News - Logitech launches omnidirectional Z5 speakers for the PC

[HEXUS]

Logitech has unveiled a set of omnidirectional speakers hailed as "the next evolution in computer speaker acoustics".

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[Lowe]

The amount of phase cancellation those things must create must be insane. Obviously I'd like to hear a set before totally running them into the ground... but the audio engineer in me thinks this is more 'gimmicks than physics'...

[beanbandit]

As with the Z-10s, the speakers are USB powered and therefore require no external power adaptor

Z10's aren't USB powered, that have a fixed mains lead. Look nice, but i'll be keeping my Z10's for a while

[sleepyhead]

...why? Isn't this a gimmick more than something useful? It would be so hard to set those speakers up for any kind of "sweet spot" with those speakers firing sound waves in all directions, bouncing off the walls giving you areas where by certain frequencies are cancelled or reinforced (ahh 6th form phyics is failing me); I'm sure a sound engineer could remind me of the proper terms.

[kalniel]

*double post weirdness*

[kalniel]

As long as you didn't have them parrallel to a wall you'll be fine. If done well then simultanious front and back speakers can make quite a difference - it can make the sound feel like it's filling a larger room. Even better if they let you add a miniscule delay to the rear firing.

[Lowe]

Kalniel - how many rooms in most houses do you know that don't have parallel walls? These things are bound to create standing waves and constructive/destructive interference (there you go Sleepyhead). They'd have to be 'tuned' to the room they're in so that the rear waves aren't in any kind of interruptive phase, and at the price which I'm guessing they'll be aimed at this certainly won't be an option. I still stand by my gimmick assessment.

[sleepyhead]

Thanks Lowe. I was really struggling to remember my A-Level physics there. I'm definitely with you on this one Lowe. Gimmick all the way.

[Mr_Sinister]

i would have to see them in action 1st to say if i like them or not but it sounds a bit to fussy for me