After announcing the arrival in Italy of Logi Dock and Zone True Wireless, the curiosity to try these two devices, in particular the first, was not a little. Six Zone True Wireless they are excellent and versatile earphones, but still classic, Accommodation Dock instead it has a purpose all its own, a mission that makes it one of a kind, but at the same time extremely sectorial and addressed to a very specific type of users. The idea of the Swiss company, which has always been at the forefront when it comes to technologies for remote work (even well before the pandemic), is in fact that of offer a tool capable of making working from a place that is not necessarily your office more effective, but above all more comfortable.
After about two weeks of use we can confirm that both the performance and the comfort are absolutely level, but it is the second aspect more than the first that struck us and made Logi Dock an indispensable companion, at least for those users forced to hours and hours of meetings. , particularly allergic to headphones and cables.
Logi Dock, the specifications
The first element of Logi Dock to strike is its desire to enclose 3 devices in 1, in a small, elegant box (gray or white) 8 cm high, 16 x 13 cm wide, minimal, equipped with 5 touch buttons and a fabric covering on the side bands, those from which the audio is emitted. Despite its small size, it contains a highly respectable technological heartwith two 55mm neodymium speakers and two passive radiators and six microphones beamforming, that is able to direct the signal in such a way as to guarantee the best possible result. The latter are represented by six tiny and imperceptible holes on the top of Logi Dock, and also manage to properly isolate the speaker’s voice, shielding it from background noise and the audio emitted by the device itself.
The other strong point is its high connectivity, with 9 ports of various kinds, almost all present on the back (except one on the side), in addition to the included Bluetooth module. One for the power supply of the device itself through a 230 W power supply, it must be said, a bit bulky (almost as big as Logi Dock), but still ignitable by placing it under the desk (thanks to fairly long cables), the rest is instead a complete disposal of the user. There is an Upstream USB-C port that allows you to charge a laptop providing up to 100 watts, so as to avoid the need for an additional power supply, two monitor inputs (1 HDMI 1.4 and 1 DisplayPort 1.4, both capable of supporting 4K and 60Hz), two USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports and 3 USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ports, useful both for connecting various peripherals (webcam, mouse, keyboard, dongle) and for charging them (providing between 4.5 and 7.5 W) . The entrances are all close together and offer great help in terms of cable managementthus making your desk cleaner and tidier.
Logi Dock, how it behaves
The convenience offered by Logi Dock can be summed up in one of the first effects that the device had on our test station: a drastic reduction of peripherals and cables on the desk. The elimination of headphones (and of the microphone, for those who use two separate devices), means a smaller footprint on the station, reducing the stress of having to untangle the tangle of cables in a hurry before an important call, beyond the undeniable value , especially appreciated with the prohibitive summer temperatures, of not having to wear anything to listen and talk. Other benefits are then noticed using a laptop, even more than a desktop PC: no power supply between the feet, and no cables connected to every available input, be they USB or HDMI: everything goes through Logi Dock, as mentioned also any monitors. Just connect a cable, have it recognized immediately by the device (computers with Windows, Mac and even Chrome ecosystem are natively compatible), and that’s it, no drivers of any kind or special procedures need to be installed. Recognition via Bluetooth is also simple and immediate, with a button on the back necessary for the pairing, and stop. Press the button in the center to initiate an incoming call (signaled by colored lights pointing downwards that capture the attention very easily, creating a sort of aura on the desk), then controlling the volume and turning off / on the single microphone or webcam , in case of necessity.
The only reason to install extra software, namely Loginit is still useful: synchronizing it with your account Teams, Google Meet o Zoom, and related calendars, Logi Dock notifies you just before the start of a scheduled meeting, so you have a few minutes to take a break, get ready and join it in the best possible conditions. Despite the official certifications, some company systems perceive him as an intruder, which is why be prepared to have to justify and explain to the IT Manager on duty what it is (unless he or she suggests to the company itself to switch to Logi Dock, of course).
LogiTune also allows you to equalize the sound emitted by Logi Dock, between customizable frequencies, and two presets (one dedicated to podcasts, one that further pushes the bass). A useful function also for a secondary aspect but not absolutely to be underestimated: listening to music and audio in general. One of the unexpected advantages of the Logi Dock device was in fact, at least in our case, to be able to give up the soundbar as well that until a moment before was a permanent and essential presence of our station. The merit is of a much higher quality level than expected, with a powerful and crystalline sound, with bass and lacking only, for physiological reasons, a certain spatiality of the sound, however expendable in a purely working context. Of course, music lovers will prefer a pair of headphones or an ad hoc speaker, but given the size and the target audience, you won’t have to give up who knows how much the quality of your day’s soundtrack.
The quality of incoming and outgoing calls is also excellent, not only in terms of the quality of one’s voice or that of the interlocutor: by doing dedicated tests, we actually found an almost total elimination of the sounds coming from the PC to which it was connected. Logi Dock (voices of colleagues, or even music), while in the case of voices physically present in the same room, they are perceived slightly, but the device gives priority to the closest voice, making it predominant. In short, Logi Dock is also and above all promoted from the point of view of the audio sector, but not only: Comfort and benefits in terms of cable management also make it an excellent workmate. The only real flaw could be the price, not exactly popular: € 449 for a device with such specific use undermines its universality, but if you fall within that range of users able to fully exploit it, the investment is absolutely worth the money. money it costs.
Logitech Zone True Wireless, la prova
Although useful and of very good quality, the use of Logi Dock is however bound to the place in which it is used, conceived as it is for personal offices in a company, or for home offices where the user does not disturb no one around taking full advantage of the device’s speaker. That’s why, in parallel with this 2.0 docking station, Logitech has also launched an absolutely autonomous model of earphones on the market, but linked to Logi Dock, in design and purposes: they are called Logitech Zone True Wirelessare also equipped with specific certifications for the main platforms used by companies for internal communication (from Teams to Google Meet, passing through BlueJeans, Zoom and Webex, the ZTWs have gestures dedicated to each platform), and their gray, as well as the fabric on the outside, they make them almost an extension of the particular peripheral protagonist of this test.
They are luxurious in cost (€ 329), but also in packaging, thanks to a sturdy case, necessary for recharging (100%, guarantees almost 3 cycles of use) and for coupling with devices (thanks to the practical button present in the center), and to a convenient pouch in which to insert the case and always keep at hand both the charging cable (Type-A / Type-C) and rubber covers of 3 different sizes and the main dongle (USB- A) and the USB-C adapter, which makes them very versatile. We have in fact defined it as an “autonomous” model because it is not in the least tied to Logi Dock, but on the contrary, between the Bluetooth connectivity and the dongle, you can connect the Logitech Zone True Wireless to virtually any device.
In short, the not really affordable cost is justified not only by excellent sound quality and voice reception, but also by active noise cancellation (perfect for the office, but also for use on vehicles) and precisely by ability to use them easily with any smartphone or PC, synchronizing them via Bluetooth or inserting the dongle for immediate compatibility, without the need to install anything (at most LogiTune for the equalizer). Whether for a business meeting, a playlist, a podcast or a video, the Logitech Zones True Wireless support the user tremendously. The guaranteed battery life is also good: just over the 5 hours promised by Logitech with the cancellation activated, almost double if you deactivate it.