Dorm Tech Hacks – Amp Up the Experience!

Last month, we wrote about some great gadgets in our Back-to-School Guide for high school students and college students.  I recently saw a picture on Facebook of my friend’s freshmen son’s desk in his dorm.  It was all tech’d out with a great computer and 3 PC monitors!  

Two things we know about college students for sure, they love their tech and their music.  Both things give them feel a sense of control and refuge from a world full of lectures, unending homework, and exams.

We have some great dorm tech hacks for you – the first is an awesome multimedia, multi-task stereo system for $99 and the other two are accessory hacks are under $30 each.

Multi-Task & Multimedia Speakers for the Dorm

Playing music to fill a dorm room can be done in various ways – straight from a phone, sending music to your phone to a Bluetooth speaker, from a stereo system (if there’s room), or from the speakers you already have hooked up to your computer.  Most of us have speakers hooked up to our computer, but they aren’t the best sounding.

Logitech makes a whole range of PC speakers for those who just want to hear sound…to those who enjoy heart-thumping bass in music and with movies.  We recently looked at a moderately priced multimedia speaker system for the PC, the Logitech Z533 Speaker System with sub-woofer.  The speakers and the speaker control has a very sleek look to it, perfect for college dorms.

The Logitech Z533 Speaker System packs a lot of punch to it. It comes with 120 Watt speakers and a dynamic front-facing bass from it’s sub-woofer.  In fact, the bass is so powerful, both the speakers and the sub-woofer shake when the volume is turned up.  These speakers will fill a room and bring music and movies to life.

But here’s where the multi-task part comes in.  The Logitech Z533 Speaker System can flow from a number of initiating devices including:

• Television
• Computer (PC or Mac)
• Smartphone
• Tablet
• Music player
• DVD player
• Blu-ray^™ player
• PlayStation^®
• Xbox^®
• Wii^™ 

Which means, your college student can instantly add dramatic sound and feeling from their gaming consoles, TV shows & movies, computer videos & music, or phone media.  The Logitech Z533 Speaker System can connect up to three compatible devices through its 3.5mm and RCA inputs.  

There is no need to disconnect one of these three sources when switching between audio sources, it’s so convenient.  The Logitech Z533 Speaker System is the perfect entertainment solution for the dorm because of its versatility and sound.

The sound is easily controllable with this integrated control pod, you can turn the speakers on/off, adjust the volume and bass level, and easily plug in your headphones or MP3 player right from the pod.

Features

• Play up to 120 watts of power
• Sleek design
• Deep bass with variable control
• Easily access to control power, volume, bass level and accessibility to plug in headphones
• Can amplify sound to computers, TV, MP3’s, phones, gaming consoles and more

Pros:

• Delivers spectacular sound – fills a room and down the hall as well!
• With the bass turned all the way up, the room vibrates
• Set-up is easy with color-coded cords for the speakers to ensure proper set-up
• The wires are sturdy and of good quality
• The Z533 Speaker System looks sleek and luxurious with its glossy finish and bronze touched speakers
• You can set up a TV, PC or laptop, and MP3 player and switch easily between all of them without needing to disconnect wires
• With the free Bluetooth receiver available with your order, your student can send music from his/her phone to the speakers to play music

Cons:

• Seriously, these speakers can get so loud and the bass so deep, other dorm inhabitants will likely complain!
• Certainly more expensive than cheap PC speakers, but then again, these don’t sound like cheap speakers 
• If you use the free Bluetooth receiver, it requires the TV or gaming console inputs, so you’d have to take it out when you want to hear one of those activities

The Logitech Z533 Speaker System is available online through the Logitech website for $99.99 and includes a free Bluetooth receiver (valued at $39.99).

Two More Dorm Tech Hacks

We’ve got a couple more dorm tech hacks that will help you look like the hip mom or dad on the dorm block…

Studio 3B USB Bed Lifts

If your student’s bed has thin legs, check out these Studio 3B USB Bed Lifts to help lift the dorm bed so that…

1.  you can lift the bed up and store stuff underneath it
2. you get power – one of the lifts incorporates 2 plugs and 2 USB ports so your student can charge his/her phone and tablet, power the alarm clock, and add a light at his/her bed

Brilliant, huh?  Available at Bed Bath & Beyond for $29.99.

Studio 3B Bedside Storage Caddy

No room for a table?  Just buy a simple Studio 3B bedside storage caddy to your student can keep pens, notebooks, books, tablets, remote controls close at hand.  

A perfect caddy for electronics and more!  The caddy works even better if your student is up on a top bunk, it’s a life-saver.  Just $14.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond.

A Mom’s Perspective

I just love products that make tech living simpler.  These dorm tech hacks add great sounding music, charging capabilities, and convenience.  While yes, it’s true, your student may have the best stereo sound in the dorm hall, let’s just hope s/he doesn’t blast it to flaunt it!

I love how the Logitech Z533 Speaker System works with a TV or gaming system, a PC, laptop, or Mac, and a student’s music and Pandora channels on their phone using just one stereo system, it’s so convenient.  And with the sound it produces, you’d expect to pay more.

I blasted the sound in a bedroom, closed the door, and walked down our long hallway.  The music still sounded great, and I noticed the bedroom door was vibrating when I went to open it.  This is some serious sound!

We love the Studio 3B bedside caddy and USB Bed Lifts too – just two inexpensive luxuries that make your student’s dorm bed a center of tech convenience.

Have some other great dorm tech hacks, we want to know!  Leave a comment below to share your dorm room hacks with us.

*    I was given a Logitech Z533 Speaker System in exchange for my honest opinion.  All thoughts are my own.