Tonight my Logitech Z5500 came in, and I hooked it all up following Gary's directions to my microKORG. It sounds beautiful, but is no louder than my 20 watt amp...its supposed to be much louder right? All the speakers work in the speaker test too...its just so soft, what could this be? Please chime in ASAP...thanks

Could be several things, more than likely the system probably is fine, and your got a bad cable or something, but lets go over a couple things maybe you'll find it.

adapters plugged into board

splitter plugged tight into adapters

1/8" male stereo jack plugged into musical note on R side of controller

slide switch on back of controller (up position)

controller plug into amp (tightened down)

Double check all speaker wires at amp and at speakers, make sure you have all positive to same side and negative to the neg side (Very important)

turn on Z amp and controller

turn on keybd and set volume to about 3/4

set controller (input effect) direct pl II Movie

turn main volume all the way up ( note to go to boost. you have to keep turning past max until it kicks in) but do this later)

play something on the keyboard a demo or something

take remote and adjust the controller volume levels
(center max) (satts max) (sub 3 or 4)

This should do it, if it dos'nt make sure the cable your using from the keyboard to the controller is good and you have the right adapters.

If I took a wild guess I'd guess the polarity is reversed on the speaker wires.

but just running thru the routine again may catch the problem......Good luck til Gary finds your post.......pose

[This message has been edited by loungelyzard (edited 11-16-2005).]

not getting louder, I even tried switching all the speaker wires in case they were reversed or something...no go...im using a $20 monster cable from my board...this sure is frustrating...i plugged my ipod in and the sound was great, but I dont know about 500watts, it only sounds as loud as my 150w stereo and thats on 11 overdrive...the keyboard is even worse, its just about as loud as my 30watt guitar amp, just way nicer sounding...i hope this one gets solved...
thanks

Here are a few things to check:

Are you plugged into the line outs of the korg? Do you have your master volume set high enough on the Korg? Are you using the correct cables? Are your cables good? Do you have the volume up high on the Z5500?

Tom

Naaw somethings wrong, I guarantee that when its working right you can't stay in the room with it, the sub will blow out your walls... Keep playing with it and I know its the pits but go thru every connection and double check the list, Relax, the worst senerio is you'll have to call logitech and wait a week for a new free one, and use this one on your computer.

Unless your in a gym or something that thing ought to blow your socks off. To bad I'm 3000 miles away and can't help except for guessing.......Pose

they'll send me a new one and let me keep this one?

I dont understand this...this thing is not competing with a freakin 20watt yamaha guitar amp when plugged into my keyboard....the keyboard volume is max, the volumes max and its great sounding but soft as that amp. then when i put it to 11 boost its louder than the amp but not a whole lot louder...maybe not even enough to compete with my band...and i dont wanna keep it at 11 because i hear its bad for it...what to do, what to do...

OK, let's go through the procedure.

1. Using a 1/8-inch stereo male to a pair of 1/4-inch male plugs, plug the 1/8-inch male into the side of the remote receiver where you see the musical note.

2. Plug the 1/4-inch males into the keyboard's stereo output jacks.

3. Now turn on the Z-5500 and set the small toggle switch located on the back of the receiver to 6-CH Direct.

4. In the front of the receiver, set the effects to Pro-Logic II Music.

5. Using the wireless remote control, turn up the satellite volumes (front, rear and center) to maximum.

6. Set the sub woofer volume to approximately 25 percent of maximum.

7. Turn the keyboard volume up about halfway.

8. Turn up the Z-5500's main volume until it reaches maximum. NOW CONTINUE TO TURN UP THE VOLUME KNOB UNTIL YOU SEE THE BOOST VOLUMES.

9. If this does not blow your walls out, there is something wrong. To determine if it's your keyboard's output, or your Z-5500, hook up something else to the Z-5500. If the volume is still low, call Logitech and they'll be more than happy to send you a new one.

Good Luck,

Gary



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Travlin' Easy

These guys weren't kidding when they say Logitech will send a new one. I did not even finish the diagnostics with the Logitech tech and 2 days later a new sub was on my door. I was able to fix the problem before the new sub arrived. It was not even the Logitech fault (it was my keyboard output).

Now I have 2 subs !

Yes they will if yours is defective.

Thinking about your problem overnight, I'm not familiar with your board, but the signal coming out must be low. Most boards has a master EQ screen, and the volume probably needs to be cranked up about 20 percent. It can only amplify what it gets. This would explain why the little guitar amp dos'nt hop around on the floor when its cranked.

You should be using mono phone jacks into the board?
Does the Korg have onboard speakers?...Pose


[This message has been edited by loungelyzard (edited 11-17-2005).]

Here's my rig...A microKORG and the Z5500. I'm using a monster cable 1/8" jack split into 2 female phono jacks, each connected to a 1/4" adaptor and into the L and R outputs of the microKORG. The master volume on the microKORG is all the way up, and as far as I know it is the only way to control volume on this synth, ive been through the owners manual a dozen or so times. There are no onboard speakers on the microKORG. Any other ideas as to what this could be? I plug my ipod in and this system bumps on boost 11, however nothing that I can't be in the same room with. It's a possibility that boost 11 settings can compete with my band, however I don't want to be constantly running the system at this level as I fear i'll blow the speakers...I guess i'll be calling logitech for a new one if I can't solve this today...
thanks for all the input guys

I-pods don't have lots of output power, but if it's putting out more than your keyboard, then the problem is with the keyboard's output power. I suspect there is nothing wrong with the Z-5500.

A work-around for this may to be to fire your keyboard through a small mixer, such as the Alesis 6FX, or something similar, which would boost your keyboard's output.

Now, if you're trying to compete for volume with a band using a big PA system, it's not gonna' happen. When you bring your volume up, they'll crank up their volume, and by the end of the night everyone will have ringing in their ears--including your audience.

Also, keep in mind that speaker position is critical, even with standard or conventional PA systems. If your Z-5500 speakers are sitting on a table, or worst yet, on the floor, you will not get much out of the satellites. They must be positioned at least 5 feet above the floor in order to be effective.

If the Z-5500 doesn't provide sufficient punch for your type of performances using this type of setup, then it would probably be a good idea to take it back for a refund and go with something else. That's why I tell everyone to purchase the system at a location that has a liberal return policy.

Good Luck, and I sincerely hope everything works out for you.

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

As of now my band is instrumental with no singer. There are 2 guitars, a bass and drums and we are pretty loud. On boost 11 I would probably mix well, but I shouldn't be pushing it this much, right? What I don't understand is if the keyboards output is weak then why is it louder on my 120watt crate guitar amp im using in my band now...and I have that at about half way volume, with my keyboard volume at one o'clock position...I guess I just dont want to spend $100 on the mixer if its not the problem...

It would be a lot easier for me to diagnose the problem if I lived relatively close and could see the setup first hand. I suspect there is an impedience difference or mismatch that is causing the problem, but I really don't know for sure. If there is someone in your area, maybe Tony Madelone, that could hook up their keyboard to the Z-5500's same input it would provide a definitive answer. Kinda difficult for me to figure this one out from nearly 400 miles away. Wish I could do more.

Good Luck,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

I'm gonna have to go along with Gary's last, I think your signal out of the korg is weak. as for the Ipod the guitar player hooked his up to my Z5500 and the volume dropped in half.

Sorry we hav'nt solved your problem. sure would have liked to have been of some help to you. I also do'nt think a new one will do any better....Hope you get it fixed......Pose

I just made a huge volume difference, instead of plugging the 1/8" headphone jack into the musical notation symbol on the side of the reciever I plugged it into the green hole on the back of the reciever, and it sounds twice as loud or more than that, enough for my band for sure. It's super clear too. Is it OK to run it at boost 11, with my synth volume position at 1 o'clock? The sub remains at about 30%. Most importantly, is it OK for me to keep it plugged in in the back, that shouldnt do any harm right?
thanks

You can run at Boost 11 as long as you don't crank up the keyboard too loud--should be OK.

As for the green plug, I suspect you've found a better inpedience match.

Keep up updated, and let us know how your band likes the system.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

id like to thank everyone for the help ive gotten in my last few threads, i really would have been stuck without you...especially Ed, Gary, loungelylizard and AJ, all have been really helpful. ill keep you posted about the band, and will soon have questions about adding a good bigger keyboard/synth with my microKORG when I save up some more.
again, thanks a million

-Vic

hi ,I run my korg Pa1 X pro like that and its great no problem, no need to run it full bore , works great every body is impressed with the sound, Benno