Speakers

[AndyCooper]

Hey guys, yesterday I bought myself a new speaker system, Logitech Z523. Immediately after unboxing and hooking my new system up, I noticed two major problems.. I was able to deal with the first one, but the second problem is still there.

Read on..

1st problem: was the cracking\popping sounds and sound disappearing\reappearing when playing music on average or higher than average listening volumes.

I tried to analyze what was the problem and quickly found out that it was that VGA like connector coming from the right speaker. Even if connector was screwed in place very tight, even the slightest cable movement would cause speakers to make cracking sound and or stop playing at all. I quickly understood, that problems were caused by vibration coming from the sub, vibration was moving the connector and hence the issues.

I solved my 1st problem by slightly bending the contact pins with a flathead screwdriver inside that connector, so contacts in female and contacts pins in male connectors would connect nicely. Now I have no cracking sound and or sound disappearing\reappearing problem. Even if I unscrew the connector and move it in all direction.

2nd problem: is the Volume control knob. When you turn on your Z523 speakers and gradually start to increase volume, 1st speaker which starts playing audio is the LEFT one, when you increase the volume higher, the right speaker (the one with controls) start playing silently and turning it a bit further will make it completely regain the volume and sound balance will become equal (L = R). YES I TRIED PLAYING MONO AUDIO FILES, to make sure that it was not issue with the stereo files. I also tried different audio source devices.. I also tried different Input ports, like the one on the speaker.. still have the the problem. This problem is quite annoying, because if you want to set the volume very low, you have to lower it on your audio source device.

I again quickly understood that it is probably the potentiometer problem and that this problem can't be simply fixed, without voiding your warranty. I was not able to solve this problem. I would like to know, if anyone else is having the same problem with the volume knob ? To reproduce this problem, simply turn on your speakers, gradually increase the volume and hear what speaker starts playing audio 1st.

Sorry For My Bad English.

Andy.

[BLH]

Did you try the trick of rotating the pot from end to end a few times with the power off?

Maybe just the pots characteristics unfortunately.

[AndyCooper]

"BLH: Did you try the trick of rotating the pot from end to end a few times with the power off?"

If you mean the Volume knob, then yes. I tried turning it from end to end many times.. nothing, problem is still there.

"BLH: Maybe just the pots characteristics unfortunately."

Yes, I also tend to think this way. That's why I want to know if other people have the same problem.. and If they do, I will not bother with a replacement and simply ask a shop for a refund. This is not the cheapest 2.1 system and in my opinion, the problems I described are not acceptable.

[AndyCooper · Accepted solution]

"AndyCooper: "BLH: Maybe just the pots characteristics unfortunately."

Yes, I also tend to think this way. That's why I want to know if other people have the same problem.. and If they do, I will not bother with a replacement and simply ask a shop for a refund. This is not the cheapest 2.1 system and in my opinion, the problems I described are not acceptable."

So yesterday I packed my Z523, and went to the shop.. described to them my problem with a volume regulator. They checked if my system had a problem and also we checked few other systems they had.

All of the Z523 systems in stock had this sound balance problem on the low volumes.. You can't really hear the problem very well in the shop, but when the volume is maxed out on the source, and you want to listen to the music in the evening or at night on the low volumes, the problem is more than obvious, all of my family members and friends asked me why there's only one speaker playing..

So I asked for a refund and got my money back.

Be warned people, before buying Z523, make sure that you will be able to live with such a problem..

You should also be prepared to fix the 1st problem(read the 1st post) (which is also quite common).

Ask yourself, do you want to deal with repairs, replacements, etc. ?

By the way, audio quality is not bad. Good bass response, passive diaphragm improves it quite a bit.

That all-around sound (double speaker design) is more of a marketing tool rather than something useful, because most of the times speakers are set against the wall, curtains, etc.. so unless you place your speakers in the middle of the room, expect nothing from it.

Major con with this system is reproduction of a vocals,they sound bit muffled.. But overall decent sound.

[CKuo]

I just bought this speaker today, and I have the same problem of your Problem 1. This is driving me crazy, and I am so frustrating. I am still trying to fix the problem. Do you have any tricks?

[Aka2300]

heey i have sam problem if i take the volume full up woke is fine

[lfc12]

How about changing the L/R ratio in your sound card menu? I don't know myself as I'm just planning to buy these soon.

[ChrisInRaleigh]

The problem is the DB9 connection.  The 2 nuts on the outside of the connector are not recessed into the aluminum plate like the connector is, so you cannot fully connect the DB9 cable.  Wiggle it around while plugged in and you'll see what I mean.  No amount of pin-bending will fix this.

The solution is to remove the 2 nuts on the outside of the DB9 connector (on the box) before plugging in the cable.

Optionally, you can drill out the holes (7/32") to allow the nuts to be recessed into the plate.  It works either way, but this gives you a more secure connection.