Logitech AudioHub Notebook Speakers
See it at Amazon.com for $29.00Average Customer Rating
(4.5 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First
(4 out of 5)Best for those who use their notebook as a primary machine
These "notebook" speakers are designed for those who use their laptops in the same place, day after day. They weigh almost as much as my MacBook and, because they come in a long, solid piece, are more awkward to carry. If you are looking for portable speakers to take with you on vacation or on business trips, skip this product. If you're looking for rich audio at home or at school, read on.
This unit is truly plug-and-play, with no installation disks and a minimal manual. Simply plug the power cord into an outlet (these speakers cannot run on battery power) and plug the USB cable into your computer. The end speakers can slide about two inches wider on both sides to keep various size screens from blocking the sound. The speaker unit comes with a USB cable, a USB cable extender (especially important if your USB slots are on the left side of your notebook), a bracket for holding a webcam above the laptop screen, and a 100-240 V power adaptor. Three USB ports are located behind the right speaker, although the topmost slot is too tight for fatter devices/plugs. These ports are essential since the speakers themselves take a USB slot on your notebook, and you probably have a mouse attached to another.
The sound is rich and without annoying hum at both the loudest and softest volumes. While many portable speaker units sound tinny when the volume is cranked up, the Logitech AudioHub sounds surprisingly steady. Yeah, you're not getting the highest end audio here, but you'll definitely get quality sound for the money. The volume knob on the side glows orange, making it easy to locate even at night.
The AudioHub is perfect for college students who don't have the space for larger speakers but who don't want to sacrifice sound quality as well as for people who use their notebooks in the same place every day. Although the speakers would work fine with a desktop computer, their single-unit construction makes them less than ideal. The only real advantage of this unit over similar sounding speakers is the ability to unplug it and move everything to the side with one action.
(4 out of 5)Logitech Audiohub - Great sound, great design, well worth a look!
With their AudioHub Notebook Speakers, Logitech has produced a wonderful product that will fill a key need in the marketplace. The one-piece design is certainly more sleek and streamlined than competing traditional 2-piece bookshelf speakers. The unit is still not as "portable" as some mobile computer users might demand, and may be better suited for the growing number of those using their notebooks as "desktop replacements." For those seeking above average sound in a sleek package, this unit definitely fits the bill.
Pros
+ Nice performing speakers with a respectable 15 watts of RMS power
+ The beautiful slim black body is both attractive and functional
+ Two 2-inch tweeters and one 3-inch sub-woofer deliver surprisingly crisp 2.1 sound
+ Nifty connecting tower to hold your legacy webcam
+ A nice three-port USB 2.0 hub outbalance the one port used by the system
+ Adjustable speaker width allows you to set this behind any sized laptop
+ Nice back-lit power / volume control
+ 6-foot AC power cable has a medium sized plug instead of the power bricks common with 2.1 speaker systems
+ 2-foot USB cable and 4-foot extension cable provide nice connection options
+ Cable management area in the back keeps your work area neat
+ Simple instructions and plug and play performance for most users
+ 2-year limited hardware warranty
Cons
- No included pouch or carrying case to help transport the unit
- long body and wide base are larger than expected and won't fit into smaller back-packs
- mesh speaker covers are thin and may be prone to tearing
- no traditional input / output connectors for legacy devices
Your average laptop computer has an on-board sound card and low performance speakers. Even newer laptops sporting "name brand" integrated speakers by Altec Lansing and Harmon Kardon usually deliver less power than you would expect from those names.
The AudioHub's USB connection provides a digital music stream instead of the two-channel analog sound you're used to from your headphone jack speakers. The well tuned sound has a nice steady range with decent low, mid-range and high range sounds.
Even though it is marketed for notebooks, it can certainly be used on any computer, including a desktop. The USB connection allows for easy swapping between computers. The sliding speakers move just enough to accommodate the largest laptops.
For the price, Logitech gives the competition a run for their money. The sound is in the class of high-end bookshelf sets like the Creative T20s Creative GigaWorks T20 2.0 Speakersor the Klipsh Promedias Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 2.0 PC Speaker System- Black. The unit sports a nicer range than the Altec Lansing Soundbar, as well as a much cooler design Altec Lansing Soundbar Speakers for LCD Pc.
The power adapter has your standard voltages and comes with a "fat head" design instead of the larger one or two part power bricks so many people hate. The USB hub adds 3 ports to offset the one taken away, which is a great feature. Note that there is very little clearance where the ports are. The button on the right side controls power and volume and has a soft glow that may be too bright for some bedrooms.
Installation is a snap on Mac OS X, Windows Vista or XP. The included manual is a quick start guide.
The minor knocks against this unit are the lack of a travel case or legacy ports. Without an included case, keeping all these parts together for mobile computing is very messy. Not to mention, the soft speaker mess doesn't look like it will hold up to being thrown in a bag with your other gear. It would have been nice to have some legacy ports to connect a few devices to, but they opted for streamlined design instead.
Overall, this is a great set. Give the AudioHub a try and see for yourself. Enjoy!
(4 out of 5)Good Overall Sound with a USB hub built in.
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3DJFZQ0DN1BVM I thought I'd try out Amazon's new video review option.
(3 out of 5)nice speakers with a couple of issues
First off, the speakers are quite good for their size. I can't complain about the sound. The bass was pretty impressive.
I enjoy that the speakers come with a built in 4-port USB hub.
The fact that the speakers are attached as one unit has its plusses and minuses. There's no way this thing will fit in my laptop bag, but I don't get a tangle of cables. It's also a little big to be really portable.
The biggest minuses in my book is that the speakers don't extend far enough and they require external power. I realize powering the thing from USB would be a drain, but taking up a socket with powered speakers isn't great. I have a widescreen laptop with a 17" screen, and the speakers don't fully clear the width of the laptop - they are about 2" shy.
I think this would be a great solution from someone who had a smaller laptob but did a lot of gaming or watched a lot of media from their desk. Just plug in and go. I can't see too many people lugging these things around.
(4 out of 5)Does size really matter? The age old debate continues.....
What is your primary consideration when buying external speakers for your laptop? If it's small size and portability, then you won't like this. If you want great sound, and you're going to use the laptop in pretty much the same location every day, then the Logitech Audio Hub is a great choice. I've been using it to listen to classical guitar and opera, and find it has a rich sound and plenty of range. You can turn the lighted volume knob up all the way and you won't get vibration or distortion. The sound isn't going to fill an auditorium, but it's more than adequate for an office.
It wasn't clear to me in the pictures, but the unit doesn't attach directly to the back of your laptop - it connects with a USB cable. You can move it back far enough to use of your computer's own USB ports plus the three additional USB ports that are part of the Audio Hub. There is an indictor light that lets you know when the USB hub is on/off. If you use your laptop with a wireless keyboard, or other non-portable devices, you can leave them plugged into the Audio Hub when you're taking your laptop on the road - so, the Audio Hub functions as a kind of docking station, too. (It's too bad laptops don't use a universal power supply, otherwise it could have been made into a true docking station!)
For those who use an external web cam, there is a special mounting bracket that you can add to the back of the Audio Hub. This is a nice extra with a more stable mount and a neater appearance than using a stack of books behind your computer. Using or not using the bracket has no impact on the other features of the Audio Hub, it was just a thoughtful engineering touch. Things like that make me believe that as much thought went into engineering the rest of the unit - the parts that don't always show.
As speakers go, these have outstanding sound quality. The Audio Hub also includes some very nice extras that go way beyond what I'd expect from external speakers. My only quibble with the Audio Hub is that it requires yet another electrical outlet. Recommended!