Hello

After all the positive reviews on the Logitech Z2200's, I just HAD to order the 505 watts RMS Z5500's to see how they would work and sound with my Tyros, both as the 5.1 set as it is manufactured and to see what it would sound like with my JBL 10 Eon G2's with the sub alone and with all Logitech and JBL speakers going at once. haha

I am a little stumped though right now. I am trying to figure out the best and easiest way(s) to hook this up in the different configurations I mentioned above.

These are hook-up's I've got to work with:

The Z5500 has 3 stereo mini plugs that go to the control box for Front, Rear, Center/Sub.

Tyros:
Headphone
To Right Speaker(for Yamaha speakers,I think)
Midi A In/Out
Midi B In/Out
Video Out
USB
Line Out: Sub 1, Sub 2, Main R, L/L+R
Aux In/Loop Return: R,L/L+R
Loop Send: R, L/+R
To Subwoofer:R & L (for Yamaha sub, I think)
To Left Speaker(for Yamaha speakers, I think)

JBL Eons:
There is a line out on each speaker.

I'm thinking some of you high tech wizards will know what I need to do. I appreciate all input as always.

I can't hardly wait to get this thing cranking. I've had it for a few days, but just now have the time to test things out.

Interesting to note so far, I ran the built in sound test on the Logitech's and the sub woofer sounds like a fricken' jet is taking off in my living room. 188 watts RMS of jet at that. lol

Also, I really do like that battery operated remote control that came with the unit.

Best

Scott Langholff

[This message has been edited by Scott Langholff (edited 11-13-2004).]

Scott,

I have not orderd mine yet, and was hoping that you would provide some input on the way the system sounds with the keyboard.

Gary

Scott,
You can't get the true benefit of the 5.1 because your kb transmits in stereo only, but you can run it through a mixer that has separate outs, maybe.
Try this:
Main L & R to front speakers
Sub 1 & Sub 2 to rear speakers
(send at least the drums to these outputs, and maybe all or some of the acc tracks)
Use the loop out to feed the subwoofer ( or the HP jack.

This won't give you true 5.1 but the separation of the drums will add a fullness and added spacial effect to the mix.
If the loop out isn;t strong enough for the sub, then try the HP jack. A mono cable is fine .... the sub is mono anyway.

Scott,

I'll bet they are going to sound awesome. If you can't find a satisfactory way to get them hooked up, you can always just treat the Tyros like the stereo device it is and use one of the dsp effects or 5-ch stereo mode that should be available through the 5500s. I am really anxious to know how it sounds once you finally get them going. As you know, you were the one that originally alerted me to the Z2200's and I am extremely please with their sound.

So far, I've just tried a bunch of different combinations as far as plugging the Logitech in.

I have only been able to try it out in my living room apartment, so I have to try to keep the neighbors happy.haha

So far my wife Jen thinks they sound pretty good as a unit by themselves. Me, so far, I am not that impressed with the satellite speakers. But then, I love the sound of my Eon's. Since I have never used the z2200's, I have nothing to compare it with.

I have tried the sub with my JBL's and I see a good possibility here.

I've noticed that the sub is rather easy to blend with the JBL's. I was pleased at what it did for the acoustic bass. You could almost see the bass player in person. So, it appears to me that a sub is not all boom-boom, thump-thump.

If all it does is to provide me with a very good sub sound, then for me, that was really what I was interested in, especially because of the size, weight, 10" speaker and the 188 watts RMS power.

If I can get some good hi's and/or mid's on the sattelites to suit my taste then fine, if not the sub alone could make it worthwhile.

I think we will both be able to try it out more tonight, and possibly do some reading in the owners manual. (heaven forbid)

Is it typically just the bass guitar, bass fiddle etc. that comes out of the sub, or drums or any other parts?

I've noticed where I can have certain parts come out of the sub 1 and/or 2 output. I tried adding the bass drum and others, but it takes it away from the JBL's which didn't really seem to help the sound, unless it was maybe just the bass guitar.

I will continue experimenting with this for the kind of set up that I wanted. If it works out, fine, if not fine. Then I'll let somebody else try it their way.

I am sure the best test is on the dance floor, in a large room with a bunch of people soaking up the sound. I guess that will be the true test. Again, so far, it looks like the sub could make it.

I found that the best place for the sub to come out of is the headphone jack. Then I still have control over volume with the master volume control. The Loop out has a very stong signal, but I lose the ability to use the master vol control.

The Roland KCW-1, I'm sure sounds good, but it's heavier than I want to play around with.

I may still consider getting an EV sb120a or sb121a as a trial.

Experimental practice is what I call it, whether practicing music or trying equipment.

Best
Scott

Scott,

If you're not getting good mids and highs from the system, it sounds as if the keyboard's EQs should be tuned. Try the smiley face setup I posted at Joe Waters' site and see if this doesn't make a big difference.

Gary

Hi Gary

Actually I've tried some different eq settings, but again it just might be that the Eons sound to me a lot better.

I'll just keep experimenting.

Like I said, if it doesn't suit me, as far as I'm concerned we could pass this one around. My desire was mostly for the sub.

Scott,

Can you use the subs alone and leave the satelites at home?

Beakybird

Hi Beakybird

Yes, I've tried it this way mostly. Sounds pretty good. I'd love to really be able to open it where I won't distrub the neighbors....Oh well,......see if they can take a joke, huh? lol

Hey, you might enjoy the sub with your Yamaha speakers. It's small, relatively light and it does make a differenc.

So far, I've been able to get the Logitech going as a 2.1 and a 3.1.

The local place that specializes in things like this and carries Logitech, said ....duh... to my questions.

I may need to try Radio Shack to see it there is a box I can plug all of the Logitech into and also have the JBL's going.

I think I will also try calling Logitech and see what there answer might be.

We've tried a lot of different combinations, enough to make you talk to yourself. haha.

While I knew that all I'd ever get was stereo, I sure thought that I'd be able to get all five speakers working simply and easily.

Uncle Dave: I found the line out control for main, sub 1 and 2 etc. but not just the thing yet and it does not allow me to use the master control.

I'll let you know when I get all the info I need.

The one thing I can tell you already, and I kinda thought this before they arrived is, that a 5.1 system has probably way more cords than I would want to be moving around, which makes me think that I may go JBL and sub, and maybe one or two satelites as a monitor or something.

Scott

"Try the smiley face setup I posted at Joe Waters' site"

Gary,

Are you referring to the mic setup you posted sometime back (I think that you, Donny and someone else uses) or are you referring to a NEW setup posted?

Thanks,

vc

------------------
Vern

Vern,

I was referring to the Master EQ settings. It makes a huge difference.

Gary

Hey Boys and Girls,

Wow! I am borrowing a mixer tonight because the Behringer UB802, which I plan on getting won't be here for a few days. BUT, HOLY COW!

You ought to hear this thing! I just spent a couple minutes plugging it in and now have 4.1 and this has one terrific sound.

I will fiddle around a bit and see if I can get the 5.1. I would think I would be able to one way or the other.

Anyway, the difference in sound using the mixer with the Z5500's is incredible. I could easily leave the JBL's at home. BUT, you should here it with the JBL's going too. Just excellent.This is the kind of sound you kind dream about getting, and here it is! Seems like a deal for $300.

This is looking like it was worth the gamble for me.

I will update you all, as I get to do some fine tuning.

Best
Scott Langholff

Scott,

I sincerely believe that once everything is hooked up, properly tuned, and balanced, you'll be hard pressed to hold onto the JBLs.

Good Luck,

Gary

Hi Scott,
Congratulations for your system.
The Z5500 looks to be an interesting product that can do the job for small rooms.

Can you explain how do you connect the mixer to the Z5500?
What's the input format on the Z5500?
What's the weight of this system?
If you plan to use it on job, how will you place the satellites on the scene?

Thank you
STAM

http://www.primeamps.com/prime2612dynamicduo.htm#dynamicduo

another set up..

OK, got it figured out. Finally got a little free time. I am now getting 5.1, in stereo of course.

I am using a Behringer UB1002 mixer (until the UB802 comes in, which has a couple stereo channels with Lo, Mid and Hi EQ).

All three Logitech jacks are 1/8" stereo jacks.

The Center/Sub jack is plugged into a 1/4" stereo adapter jack. This I plug into the Headphone jack on the mixer.

The Right Front/Back and Left Front/Back are each plugged into a 1/4" stereo to mono adapter jack. (Radio Shack #274-348). One goes into Control room Right and the other into Control room Left.


The Z5500 Control Box is set for 6 Channel Direct. Adjust volumes for Subwoofer, Center, Surround and Master Volume.

Tweak EQ of keyboard mixer, and off you go.

Sounds quite nice.

I also have my powered JBL Eon 10G2's plugged into the mixer Mains in Left and Right.

Both system's sound good alone, but together, it is absolutely beautiful.

I noticed the piano may need some different tweaking for the Logitech system. I will investigate that as I find time.

So, in this case, I could use the Z5500's alone, the JBL's alone or with the sub only, or all 8 speakers at once. hehe

Best

Scott Langholff


[This message has been edited by Scott Langholff (edited 11-17-2004).]

So, I'm still experimenting with different combinations, and although I am ready to go to bed it appears to me that if I use a Y adaptor out of the L and R Main on the Tyros to a 1/8" stereo male into the Z5500 I get Left Front and Right Front if using 2 satellite speakers.

But, if I plug into the Headphone out of the Tyros into the Z5500 using a stereo jack on each end, then I get Left Front and Left Rear. This explains why sometimes I was getting a sound that I didn't care for.

The above I'm doing without a mixer.

It seems that the control box reads the signals differently when coming out of the Headphone jack which doesn't really make any sense to me right now.

Either way the best sound I am getting is using the JBL's with the Z5500's.

I think I'll sleep on it. ZZZZZZZZZZZ

Hello

The subwoofer is 13 1/4"W X 13"H X 18"D.

It weighs in at 34 lbs. 188 watts RMS.

I mention this because there may be other people that may want to use these specs in making a choice.

I think a good sub alone with all of these ingredients makes this worth $300. Anything else out there that's available in this country that I'm aware of, including home speaker systems are generally bigger and certainly a lot heavier and costs more money.

All of these factors are at the top of my list for choosing equipment.

Right now, at this stage in the game, if I choose to keep it, I may use the powered JBL 10G2's along with the sub. You can plug the sub right into the headphone jack on the keyboard. No mixer would be needed unless I would want to hook up both the JBL's and the complete Logitech system. I don't think I would care to do that however at this time.

The Z5500 is a good value for $300, and would enhance anyone's built in speakers.

I'm sure some will find it good for their uses playing out as a 5.1. So far, I wouldn't personally use the Z5500's alone.

I am continuing to experiment, but at this time, I would say the Z5500 sattelites are no match for the JBL's.

Together all 8 speakers sound real nice in my living room, but the sattelites and sub alone seems to lack a lot of mid range which I like. And yes, I've tweaked and retweaked the Tyros mixer.

The piano sound seems to suffer the most. A good share of other voices sounds rather nice.

I would say, IMHO, someone using a lot of guitar sounds for country etc, will find this quite usable.

This is the best unbiased analysis I feel I can make at this time.

One would need to try it out for themselves to see if it would meet their requirement. I'm sure a lot of people will love it just the way it comes in the box.

Best
Scott

Found a good case for the subwoofer at Kmart.

It's a 25" Rolling Duffel Bag. Fits perfect around height and width, with a few extra inches lengthwise for accessories. It has some extra pockets also. It runs $24.99.

Made by Pacsports, in black or blue.

It also would work very well for JBL 10" Eons.

Scott