I bought these speakers to compare against a pair of Bose Companion 2 (Series I) speakers that I was unsure about their sound. I really wanted to like the Bose - and for the most part I did when listening to a pair in a local Sams Club. But in the end, the X-140s won out for me. Here's why:
What I liked about the Bose: I was very impressed with both the amount of Bass produced, and the clarity of the sound coming from the Companion 2 speakers. Individual instruments were clear and crisp, and not distorted or muffled. And there was plenty of bass for most casual music listening - probably the best I've heard from a 2.0 system.
What I didn't like about the Bose: Unfortunately, from a sound quality perspective, there was a dramatic channel separation between left and right that never let a vocal track converge in the center of the listening stage. In other words, a main vocal track that normally (in my other higher end 2.1 systems) appears to come from directly front and center in the audio stage was instead very evident coming from both right and left speakers. It gave an odd surround sound feel that didn't seem natural to me. Also, the main speaker (with the volume control) apparently had less than adequate shielding as it was picking up a static/crackling when placed in close proximity to our Mac Mini that it was connected to. Move it further away and it was okay, move it closer and it started to crackle.
I have several other Logitech speakers (Z3 and X230) that I'm very happy with - I like the sound that Logitech's produce, so I tried a set of the X-140's with this same Mac Mini setup as I used the Bose Companion 2 on.
What I liked about the Logitech X-140: While I believe the sound was a bit more crisp in the Bose (and the Bass was more full), the voice is much better placed in the X-140s, and the Bass is probably the next best in a 2.0 system I've heard next to the Bose. The X-140s also have very clear sound - and, unlike the Bose, there is no static or crackling from the X-140 even when placed directly on top of the Mac Mini. So chalk that up to proper shielding.
What I don't like about the X-140: Basically... nothing. Sure, I'd like a little more bass, a little more clarity on the high end, but... what can I expect at this price point. The sound is fairly amazing for $27 speakers. One thing that I actually don't like is that the 'Tone" knob is backwards from what you would normally expect. generally clockwise gives more Treble and CCW gives more Bass. Just the opposite here. OK, that's really pushing for something to find fault with.
All in all, while the Bose Companion 2 speakers have some very strong features, in the end I was overall disappointed and I'm keeping the X-140s as a very capable 2.0 setup - and for less than 1/2 the price of the Bose, they are a great deal.
What I liked about the Bose: I was very impressed with both the amount of Bass produced, and the clarity of the sound coming from the Companion 2 speakers. Individual instruments were clear and crisp, and not distorted or muffled. And there was plenty of bass for most casual music listening - probably the best I've heard from a 2.0 system.
What I didn't like about the Bose: Unfortunately, from a sound quality perspective, there was a dramatic channel separation between left and right that never let a vocal track converge in the center of the listening stage. In other words, a main vocal track that normally (in my other higher end 2.1 systems) appears to come from directly front and center in the audio stage was instead very evident coming from both right and left speakers. It gave an odd surround sound feel that didn't seem natural to me. Also, the main speaker (with the volume control) apparently had less than adequate shielding as it was picking up a static/crackling when placed in close proximity to our Mac Mini that it was connected to. Move it further away and it was okay, move it closer and it started to crackle.
I have several other Logitech speakers (Z3 and X230) that I'm very happy with - I like the sound that Logitech's produce, so I tried a set of the X-140's with this same Mac Mini setup as I used the Bose Companion 2 on.
What I liked about the Logitech X-140: While I believe the sound was a bit more crisp in the Bose (and the Bass was more full), the voice is much better placed in the X-140s, and the Bass is probably the next best in a 2.0 system I've heard next to the Bose. The X-140s also have very clear sound - and, unlike the Bose, there is no static or crackling from the X-140 even when placed directly on top of the Mac Mini. So chalk that up to proper shielding.
What I don't like about the X-140: Basically... nothing. Sure, I'd like a little more bass, a little more clarity on the high end, but... what can I expect at this price point. The sound is fairly amazing for $27 speakers. One thing that I actually don't like is that the 'Tone" knob is backwards from what you would normally expect. generally clockwise gives more Treble and CCW gives more Bass. Just the opposite here. OK, that's really pushing for something to find fault with.
All in all, while the Bose Companion 2 speakers have some very strong features, in the end I was overall disappointed and I'm keeping the X-140s as a very capable 2.0 setup - and for less than 1/2 the price of the Bose, they are a great deal.
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