Logitech Innovation Brief
Dual Wireless Rear Speakers

Logitech Z-5450 Digital

The worlds first THX-certified 5.1 Speaker System with dual wireless rear speakers: The Logitech Z-5450 Digital System.
Setting up a high-performance surround sound 5.1 speaker system can be a nuisance for one major reason: the rear satellite cables. Cables for the three front speakers (left, center and right), along with the subwoofer, can be easily hidden behind an entertainment center or desk. But the cords connecting the two rear speakers can be a tripping hazard if they run across the floor, or they can be unsightly as they wind around the room on the floorboards. A few home-theater systems have been introduced with wireless rear speakers, but these typically feature an additional component: a wireless receiver for the back of the room, which connects to each of the two rear speakers with more cable hardly a clutter-free installation. Logitech, combining its expertise in wireless technology with its leadership in high-performance multimedia speakers, has delivered an original new surround-sound speaker design that solves the unsightly cord problem without adding any additional components. The Logitech Z-5450 Digital speaker system combines this inventive design with cutting-edge wireless technology, so that the speakers meet the performance promise of their award-winning Logitech Z-series family name.
Clutter-Free Rear Satellite Design, Room Layout Flexibility
One of the fundamental benefits of cordless devices is that they reduce clutter, thus freeing up space. Staying true to this principle, Logitech designed two independent rear speakers that are completely self-contained audio systems: Each features everything needed to operate without any speaker cord or being physically connected to a receiver. To operate independently, each rear satellite includes: An integrated 2.4 GHz digital receiver, which recieves wireless transmissions from the Logitech Digital SoundTouch Control Center. A digital decoder to convert the 2.4 GHz signal into audio, which then is reproduced by the speaker. A built-in power amplifier and power cord, providing 42 watts of RMS power per speaker.
This design innovation provides people with unmatched flexibility in how they lay out their system, whether its for a PC gaming setup in the office or a home-theater system in the living room. The rear speakers are designed to work in a range of up to 8.5 meters (28 feet). Logitech testing showed that in some circumstances, they can connect at distances as great as 100 meters a much greater range than would ever be needed for a home environment. With this robust wireless technology comes the freedom to place Logitechs rear satellites virtually anywhere in a room the only thing needed is a power outlet.
Overcoming the Wireless Performance Challenge
When it comes to 5.1 digital surround sound, performance rules. The potential benefit of wireless rear speakers is insignificant if people experience audio dropouts or the speaker performance suffers in any way. The 315-watt, THX-certified Logitech Z-5450 Digital speaker system achieves a fast and reliable wireless connection by using advanced 2.4 GHz digital wireless technology. This wireless technology results in three characteristics essential to highperformance audio: Very low latency Minimal interference Virtually no lost signals Low Latency In the case of wireless speakers, latency represents the delay between when a wireless signal is sent and when the speakers reproduce the sound. Standards-based technologies such as Wi-Fi do not have the low latency necessary to maintain a high-quality, low-latency real-time audio signal. Logitechs wireless speakers deliver a latency of less than 20 milliseconds, or.02 seconds a duration of time that is imperceptible to the human ear. Minimal Interference Logitechs proprietary 2.4 GHz digital wireless technology provides the speaker system the ability to jump between different channels in the wireless band if there is interference. In Logitechs implementation, the Z-5450 speakers are able to intelligently monitor 38 different channels within the 2.4 GHz band, and constantly maintain a list of clean channels. Both the transmitter and the receiver automatically hop to one of the clean channels to maintain a clear connection. This automatic frequency hopping technology ensures that the system is always transmitting on the channels with the least amount of interference. Virtually No Lost Signals Regardless of how robust a wireless system is, there is always a chance of interference or of a signal being blocked. Logitech addresses this possibility with intelligent redundant transmissions. When needed, the system can send a redundant audio signal on a new, clearer channel all within 20 milliseconds. The Logitech Digital SoundTouch Control Center (shown at right) transmits the signals to the independent rear satellites. The rear satellites then decode those signals into digital audio and produce the sound.

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PC LOUDSPEAKERS

LOGITECH Z-5450 DIGITAL

Surround your PC
he definition of 'context' is, the circumstances that form the setting for an event, and the reason I mention this is that many reviews have to be seen in context. A budget-level DVD player when seen in context of its price and performance levels, could receive a better review than a high-end model that doesn't quite deliver the same performance per Rand. Having THX approval usually shifts the context in which a product is reviewed, as it indicates that said product has at least met certain criteria as laid down by the approving company. In theory this means that all products that carry THX approval should be able to be compared with each other, but in reality this isn't always so. A case in point is the Logitech Z-5450 Digital Multimedia Speaker System, which although it has THX certification, could hardly be compared to a full blown/discrete component, theatre system. It should rather be reviewed on its own merits as a compact, all-in-one system that brings surround sound to PCs and gaming consoles. The system is feature-packed, and one of the features that Logitech is particularly proud of, are the rear speakers supplied with the system. These are wireless models there is no physical connection between themselves and the Digital SoundTouch Control Centre, and are claimed to be the world's first THX-certified wireless speakers.They feature built-in amplifiers rated at 40.5 watts RMS and use adaptive channel hopping, redundant transmission of music streams, and low latency using 48 kHz sample rates. The front and centre speakers all plug into clip connectors located on the rear panel of the active subwoofer.The front left and right speakers receive up to 38 watts RMS of power from the system's built-in amplifiers, while the centre channel speaker has 42 watts available to it. All the satellite speakers use a 21/2-inch full range driver with aluminium phase plug mounted in vented enclosures.The speakers also feature removable grills. The system subwoofer utilises a 61/2-inch woofer mounted in a band pass enclosure.This speaker is driven by a 116 watt RMS amplifier. A U D I O

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VERDICT The Logitech Z-5450 Digital surround sound system adds fairly good quality surround sound to any PC. Multiple inputs add to its flexibility, as do wireless rear speakers. PRICE.. RSUPPLIED BY DCS (Digital Channel Solutions) 011-466-5099 WEBSITE www.logitech.com
System frequency response was listed at 35 Hz up to 20 kHz. Something interesting, is that whilst the system is described as being digital, the amplifiers are Ultra Linear Analogue designs. Forming the heart of the Z-5450 system is the Digital SoundTouch Control Centre. This connects to the subwoofer via an umbilical cord, and is the component to which all inputs are made. It features three analogue stereo mini-jack inputs that can be configured as either three independent stereo inputs, or as a single 5.1 audio input.There are also two optical digital inputs and a single coaxial digital input. The Digital SoundTouch Control Centre can automatically decode Dolby Digital and DTS bitstreams up to 96/24 and has Dolby Pro Logic II Movie and Music settings that convert

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stereo audio into surround sound. It is also home to the transmitter for the rear speakers. The system is compatible with numerous platforms, including PC, DVD, MP3, PlayStation, Xbox and Game Cube. Setting the system up should prove to be extremely simple for anyone, specially those that are used to changing sound and video cards in their PCs. All you need to do is connect the front speakers to their clips on the sub, give the rear speakers an A/C connection, connect a source I used a DVD player as my PC has a lousy sound card and power everything up. There's no need to fiddle around trying to configure the rear speakers, the system simply finds them, and all you have to do is set speaker levels. With this done, I slotted a DVD into my player and hit the go button. What I heard, particularly when considered in the context mentioned earlier, was rather impressive. Surround sound was relatively balanced and tonally, the wireless rear speakers matched the fronts well.The sound was a little brittle, with more top end energy than midrange, but it wasn't unpleasant to listen to for an entire DVD. The sub was a little of a one-tone Tony, and didn't integrate that well with the little satellite speakers, but it was capable of delivering a fair amount of decently controlled power. This should translate into a gaming experience that is way above what you'd get with a simple pair of inadequate PC speakers. On the music front, the system's Pro Logic II decoding worked well, and even in stereo, the system was good to listen to. Overall the Logitech Z-5450 Digital is a system that suits its market well.