Home > Consumer Reviews > Logitech AudioHub Notebook Speakers

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3DJFZQ0DN1BVM I thought I'd try out Amazon's new video review option.

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.

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!

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, like a true docking station - it connects with a USB cable. It doesn't have to be flush up to the back of your laptop. While it does take up one of your computer's own USB ports, it gives you access to three additional USB ports that are part of the Audio Hub itself. There is an indicator 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 at your primary location when you're taking your laptop on the road - so, the Audio Hub functions as a kind of docking station, too.

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!

Being the owner of several different types of speakers for laptops and iPod's. Thus far, this unit, as a stand alone is my favorite, and for these reasons:

1) The Orange Button on the side. It gives you a clear indication as to whether the sound is on or not, so no unnecessary blasting your face off and wondering where the volume is at when the music kicks in.

2) The sleek design is cool enough to warrant the device to be used as a stand alone unit on my kitchen counter. It doesn't stand out or need a foolish amount of wires to plug it in to the computer and the wall, unlike my JBL speaker set which can double as a clothesline or belay lines up Everest.

3) The incremental volume control is sensitive enough so that you can actually fade the music out if need be instead of hearing a drop off when you're trying to listen to something incredibly quiet. Like in the middle of the night, for instance, when everyone else is asleep and you want to hear Marvin Gaye or something. No problem.

4) No installation of anything at all. Wow! Amazing concept. I'm tired of installing drivers and unnecessary software for the most simplest devices these days. I plugged it in via USB and viola ... done. Didn't even require a manual.

5) The sound that the little unit feeds throughout the room is quite impressive and when strategically placed could probably replace a larger system for casual listening.

6) Wide enough to do what it says it can, judging from the picture on the box. I have a 17" screen and it does fit nicely behind it and the speakers slide out 2 inches on each side if necessary if you need to adjust it.

7) I didn't need the extra attachment that came with the unit as I have no intent on ever using a web cam.

8) Also, I'm not going to use it as pictured, and I don't think placing the unit behind my screen, giving me stereo sound, was necessary - as the unit a few feet away provided more sound than anyone could ask for from such a small unit.

9) This unit is good for a consumer level usage, students, casual internet surfers and folks wanting to listen to music from their laptop without an obtrusive set-up.

10) The unit also provides three extra (powered) USB ports which do come in handy.

11) I'm using this speaker system in conjunction with my Dell Inspiron 1721 Laptop with a 17" screen.

Very cool unit indeed.