The Logitech Z305 USB Laptop Speaker is a set of stereo speakers in a tube-like enclosure with a spring-tension clip that allows you to connect the "speaker bar" to your laptop lid.
I love the convenience of using a laptop but hate my laptop's weak speakers, so this looked like it might be a fantastic product. Logitech claims the Z305 "gives you dramatically better sound quality than built-in laptops speakers." And that statement is pretty accurate. All system sounds, audio tracks and music sound MUCH better with the Z305 than with my laptop's built-in speakers.
Although Logitech advertises "360-degree sound" with the Z305, I was skeptical since the two speakers are located on either end of the "tube" and are clipped behind your laptop screen. I anticipated that the sound would be somewhat muffled by the lack of speaker placement directed forward toward the laptop user. I was wrong. The sound is fantastic.
There are really only two issues that I have with the Logitech Z305:
1) Logitech claims the Z305 is "plug-and-play" but every time I connect the Z305 to my laptop I have to manually go to the speaker control panel in Windows 7, select the Z305 speakers and make them the default speakers for the PC. Connecting the Z305 is NOT "plug-and-play" like regular speakers using the headphone jack. Since these are USB speakers you have to tell your PC that you want to use them instead of the built-in speakers. This is even explained in the Z305's instruction manual. "Plug-and-play audio" is false advertising.
2) Since the Z305 is supposed to be clipped to your laptop screen you might have trouble if your laptop has a weak screen hinge. My laptop is fine, but when I tried using the Z305 on a friend's Dell Latitude notebook the weight of the Z305 caused the screen to fall backward. In short, if your laptop has a weak hinge then don't try to clip the Z305 to your screen.
Despite these two issues, I really enjoy using the Z305. If you frequently travel with your laptop and want to have quality speakers with you wherever you go then the Logitech Laptop Speaker Z305 is an ideal solution.
I love the convenience of using a laptop but hate my laptop's weak speakers, so this looked like it might be a fantastic product. Logitech claims the Z305 "gives you dramatically better sound quality than built-in laptops speakers." And that statement is pretty accurate. All system sounds, audio tracks and music sound MUCH better with the Z305 than with my laptop's built-in speakers.
Although Logitech advertises "360-degree sound" with the Z305, I was skeptical since the two speakers are located on either end of the "tube" and are clipped behind your laptop screen. I anticipated that the sound would be somewhat muffled by the lack of speaker placement directed forward toward the laptop user. I was wrong. The sound is fantastic.
There are really only two issues that I have with the Logitech Z305:
1) Logitech claims the Z305 is "plug-and-play" but every time I connect the Z305 to my laptop I have to manually go to the speaker control panel in Windows 7, select the Z305 speakers and make them the default speakers for the PC. Connecting the Z305 is NOT "plug-and-play" like regular speakers using the headphone jack. Since these are USB speakers you have to tell your PC that you want to use them instead of the built-in speakers. This is even explained in the Z305's instruction manual. "Plug-and-play audio" is false advertising.
2) Since the Z305 is supposed to be clipped to your laptop screen you might have trouble if your laptop has a weak screen hinge. My laptop is fine, but when I tried using the Z305 on a friend's Dell Latitude notebook the weight of the Z305 caused the screen to fall backward. In short, if your laptop has a weak hinge then don't try to clip the Z305 to your screen.
Despite these two issues, I really enjoy using the Z305. If you frequently travel with your laptop and want to have quality speakers with you wherever you go then the Logitech Laptop Speaker Z305 is an ideal solution.
Not much of a rave: "It's okay." For fifty bucks, I expected more, especially with the descriptions Logitech has on Amazon's page:
"360-degree room filling sound" this does not have (and I haven't used it in a particularly large room). It sounds like the speaker is behind the laptop, and I'm not sure what size room Logitech might be referring to. The bathroom in an airplane perhaps?
I bought this for listening to Netflix and certainly did not expect more than a louder speaker, hoped for better because of the glowing reviews here, but I was tempted to send it back after my first movie listening experience was less than satisfying. The volume was too low at about two feet away, and no, I am not deaf. I gave the speaker another chance with a higher budget film, and it was better, but still merely better than my built-ins. Did I get a lemon? Everyone else is raving about this speaker!
I am not sending it back, as it's a nifty design for travel and does a decent enough job, though I find the lack of volume a disappointment. The sound quality is okay, but nothing to rave about. I didn't expect better than okay for fifty dollars, but I certainly expected more than what I got. Maybe folks ought to tone down their positivity when discovering something merely better than their built-ins. My MacBook's speakers are tinny and quiet, but I'd call the Z305 a "twenty buck improvement."
"360-degree room filling sound" this does not have (and I haven't used it in a particularly large room). It sounds like the speaker is behind the laptop, and I'm not sure what size room Logitech might be referring to. The bathroom in an airplane perhaps?
I bought this for listening to Netflix and certainly did not expect more than a louder speaker, hoped for better because of the glowing reviews here, but I was tempted to send it back after my first movie listening experience was less than satisfying. The volume was too low at about two feet away, and no, I am not deaf. I gave the speaker another chance with a higher budget film, and it was better, but still merely better than my built-ins. Did I get a lemon? Everyone else is raving about this speaker!
I am not sending it back, as it's a nifty design for travel and does a decent enough job, though I find the lack of volume a disappointment. The sound quality is okay, but nothing to rave about. I didn't expect better than okay for fifty dollars, but I certainly expected more than what I got. Maybe folks ought to tone down their positivity when discovering something merely better than their built-ins. My MacBook's speakers are tinny and quiet, but I'd call the Z305 a "twenty buck improvement."
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