Wireless Speaker Z515 for Laptops, Ipad and Iphone

I was looking for a Bluetooth wireless speaker for my Motorola Xoom but I didn't really want to spend a lot either. (This review focuses on the Bluetooth aspect rather than the USB wireless audio the speaker is also capable of.) This product not only meets those expectations but exceeds them. Once I saw this for $54.99 from Amazon, I had to pick it up because typically it retails for about $100 at your local brick and mortar store. (You may not be so lucky as of this review since Amazon seems to have "caught up" to what the other online vendors are charging, which is around $75.) The speaker itself is solidly built and feels somewhat hefty. It's about 10 inches across, 4 1/2 inches high and about 2 1/2 inches deep. (About 4 inches deep with the flip-out kickstand in the back out.) The speaker cones are protected by a stiff, solid mesh in the front and surrounded by dense plastic that looks somewhat stylish in its simplicity. The right side (as the speaker grille faces you) contains the power LED and wireless activity LED as well as a 1/8" stereo minijack and an AC power/recharging jack. On the back, you'll find a fold-out kickstand that also houses the USB dongle for your desktop or laptop computer. You'll also find the power button (in the center), a concave "volume down" button on the left (again, as the speaker grille faces you) and a convex "volume up" button on the right. It's very easy to find these controls as a result. The speaker comes with "getting started" instructions for everything you needed to know about the speaker's functions (like what the various states of the charging LED indicate), an AC adapter/charger as well as a convenient storage pouch to carry both the speaker to keep the dust off when not in use. (The pouch also can house the charger in a separate pouch separate from the speaker...I hope I said that right. lol There are also separate instructions for pairing the speaker with your iPod or iPad, but as all know by now, this product can pretty much pair up with any Bluetooth-capable devices like those using the Android OS. I don't claim to be an audiophile (I'm a musician, does that count? :D but this speaker sounds fantastic. Others have complained of less-than-stellar audio but, honestly, this is a wireless mobile speaker, not a $10,000 home theater system. One shouldn't even bother making comparisons. Others have also noted that Bluetooth audio doesn't sound as good as hardwired (i.e., hooked up via the 1/8" stereo minijack). I've tried to make comparisons but I've come up with the same conclusion: These people are on something as I cannot tell a discernible difference between the two. I've tried different audio sources at the same volume both Bluetooth and hardwired and don't hear much difference. Everything sounds nice and clean. (I've tried everything from metal to early music to movie soundtracks. Movie soundtracks and other modern music sources with deep bass are the weakest but that's not exactly bad because they still sound great nonetheless. You can still hear the bass but won't exactly feel it gut-punching you. As I said earlier, I wouldn't expect it to.) Yes, it's not THX-quality but it's very, very nice for what it is and how much is asked for in this price range. It can be quite loud (it fills your average-sized room quite nicely) and it's much better than the built-in speakers on the Xoom. The range, being a Bluetooth device, is not too bad. I was able to walk down my house's hallway (filled with plaster walls and mesh) from my bedroom (which is at one end of the hallway) and got the signal to start breaking at the end of the hallway, all in all about 20 or so feet. Regardless, I plan on keeping the Xoom and speaker together as I just wanted to listen to my music collection with a better set of speakers. I am able to control the volume with both the Xoom and the speakers. (This may create some confusion because if you set the volume on the device low, you won't get much volume out of the speakers.) It might be better to "set and forget" on the device and control the volume on the speakers in my case but it might be the reverse on yours. I have not tested the durability of a full charge just yet. It took about 3 hours from a half charge to completely full. I've maybe run it for about an hour but if anything changes I'll update my review. (You can use the speakers while they are charging.) In summary, if you're sick of the built-in speakers of your mobile device, give this a shot. For what they are, Logitech scored a home run on this one. Fantastic audio at an affordable price.

It's not often that you find a product online whose description meets or exceeds Every expectation. The Logitech Z515 speaker with Wireless / Bluetooth / USB Connectivity was designed to be portable, yet hefty enough to get the job done indoors or out. Providing exceptional sound for it's size and speaker separation, this speaker will definitly improve the sounds coming from your wireless Bluetooth device, whether it be a cell phone, IPAD/2, IPod, or other device. Complete with a USB port, if your device is Not bluetooth ready, you remain able to connect to this speaker with the supplied USB cable. The speaker comes with a power block that both powers the unit if you with to create a more permanent installation within the home, or you may charge the Speakers rechargeable internal batteries for a trip to the beach! Although as yet I have not tested the limits of the charge Logitech describes up to 10 hours of totally wireless output from the Z515. That IS exceptional! The included directions are very simple, and any computer user should have the device up and connected wirelessly via Bluetooth in under 5 minutes. It is of note that Logitech makes no mention of 1st device connection memory. Example: if you have two Bluetooth devices (a phone and an IPAD2) and you generally connect the speaker to the IPAD2, before you'll be able to connect the speaker to the phone you must first break the speakers connection to the IPAD2. (forget this connection). Once connection is broken, the devise will discover and connect to the phone as quickly as it did with the IPAD2. Remember your device must be Bluetooth compatible to connect wirelessly. If your device is an older technology device - Bluetooth dongles can be purchased seperately. These tiny transmit/receive devices plug easily into a USB port. Late model Windows machines will install drivers in under a few moments making your older device now bluetooth compatible. It come with it's own case, cut and stitched to hold both the speaker and it's charger/ power source making it that much easier to either store or transport safely. This is not some cheaply made device. It feels solid in your hands, connects easily, has a built in foot for stable set-up, and looks very contemporary in an unobtrusive way. It's a big sound, for little cash and it works like a champ! If it broke I'd buy another and make it the only one I'd recommend to a friend. Forget about the crappy onboard speakers in your laptop, or ipad2. The z515 makes their use a thing of the past!

I got mine recently and had a really hard time deciding between the D100 and these from Logitech. In the end I picked the Logitech out of brand loyalty. I have Logitech wired speakers, keyboards, mice and I have had products replaced during warranty with 0 hassle whatsoever. Not only are all the products I own by Logitech tried, true and proven in terms of quality and how long they do last before problems occur, but the process to get your item replaced is a pretty easy one and they seem to really try to take care of their customers. Creative on the other hand, would not replace a set of speakers I owned when 1 of them stopped working well within the warranty and they also refused to replace a MP3 player that just stopped working, also well within it's warranty period so, burn me once shame on you, burn me twice shame on me. This goes to show there's something to be said for keeping your customers happy. I was so close to getting the D100 when I considered "what does Logitech have to offer in this department?" and the Z515 became a contender. So on to actual performance? I find them full sounding and am not disappointed at all. They go really loud and I haven't even been loud enough to get distortion...and I've been loud. The ONLY issue I have and may be typical to just me is that I would have liked a deeper bass sound, not easily achieved without a subwoofer I imagine. Don't get me wrong, they have good bass for a portable bluetooth speaker but it's nothing to call home about. I don't think I will get the 'perfect' bluetooth speaker system until I'm willing to spend $190+ and I'm not at this point as this is MAINLY going to be used as a travel component (for hotel stays) and for bedtime music. If price is not a concern with you at all, you may want to look into else. Keep in mind that there are a few shortfalls for some people. Pros: Full sound, great surprise for the price. Solid construction, well thought out portable design. Duality in connection is nice, bluetooth for quick phone/slate/tablet connections or usb wireless for easy laptop/pc connectivity Range is amazing. I have earpieces that crackle up at less distance. I stand behind the brand replacement policies. ***If you have a smartphone (Android or iPhone certainly, not sure about Blackberry, Symbian or WebOS), you can always rig up a remote control for any bluetooth speaker using wifi and an app that allows your phone to control your PC/Laptop. Your smartphone is a controller itself if it is what is connected, but if your PC/Laptop are the playback devices, you can look for free apps which control your computer with a little setup and your wifi connection. Long battery life. Cons: You'll be able to get better sound (deeper bass at the very least) for a premium. So those with disposable/throw away income or don't care about the price are free to scout more. Some people want to be able to use their BT speaker as a speakerphone, currently the only profile I'm seeing is for media audio. ***A dedicated remote would have been icing on the cake. Suffice it to say, this is some great cake with not a drop of icing; likewise, the speaker doesn't come with actual playback controls which some people want on their BT speaker. The battery doesn't seem to be easily user replaceable. It's built into the speaker and I have no clue what happens when it starts to degrade, I will check that out and make an update. This probably ties into the long battery time though, I doubt AAs would afford 9+ hrs of constant play for anywhere close to a similar weight or size. I recommend this product.

I initially wrote this for the Creative D100, but I also talk about the Logitech Z515 so see below: Because many reviewers said that their speaker (D100) was great until it suddenly stopped working, I couldn't decide between this one and the Logitech Z515 so I ended up buying both. I wanted a smaller speaker that was portable and has good sound. I have had these speakers for 9 months and I really like them both for slightly different reasons. What really sold me on the D100 was the bass. I was a bit worried that it would sound distorted but it doesn't, even when loud. I like that it is very easy to connect to, but was a bit disappointed that it doesn't also allow me to use it as a speaker during telephone calls. This may have even been noted in the description and I just didn't notice. That's fine with me though because it wasn't what I bought it for anyway, it just would have been a bonus. You can plug it in or use batteries, though I have not put batteries in it so I can't speak to how draining it may be. With the Logitech Z515, it also provided great sound quality, but no bass. If bass isn't an issue for you, look no further, this is the speaker for you. It's very portable and you can charge the internal battery as opposed to having to have it plugged in all of the time or put in your own battery...huge plus! It's smaller than the D100 and comes with a USB dongle to provide wireless use for products without bluetooth. I haven't tried to use the speaker for my phone calls so I can't speak to that for this one. Bottom line: Both of these speakers are excellent quality and worth the money in my opinion. If getting a little bass in is important to you for this purchase, get the D100. If you want something ultra-portable, get the Z515. Either way you're getting good sound and that's what you want either way.

This appears to be a great gadget. I took it out, plugged in the power, plugged in the wireless adapter, and it was recognized and good to go (on a PC with Windows 7). The sound quality is mediocre at best, but then I didn't think it was going to be great, it was adequate for the purpose. But then my web pages, accessed over a wireless network, started to be slow and erratic. After thinking it was some other problem for a couple of hours, it finally dawned on me to try removing the wireless adapter for the speakers. Sure enough, once I did that, the web pages, etc., all started working correctly again. I tried moving the speakers and/or the wireless adapter to various places as far away as possible from any wireless network hardware, but to no avail - if the speakers were wireless, the network didn't work. So I ended up having to run a wire for the sound anyway, when what I really wanted was for the speakers to be on the opposite side of my work area without any wires. Basically, if you have a wireless network that you want to stay active anywhere near where you're planning to use this, then you'd be better off just getting a wired set for 1/4 of the price.

My goal was to extend sound from one room to another so that both rooms are reflecting the same music/sound source. I have a conventional receiver in one room where I stream audio (i.e. Pandora) using IE. And for the record, I have always been very satisfied with logitech devices. Unfortunately, I discovered that some of my expectations wouldn't be met. Installation instructions are pictures - was surprised that there weren't any drivers needed - and didn't realize until it didn't work, that I needed to change my default audio playback device. It doesn't say this in the instructions (because there are no words) and it also meant that I won't be able to share playback over the sound card to my receiver because it's effectively turned off when playing through the USB adapter. I used the IM chat w/ tech support because after installation, I was not hearing sound. Was told on first attempt to not contact them for support until the unit had charged for at least 8 hours. On day two, after the unit had charged I contacted them again - went through all of the troubleshooting and was asked to try the unit on a 2nd PC since I was still not able to hear sound. A light bulb went on before I disengaged chat and asked about streaming audio - that's when I found out that streaming audio won't work. I fired up iTunes and unit started working. If you are planing on extending sound from your laptop into another room, then this device is for you. It's easy to install (almost too easy) and the sound quality is just OK. If your goals are to extend sound from an existing system into another room using your PC as the gateway, then be prepared to jump through some hoops.

I bought the Logitech Wireless primarily for playing music from my iPod. The speaker pairing was a breeze! Actually, pairing bluetooth devices is so easy, I also paired my iPad with the Logitech Speaker to play Virtuoso - the piano app. It sounded like a grand piano! I was able to 'unpair' the iPad and 'pair back' the iPod touch with the Logitech Wireless Speaker in seconds ... literally! By plugging in the supplied USB dongle into the PC, I also have wireless PC Speakers! Now if I need to move my laptop around the office, I can keep playing music on my laptop without having to disconnect speaker jacks. My Logitech Speaker continued playing Katy Perry's Firework 45 feet away (both devices within sight). This speaker is definitely user friendly. The Logitech Wireless 'remembers' the last bluetooth device that it was paired with, so I can seamlessly switch the speaker output from my PC to the iPod touch! The sound quality from the pair of 2" speakers is surprisingly rich - full bass and midrange. Although Logitech Wireless is no 70's boombox, this speaker fills a small room with full sound. Best of all, no distortion at full volume! As to be expected from portable wireless speakers, the stereo separation is limited since both speakers are boxed close together. HINT: To get the best stereo from the Logitech Speaker, simply place the speaker directly in front of you. The Logitech Speaker is rechargeable and ships with a soft pouch for carrying around both the speaker and charging adaptor. So far, I have never had to recharge while on the road. The Logitech Z515 Speaker runs for over 10 hours in between charges - quite a powerhouse! SEE MY PHOTOS IN CUSTOMER IMAGES Aesthetically, the speaker design is quite utilitarian. Although there is no handle, the speaker curves towards the center (like a dog bone) so it's easy to grab by the middle! The rechargeable Logitech Wireless USB Speaker allows me to share music from my iPod or iPad easily . 5 STARS FOR THIS LOGITECH Z515 SPEAKER!

I use this speaker in my shop to listen to Pandora, Tune-In Radio and Google Listen. Fit and finish are excellent. The plastic feels thick and durable. Volume is excellent. I would compare the audio quality to that of a decent TV--solid mid-range, but no extreme treble or bass (so voices are clear, but you won't hear much glass breaking or explosions on movie soundtracks). For $55 it is an excellent value. The speaker stores two wireless profiles (ie. 1 bluetooth device plus the built-in USB dongle, or 2 bluetooth devices). If you have more devices, you'll need to pair again when switching. Also switching between bluetooth and the USB dongle sometimes requires some fiddling. But it is no big deal. I wish the speaker had a thicker base (so the folding stand would not be required), had a top-mounted carrying handle (like on a boombox) and used a standard micro-usb charger. I have yet to find such a thing. I used to have an Altec Lansing SoundBlade. It was very similar to this speaker, including the folding stand. But the sound quality was not as good (it had simulated 3D surround sound that sounded great initally, but grew tiring and could not be turned off), build quality was not as good, scratched easily, was not as loud, didn't include a rechargeable battery, and made all kinds of loud and irritating beeps when turned on. But it did have a microphone (so you could use it as a speakerphone, but I have not once needed to do so), and had play/stop/forward/reverse buttons (so I could control my cellphone from the speaker). The place with the red bullseye currently has this item in stock, so you could have a look in person if you wish. But their price is much higher. -- UPDATE -- I discovered two things. First, when the speaker is turned on, it does not automatically connect to my HTC Evo. I have to go into the phone settings and manually connect. Second, if I connect this speaker and my Blueant Q2 bluetooth headset at the same time to my HTC Evo, the speaker connects to media audio while the headset connects to phone audio. So Pandora, Tune-In and Listen play out of the speaker, but phone calls go to the headset. This is EXACTLY what I want!