Logitech Z407 Bluetooth computer speakers review

Finder score: 4.0

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Logitech has held a strong position in the computer speaker space for a good long while. Its product line stretches from basic, budget-friendly stereo speakers all the way up to full surround sound solutions, all of which tend to be quality products for their price.

The latest addition to the line-up sits in the middle of the pack. The Logitech Z407 computer speakers deliver a 2.1 audio experience (two satellites plus a subwoofer) for a reasonable RRP of $149. There's a lot to like about this package, so let's get stuck in.

Design

Design

• Reserved, professional aesthetic looks good in a variety of environments
• Multiple connection types are easy to set up
• Bluetooth remote provides convenient access to playback controls

Like most Logitech products, the Z407s sport a clean and professional look that's easy on the eyes. The dark grey colour scheme readily blends into the background whether on a computer desk or sitting on a side table. They're quite compact, too, with the satellite speakers small enough to tuck away beneath your monitor if you don't have enough room on either side. The satellites work just as well laid flat as they do stood vertically, accommodating to your available space as well as your preference for vertical or horizontal orientation.

While the satellites are sleek and compact, the subwoofer is a little more conspicuous. It's your typical big box with small rubber legs providing clearance to the large speaker on its underside. It's designed to sit under your desk, blasting bass from out of sight, so its chunky aesthetic isn't really an issue. Just bear in mind that the wires connecting the satellite speaker to the subwoofer are only 1.8m long, so you can't hide the sub too far under your desk without impacting the placement of the satellites.

Setting up the Z407s is a breeze. You have three choices for connecting them to your PC or other device: over Bluetooth, using the included 3.5mm cable or using a microUSB cable (not included in the box). All three options work immediately, with no need to install drivers or extra software just to get audio playing.

Once connected, you can adjust volume and bass levels as well as control playback using the disc-shaped Bluetooth remote. Looking vaguely like a miniaturised Roomba, it's small and light enough to move around with ease. Controls are nice and simple too: rotate the sides to adjust volume or tap the top to pause and skip tracks.

The remote boasts a 20m wireless range, making it especially useful for folks with home theatre PCs watching movies from the couch or listening to music while performing other tasks. Two AAA batteries (included in the box) provide juice, and Logitech claims they'll last 12 months before needing to be replaced.

Performance

Performance

• Clear and powerful audio across music, movies and games
• Subwoofer delivers bone-shaking bass
• Big volume output with no loss in audio quality

Despite their unassuming appearance, the Logitech Z407s pack plenty of power. Each satellite delivers 10W of rich, high-quality audio, with a maximum volume output guaranteed to earn the ire of your neighbours. The 20W subwoofer is even more impressive, pumping out booming bass that will shake your entire house if you let it.

Music sounds fantastic on the Z407s. Vocals are crisp and clean across the board, with solid frequency separation that ensures you can hear every instrument and sound effect in the mix clearly, even when there's a lot going on. Highs, mids and lows are all equally well conveyed.

Heavy rock and metal tracks hit hard. Listening to A Day to Remember, breakdowns are punchy and forceful. Switching over to Killswitch Engage highlights the power and energy contained within their aggressive guitar riffs. Crank up the volume and the sound only gets bigger and stronger, with no loss in audio quality whatsoever.

The speakers are no less impressive with more melodic tunes. Ambient strings and mournful piano sound beautifully clear on the Nier Automata soundtrack, while the acoustic stylings of City and Colour sound impeccably sharp.

Audio quality remains sublime for movies, too. Car chases in Bad Boys for Life sound suitably fast and furious. Combat scenes in Midway convey chaos with the boom of exploding shells, the roar of swooping aircraft and the rattle of machine-gun fire.

Even games sound great on the Z407s. Playing DOOM Eternal, the speakers bellow with the throaty roar of the rocket launcher and the staccato thump-thump-thump of the Heavy Cannon. In Destiny 2, the powerful subwoofer delivers a kick to the gut with each volley from a pulse rifle. Melee attacks deliver a meaty thwack, grenades crack with overwhelming intensity and disintegrating enemies sizzle with hot ferocity.

Such is the power of the subwoofer that it acts as a sort of force feedback in a lot of games. Fire a gun and you can feel the recoil physically reverberate through you. Throw a grenade and the explosion rumbles up your feet and into your core. It adds a layer of verisimilitude to your in-game actions that you don't normally get with mouse-and-keyboard gaming.

As capable as the Z407s are, they don't quite live up to a good gaming headset. They only output 2.1 stereo sound, for starters, so you're not getting the full wrap-around audio experience of a 7.1 surround sound solution. Locational audio cues are much tougher to identify and track down, a significant downside if you're into competitive gaming. The general mix isn't as clear, either, with the audio in games like DOOM Eternal getting crowded and hard to parse when the action heats up.

That said, the Z407s are a perfectly viable alternative to a gaming headset if you prefer the larger sound stage speakers afford. The bass output alone is a compelling reason to consider the speakers, with the subwoofer pumping out more power than any set of cans can.

Features

Features

• Compatible with a wide range of devices
• Can connect to multiple devices at the same time for on-the-fly switching
• Remote functionality is limited over 3.5mm connections

The Z407s don't pack that many features, per se, but they don't really need to. They're designed as a simple plug-and-play solution that prioritises audio quality and compatibility over extra functionality.

To that end, the Z407s are compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth, 3.5mm or USB audio connections. Phones, tablets and video game consoles are all viable options. You can even connect the speakers to multiple devices concurrently and use the button on the underside of the Bluetooth remote to switch between them on the fly. For instance, you could have your PC hooked up over a 3.5mm connection at the same time you're connected with your phone over Bluetooth. A single button press toggles which device the Z407s will play audio from.

One limitation worth mentioning: if you're connected using the 3.5mm jack, the Bluetooth remote loses some of its functionality. Unlike with the Bluetooth and USB connections, you won't be able to pause or resume audio content, nor can you change tracks. You can still adjust the volume, though.

Should you buy the Logitech Z407?

With the Z407s, Logitech delivers top-notch audio quality in a sleek and versatile package. Music, movies and games all sound fantastic. There's plenty of power, too, more than enough for playing music at parties or watching action-packed movies on the couch.

If you're in the market for an all-purpose audio solution at a reasonable price, the Logitech Z407s won't disappoint.

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