Altec Lansing 2100

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, ...
...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 ... more

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.
 

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