Logitech V20 notebook speakers

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CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
Detailed editors' rating

Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 18 reviews
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Product summary

The good: No batteries or AC adapter required; crisp sound; plenty of volume; multimedia controls.

The bad The bad: Too big for everyday portability; don't work with MP3 or CD players; USB can't provide enough power for deep bass at high volume.

The bottom line: The USB-powered Logitech V20 laptop speakers keep extra cables to a minimum and sound great, as long as you're not listening to hip-hop at maximum volume.

Specifications: Type of speaker: PC multimedia speakers; Input Impedance: 4 Ohm; Power output: 1 Watt See full specs

Price range: $44.95 - $75.99

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Andrew Gruen
Edited by: Michelle Thatcher
Reviewed on: 08/03/2006

To put it simply, after reviewing ultraportable notebooks that are notorious for poor speakers, the Logitech V20 notebook speakers put a smile on our faces. A bit bigger than other portable speaker systems, such as the Sony SRS-T77, the Creative TravelSound, and the RCA FSP200, the Logitech V20 speakers also have a few features that competing models don't: great sound, USB power, and multimedia controls. Unlike most portable systems, which consist of two speakers in a single case, Logitech has made the V20 as a set of two separate speakers, each about 6 inches tall, 3 inches wide, and 1.5 inches deep. The set weighs 1.2 pounds, which is a bit more than we'd like to carry, particularly considering that other models weigh less than a pound. The Logitech V20 notebook speakers have an MSRP of $79.99 but can be found for about $60 online. If you're looking for sound that's significantly better than your laptop's internal speakers and have a bit of space in your suitcase, the Logitech V20 notebook speakers are for you.

The Logitech V20s sound great. We played everything from Bach's Sonata No. 3 for violin and Arvo Pärt's "Dopo la Vittoria" for chorus to the French tango-electronica sounds of the Gotan Project's latest album, Lunático. Basses were deep and trebles were crisp without sounding like we were listening through a soup can. The speakers were also surprisingly loud and should have enough volume to fill almost any room.

Unlike most laptop speakers, which require heavy batteries or an additional AC adapter, the V20s use your notebook's USB port for both audio data and power. Being USB devices, the speakers also allow input; as such they have play/pause, stop, previous track, next track, mute, volume-up, and volume-down keys. Setup was straightforward. When we plugged the speakers into both a Windows XP and a Mac OS X laptop, they were immediately recognized by the OS and starting pumping out tunes. Mac users should note that while the volume controls work, the other multimedia buttons do not.

The speakers do have a few annoying flaws. The downside of the USB connection is the inability to connect the speakers to portable players or other devices, so no laptop, no joy. The Logitech V20 notebook speakers are so lightweight that at high volumes, they vibrate their way across a desk unless secured. Finally, when playing high-bass music or movies at near-maximum volumes, the Logitech V20 notebook speakers have a tendency to cut out, as the laptop's USB port simply can't provide them with enough power.

See more CNET content tagged:: Logitech,; speakers,; notebook computer,; laptop computer,; volume

User reviews

Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 18 reviews
My rating: 0 stars Write review

Showing 5 of 18 user reviewsSee all 18 user reviews
4.0 stars

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

"decent portable speakers"

by av8or1113 on January 2, 2006

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4.0 stars

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

"Great set of portable speakers"

by bwtaylor89 on January 15, 2008

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1.0 stars

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

"Very Disappointing"

by dcole001 on October 14, 2007

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4.0 stars

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

"Decent sound, very portable"

by myrddin22 on July 1, 2006

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4.5 stars

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

"Excellent Speakers for the Size & Price"

by Clemson656 on January 29, 2006

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See all 18 user reviews Write review

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Logitech V20 notebook speakers

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Where to buy

Logitech V20 notebook speakers: $44.95 - $75.99

store	price	in stock?	rating
	$59.49	Yes
	$49.99	Yes
	$52.95	Yes
	$49.99	Yes
	$49.99	Yes

see prices from 17 stores

Reviews from around the Web

whatlaptop.co.uk

Editors' rating: 80

Summary: Portability is the main draw here, but there are some usability concerns

Read full review
pocket-lint.co.uk

Editors' rating: 70

Summary: These are a cost-effective set of travel speakers but there are better options out there for the same price

Read full review
laptoplogic.com

Editors' rating: 70

Summary: . The V20 speakers carry a 2-year limited warranty

Read full review