Pins 5 and 6 carry the actual analog signal from your PC/console to the amplifier inside the subwoofer. If you have no sound but the pod lights up, your issue is likely Pins 5/6 (broken solder joint). Pins 3 and 4 are for the encoder wheel; if the volume jumps erratically, the Data lines have a short. Part 3: The 15-Pin D-Sub "Control Pod" Wiring (Input Side) The back of the Control Pod looks like an old VGA monitor plug. This is where your sources connect.
Have a wiring variant? Logitech produced three revisions of the Z5500 (Amber display vs Blue display). The pinouts above apply to 99% of units made between 2005 and 2012. If you have a rare European "CE" version, the speaker polarity colors are reversed (White is negative; Gray is positive).
Print this diagram. Tape it to the bottom of your subwoofer. When you inevitably move houses or sell the system, you will have the exclusive key to keeping this legendary audio system alive.
The proprietary pinouts, the infamous 6-pin DIN cable, and the color-coded speaker wire confusions have left thousands of users with expensive paperweights. If you have been searching for an exclusive , detailed wiring diagram that goes beyond the faded user manual, you have found it.
The Z5500 amplifier is a bridged design. Unlike standard receivers, both the positive and negative terminals are "hot." Do not ground any of these wires to the metal chassis. Doing so will instantly blow the STA516 amplifier ICs. Part 5: The Exclusive "Missing Cable" Repair Guide Scenario A: You lost the 6-pin DIN Control Pod cable. Solution: You can use a standard 6-pin mini-DIN male-to-male cable (often used for old Apple ADB keyboards or professional video). However, standard cables use 22-gauge wire. The Z5500 draws 2 amps on Pin 1. Over a long distance (10+ feet), the voltage drops, causing the pod to flicker.