Logitech V20 Notebook Speakers - Great Sound With USB Power

I just picked up a pair of Logitech V20 Notebook Speakers on a recent treasure hunt at our local Circuit City which is scheduled to close with the remaining outlets some time in March.  No surprise to me, the deals were few and far between as is usually the case with "Going Out Of Business" sales.  I had been wanting a set of USB powered speakers ever since I bought a set of Altec Lansing XT1 speakers for my daughter.

These speakers are designed for use with either PC or MAC systems.  Both will need an available USB port to power the devices and MAC users will need Mac OS® X or higher.  PC users will need to be running Windows® 98SE, Windows® ME, Windows® 2000, Windows® XP or Windows® Vista™.

Out of the box, I liked the look and size of the speakers.  At 6"x3"x1-1/2" each speaker is less than a third the size of my old, dependable Altec Lansing ACS90's.  The black and silver exterior have a much sleek appearance.  The speakers stand up with a cool kickstand which opens up out of the speaker backs. 

I'm certainly not a highly technical audiophile but for those looking for the technical specifications for this set of speakers, Logitech gives you the following:

Total FTC power: 2 watts RMS 
Left & Right: 1 watts RMS x 2 (into 4 ohms, @ 1khz, @ 10% THD)
Total Peak power: 4 watts
System THD: less than 0.05%
THD, before clipping
Signal-to-noise ratio: >70dB
Frequency response: 70Hz - 20 kHz
Driver size: 5.1 cm high-excursion driver with 7.6 cm pressure driver

From a strictly non-technical point of view, the speakers sound great.  Depending on the songs selected, the sound is near distortion free until you hit the top of the volume range.  In some cases you can take the sound to the top range with only very slight noticeable distortion if at all.  Some reviewers complain there are no bass or treble adjustments available on the speakers.  A point which is true but I haven't find a big problem.  I have a pretty varied taste in music and outside of volume, I rarely find it necessary to fiddle with the settings once I have set them in the computer audio properties and controls.

I was also originally concerned with reviews stating the speaker controls would not function correctly.   No fear if you're using Windows Media Player, all the buttons worked flawlessly.  Play/Pause, Stop, Track/Seek Back, Track/Seek Forward, Mute and both the Up and Down volume buttons are available on the top of the right speaker.  I was a little less successful with Real Player and Quick Time.  Using those players, you have the use of the volume and mute options only.  This point is actually spelled out in the quick start guide but neither on the packaging or on-line at Logitech's website.

In addition to the above-mentioned button controls, there is a blue power light on top of the right speaker.  While the light does indicate the power on condition, it does a bit more.  Should the light begin to flicker, you will most likely notice a cooresponding distortion of sound, suggesting you to adjust controls.

Even though the Logitech V20 Notebook Speakers are designed for mobile and laptop use, I wanted them for my desktop at home.  The USB power meant I could eliminate an extra extension cord and several wires which were driving me crazy in my home office.  The USB wire connection between the speakers and the computer tower is a bit short.  I finally found a way to get them connected without the need to purchase an extra USB cord extension but those are an option if necessary.

The speakers come with a travel case designed to protect your speakers and carry the included cable while traveling.  The zippered case is strong enough to keep your speakers from taking a beating but covered with a soft cloth exterior.  The entire case is 10"x7-1/2"x2-1/4" which makes it fairly handy to travel with.  I fully expect my set will stay put on my desktop but should the need arise, the speakers can be quickly folded up and placed in the case along with the integrated USB cables for a road trip with my laptop.

Logitech does offer a full 2 year warranty with purchase of the Logitech V20 Notebook Speakers.  Repair, replacement of hardware or refund is possible but I note in either case the folks at Logitech require an original sales receipt.

At a cost of just over $50.00 I knew I wasn't stealing them but the price seemed fair and well worth it once I got them home and had a listen.  I liked the fact that my extension cord issue was solved by not having to power that one extra device my office setup just didn't handle well.  I can't speak to the durability of the speakers since I have only owned them for a short period of time unlike the old faithful Altec Lansing speakers that preceded them.  Based on this fair price, features and good performance thus far, I'll offer up four and a half out of five Epinions stars and a recommended buy.