Logitech Z906

Reviews say surround-sound computer speakers can't match the sound quality of a dedicated home theater system, but the Logitech Z906 does a good job bringing home theater-like experience to your desktop. This 5.1 system (five speakers plus subwoofer) works especially well for movies and games, with bass that's punchy but that doesn't drown out everything else. TrustedReviews.com says the Z906 delivers rich-sounding music, too, although MaximumPC magazine's tester detects harsh, brittle highs with pianos and vocals. Several experts and owners are disappointed that Logitech didn't include any HDMI ports or the ability to decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, both of which would have made it better to use with Blu-ray players and game consoles. It does, however, have multichannel analog inputs for those devices, including some Blu-ray players, that have those ports. If you're not dead-set on surround sound, reviews recommend several PC speaker sets with fewer speakers but better sound quality, including the Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 (*Est. $500) and Harman Kardon SoundSticks III (*Est. $170).

TrustedReviews.com publishes the most thorough test and review of the Logitech Z906 speakers, covering design, connectivity, features, operation and performance. MaximumPC magazine and About.com also test the Z906 speakers and write shorter (but still comprehensive) reviews. Amazon.com posts a variety of customer reviews, both positive and negative.