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| Logitech X-540 5.1 System Review by Jonathan Trevisani, Computer Games Online  With the vast majority of games utilizing surround sound options these days, the need for proper speakers is becoming more prevalent. Logitech's latest series of 5.1 speakers allows you to get into the middle of the action while keeping an affordable price. Although it lacks some of the bells and whistles of the higher-priced systems, the X-540 handles itself quite nicely and is a welcome addition to your PC station.5.1 systems require a generous amount of space for 5 speakers and a subwoofer and hopefully some room to hide the mess of wires that will be strewn about your desk. The X-540 does have moderately-sized speakers to place about your desk while the sub-woofer is quite large. The speaker on the sub does not have a protective cover for some reason so it should be handled with care whenever it needs to be moved. There are rubber feet on the sub so it doesn't scratch or mess up the floor whenever you decide to move the unit around. While the front and rear speakers can be placed to their respective corners on the desk, they do have adjustable mounts that allow for placement on the wall as well. Of course this means using those un-realized handyman skills but a little elbow sweat is necessary for a killer gaming set-up. The real gem of the set is the center channel that can be placed on the desk in front of you or on top of your monitor. It has an adjustable stand that fits on top of a CRT monitor or clips onto an LCD monitor. It looks a bit odd at first when placed on top of your monitor, but you get used to it after a while since the placement is great for sound delivery. Installation was simple with the color-coded cables for each individual speaker. The length of the wires was adequate for the set-up and actually left a good amount left over which was begging for some cable management unless you don't mind have a tangled mess behind your desk that you don't plan on traversing all too often. The wired remote can be set up in a convenient space where you can control the level of volume and bass along with a power switch and Matrix button. The Matrix component is actually quite useful for those that don't have a dedicated surround sound card. With the flick of the button, you can hear relative surround sound that doesn't quite compare to dedicated sound cards, but complements two channel cards very well. The cable for the remote was a little shorter than it probably should be since there was very little slack left over. Larger gaming set-ups might suffer with the wired remote being stuck in a not-so-convenient area. The ability to control the bass without having to mess with the sub woofer itself is a great improvement over older systems even though you might not change the bass all that often. There is also a connection at the bottom of the remote for a headset to be plugged in. Of course, changes to the volume on the remote will change the volume of the headset as well. One thing that seems to be missing from the vast majority of speaker systems is a microphone connection for players that need to communicate with fellow squad members. This is a specific complaint against the X-540, more of a general request for all speaker systems in the future. Included in the X-540 package are components to connect the 5.1 system to other inputs such as mp3 players or game consoles. Although the sound quality can't compare with home audio amplifiers, it is nice to have the option you didn't want to spend the money on a home theatre system and you have limited space. The speakers perform well with surround sound movies (will I ever get tired of watching Neo dodge those bullets in the Matrix?) and console games are complemented with the 5.1 system. Music comes out crisp and clean with sharp bass from the sizable sub woofer. There was no noticeable noise when the speakers were turned up and still managed to deliver some great sound. The center channel becomes your best friend as you hear the majority of sound coming from right above your LCD monitor. More expensive units would probably deliver higher impact on the sound, but the value of the system stand outs. But the real purpose of the X-540 system is to envelope your PC gaming experience with complete sound. Playing Battlefield 2142 becomes an adventure as cannon blasts can be heard over the ridge on your right while you hear a gunship approaching on your left. There is nothing better than hearing someone sneaking up behind you just in time to deliver a shotgun blast that will dash their hopes for a quick knife kill. Running through hallways and standing out in open fields become a panoramic experience as you hear sounds from all sides. The speakers generate a good deal of sound that the neighbors might start to wonder just what is going on next door. At $99, the Logitech X-540 5.1 system will provide a great surround sound experience for a lower price tag. Games come alive from all sides and music can fill your home with the aid of a few small speakers. The multi-platform capabilities and the customizable set-up equip the system with a bunch of options. Aside from some delicate design flaws and short wire for the remote, the system fits great into a gaming set-up. The complete sound field of the X-540 will bring you into your games with a deep sound and an overall quality experience Overall score: 4 out of 5 write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Computing News :: home page |