Introduction

Maybe you don't have the room for six speakers, don't care for the "surround-sound" genre, or just can't afford it. Whatever your reason for a smaller setup, the Altec Lansing VS4121 speaker set may be your answer. For those of you who don't know, a 2.1 speaker system gives you a front left and right speaker with a subwoofer.

Now, without the help of extra speakers (like centre and rear speakers), let's see how these VS4121 2.1 speakers perform.

Initial thoughts

I have to compliment Altec Lansing on the grilles on these speakers. Finally, my cousins cannot destroy my speakers by sticking their greasy snot ridden hands into the speaker drums... Good job Altec Lansing! Besides the nice grilles, these speakers take the cake in looking good. Altec Lansing always makes good looking speakers, and these really do look good.

The speaker wires are colour coded at the end so you know where to plug each one in. Technically each speaker could be placed anywhere as they are the same as the other. But lets say for instance that you unplug your speaker cables so you can untangle them. You no longer know which cable is which unless they are colour coded. This set also features Altec Lansing's "Universal Connectivity" cable that allows you to connect these speakers to a gaming console or a TV.

There is no remote with this system. The controls are built into the front right speaker so you can change the Treble, Bass and volume. It can be quite a task to change the volume if your speakers are placed high up. This system also comes with a head-phone jack so you can listen to your music and keep it to yourself. Once again, if your speakers are high up, you won't be able to really use the head-phone jack since it is on the right speaker.

Specifications

• 31 Watts Total Continuous Power RMS (6x2 W/Satellites; 19 W/Sub)

• System Response: 25Hz - 15kHz (-10dB)

• Signal to Noise Ratio @ 1kHz Input: >73dB

• Two 28mm full-range and one 762mm mid-range drivers on Satellites

• 10.16 x 11.94 x 23.4cm (WxDxH) for Satellites

• One 16.51cm Long Throw woofer on Subwoofer

• 20.3 x 25.1 x 34.5cm (WxDxH) for Subwoofer

• Headphone Jack

• Extra Connectivity

• Color-Coded Cables

Setup

Setting up a 2.1 system isn't really that much work. you need to do is plug each speaker into its designated spot on the subwoofer, plug the cable from the sound card to the sub woofer, then plug in the power. Also, I saw no warning about magnetic shielding on the subwoofer, but I know that the satellites are magnetically shielded.

Sound Quality

With each satellite speaker having two small drum speakers for high-range, one large drum for mid-range and a sub-woofer for the low-range, these speakers should be able to pump out some pretty impressive sound. The low to mid range sound was fantastic. The bass was full and really sounded great as did the mid-range sounds (voice and instruments). I still don't like how these speakers handle the higher-end sounds. Ever since the Monsoon MH505s and the flat panel speaker for higher-end sounds, I've never been able to see drum speakers recreate that incredible high-pitched sound. The VS4121 did sound fine, but I've heard better higher-range sounds.

At highest volume these speakers sounded great, except for the higher-end sounds. They can start to sound slightly scratchy at high volumes.

Once again Altec Lansing creates a big sub-woofer. The sub-woofer in this set is great, but it is kind of big. If they made the power supply external, then this subwoofer would be cheaper to shield and be much smaller, while still putting out the same sound. Also, why don't people from the United States use the third prong in the electricity outlets?! It can make all electronics(including speakers) better with all that extra grounding/shielding... Sorry, a personal rant of mine.

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