WTF? Alesis = Logitech?!

[jaxvon]

Well, it's 4:30 in the morning and I'm surfing (again). I was browsing Alesis' website for some reason, when I came across this (http://www.alesis.com/products/ProActive51/About/index.html). But, being the computer geek I am, I know my computer components very well. This system looks and has specs IDENTICAL to that of the Logitech Z680 5.1 system that can be found here (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2177,CONTENTID=5048).

What's going on here? Who actually designed this product and is manufacturing it?

[Clint DeBoer]

Welcome to consumer audio. :)

Now start looking around at certain hifi gear and you may start to notice the same thing.

In this case I'm not sure who came out with it first.

[hammong]

Alesis has been around for a long, long time -- their most famous products in the pro-audio department are their digital multi-track tape systems, but they also dabble in amplifiers and speakers. I'm not surprised to see this "cross-branded" product from Alesis. They've done similiar technology exchanges with other companies, and the product is most likely a "co-developed" system with Logitech. If I had my guess, I'd say that Logitech designed the subwoofer and satellites, and Alesis manufactured the Dolby Digital decoder and amplifier. It's just my guess, of course!

Greg

[Francious70]

Of course they're not the same thing. One says Alesis and the other says Logitech.

Paul

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

The extra $100SRP is to break even on the magazine ad/review.