Logitech Z623 vs. Klipsch Promedia 2.1

Both speakers are amazing choices that will not leave you wanting in any way, but you’ll have to read this article to find out which one is better for you.

Most computer stuff is better when it’s newer, way way better.

However, if there’s one peripheral device that seems to avoid this trend altogether, it has to be speakers.

Unless you’re looking for a model equipped with some slick RGB lighting to complement your gaming rig or just a good pair of Bluetooth speakers, there is no merit in buying the newest model available as far as cost-effectiveness is concerned.

Here to testify to this fact, we have a couple of old-timers: the Logitech Z263 and the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1.

Both of these are 2.1 stereo PC speakers that won’t cost you a fortune but sound as good as even some of the new $500 pairs. So let’s see how they stack up against each other and which one is the right pick for you if you’re looking to buy the most cost-effective 2.1 PC configuration.

Table of ContentsShow

Specifications

 Logitech Z623Klipsch ProMedia 2.1
System Type2.1 stereo2.1 stereo
Power120 Watt RMS200 Watt RMS
Frequency Response35 Hz – 20000 Hz31 Hz – 20000 Hz
Sensitivity103 dB106 dB
Impedance4 ohms4 ohms

Design

Before we go any further, we want to emphasize that these speakers aren’t precisely new by any stretch of the imagination.

Finding the precise release dates for them is challenging, but the Logitech Z623 will be reaching at least ten soon, if it hasn’t done so already, and the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 is already a solid decade and a half old at this point.

Seeing how they’re both still hugely popular, it’s obvious that these speakers offer some genuine quality. If they didn’t, people wouldn’t be buying them, and the companies would have to make some revisions.

However, this does mean that they adhere to the style sense of the last decade, so if you’re looking for a set of speakers that will go well with your other bleeding-edge peripherals, then it’s unlikely that these two models will win you over.

They at least have the benefit of looking rather inconspicuous, so, if nothing else, they shouldn’t detract from the aesthetics of their surroundings. In both cases, you’re dealing with a very simple cube sub-woofer and two satellites.

The rectangle satellites on the Klipsch are a bit more conspicuous with their metal legs, but while the triangular satellites on the Logitech only use rubberized stands to provide that extra layer of stability, their shape does draw a bit more attention, so it all evens out.

The Klipsch satellites also have two separate drivers each, with the top tweeters using the company’s proprietary Micro Tractrix horns.

Overall, they may not look like speakers that came out this year, but, thankfully, that’s the biggest differentiating factor between these old-timers and the spring chickens.

THX-Certified

Most importantly, both of these speakers are THX-certified, which goes a long way in guaranteeing a high degree of quality. THX standards are rigorous and not at all inexpensive.

While there are speakers out there that would technically qualify for this certificate, the fact that Logitech and Klipsch went the extra mile to ensure that both of these 2.1 stereo speakers are up to the highest standards is nothing, if not encouraging.

(NOTE: There is a version of the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 that isn’t THX-certified, just like there is a Bluetooth enabled version. In this guide, we’ll only be referring to the wired THX version, although the differences between it and the regular version aren’t all that big.)

Granted, 2.1 speakers can only get the lowest form of the certificate, which isn’t surprising considering the fact that filmmakers have the full surround sound experience in mind when filming. But this still means that these two pairs of speakers will be great not only for PC use but also as part of a small home theatre.

Convenience

You might be thinking: ‘Wait a minute! These are wired PC speakers, aren’t they? The THX certification is great and all that, but am I honestly ever going to go through the trouble of plugging these out of the computer and messing with all the cables only to install them on the TV for a single movie night?’

And the answer is no (at least in most cases).

Yes, both the Z623 and the ProMedia 2.1 are wired speakers, but the manufacturers included as many conveniences as they could manage. For example, both of these speakers have headphone jacks on the satellites, as well as separate volume and bass knobs.

To counteract the problem of portability that we have just mentioned, the Logitech Z623 can have up to three devices plugged into it at all times, so you could keep your PC, console, and TV plugged in simultaneously and then just switch between platforms on the fly as you see fit.

Granted, this only works with residential cinemas under the presumption that your TV is mounted above your PC, but hey, it’s better than nothing, and it’s certainly superior to what most other wired 2.1 configurations offer.

The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1, unfortunately, lacks such a feature, but it does come with a completely different one that will probably be more useful. Namely, the control pod of the ProMedia 2.1 can be freely swapped between the right and the left satellite.

While this doesn’t really help with home theatre in any way, it can go a long way in preventing cable clutter while gaming with a headset.

Sound

The most important factor in the enduring popularity of both of these speakers has undoubtedly got to be the sound quality they offer.

Right off the bat, we’ll say that neither of these speakers sounds any worse than most newer ones and even many pricier models. You can’t go wrong with either one.

So, instead of doing a complete review, we’ll be showcasing the ways in which each of these speakers surpasses the other.

First up is the Logitech Z623. Of the two speakers, this is the one that will cater more to gamers because it has a very three-dimensional sound.

The in-game sound quality is flawless, placing a huge emphasis on reproducing sounds like footsteps, gunshots, and vehicle rumbling with a high degree of realism, while still not taking anything away from the background track playing at the same time.

Most importantly, these speakers don’t achieve the greatness of their sound for gaming at the expense of multimedia performance. If your sound card supports directional sound, then these speakers will not fail to wow you with their immense sense of depth.

Still, we would be remiss not to mention an area in sound quality where the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 beats out the Z623, and that’s in the overall tightness of the frequency response.

Most notably, the high treble sounds much fuller on the Klipsch, thanks in no small part to the separate tweeter. The mids are also a bit richer sounding, making them a better fit for movies and music than the Z623.

Now granted, the ProMedia 2.1 wasn’t made for gaming, thus, it doesn’t feature as three-dimensional a sound as the Z623, so it isn’t an outright winner here.

Just don’t lose sight of what you need a pair of 2.1 speakers for when making your decision, and you’ll be fine.

Volume

logitech z623 or klipsch promedia 2.1

You must have noticed that we didn’t say a word about how the bass sounds on either of these speakers. That’s because we couldn’t very well separate it from the volume evaluation.

Overall, both the Logitech Z623 and the ProMedia 2.1 feature a tight and precise bass that has some genuine texture to it, instead of just a loud rumbling. The bass on the ProMedia 2.1 is slightly tighter and can go all the way down to 31 Hz as opposed to the Z623’s 35 Hz, but these are only minor differences.

What’s more important is how the bass acts as the overall volume increases. Once more, we’re happy to report that both speakers retain all the precision in the bass while increasing the punchiness, but the ProMedia 2.1 alone experiences distortion at higher volumes.

This mostly has to do with the Wattage of the speakers.

If you look at the power draw, you’ll see that the Logitech has a 200Watt RMS while the Klipsch only has a 200Watt Peak. Meaning that, on the whole, the Z623 draws a lot more power than the ProMedia 2.1, which is good for speakers as it generally means they’ll be able to tackle high volumes with less distortion.

(NOTE: this doesn’t impact the sound quality itself in any way, just when the distortion kicks in)

The usual belief would suggest that if you want to make a big sound, you should choose the Z623. Although this remains accurate, we must highlight that the ProMedia 2.1 does have the unique Micro Tractrix horns, which are highly efficient in power.

Overall, you won’t be lacking intensity on the Klipsch anyway since we’d only recommend cranking the volume up to 11 if you’re throwing a party, but it’s good to know that the gap isn’t as significant as it may seem at first glance, as only the bass will suffer from max-loudness distortion.

Nevertheless, if you want to party without any distortion, even at noise-complaint levels of loudness, then we still have to recommend the Logitech Z623.

Conclusion

To reiterate, both the Logitech Z623 and the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 are excellent pairs of affordable 2.1 stereo speakers that are THX-certified, no less. As far as sound quality is concerned, you won’t miss out on anything by opting for either of these two elderly models.

The only items lacking are extra features like Bluetooth or a USB port somewhere.

They’re more than capable of tackling both gaming and multimedia, although the Z623 does excel at the former while the ProMedia 2.1 favors the latter.

These differences, however, are mostly marginal, so if your goal in the first place is to buy a pair of high-quality-sounding affordable speakers, don’t hesitate to buy whichever is cheaper if you can find one at a significant discount.

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James Hudson

James is a self-proclaimed audiophile and tech geek. With his CS degree, 5 years of experience as a software developer and 2 years of experience testing audio devices, James is more than fit to be trusted in this field.