Problems with Logitech Z-680 on Audigy.

[tusitha]

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased the Logitech Z-680 5.1 speakers as an upgrade from the Z-560 which I was very pleased to own. However my experience with the new speakers has not been pleasant as yet.... due to a problem that I am hoping someone might have a solution to.

To the point: Every time I play a DVD or AC3 file (using PowerDVD or Creative PlayCenter) I get this loud "SNAP" sound (quite annoying and worrying I might add) whenever I enable Dolby Digital or DTS on the speakers. I am using a Creative Audigy sound card (internal) and I use the Digital Out that is shared with the Centre/Subwoofer channel.

These are the steps that I normally take before playing a DVD:
- Connect the speakers from the Audigy Digital OUT (on the back using RCA to 3.5mm stereo adapter) to the control unit's Coaxial IN via a 100 Ohm gold plated EMI protected RCA cable.
- Change the input on the Control unit to Coax
- Enable "Digital Out Only" in Creative AudioHQ Speaker options
- Uncheck the "AC3 Decode" option under settings
- And finally, ensure that my software DVD player's (PowerDVD, Intervideo WinDVD) audio output is set to SP/DIF

Having done all that and upon playing a DVD movie (having selected either Dolby Digital or DTS) the control unit's LCD screen shows "Detecting......", then there is the loud "SNAP" (even on 1/4 volume) and then the control unit shows "DD Dolby Digital" and the sound plays as normal. However whenever I move to a different track on the DVD, the control unit will again display "Detecting......" followed by the "SNAP" and then sound as usual.

Now, I suspected that probably my cable was faulty and so connected my friends PS2 using a optical cable into the Z680's TOSlink connector on the Control Unit. I selected Dolby Digital (or DTS) from withing the PS2 menus, press play and again "SNAP".

Right about then I was starting to suspect the Control unit's digital decoder and took it back to the store I bought it from. They ran a couple of tests on 2 PC's that had onboard audio SP/DIF and this time there was no sound. Unfortunately they didn't have an Audigy card to test with and wasn't convinced there was anything wrong with the speakers.

Has anyone ever had a problem like this before? I don't have any problems with analog connectivity at all. And when I let the sound card perform the Dolby Digital decoding instead of my speakers, there aren't any problems.

On a side note, I took my PC to a friends place and hooked it up to his Sony Amp's Digital IN. The sound quality from the Audigy was excellent as usual. There was no distorted sounds whenever a Dolby Digital track was playing (with the decode option disabled on the sound card settings). Thanks for your time and sorry for the long post.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.


Cheers.

Tusitha.

[MD1032]

Hmmmm...sounds like it could be a problem, but it just might be the normal "pop" of it changing modes. I don't know if it's normal or not as I have no expirience with the 680's.

[woodbutcher]

Welcome to TechIMO tusitha.
I am not familiar with these speakers although it sounds as if the 'auto-detect' mode is working correctly. Pehaps it is taking abit longer then normal to detect the correct type of signal though. Also is it posable that the speakers are going into the 'standby' or sleep mode? This would be like a normal HT subwoofer set to auto where as it goes into a standby mode when there is no signal to it. Alot of subwoofers exhibit the same symptons as yours. The only thing I could suggest is to leave the speaker setup in the on instead of auto function (if available).

WB

[tusitha]

thank you both for your prompt replies.

To my knowledge, the speakers do not go into standby mode at any time. The "normal" popping sounds that is usually associated with switching modes from say Optical to Coaxial is there but not as pronounced as the loud "Snap" sound I mentioned earlier.

Anyway, I just received an e-mail from Logitech support and was informed that my particular unit may be faulty. Since its only been with me for less than a month I am able to get an exchange. My only hope is that this problem is not inherent in all Z-680s.

So I would like to go on and say that if anyone out there is having the same problem as I did with the Z-680, the unit may be faulty. Get it replaced as soon as you spot the problem. Thanks again and cya.

Tusitha.

[MD1032]

No problem. Send em back. Logitech got me my speakers back to me in 6 days. Problem is they're based on the west coast and I live in NJ, so SENDING them actually takes more time. If you keep having problems, give the PM5.1's a try. They have their share of problems as well, but the new sets are all fixed (03-B and after), so buy without fear!

[discreet]

It does sound like its the speakers if you tried different software/sources. If you didnt know there was a hissing and other problems with that set that Logitech acknowledged and revised, maybe your set is the old version and faulty to begin with (decoder).

Optical cables are very fragile, avoid bending it even the slightest bit. They are nowhere near the durability of coaxial/RCA. Last, you can try to use any video cable to replace your current coaxial, they are the same. But if I were you, I would just get an exchange or refund since you bought it not too long ago. Exchange it for the Klipsch or Cambridge set!

[MD1032]

My opinion EXACTLY. I'm very glad with my PM4.1, and the 5.1 has an even better sub, so BE HAPPY!

[Elvisb]

I have the SAME problem with SB LIVE 1024!! When it is detecting AC3 5.1, that SNAP sound come out! Tusitha, did you solve the problem? I have connected my Z680 digitaly through SPDIF out(sblive)<>MINIJACK<>COAX<>CINCH<>CINCH<>COAX in(z680)