Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Creative GigaWorks ProGamer G550W Speaker System
Last year, Creative introduced the latest in a line of THX-certified multimedia speaker suites, called the GigaWorks ProGamer G500. This new design combined Creative's flared DynaPorts to enhance the audio reproduction—both the bass of the subwoofer and the satellites' lower midrange—with 310 watts RMS of total system power (130 watts plus 36 watts times five). Each of the satellites contains a single 3-inch full-range driver, versatile spring clips, a keyhole mount, and a screw hole for a generic speaker stand. The front-firing, long-throw sub incorporates Creative's CMSS upmix feature, which gives an enjoyable all-speaker surround experience from a two-channel signal.

But then, in 2006, in deference to a growing crowd eager to cut the cords running to the back of the room, the G500 transmogrified into the GigaWorks ProGamer G550W. With this, the two surround-channel speakers link to one another and to their own receiver, which plugs into a single AC outlet but is untethered from the subwoofer/amp. This less-wired system uses 2.4-gigahertz radio-frequency technology with a reliable range of about 30 feet. The performance of the G500 and G550W are otherwise identical. New to the G550W is a wireless remote. It not only adjusts all speaker levels independently, it also operates all basic functions of a Creative Zen MP3 player, which can patch in at the rear of the sub module.

Out of the box, the G550W relies upon external decoding. Creative also separately offers a freestanding sonic Swiss army knife, the Decoder DDTS-100 ($150), which offers full Dolby EX, Pro Logic II, DTS-ES, and Neo:6 support. It has an impressive three digital optical audio inputs, a digital coaxial input, and three analog stereo inputs, all in a compact and very stylish add-on with its own remote control.
• $400
• www.creative.com

Logitech Z-5450 Digital 5.1 Speaker System
Lastly, Logitech's latest surround sound package provides a complete solution that is thoroughly convenient with a touch of elegance. The Z-5450 provides hardware processing for not just Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding and Pro Logic II enhancement, but also playback of DTS and even DTS 96/24 audiophile recordings. The amp really does a lot with less-than-titanic power levels. It's less brawny than Logitech systems of the past, yet still remarkably effective. The 315 watts total RMS are configured in an unusual fashion: 116 watts for the subwoofer and 199 watts for the satellites (38 watts times two for the left and right fronts, 42 watts for the center, and 40.5 watts times two for the surrounds).

Logitech has radically redesigned many aspects of this THX-certified system from previous generations. The satellites maintain the double-duty polished-aluminum phase-plug drivers, here 2.5 inches, which deliver clean high frequencies and a full midrange. The sats are wall- or even ceiling-mountable with rotating stands. The dual-chambered band-pass sub with a 6.5-inch high-excursion driver plays low and loud.

The Digital SoundTouch Control Center sits unobtrusively on the desktop or in the home theater rack. It has a distinctive LCD readout, volume control, and effects settings, plus an auxiliary minijack input and a headphone output on the side panel. Since the Control Center is where the decoding hardware is located, it is also where the signal inputs can be found. There are two digital optical audio, one digital coaxial, and three mini analog stereo ins, which can either connect directly to a 5.1-channel computer sound card or be set to accept three independent two-channel sources. And it is a 2.4-GHz transmitter, as well, with a receiver, a decoder to convert the signal into audio, and an amp inside each surround speaker. The speakers automatically monitor 38 different channels in the 2.4-GHz band, noting the clearest channels and hopping to them as needed to avoid interference. The wireless remote juggles up to seven sources, depending upon your particular setup.
• $500
• www.logitech.com