Introduction

Not just mice anymore

Logitech was founded in 1981, and has operational headquarters located just down the freeway in Fremont, CA. Traditionally we associate Logitech with input devices: keyboards, mice, and joysticks. Basically, all your human input devices. After all those years of taking input from the user, Logitech has decided to give something back, in the form of a new 4.1 channel digital speaker system, the SoundMan Xtrusio DSR-100.

The Xtrusio isn't the first SoundMan product from Logitech. The SoundMan was first found on Logitech soundcards many years ago, during the Sound Blaster Pro, Pro Audio Spectrum 16 era. Lately, the name has been used for multimedia speaker systems. While these other SoundMan products have targeted the low-end market, the new Xtrusio DSR-100 from Logitech is designed for the audio enthusiast, albeit a pre-IPO enthusiast.

The Xtrusio DSR-100 consists of four identical satellites and a subwoofer. It is rated at 100 Watts total. The Xtrusio can accept a digital or analog input source. Along with the speakers, a corded remote controls the system volume, fader and power. A headphone input is also located on the remote. Logitech just announced the system at the beginning of this month, with a retail price of $179.

Presenting the Logitech SoundMan Xtrusio DSR-100

The Marketing

Logitech boasts about its use of LIMAD (Linear Magnetic Drive) technology, its "sleek" extruded aluminum subwoofer, and satellite speakers with a "stylish, contemporary shape representing a pleasing change from rigid, institutional look of competing systems." Oh, and they also said a few things about how the system sounds as well. Did the engineering design match the marketing prose? Let's find out.