10. Logitech Z-640, Continued

As regards quality, the Z-640s are pretty good and will give you your money's worth, which is $99.95US (€129), but won't do much better than that. The clarity of the trebles is average and is quite quickly saturated; the mediums make up for it slightly with good presence and a dynamism that is better than the Altec Lansing 251. This dynamism means that the Z640s lend themselves very well to games such as the GTA III, for example. Engine sounds and explosions are particularly well-reproduced and contribute to a powerful sound impression. The bass is pretty convincing, with sounds that are percussive and have acceptable depth. On the other hand, the claim of 35 Hz for the lowest note is pure fantasy. Our tests show it is really somewhere around the 50 Hz mark, if it is to be heard effectively. Another point to be noted is the slight hiss that accompanies the satellites, whatever the level of the general volume. This hiss is particularly audible during the silence when music is being played, for instance. It is not a deterrent, but when not in use, it is advisable to turn the speakers off so as not to be irritated by this background noise. The hiss also affects the overall sound quality. If you are listening to a piece of music that has silences in it, it is extremely annoying and can seriously spoil your listening pleasure. In short, the Z-640 speakers are recommended for their competitive pricing and their power and dynamism for game-playing. What a pity that the sound quality is so approximate, because this makes them much less suitable for all-purpose listening.