Altec Lansing VS2621 2.1 Channel Speaker System

by Altec Lansing

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16.3 x 6.7 x 12.1 inches ; 8.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0025VKUQQ
• Item model number: VS2621
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (223 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #26 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Accessories > Computer Speakers
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 1, 2009

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Offering a bold and striking design, the Altec Lansing VS2621 speaker system delivers enhanced stereo sound, giving your games, movies, and music added depth and realistic sound. Optimized for computers and MP3 players, these speakers also give you the ability to expand your listening options through a front auxiliary input. Each stereo satellite features dual three-inch speakers matched with dual-tuned three-inch passive radiators for deeper low notes and sharper highs and mids. A compact subwoofer fills in the low notes for realistic sound and impact that you can both hear and feel. Thanks to Altec Lansing's Audio Alignment technology, the system's drivers, enclosure, and electronics are perfectly balanced, giving you the full, high-quality stereo sound your digital life demands.

The side-firing subwoofer lets you hear and feel those big explosions. View larger.

Controls are conveniently located for easy access. View larger.

Stellar Sound and Striking Looks
With its striking, contemporary design, the VS2621 offers a bold visual statement, and the system's well-rounded sound grabs your ears. Each angled enclosure houses two three-inch speakers -- one active driver for the highs and mids and one passive speaker for improved bass response. The compact package gives you improved clarity and quality over integrated laptop speakers as well as striking looks that will complement any desktop setup.

Side-Firing Sub Adds Bass, Not Clutter
Measuring only 4.9 x 10.3 x 8.8 inches (W x D x H) the compact design of the separate subwoofer keeps your work area tidy. But don't let its size fool you -- you'll know it's there when the explosions in your games and movies rattle the room, or the bass in your favorite track hits with just the right amount of power.

Front Controls Within Easy Reach
With separate front-mounted knobs for power, volume, and tone, you have quick access for dialing in the perfect sound to match your music. The auxiliary input jack lets you use the VS2621 system to listen to your CD player, MP3 player, or digital music device without unplugging the speakers from your computer.

Audio Alignment Technology for Superb Accuracy and Alignment
The VS2621 relies on Altec Lansing's proprietary Audio Alignment technology to make sure all of the speakers' components work together to deliver your music the way it is meant to be heard. Audio Alignment technology offers the perfect balance of the three elements of the speaker system -- the drivers, enclosure, and electronics -- to ensure a natural, uncolored, and rich sound from your speaker system. The VS2621 system is optimized for computers and digital media, giving new life to your music and multi-media files.

About Audio Alignment
Whether it's the tiniest of ear buds or the most imposing of subwoofers, Altec Lansing has refined every detail of its speakers to provide you with the most accurate sound reproduction and quality. Audio Alignment ensures that your components work together to deliver your music the way it is meant to be heard, offering the perfect balance of your speaker system's drivers, enclosure, and electronics. For 70 years Altec Lansing has been refining this process, bringing your speakers to life with advanced technologies that make them sing.

What's in the Box
Altec Lansing VS2621 speaker system (two satellite speakers and one subwoofer) and quick connect guide.

Altec Lansing Computer Speakers
	BXR1220	BXR1221	VS2620	VS2621	Octane 7	Expressionist Ultra
	Easy USB connection	Solid bass	Crystal-clear sound	Crystal-clear sound and powerful bass	Most popular design with seven drivers	A 200-Watts (RMS) powerhouse
Key Features	Unique cylindrical satellite design Connects directly to computer's USB port	Unique cylindrical satellite design with subwoofer	Looks good in any environment Excellent drivers deliver superb audio	Space-saving subwoofer delivers big sound and strong bass Looks good in any environment Excellent drivers deliver superb audio	Features a total of seven drivers in a small, compact frame Crisp high end with specially engineered micro drivers Down-firing midrange drivers deliver warm, enveloping sound Formidable lows from a tough, compact 6.5" subwoofer	Sleek, modern classic design Formidable bass with a massive front-firing subwoofer Tri-amplified design Two-way satellite speakers Works with computers, MP3 players, gaming consoles, TVs and DVD players
Sound Enhancement Technology	Audio Alignment	Audio Alignment	Audio Alignment	Audio Alignment	Audio Alignment	Audio Alignment
Onboard Controls	Power, Volume	Power, Volume	Power, Volume, Tone	Power, Volume, Tone	Power, Volume, Bass, Treble	Power, Volume, Bass, Treble
Audio Inputs	2-channel analog (stereo)	2-channel analog (stereo)	2-channel analog (stereo)	2-channel analog (stereo)	2-channel analog (stereo)	2-channel analog (stereo) + RCA
	BXR1220	BXR1221	VS2620	VS2621	Octane 7	Expressionist Ultra
Secondary Aux In Jack
Magnetic Shielding
Sound Pressure	80 dB SPL	84 dB SPL	92 dB SPL	93 dB SPL	95 dB SPL	106 dB SPL
Total Continuous Power (RMS)	N/A	9 Watts RMS	5 Watts RMS	28 Watts RMS	28 Watts RMS	200 Watts RMS
Peak Power	N/A	18 Watts	10 Watts	56 Watts	56 Watts	400 Watts
Frequency Response	180 Hz - 20kHz (-10 dB)	50 Hz - 18kHz (-10 dB)	90 Hz - 20kHz (-10 dB)	45 Hz - 18kHz (-10 dB)	45 Hz - 18kHz (-10 dB)	40 Hz - 20kHz (-10 dB)
Speaker Configuration	Two 2" full-range drivers	Two 2" full-range drivers with 4" subwoofer	Two 3" full-range drivers with two 3" passive radiators	Two 2" full-range drivers with 4" subwoofer	Four 1" high frequency micro drivers and two 3" mid-bass drivers, with 6.5" subwoofer	Two 3" mid-range and two 1" high-frequency neodymium drivers, with 6.5" subwoofer

Product Description

The VS2621 three-piece speaker system for computers & MP3 players was built with one purpose in mind deliver blow-your-socks-off sound without blowing your budget. The unique angled shape of the satellites directs full-spectrum audio toward you for improved audio dynamics while the side-firing subwoofer pumps out impressive bass. Its compact size makes it ideal for small spaces, but there¿s nothing small about the sound. All controls are at your fingertips and a handy secondary input jack lets you connect your MP3 or CD player while still linked to your computer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

160 of 164 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great speaker overall, excellent speaker for the price., September 16, 2009

By 

Zitro - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Altec Lansing VS2621 2.1 Channel Speaker System (Personal Computers)

These Altec Lansings are quite a bit of speaker for the money. Having previous experience with Creative, Logitech, and Altec Lansing, I initially wanted to give those a shot, but eliminated the Creatives due to price.

The Logitech system, the X-240, was an ok set. Decent looking, similar wattage, and the sub even had a bass volume knob. Speaking of the sub, it is a great little piece, delivering deep, loud bass when asked with minimal distortion.

However, I use my computer speakers mostly for music, and here is where the Altecs take the cake. Where the Logitechs sounded muddy and flat, the Altecs are crisp, clear and open. The mids and highs are great. The satellites are far superior to the Logitech. The Altecs sub is a heavy, well built and quite attractive. I found that where the Logitechs sub boomed, the Altec nicely integrated the bass with the mids/highs. The bass is nice and controlled, and can get loud without distortion. The only plus the logitech had, musically, over the Altec was that the sub on the Logitech would get louder and had a volume control, where the Altec does not. However, for musical purposes, the Altec sub definitely has more than enough kick.

My conclusion is that each set has its own merit. For games and movies, where clarity is less important and bass is, go for the Logitech. But if you want crisp, clear sound with well rounded but not super loud bass, Altec is the clear winner.

99 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent sounding system, but room for improvement, October 14, 2009

By 

Brian Morris (Irwin, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Altec Lansing VS2621 2.1 Channel Speaker System (Personal Computers)

(What's this?)

I have both this system and the Logitech Z313 Speaker System, so I will use this review to compare this system to the Logitech.

This system's PROS:

1. Loud and good low-end bass at high volumes. I was impressed with the sound of this system when I turn it up, especially compared to the Logitech. It sounded much better and much louder!

2. This is a Pro and Con...it has a TONE knob on the right speaker along with the VOLUME. This is a good, but not good enough. It is better than the Logitech with no equalization controls whatsoever, but it only seems to give me control of high frequencies. I would really like to have a BASS and TREBLE knob along with VOLUME.

This system's CONS:

1. I'm not very excited about the attractiveness of the speakers. The subwoofer is fine, but the speakers are just not all that exciting to display.

2. As I mentioned in PRO 2, the TONE knob is good, but there is no low frequency adjustment at all. At low volumes, I would like to increase the bass, and at high volumes have it not quite as high.

3. The power switch is on the back of the subwoofer! This is the worse strike against this system. I wish it was on the volume control knob or right speaker. If the subwoofer is under a computer desk or behind furniture, this is not good.

4. I cannot fit the headphone jack into my iPhone with it's case. I can fit the Logitech jack. This could be remedied with a trip to Radio Shack, but they should just adjust the design to make it fit more devices.

5. The system uses hard-to-fix wiring. The right speaker has three wires coming from it. One going to the left speaker, one to the headphone jack and one to the subwoofer. The subwoofer jack is like a PS/2 or S-Video jack. This would all be impossible to extend if the wires aren't long enough (except the headphone jack).

Overall, this is a nice sounding system, but the aesthetics and lack of bass controls would keep it from being my primary system.

76 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive sound for the size and price tag, July 24, 2009

By 

A. Davis (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Altec Lansing VS2621 2.1 Channel Speaker System (Personal Computers)

(What's this?)

I'm sitting here listening to some seriously good jazz, and I'm really enjoying the sound coming from these little speakers. I wasn't expecting much of such small speakers, even with a subwoofer included. When the box first arrived, I was disappointed to see the text on the box saying the auxiliary jack lets you connect an MP3/CD player ***while linked to your computer.*** I wanted this to work independently of the computer. Guess what - it does! No computer hookup required, but you *can* listen to your MP3 while connected to the computer. (Note that the AUX adapter is not included.) This set was very easy to set up. Visual directions are on the flaps of the box, but I didn't need them.

I compared this speaker set against my current computer speakers, which were more expensive and include a bigger subwoofer. This set is definitely comparable to my current one and has the added advantage of the AUX jack. I also compared this set to a nice docking station I have that produces very good sound quality. Also comparable. I'm impressed!

The speakers cannot be spaced more than 4 feet apart and you need to be careful about the positioning of the subwoofer, or you'll lose most of your bass effect. You cannot turn the volume up very high. It will go to "loud" but not "louder." There is a tone knob that adjusts bass/treble, but too far toward the bass side produces muffled sound and too far toward the treble side produced tinny sound. I left it in the middle and am happy with the quality of the sound. This set will not please a serious audiophile - certainly not someone who likes a *lot* of bass - but they're pretty darned good! I'm very pleasantly surprised by the quality of these speakers.