Logitech Z120 Portable Speakers

Logitech is a brand well known for its PC peripherals, speakers and other audio accessories. Portable speakers have been gaining popularity and even lesser-known brands have received good response. Logitech has now launched the Z120 set of portable stereo speakers and these are what we have today.

Design and Features

The Z120 speakers are White, compact and made of solid plastic. Though small enough not to take up too much space on a table they would require nothing smaller than a backpack to carry around. The Z120 uses one-inch drivers and the front of the speakers are exposed. The speaker cone has a rubber lining as does the base to prevent the speakers from sliding around on a smooth surface. The right speaker has the volume/power button in the front, as well as a green power indicator. The speakers are connected by a 3.5mm audio jack and powered via USB cable.The cables are hard wired and everything from the casing of the speaker to the control dials are of good quality. The Z120 speakers are designed to be used on a laptop, so the short cables will not reach the back of your PC chassis, unless it’s kept on your desk. The speakers have a total power output of 1.2 Watts and can be connected to a Mac, PC or MP3 player.

Can Be Connected to PMPs

Performance

We tested the Z120 speakers while they were connected to a laptop.The audio quality in general was average . Even with the volume volume cranked up to only 50 percent, the speakers emitted distorted and jarring sound. The bass and mids continued to fade away as the volume got higher. The treble wasn't too great and there was clarity missing in the mid range of the frequency spectrum. Inspite of their 1.2W power output, the speakers are actually pretty loud. The Z120 has a single full-range driver but being a compact set, has a poor bass response.

Plug and Play

We also tested the speakers with a number of movies. Sound separation is distinct. The volume output for these compact speakers was good, but the audio quality continued to slack when the volume was set to full. The speakers can’t be powered by the 3.5mm jack and require a USB port to power them. If you’re connecting a PMP, there’s the hassle of connecting it to a separate USB power source.

Verdict

The Z120 stereo speakers are designed for those who use laptops, but want better output than their inbuilt speakers can provide. It’s unreasonable to expect great audio quality from these speakers. Priced at Rs. 775, they aren't the cheapest of portable speakers available. However, there are other brands, with similar audio quality at a cheaper price. Considering its solid build quality and that it comes with a two-year warranty, these just might be worth considering.