Altec Lansing offers you an excellent speaker system. Experience performance and power with advanced micro driver technology! The system features aluminum coned Neodymium micro... more
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A review by BNibbles on Altec Lansing 2100 January 22nd, 2003
Author's product rating:
Sound quality
Excellent
Design
Excellent
Value For Money
Good
Advantages:
Snazzy design . Very compact . Excellent sound
Disadvantages:
Quite expensive just for PC use . No other inputs limit their application
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Episode Two of the January Sale Saga, in which “The Not-At-All-Famous One” goes ape in a computer store with his flexible friend.
My current PC, which I built myself, has (or rather had) a rather unconventional sound system, i.e. a spare hi-fi.
I had long fostered the idea that one day, I’d transfer all my crackly old vinyl albums to CD-R via a turntable. Since these only push out a matter of a handful of millivolts, they need pre-amplification to a suitable level for the “line in” sockets on most PC sound cards. Therefore, I pressed an old but good quality Technics amplifier into service to raise the output from the turntable to a suitable level, i.e. the usual one expected of tape decks, CD players and the like. It didn’t take much of a leap into the unknown to add real speakers to this lot, and before I knew where I was, my PC was playing at being host CD player to a complete sound system, way in excess of one’s normal expectations for PC sound.
This is all well and good, but my little bedroom, which we use as our office was starting to look like a recording studio. Coupled with the fact that turning precious vinyl into CD-Rs is actually quite labour intensive, especially if you try to “de-click” the results, I’d rather gone off the idea, preferring to scour second hand record sales for a replacement CD where possible.
The urge to spring-clean and generally de-clutter is strong in me at the moment, so I set about looking for a worthy replacement. My brother had just bought a PC (is it me or am I the only one who hasn’t lately?) and was showing off its audio capability, which, to be honest was impressive, especially since the sound seemed to emanate from two tiny and very stylish silver and charcoal aluminium-framed loudspeakers.
Of course, at this stage he forgot to mention the 50-watt floor standing sub-woofer (yes Sue M, it goes under the dog!), but even so, it was tempting.
So I got a set of my own – Altec-Lansing 2100 multi-media speakers, for just under £80. No doubt some Herbert will now tell me where you can get them for 50 quid, but no-one likes a smart-a***, and anyway, I’m not at home to Mr. Boastie, OK?
INSTALLATION
These truly do represent the real meaning of Plug and Play. You plug ‘em in and play ‘em!
The sub-woofer, which has its own built-in amplifier, is mains-operated. All low voltage wiring routes through here first. The stereo co-axial cable from the PC sound card’s output socket plugs in here, and each of the “satellite” speakers also, with a clear indication of which is left and which is right. Nothing remarkable about that I guess, but there’s one more plug socket, set aside for a wired remote control. This sits on your work-top cradled in a similar silver aluminium frame to the speakers – all very stylish in a charcoal grey “Braun styling” kind of way. From here, you can actually power up (or down) the sound system, and alter volume levels. A generous lead is supplied in case the sub-woofer is stationed some distance away. The satellite speaker leads are somewhat shorter but still adequate over the sorts of distances most PCs would dictate.
If at first, your sound is too bassy or too flat, there is a volume control on the back of the sub-woofer to adjust this. Presumably, you’re not intended to use this too often since, once the speaker is placed near a wall, the dial is difficult to reach. The sub-woofer has two forward-facing 4” drive units and a rear reflex port, which deters you from putting it right up against a wall. You can however sit it more or less where you like. Off to the far left or right, on the floor, it’s all the same to bass notes. After all, you can’t tell where they are coming from at the best of times, especially when you’re trying to get some sleep! It’s the treble that gives you a sense of direction, and therefore stereo sound, hence the dinky matching pair of speakers, which you place either side of your monitor.
You are warned that the sub-woofer is not magnetically screened and shouldn’t be placed near monitors or hard drives. The matching treble speakers are OK though and carry no such health warning.
IN USE
The first thing that hits you on boot-up is that the system doesn’t necessarily power itself up, as the buttons on the remote are programmed to come back to their previous setting on re-start. Therefore, if you don't tend to leave your speakers on all the time (I don't), they won't be on after boot-up either. Thus is probably just as well, especially if you get up early in the morning to lob a few e-mails off to friends on the other side of the world. The last thing the rest of the household want to hear at 5.30 a.m. is the Windows "TA-DA!" Fanfare.
Sound quality when playing a real sound source, like an audio CD, is excellent, once you’ve got your bass level sorted. Turn up the gain on the trimmer and it sounds far too punchy and thumpy. Halfway seems, like Goldilocks clandestine porridge, just about right.
It’s almost a shame to sideline these to PC-only use, but their lack of alternative inputs is a deterrent to using them as some kind of minimalist hi-fi. I believe Altec-Lansing do make a “5 channels + 1” version for those with home cinema and a lack of lounge space.
For my part, I’m tempted to see how they sound in the lounge as pure stereo speakers.
All in all, very good sound and an impressive design and build quality from a respected company with many years in the audio business.
Advantages: Great sound, great design, easy setup Disadvantages: Bass can be a little difficult to get just right
...art. You can tell that Altec Lansing have really spent time in designing these speakers. You can always tell the difference between products that have been set a budget and then designed within it and those products that were designed first and then the company looked at the price, almost as an afterthought. These speakers were definitely in the design stage for a long time, and it shows. The build quality of them is exceptional. The stands for the ... ...touch of class to the speakers. This also aids in the sound performance as the actual speakers are suspended from the stands, and the weight and quality of the stand ensures that there is not interference from the surface on which the speakers are stood. All parts of the system, the actual speakers, remote control with stand and subwoofer are all finished in a dark grey/blue colour, with all metal parts finished in matt silver. The remote control ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Trendy looks, Excellend sound/build quality Disadvantages: Perhaps the remote control
...I haven’t needed to contact Altec with regards to this product, but I have looked on their .com website and this is very useful. You can download manuals/info/Q&A etc and their site is also very well designed like their product.
Overall Verdict (And Value for Money):
The MSRP in USA is $99.95 according to Altec Lansing themselves which I think is very reasonable for what you get. I can’t remember how much I paid in GBP sorry.
Personally this is ... ...worthy of any PC where sound is imperative (gaming/music etc). I’ve never ever had such an expensive set of speakers, but to me they are worthy of that money for their sheer brilliance.
I would however say for the average ‘bit here bit there’ user they won’t prove value for money if all the sound you ever listen to is Windows sounds. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Price, Style, Digital remote Disadvantages: none found as yet
Good technology and affordability do not generally go hand in hand but I what I have found with this product is a speaker system that is in fact got very good sound and build quality that you would expect from a system that would cost at least double.
The system itself comprises of one subwoofer two very stylish satellite speakers and a wired digital controller these are all well built and the satellites are actually metal not like a lot of plastic ... ...The Clarity of these speakers is very good considering there size from drivers that are a mere 2x2" there is a good spread through the tone spectrum and the subwoofer is not to overpowering when the sound is low.
I have installed these Speakers to a number of classrooms and the sound is not a problem even when restless children are getting bored. I am so impressed with them I have bought myself a set for my home PC and can not fault them.
I recommend ...
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Satellite speaker : 5.6 cm x 6.4 cm x 18.6 cm, Satellite speaker : 5.6 cm x 6.4 cm x 18.6 cm
Subwoofer : 16.5 cm x 34.3 cm x 30.5 cm
Enclosure Colour: Black, silver
Grille Colour: Silver, Grey
Localisation: English
Enclosure Material: Plastic, MDF
Speaker system
Media Type: 2 speakers, subwoofer
Speaker Type: Active
Nominal Output Power (Total): 26 Watt, 35 Watt
Max (RMS) Output Power (Total): 40 Watt, 50 Watt
Response Bandwidth: 40 - 20000 Hz, 14 - 22000 Hz
Input Impedance: 10 kOhm
Signal-To-Noise Ratio: 65 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.5%
Output Features: Bass Reflex
Audio Amplifier: Integrated
Connectivity Technology: Wired
Controls: Power on/off, volume, Subwoofer volume control, power on/off, volume
Crossover Frequency: 150Hz
Additional Features: Satellite magnetic shield
Manufacturer's product description
Altec Lansing offers you an excellent speaker system. Experience performance and power with advanced micro driver technology! The system features aluminum coned Neodymium micro drivers for unprecedented signal accuracy. You get exceptional low-frequency performance from dual, front firing, long-throw drivers that are loaded in a solidly built wooden cabinet. The speaker system easily connects to gaming consoles (with included AAC1 adapter), portable CD players, MP3 players, PCs and other analog / digital sources.
Speaker system details
Speakers Included:
2 x satellite speaker - wired
1 x subwoofer - wired, 2 x satellite speaker - 5 Watt - 150 - 20000 Hz - wired
Bought these as replacement speakers for my PC. Easy to set up and sounds like a dream. Good clear sounds from all three speakers. The bass in particular is excellent and very powerful. Can deliver clear speech as well as music. The satellite speakers... more
I received these speakers as a Birthday present in March from a friend. I was thrilled with them as I had been desperate for a docking station or speakers to play my iPod on.
The speakers:
The speakers are very attractive and compact yet produce a more
I didn't see this when I seeking to a full throated bass multimedia speaker system for my PC. But, my one of my friends got Altec Lansing FX6021. I felt a great music experience there.
It's really easy to setup and get on with. FX6021 consist with... more
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