GET THE PC YOUR GAMES DESERVE
Z523
Logitech
Forget the whole low-price-means-low-quality rule: Logitech’s Z523s turns all that upside-down. Coming in at a mere $85, these speakers are certainly the cheapest of our roundup, but for that money
you get a 21-watt compact subwoofer that punches out
deep, rumbly bass, and a pair of satellites that have
forward and rear-facing drivers that pack a room with
meaty audio. The Z523’s setup is painless, and connectivity options come in two useful choices: a hard-wired
3.5mm cable from the right satellite, or RCA jacks in the
rear of the subwoofer.
The dual, two-inch drivers in each satellite do make the
soundscape feel more full, but the design also needlessly
muddles precision audio like sniper shots in the distance or
subtle changes in a fighter’s engine. In general though,
games sound strong on the Z523s. Tanks growl deeply as
they roll by, and machine-gun fire clangs against their
armor with distinct pings. Cranked up to full, the Z523’s
can get loud enough to fill any room, but at the unfortunate cost of distortion in high- and mid-range audio (the
subwoofer keeps up surprisingly well, though).
While it won’t blow you away with its balance or
precision, the Z523s are a great upgrade from your
stock speakers that deliver big, punchy audio into
your gaming without demanding a huge slice of
your PC gaming budget. Q
SP2 500
78
Corsair
$85 X www.logitech.com X Category: Entry
Sleek, sexy, and strong, Corsair has hit an audio home run with the release of the SP2500s. This outstanding set is composed of two satellites, each containing separate one-inch tweeters and three-inch mid-drivers for expanded range, and a massive 18-inch-wide sub-woofer. Also included is a slick desktop controller with a built-in display
that gives much-appreciated visual feedback to audio settings. No
longer will you have to guess what percent of maximum volume your
subwoofer is putting out, or which equalizer setting you’re using. The
build quality of all the components is top-notch for the price, including
ferrofluid cooling and four-pin ATX connectors feeding separate signals
to individual drivers in the satellites. Unfortunately, unless you’re a whiz
with a soldering iron, you’re stuck with the six-inch cables.
In action, the SP2500s produce exemplary worlds of sound. In Left 4
Dead 2, sounds of bullets planting themselves in zombie flesh were
marvelously recreated, and there were moments in which I found
myself glad to have turned on the dynamic range function with the
remote, which limits loud spikes to more reasonable intensities. When
paired with a sexy soundcard, the Corsair SP2500s
outright demolish similarly priced speakers. If you’ve
got limited space, and crave premium audio, I can’t
recommend them enough. Q
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