Customer Reviews

Altec 2.1 Music/gaming Speakers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I just recently became an avid online gaming fanatic and realized early on that the speakers that came with my computer just weren't cutting it. I didn't want to spend a ton of money to get great sound and in looking for options in the $50-$100 range I decided to purchase the VS2221 2.1 system from Altec Lansing. I opted for a 3-speaker system since having 5.1 isn't that important to me and was out of my price range.

What a difference in sound! Listening to the music from the cinematic for World of Warcraft is a whole new experience. All of a sudden you can hear layers of music that weren't there before! The in-game experience has also been enriched as the subwoofer delivers the booms and bangs and you don't need to have the subwoofer dialed all the way. I keep the SFX button on to have the wider range of sound. I also chose the VS2221 model because the 2 main speakers are slim and fit nicely next to my flat-panel monitor and even have a blue power light which matches the power lights on my computer. The subwoofer is a compact size and fits below my desk nicely.

My only true gripe is that the subwoofer control is on the subwoofer so if I need to make an adjustment I have to crawl under my desk. Not a totally big deal but I expected as much for the price I paid. What's also great is that the flat panel speakers are magnetically shielded so that you can place them safely next to your monitor. However, the subwoofer isn't and the company recommends that you place it at least 2 feet away from your computer and monitor.

Overall I would recommend these speakers to anyone looking for a higher quality of sound without making your wallet wince.

I purchased this set of speakers for my computer. I wanted more power and richness than my previous speakers provided. I have been very pleased ever since.

This set of Altec Lansing speakers provides very good audio across a wide range. While this particular package does not have treble or bass adjustments built-in to the satellite speakers, I have had little reason to need them. The high end comes across clearly with no crackling or distortion and the lows are rich and full. The subwoofer has a bass volume control at the back of the box, which is a tad inconvenient, but the unit can kick out some serious vibe. At the halfway mark your surroundings will be thumping (and loose objects will be rattling). Coupled with any sort of equalizer, you can truly appreciate the range and capability of this package.

What you will find on the side speakers is a volume control, SFX button and headphone jack. All are on the right side speaker. The volume control is more than adequate with a smooth, gradual transition from comfortably quiet to ear-pounding volume levels. The SFX option widens the stereo separation between speakers and works nicely if they are situated far apart.

Unfortunately, the cord length between left and right speakers is about 6 feet. The right speaker connects to the sub-woofer and again the cord length between them could have been longer. The sub is powered and cannot be separated from the speakers. This limits potential system setups. I considered rating this 4 stars due to these impediments, but when you factor in the low cost of the package, it's still a 5 star product.

Everything is built nice and sturdy. I have kicked over the sub a few times and dropped both speakers as well, with no adverse effects apparent. Those looking for something sleek and sexy to show off may be disappointed with this rugged, understated appearance. The sattelite speakers are magnetically shielded and will not distort your computer monitor.

This set of speakers can also be used with other entertainment such as MP3 players, portable CD players and television sets. I have plugged it into my TVs front headphone jack and the audio improvement was immediately apparent. If it weren't for the limitations imposed by the cords and configuration, I would have bought a second set to use as a very cheap home audio system.

I have used these speakers for almost two years and they still sound as amazing as the day I got them (after a little warmup). I cannot recommend them highly enough. They sound fantastic and considering the price tag, they are one of the absolute best buys for your entertainment dollar. Why pay twice as much for a similar setup from Logitech when Altec Lansing is offering these beauties?

I am a very pleased consumer and can recommend this item with no hesitation.

I recently went shopping for new speakers for my Dell PC, since I needed something with a little more power and a larger dynamic range than the bottom of the barrel speakers that came with the computer. I purchased this Altec Lansing system (model VS2221) because it was at a good price, and was recommended by the Best Buy sales associate as a good brand & model within this price range. As a college music major, I listen to a lot of music recordings, and I needed something that would make the recordings sound good and still be practical for use in the residence hall. These speakers perform this task exceptionally well and were well worth the money. They really bring the music to life--I am literally hearing things in the music that weren't there before. With these speakers, its almost like I'm listening to the music for the first time.

My only complaint is that the control for the subwoofer is (inconveniently) on the back of the sub; this is a minor gripe though and considering the great price of this system, I'll get over it.

Highly recommended!

I bought these to replace the bottom line Dell speakers that came with my computer, WHAT A DIFFERENCE! These speakers are amazing! There is a perfect balance between treble and bass with these, and the SFX effect button makes all the difference expanding the sound range! These speakers are also capable of getting VERY loud with alot of bass! I would recomend these very strongly to anyone looking for PC or gaming speakers!

I have had these speakers for over a year now and they are amazing. Good quality sound and the volume range is higher than I will ever need. No noticeable distortion either.

That being said, the reason I gave these things 3 stars is the volume control. Over time, the volume nob will cause the speakers to give back extremely loud and annoying static when moved. That is, when I turn the volume up from nil, I get enormous amount of static while turning. The volume of the static comes out louder than any music that would play at that level. The only way to get rid of this is to move the dial up to max volume and back to nil a few times. This will fix the problem for about half an hour or less, then I get the static problems again.

I'm not sure if this is just my set of speakers, as everyone else seems to like this model. However, they could have written their reviews after only a month or two of owning. I had this problem occur after six months. Good for the price, but not a long-term product.

These speakers sound amazing in comparison to my PowerBook's built-in speakers, which is what I've been using, and that fills my needs. I'm no audiophile, I don't need 5.1 on my computer, all I need is decent sound for (mostly acoustic) music, DVDs, and World of Warcraft. For the price (same at Amazon as where I bought them) these sound great. Quibbles: I wish the subwoofer level were adjustable without kneeling on the floor. The three cords hardwired into the right speaker are heavy and throw off the balance so the speaker is unsteady on its stand. The speakers do not come with a Y-cable (mini-plug to RCA), even though the instructions refer to one.

These speakers sounds incredibly good. The sfx technology sounds great too. I highly reccomend these for thier price range or anything by Altec Lansing. My only dislike is that these speakers do get interference from wireless devices, like cell phones and wireless networking cards in a laptop, so they need to be kept about a foot from any wireless devices or you will hear some fuzzy sounds.

I've had these speakers for about 3months now, and they are still going strong. The base is clear and loud, and the two side speakers are quite precise. Overall, they are great! However, any nearby (about 3ft) cell phones will cause some inteferance, so keep the gadgets away. Otherwise, this is a great system, and has offered me more service than the price I payed for it. If you're shopping for a set of 2.1's for your computer, I highly recommend these.

Admittedly, I don't know very much about speakers in general, but after having used these speakers for a few months now, I can't imagine there could be very much improvement on them, especially considering the price. I play a good variety of music on them, and the sound quality is great, and of course you can adjust the bass accordingly for whatever you might play. I don't set them at the highest volume very often, but when I do the intergrity of the sound does not seem to be compromised. The speakers themselves aren't very obtrusive, and the 2 side speakers are very easy to mount, which is very convenient in a cramped dorm room. And aside from that, the price is very reasonable compared to comprable speakers. Overall, a good buy, recommended!

Have the same STATIC problem...TISK TISK.

Sounds great when not static-y. Think I will upgrade again.