Customer Reviews

Altec Lansing MX5021WHT 3-Piece PC Speaker System

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a pretty demanding audiophile. I'm into a lot of jazz crossover stuff -- Medeski, Martin & Wood, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Flecktones, Phish, Zappa. I also play electric bass (Modulus, like O'Teil), and so am very demanding about a system's low end. This Altec Lansing MX5021 set is completely satisfying, and the price makes them a must-purchase. I got mine on sale for around $120, they came free shipping through Amazon two days later. I recently bought a new pair of JBL Northridge towers for the home stereo - a nice Denon system. I now spend more time listening to MP3s on my computer than I do for my stereo.

These speakers have really nice range. Of course, there are limits, but it can saturate a home office in full spectrum sound pretty effortlessly without peaking out. The lows are warm and crisp. The system seems to enjoy old analog-y sounding stuff, like old Zeppelin and Bob Marley, as much as booming, complicated digital, like the soundtracks to the Matrix movies. The system seems a little more bothered than most by distortion and hiss. It also seems to appreciate quality production more than most, so the well produced tracks sparkle.

I'd recommend this audio more highly for the price than any system I've owned, home or car, and I've had a few really nice systems.

I am a very demanding audiphile and I listen to a lot of chamber music. These speakers have the right amount of bass and treble. Very balanced and natural! The midrange is wonderful and detailed.

These speakers with the SB-XFI sound card sound like a thousand dollars system. I hope Altec Lansing will continue making speakers in this calibre.

I have owned three sets of these speakers. The first had stunning sound quality for the price. I replaced it with a white set which had equal sound but started to hiss after a couple of months. The reseller replaced it, but my third set is a completely different product. The speaker elements are different from the previous ones and from what is shown on the box. The sound quality is not the same. The real problem is the subwoofer. The lower bass is weak and muddy. The satellites have become more directional and their placement is now critical for sound quality. It's very difficult to get good sound over a larger area. Trebles dominate and have to be turned down to let middles come through. This is a redesign inteded to ruin a brand name.

If you want a set for your desktop, check out Harman-Kardon Soundsticks II. It has more balanced sound with a tighter subwoofer.

The white looks nice with the imac G5. Amazing, deep rich sound. When watching movies on your computer, it has theatre quality sound. Very good value. Unfortunately this incredible speaker system has been discontinued. Amazon is one of the few retailers with some left.