Maximum PC

Just installed my new Logitech Z-680's and connected to my new pc, with Audigy 2 ZS soundcard. I have the sub turned on, and the control module is on and says:

Input: Direct
Effects: 6 Ch Direct


I am getting no sound though. If I turn off the sub there is a loud thump, so I know its working, but I'm guessing I need to turn on a setting in Windows or do something else. This is my first time using anything beyond stereo speakers so I would greatly appreciate the help. I'm waiting to play Doom3 on my new pc.
Oh, and I did go into settings/sound and set it up for 5.1 channel speakers. Thanks for your help.

how do you have the speakers connected from your comp to the control unit for the speakers?

did you get all your software instaled and just incase your really missing something go to your system volume and make sure its not muted.

well, I found the answer to this problem. The Audigy 2 software, had "digital out only" checked?
Now the problem is that the remote seems to be completely non working. Among other things, I cant select the test tone to get the system set up right.

There's also a setting where you have to activate the remote...but I just sat here for 35 minutes trying to find it in the software AND on their really vague site. I'll look some more and try to return with something useful. I just know I've been asked if I want to activate the remote various times in the past.

Real odd. I've been keeping up to date with all these drivers and patches, and somewhere lost the remote as well.

But I just said screw it and installed from the disc again. Upon rebooting, I got the question if I wanted to activate the remote or not. I hit yes. But, it's also in the "mediacenter Go". Upon reinstalling, this "go" thing made it's reappearance as well. Anyway, go to your taskbar and you should have a creative sound icon...right click it and select "Mediasource go" or if this is a really fresh install, you probably have that "mediasource go" still hidden up at the top of the screen. By clicking the "GO!" button, the following pops up and you can just click on the "Enable Remote Control":

I'm off to patch this thing back up and calibrate it again. Later!

Chumly,


Thanks VERY much for your help. You have identified my problem with the remote. However, the real issue would now appear to be that there was no cd included with my Z-680's. I received a package that included the installation manual, a registration pamphlet, and that was it. I'm hoping they have everything on the website for me to download!

Well, there is NO download available for the Z-680's at all. And worse, the subwoofer is ratling and distorting badly when I try to play a game, or music. I've got the level turned down to well below half, and its still happening. This is beginning to seriously irritate me. Now it looks like I'm going to have to pack up the whole damned system, haul it down to UPS and send it back to Newegg!
Looks like I should have spent the extra money and gotten the Klipsch instead. What a pain in the $#@!

Muhahahaha! I wish I could say "I told ya so".

I don't know what there really is to download for the speakers, if anything...but I believe you have ran across what I feel is a too boomy of a sub. It may not be the enclosure or the sub either; but everything around it. My Klipsch's kick, but don't boom. I have to keep the sub down though, as a nade or noob-tube going off in COD sends a shiver right up this apartment wall.

It'll be hard for me to sway from a Klipsch recommendation unless we start running into a budget's ceiling.

SwordOne,

I would give it a week, and see if the distortion goes away. Many people complain of this on brand new systems, only for the distortion to go away as the speakers break in. Try using the speakers(playing music, etc.) for extended periods of time to encourage the break-in process.

I don't know what there really is to download for the speakers, if anything...but I believe you have ran across what I feel is a too boomy of a sub. It may not be the enclosure or the sub either; but everything around it. My Klipsch's kick, but don't boom. I have to keep the sub down though, as a nade or noob-tube going off in COD sends a shiver right up this apartment wall.
It'll be hard for me to sway from a Klipsch recommendation unless we start running into a budget's ceiling.[/quote]

Well, for starters, you need the Logitech audio software to enable the remote control! Without that, it dosent work at all.
And it is indeed the sub enclosure/driver itself with the rattling and distortion issues. I have dual 1000w subwoofers in my home theater system downstairs, so I do know the difference. And the difference between boominess and outright enclosure/driver distortion and rattling.
This really sucks, as the speakers, otherwise, put out an incredible amount of sound for pc games:(

Thanks, I'll give that a shot. If not for the sub problems, otherwise, this system is pretty amazing.

Swordone

Sorry to hear that your are having problems with your Z680 system. From reading through this thread, IMHO you have a defective system, let it be the remote control, the Pod, and or the sub box itself. I have the Z680 system and it works fantastic right out of the box. My remote control works great and the test button works to start the test for adjusting the level of each speaker. All of the function on the pod works and the sub box does not rattle. My suggestion is to send it back and get another one.

By the way, my Z680 is connected to my Audigy 2 ZS sound card. There are no downloads for this speaker system. You hook them up and go with it. There is nothing to activate. Also, the remote control activation in the Creative software I believe is for the remote control that is belongs to creative unit. The Z680 remote control has nothing to do with it. In your case it is either the remote control is bad or the Pod is defective and that is why your remote is not working. Send it back. Unfortunately you have to mess with UPS. I purchased mine at a local CompUSA store and if my were to be bad all I had to do was to drive back to the store. These speakers system got one hella large and heavy box.

IMHO, both the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 and Logitech Z680 5.1 are very close to each other in sound quality and power. Both are great system and both are considered the top of the line speaker system. But if you take out the sound quality and power out of the picture, IMHO the Z680 wins over the Klipsch for flexability hands down. What I mean is by this is that the Z680 can except many more source inputs, i.e. 6 chnl direct, stereo analog, coaxial digital and fiber digital. It also has built into the system its own Dolby Digital and DTS decoding. And finally it has a remote control. All this will allow the Z680 system to be used in more different situations or setups. Whereas the Klipsch ultra can only be connected to a pc or something that has 6chnl output. Even the Klipsch model that has the flying saucer looking pod is very limited on how it could be used.

Anyhow, you could do one of two things if you decide to keep the Z680. You could either send it back to the online vendor for another unit or locate one locally just for the fact that you wouldnt have to deal with UPS and mess with shipping cost. Its kinda like shipping cost vs tax cost thing. Weigh your options. But if you decide to go for a different brand, that is ok too. As for me, I am totally please with my Z680 performance. It is the BEST system by far in this catagory. (HT system for actual home is a different store ...heheheheh)

Thanks for your thoughts GG. If it werent for the sub breaking up so badly, the 680's would sound amazing when playing games. Before I had to shut down Doom III because my ears couldnt take the subs rattling and distortion, the overall soundfield was incredible.
The bad news is, I am certain I will be stuck with paying for the shipping back to Newegg which wont be cheap, as you noted, this is a BIG and heavy box.
I checked Best Buy, Comp USA, etc. etc. etc., locally, and they were all $125-150.00 more, not including tax. I originally wanted to purchase these locally, just in case a return was necessary, but not at that kind of price difference.

Played three hours of U2 on it, and the sub worked mostly okay, but as soon as I threw on something with accurate, and distinct bass, it started breaking up and "farting" out the bass notes in painful fashion to hear. Doom III is completely uplayable due to horrifying bass distortion and the housing rattling.
I suspect I'm going to be stuck with the shipping to send this big box back, but thats what I'm going to do. Dont imagine I have any other options.
Many, many people have PM'ed me from a number of forums recommending I forget the 680's because of exactly this kind of reliability issues. The recommendations, across the board, are between the Gigaworks and the Klipsch Ultra's. Which would YOU recommend? I like Klipsch stuff, but they seem somewhat underpowered next to the 680's and the Giga's.
At Newegg, the Ultra's are $356.99 with shipping, and the Giga's are $339.00.
Interesting note though, at Securemart.com ( a very reputable vendor) I can get the Gigaworks for $313.17 shipped! Hopefully Newegg will match if I go with those instead of the Klipsch.
In the end, whether I go with the Klipsch or Giga's, I'm out significant money for the return shipping, have to pay an additional hundred dollars or more, for the replacement I choose, AND it will be another ten days, at least, without being able to do any gaming on my brand new pc. This sucks!

Since you have an Audigy 2 zs, my choice between the Kilpsch ProMedia Ultra or the GIGAWorks by creative would probably be the GIGAworks but with the 7.1 because the Audigy 2 zs is a 7.1 card. As for sound, I dont know how the GIGAworks sound performance would compare to Klipsch. Sound is very very subjective.

come to think about it....... just now i went back to my receipt and you know what??? My Z680 is exactly 1yr old today. dang..... I put on a variety of music on and turned up the volume. The music came out clear and distinct from highs all the way down to the bottom. No rattles, hiss, and "farting" as you would say..... but instead, tight bass. The only thing rattle were the walls and windows literally (the wife and kids are away out of town visiting grandparents. I can really turn up the volume when they are away. It is great when I play UT04 and Halo without the worries of sleeping family). I really do think you have a defective unit or possibility a used product that was resold to you as new(possible).

The shipping of this product or any product like this is gonna be terrible because of the weight and size of box. That was why decided to purchase it locally. If anything was wrong with it or I didnt like it, I could just take it back for an exchange or get a different one. One would pay more but it is the convenience of your time. And just a note about CompUSA, if you bring it back open, you may get charged a 15% restocking fee. So if you can get it at Best Buy locally if they sell it there where you are at. My suggestion would be is to just send the Z680 back to the online vendor as defective and get your money credited. Chaulk up the return shipping cost as part of life. I know it is hard to. Find a local shop that sells the Z680, take it home and run it through it paces. If you like it, keep it or take it back and get a different model locally or just get a different model online. But do remember, if you decide to get something different online, there is nothing to say that the unit you get will be defective in one way or another and that other system will also contain a huge box that will require a big cost in shipping to you and most likely a huge cost to ship it back if it is not right.

So weigh your options that would best fit you in the long run. As for the choice of klipsch or giga, i would go for the giga 7.1 only because of audigy zs being 7.1. And finally, remember, the Z680 is much much more flexible in how you can use it than any of the others can.

and again, I am very very please with my Z680 system and on top of that it still works and sounds just as it did when I first brought it home a year ago.

Oh by the way......... as of sept 04 issue of Maximum PC best of the best list, the Z680 still stands as the best of the 5.1 catagory. It has been on this list since its intro.