560s I didn't expect much; however the Z-3s sounded decent enough to warrant a comparison. While the Z-560s certainly produced sound that was more full and rich, especially with regard to the midrange and higher frequencies, the Z-3s were good enough such that I had a little trouble distinguishing the two when listening to certain songs. However, for the vast majority of tests, the Z-560s were the clear winner.

   When comparing to the ACS-48s, however, the margins were a little smaller and I often had trouble judging which one was better. They both sounded close to the same in games and in movies, but under certain circumstances, the ACS-48s produced better sounding music, in my opinion, than the Z-3s. I would have to say that the ACS-48s won over the Z-3s by the very smallest of margins. However, this isn't the full story, as the ACS-48s take up slightly more room than the Z-3s and lack some features of the Z-3s such as a headphone jack or a knob for volume control. (The ACS-48s use up/down buttons for volume control.) Taking these factors into consideration, and the fact that the Z-3s are of quality construction, I would pick them for use.

Conclusion:

   While the Z-3s had a few minor annoyances such as the situation with the control pods wires being attached to those of the satellites, I was very impressed with this system overall. I'll admit that I wasn't expecting this level of sound quality, and was very much pleased to see a system that not only looked good but also delivered on the sound reproduction goods as well. While the MSRP for this setup of $99 USD, you can undoubtedly find them online at a much lower price, though this figure still places them above most 2.1 setups. However, I believe the Z-3s warrant the slightly higher price tag, as testing has shown to me that the sound quality is above most 2.1 systems. If you're looking for a 2.1 system, I can wholeheartedly recommend these, as they won't disappoint you.

Pros:

• Quality construction

• Professional looks

• Very good sound quality

• Bass is sufficient, but not overpowering

• Removable grills so you can decide between looks and protection

• Metal stands feel sturdy

• System doesn't take up too much space

• Control pod well-designed; large volume knob

• Game console adapter included

• Headphone jack on control pod

Cons:

• Hardwired satellites and control pod make setup a little tedious

• Bass volume control not on control pod

Thanks go out to Logitech for making this review possible!