Logitech Z-4i

The Logitech Z-4i isn’t an audiophile speaker system, but at this price, you shouldn’t expect it to be. What it is is an attractive, decent-sounding speaker system for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on “computer” speakers. And it has some handy features to boot–namely a wired controller that provides more functionality than I expected on a system in this price range. If you’ve got under $100 to spend and are looking for the best possible sound quality, RSL’s Digital Fidelity One is still our recommendation. But we understand that not everyone will get excited about the Digital Fidelity One’s homely appearance. The Z-4i, on the other hand, like its Z-3i predecessor, offers an impressive compromise between sound quality, style, and low price matched only by JBL’s Creature II. (The Creature II is likely a better choice if you’re a fan of treble, whereas the Z-4i system does a better job in the mids.) For the expected street price of around $75, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more well-rounded option.–Dan Frakes