![[H]ard|Forum](/styles/hardforum/xenforo/logo_dark.png){kind=logo}
PART-I
INTRODUCTION
Logitech Z-2300
When Logitech introduced the Z-2300 way back in 2004, it was a THX certified premium quality top of the range product. The Logitech engineers in the lab where given a clear goal i.e. to create the best 2.1 multimedia speaker system for the computers. They were not concerned about the price, they were more concerned about the performance & quality which lead in using premium quality components, be it electronic components, speakers used, wooden casings of the subwoofers, plastic casings of the satellites and even the wires used to connect the components. Price was never an issue, performance was. This single mindedness of the engineers produced a unique product, and Z-2300 was born.
If you consider that way back in the year 2000 when Logitech was known as a cheap speaker manufacturer and could not even meet the standards of Altec Lancing let alone Klipsch computer audio products, they made a huge effort back then in order to make a big step forward and used better quality components for their THX certified audio system lineup than they have ever done before thus increasing cost. My "Price was never an issue, performance was" statement is in context of my above view. Today when we compare the Z-2300 from an el chepo manufacturer Logitech with the HiFi maker company like Klipsch producing Promedia 2.1 as a computer multimedia speaker system, you find both of them being in the same segment going head to head in terms of audio performance and in many occasions Z-2300 coming out as a clear winner. Atleast we have to give credit to Logitech that that could produce a multimedia speaker system that can meet the standards of a Klipsch product. I give full marks to Logitech only for this effort.
Logitech Z-623
Logitech introduced Z-623 in 2010 six years after Z-2300 reign. Actually I cannot recall of a 2.1 PC speaker that remained at the top of the performance charts for straight six years. They had to make the successor not because Z-2300 was getting old and becoming incompetent, believe me it is still is the king, but because the rival manufactures like Altec Lansing, Edifier, Creative, Sony etc are producing cheaper sets of same wattage and same configuration and labeling them as their premium product. Also 2.1 speakers sets are no more the cash cows of audio manufactures, rather these companies makes a lot of profit from selling the 5.1 & 7.1 speakers sets.
Z-2300 Specifications
Audio Quality Certification: THX certified
Total RMS Power: 200W [FTC Rated Power]
System THD: Better than 0.05% before clipping
Total Peak Power(RMS): 400W < 10% THD
Power distribution: 120 W (Subwoofer) + 2 X 40 W (Satellites)
Subwoofer: 120 W @ 8 ohms @ 10% THD @ 100Hz
Subwoofer Size (inch): 8
Subwoofer Type: Long throw
Satellites: 80 W (2 X 40 W) @ 8 ohms @ 10% THD @ 1kHz
Satellite Size (inch): 2.5
Satellite Type: Polished aluminum phase plug driver
Frequency response: 35 Hz - 20 kHz
Signal to noise ratio(SNR): @ 1kHz > 100dB
Sound Pressure Level (SPL): 117db
Subwoofer dimensions(HWD): 11" X 11" X 15"
Satellite dimensions(HWD): 6.75" X 3.5" X 6"
Total weight : 15 Kg
UNPACKING
The satellites & Control Pod neatly packaged in the box
SUBWOOFER
The subwoofer is huge, in every sense of the word. The behemoth measures 11” (H) X 11” (W) X 15” (D), and its output could rattle the paint off your walls.
To give a comparison of how big the subwoofer is, look at the picture below where the Z-2300 sub is kept aside Altec Lansing VS2421.
Subwoofer made of thick MDF
The wall of the sub is made of 16 mm thick medium density fiberboard (MDF) which is quite impressive. It has been further strengthened with internal clamps in the joints. This adds tremendous strength to the box in order to withstand the slamming, heavy duty sound waves produced by the bass driver. The subwoofer weighs 12 kilograms and is a back breaker for sure.
Actually, this subwoofer was designed for Z-560 way back in the year 2000. Z-560 was the first THX certified multimedia speaker system from Logitech and was a big gamble at that time. Nobody was quite sure how the market will react in accepting a high end computer speaker from this unknown brand. But it seems that the gamble finally paid off and ever since this Holy Grail subwoofer have been used in their THX certified speaker systems line up for the past decade as below:
Z-560 [first THX certified 4.1 system, launched in the year 2000]
Z-680 [first THX certified 5.1 system, launched in the year 2002]
Z-2200 [first THX certified 2.1 system, launched in the year 2003]
Z-2300 [second THX certified 2.1 system, with minor updations on Z-2200 launched in the year 2004]
Z-2300 Bass Driver
Z-2300 subwoofer has a front facing massive 8 inch long throw bass driver. It has a Rated Power Input of 80W and maximum power input capability of 160W.
This history of 8 inch bass drivers began when Logitech choose Tang Band as the OEM manufacturer for their first THX certified multimedia speaker system Z-560 way back in the year 2000. It used direct off the shelf 8 inch Tang Band W8-670C with rated power input of 80W, maximum power input capability of 150W having a max excursion capability of 7mm. I guess at the time of release, Logitech was entering a new domain in computer audio, changing their image from relatively ordinary PC speaker manufacturer to a high end computer speaker manufacturer, and was themselves not quite sure about how many units of Z-560’s they will be able to sell.
There is a department in Logitech that exclusively deals with audio products and are better known as Logitech Sound Central. The link to the website is provided here: Logitech Sound Central
They state: “We don’t simply buy parts off the shelf. We laser tune different types of drivers. We modify the shapes, experiment with materials, and use digital components to improve sound quality. Our goal is to deliver fidelity as close to the original sound as possible.”
Logitech Sound Central testing the bass driver of Z-5500
When Z-560 successor, Z-680 was launched in the year 2002, they shifted to an unknown speaker manufacturer which builds speakers in accordance to Logitech specifications.
I personally own a Z-560 & Z-2300. After minutely inspecting both the drivers of Z-560 & Z-2300, I found out
1) Both have same magnet size & weight thus having identical rated power handling capabilities.
2) Z-2300 bass driver have more excursion capability that that Z-560 ones, maybe 10mm [estimated] where Z-560 ones have only 7mm. This is evident since Z-2300 ones have slightly longer & elongated stamped steel basket section between the spider & the magnet compared to Z-560 ones, providing the space for more excursions capability.
3) The cooling efficiency of the Z-2300 bass driver with its bigger vented pole piece is significantly higher than Z-560 ones.
The bass driver of Z-2300 with even higher excursion capability than Z-560 ones will definitely offer better sensitivity & accuracy not to mention the ability to handle more power over its rated input power with better cooling efficiency.Later I found out that Z-2300, Z-2200 & Z-680 all used this new driver.
Look below at the increase of the hole diameter of the vented pole piece:
Tang Band Z-560 subwoofer with smaller vented pole piece
Z-680 aka Z-2200 aka Z-2300 subwoofer with bigger vented pole piece
Z-2300 Bass Driver
Comparing Z-2300's aka Z-680 monstrous 8 inch bass driver on the left with the Onkyo's 8 inch bass driver on the right.
Note: Normally people confuse this bass driver as used in Z-680, Z-2200 & Z-2300 with the Tang Band W8-670Q model. Though both units look near identical, Z-2300’s bass driver is different from the W8-670Q in the rear section. It became absolutely certain when my friend’s Z-2300 bass driver went dead and I have to personally contact TangBand via email to ask the model of the driver used in Z-2300 & its price. I also send them the above pictures of the driver to help them identify. To my surprise, they replied after inspecting the pictures sent to them, that this bass driver do not belong to them or in any way represent one of their models. But they did agree that they supplied W8-670C drivers for Z-560. So, you see Z-680, Z-2200 & Z-2300 are not TangBands. Prior, I was also the victim of this case.
The subwoofer enclosure also houses a patented “U” shaped exponentially increasing bass reflex port to produce distortion free deep and rich bass experience. The enclosure is very deep, which is obviously good from an acoustical standpoint.
Z-2300 Satellites
Z-2300 uses 2.5 inch polished aluminum phase plug drivers in their satellites and are beautifully crafted to look like a piece of art. The 12W satellite drivers that Z-2300 uses are again from an unknown speaker company and does not in any way relate to 3 inch Tang Band (W3-594SB) units. I estimate a rated power of 10W & a max of 20W. But since these drivers get audio frequencies ranging from 150Hz to 20kHz, the power handling capability increases by at least two times. So these speakers can handle anything between 20W to 40W.
Satellite Drivers
With the polished aluminum phase plug drivers helping to reduce the path length differences about the cone surface, you get a smoothing and reinforcing the frequency response, particularly in terms of the highest frequencies the driver is capable of. There is some thermal dissipation one gives up by doing this, but the phase plug itself can serve as a heat sink for the voice coil and magnet pole.
CONTROL POD
The control pod of the Z-2300 is quite simple and minimalistic, which I prefer. No fancy lights just a big volume knob, a bass control, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, power LED and a power button. You can keep the control pod on your desk where ever you like and the controls are very convenient.
Here are some pictures of Z-2300 control pod innards
INTRODUCTION
Logitech Z-2300
When Logitech introduced the Z-2300 way back in 2004, it was a THX certified premium quality top of the range product. The Logitech engineers in the lab where given a clear goal i.e. to create the best 2.1 multimedia speaker system for the computers. They were not concerned about the price, they were more concerned about the performance & quality which lead in using premium quality components, be it electronic components, speakers used, wooden casings of the subwoofers, plastic casings of the satellites and even the wires used to connect the components. Price was never an issue, performance was. This single mindedness of the engineers produced a unique product, and Z-2300 was born.
If you consider that way back in the year 2000 when Logitech was known as a cheap speaker manufacturer and could not even meet the standards of Altec Lancing let alone Klipsch computer audio products, they made a huge effort back then in order to make a big step forward and used better quality components for their THX certified audio system lineup than they have ever done before thus increasing cost. My "Price was never an issue, performance was" statement is in context of my above view. Today when we compare the Z-2300 from an el chepo manufacturer Logitech with the HiFi maker company like Klipsch producing Promedia 2.1 as a computer multimedia speaker system, you find both of them being in the same segment going head to head in terms of audio performance and in many occasions Z-2300 coming out as a clear winner. Atleast we have to give credit to Logitech that that could produce a multimedia speaker system that can meet the standards of a Klipsch product. I give full marks to Logitech only for this effort.
Logitech Z-623
Logitech introduced Z-623 in 2010 six years after Z-2300 reign. Actually I cannot recall of a 2.1 PC speaker that remained at the top of the performance charts for straight six years. They had to make the successor not because Z-2300 was getting old and becoming incompetent, believe me it is still is the king, but because the rival manufactures like Altec Lansing, Edifier, Creative, Sony etc are producing cheaper sets of same wattage and same configuration and labeling them as their premium product. Also 2.1 speakers sets are no more the cash cows of audio manufactures, rather these companies makes a lot of profit from selling the 5.1 & 7.1 speakers sets.
Z-2300 Specifications
Audio Quality Certification: THX certified
Total RMS Power: 200W [FTC Rated Power]
System THD: Better than 0.05% before clipping
Total Peak Power(RMS): 400W < 10% THD
Power distribution: 120 W (Subwoofer) + 2 X 40 W (Satellites)
Subwoofer: 120 W @ 8 ohms @ 10% THD @ 100Hz
Subwoofer Size (inch): 8
Subwoofer Type: Long throw
Satellites: 80 W (2 X 40 W) @ 8 ohms @ 10% THD @ 1kHz
Satellite Size (inch): 2.5
Satellite Type: Polished aluminum phase plug driver
Frequency response: 35 Hz - 20 kHz
Signal to noise ratio(SNR): @ 1kHz > 100dB
Sound Pressure Level (SPL): 117db
Subwoofer dimensions(HWD): 11" X 11" X 15"
Satellite dimensions(HWD): 6.75" X 3.5" X 6"
Total weight : 15 Kg
UNPACKING
The satellites & Control Pod neatly packaged in the box
SUBWOOFER
The subwoofer is huge, in every sense of the word. The behemoth measures 11” (H) X 11” (W) X 15” (D), and its output could rattle the paint off your walls.
To give a comparison of how big the subwoofer is, look at the picture below where the Z-2300 sub is kept aside Altec Lansing VS2421.
Subwoofer made of thick MDF
The wall of the sub is made of 16 mm thick medium density fiberboard (MDF) which is quite impressive. It has been further strengthened with internal clamps in the joints. This adds tremendous strength to the box in order to withstand the slamming, heavy duty sound waves produced by the bass driver. The subwoofer weighs 12 kilograms and is a back breaker for sure.
Actually, this subwoofer was designed for Z-560 way back in the year 2000. Z-560 was the first THX certified multimedia speaker system from Logitech and was a big gamble at that time. Nobody was quite sure how the market will react in accepting a high end computer speaker from this unknown brand. But it seems that the gamble finally paid off and ever since this Holy Grail subwoofer have been used in their THX certified speaker systems line up for the past decade as below:
Z-560 [first THX certified 4.1 system, launched in the year 2000]
Z-680 [first THX certified 5.1 system, launched in the year 2002]
Z-2200 [first THX certified 2.1 system, launched in the year 2003]
Z-2300 [second THX certified 2.1 system, with minor updations on Z-2200 launched in the year 2004]
Z-2300 Bass Driver
Z-2300 subwoofer has a front facing massive 8 inch long throw bass driver. It has a Rated Power Input of 80W and maximum power input capability of 160W.
This history of 8 inch bass drivers began when Logitech choose Tang Band as the OEM manufacturer for their first THX certified multimedia speaker system Z-560 way back in the year 2000. It used direct off the shelf 8 inch Tang Band W8-670C with rated power input of 80W, maximum power input capability of 150W having a max excursion capability of 7mm. I guess at the time of release, Logitech was entering a new domain in computer audio, changing their image from relatively ordinary PC speaker manufacturer to a high end computer speaker manufacturer, and was themselves not quite sure about how many units of Z-560’s they will be able to sell.
There is a department in Logitech that exclusively deals with audio products and are better known as Logitech Sound Central. The link to the website is provided here: Logitech Sound Central
They state: “We don’t simply buy parts off the shelf. We laser tune different types of drivers. We modify the shapes, experiment with materials, and use digital components to improve sound quality. Our goal is to deliver fidelity as close to the original sound as possible.”
Logitech Sound Central testing the bass driver of Z-5500
When Z-560 successor, Z-680 was launched in the year 2002, they shifted to an unknown speaker manufacturer which builds speakers in accordance to Logitech specifications.
I personally own a Z-560 & Z-2300. After minutely inspecting both the drivers of Z-560 & Z-2300, I found out
1) Both have same magnet size & weight thus having identical rated power handling capabilities.
2) Z-2300 bass driver have more excursion capability that that Z-560 ones, maybe 10mm [estimated] where Z-560 ones have only 7mm. This is evident since Z-2300 ones have slightly longer & elongated stamped steel basket section between the spider & the magnet compared to Z-560 ones, providing the space for more excursions capability.
3) The cooling efficiency of the Z-2300 bass driver with its bigger vented pole piece is significantly higher than Z-560 ones.
The bass driver of Z-2300 with even higher excursion capability than Z-560 ones will definitely offer better sensitivity & accuracy not to mention the ability to handle more power over its rated input power with better cooling efficiency.Later I found out that Z-2300, Z-2200 & Z-680 all used this new driver.
Look below at the increase of the hole diameter of the vented pole piece:
Tang Band Z-560 subwoofer with smaller vented pole piece
Z-680 aka Z-2200 aka Z-2300 subwoofer with bigger vented pole piece
Z-2300 Bass Driver
Comparing Z-2300's aka Z-680 monstrous 8 inch bass driver on the left with the Onkyo's 8 inch bass driver on the right.
Note: Normally people confuse this bass driver as used in Z-680, Z-2200 & Z-2300 with the Tang Band W8-670Q model. Though both units look near identical, Z-2300’s bass driver is different from the W8-670Q in the rear section. It became absolutely certain when my friend’s Z-2300 bass driver went dead and I have to personally contact TangBand via email to ask the model of the driver used in Z-2300 & its price. I also send them the above pictures of the driver to help them identify. To my surprise, they replied after inspecting the pictures sent to them, that this bass driver do not belong to them or in any way represent one of their models. But they did agree that they supplied W8-670C drivers for Z-560. So, you see Z-680, Z-2200 & Z-2300 are not TangBands. Prior, I was also the victim of this case.
The subwoofer enclosure also houses a patented “U” shaped exponentially increasing bass reflex port to produce distortion free deep and rich bass experience. The enclosure is very deep, which is obviously good from an acoustical standpoint.
Z-2300 Satellites
Z-2300 uses 2.5 inch polished aluminum phase plug drivers in their satellites and are beautifully crafted to look like a piece of art. The 12W satellite drivers that Z-2300 uses are again from an unknown speaker company and does not in any way relate to 3 inch Tang Band (W3-594SB) units. I estimate a rated power of 10W & a max of 20W. But since these drivers get audio frequencies ranging from 150Hz to 20kHz, the power handling capability increases by at least two times. So these speakers can handle anything between 20W to 40W.
Satellite Drivers
With the polished aluminum phase plug drivers helping to reduce the path length differences about the cone surface, you get a smoothing and reinforcing the frequency response, particularly in terms of the highest frequencies the driver is capable of. There is some thermal dissipation one gives up by doing this, but the phase plug itself can serve as a heat sink for the voice coil and magnet pole.
CONTROL POD
The control pod of the Z-2300 is quite simple and minimalistic, which I prefer. No fancy lights just a big volume knob, a bass control, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, power LED and a power button. You can keep the control pod on your desk where ever you like and the controls are very convenient.
Here are some pictures of Z-2300 control pod innards
Last edited:
