September 8, 2005 It’s a small step for technology, as wireless household more running cables or tripping over speaker wires. Logitech has announced the world's first THX-certified 5.1 speaker system with digital wireless dual rear speakers. The new Logitech Z-5450 Digital speakers, ideal for use with the living room entertainment center or the office PC, provide flexibility in setting up an instant surround-sound system. Each of the independent rear speakers can be placed anywhere within 8.5 meters (28 feet) of the speaker system control center, requiring only a power outlet; no unsightly speaker wires running around the room, yet no compromise on quality. With THX-certification and 315 watts of power, these speakers help create a theater-quality movie watching experience and provide enough thump to help people feel like they're inside the game.
Logitech also extended its award-winning Z-series family of speakers to include the new Logitech Z-4 speaker system: an affordable and stylish 2.1 system with a new three-driver satellite design that delivers great performance for listening to digital music on a computer or a portable music player.
"Historically, delivering high-quality sound wirelessly has been a major challenge," said Ray Weikel, Logitech's director of product marketing for audio. "The Z-5450 speakers master this challenge, while they alleviate the age-old nuisance of pulling up carpet or crawling through a home's foundation just to hide speaker wire. These are powerful, high-performance speakers that deliver on the promise of the Z-series family name without compromise, yet add a whole new element of wireless flexibility to multimedia entertainment."
The Logitech Z-5450 Digital speakers
Whether in an office, a home theater or a gaming environment, one of the most frustrating aspects of a 5.1 speaker system installation is running the speaker cables for the rear satellites -- not anymore. The Logitech Z-5450 Digital system's two rear speakers each feature their own built-in wireless receiver and power amplifier. All each rear speaker needs is a power outlet. Other wireless systems on the market use a single wireless receiver for the back of the room with speaker cable running out to each of the two rear speakers -- creating more clutter than Logitech's design. Its breakthrough design allows the Z-5450 Digital speaker system to be installed quickly and easily in virtually any room configuration.
The Logitech Z-5450 Digital system uses digital 2.4 GHz wireless technology, with adaptive frequency hopping, to minimize any chance of interference. Any potential performance problems due to interference are virtually eliminated due to the fact that the system intelligently sends redundant wireless transmissions to each rear satellite; if one data stream is lost, a second identical stream is captured. And the Logitech dual wireless speaker solution has very low latency, less than 20 milliseconds, which is imperceptible to the human ear.
For DVD aficionados, music enthusiasts and gamers alike, the THX-approved Logitech Z-5450 Digital speakers deliver highly refined 5.1 digital surround sound in any room. The system includes inputs for up to seven multimedia devices, which makes it versatile for use with a PC or in a living room entertainment center. The system features stylish chrome satellites -- with optional cloth grills -- that have rotating stands, which make them easy to mount to a wall or to position on a table or desktop. The speakers also come with the Digital SoundTouch Control Center, which serves as a wireless control center and digital decoder, and provides people with a convenient backlit LCD, making it easy to configure the system for ideal listening settings. The Logitech Z-5450 Digital speakers decode a broad range of formats, including Dolby Digital, DTS, and DTS 96/24. The system also comes with a convenient wireless remote control.
The Logitech Z-5450 Digital speakers will be available in the U.S. beginning in September for a suggested retail price of US$499.99.
The Logitech Z-4 and Z-4i speakers
The new 2.1 Logitech Z-4 speakers offer premium sound and a modern design at an affordable price. Each satellite features a sleek new satellite design with three drivers, providing a rich, full-audio experience. The speakers also include Logitech's patented pressure driver subwoofer technology, which delivers powerful, distortion-free bass.
The speakers come in two colors -- high-gloss black (the Logitech Z-4 speakers) and white (the Logitech Z-4i speakers) -- each contrasted by cast-metal stands. The systems come with a wired remote control that includes a headphone jack, volume and power controls. Both speaker systems also allow MP3 players, CD players or other portable audio devices to be easily connected through an auxiliary port. The Logitech Z-4 and Z-4i speakers will be available in the U.S. and in Europe beginning in October, for a suggested retail price of US$99.99 in the U.S.