Altec Lansing AVS500 4.1 Computer Speakers (5-Speaker, Black)

List Price: $49.99

Features:

• Great sound for gamers on a budget
• 5-piece system: 2 front, 2 rear satellites, plus subwoofer
• 86 Watts RMS
• Switch between gaming and stereo modes
• Excellent mid-range reproduction

Accessories:
Monster PC700 Computer PowerCenter¿ with Surge Protection	Wharfedale MovieStar 60 Speaker Stands, Pair (Speakers Not Included)

Customer Reviews:

Altec Lansing's ...? Wow! [Posted on 2003-07-17]
I just got these speakers no more then an hour ago, and these are the best speakers I have EVER had. They do have the minor flaw that when you turn them off, they are still on, but the slight hiss is not hearable unless you put your ear right next to the speaker. Other than that, there is nothing wrong with it. Great sound quality and great volume capacity.

vbzzzz [Posted on 2003-09-07]
In a nutshell: crummy. Subwoofer: 0/5. Satellites: 3/5.

The subwoofer resonates right in the middle of the bass band, you'd think they'd have done some testing on the box acoustics. I'm surprised it doesn't jump around like an old 15" paper speaker.

All four satellite speakers have silly little runners on the bottom with a wire between - a big wire on the right front, so it doesn't sit level nor stay where you want. I ended up hanging them upside-down like bats.

The subwoofer level control has a bad taper. Keep turning, but it doesn't get much softer after 1/4, until the point at which it shuts off completely.

The power is on all the time, even with the switch turned off. "Make this connection last" is right.. but unplug the wallwart first.

The satellites are tight, even though they seem insubstantial. The package would be a 4/5 if the subwoofer didn't have those nasty harmonics.

for 40 bucks, good deal [Posted on 2003-11-04]
I like having a top of the line sound card I got these cheap speakers because I don't want to have to use headphones all the time. I never turn them up all the way, (the speakers), my neighbors would kill me. Decent sound quality. Only problem for me is the wires. I dont know what else to say but when I set it up so the speakers surround my computer station the wires are laying on the floor and when I stand up for a minute and walk away I always end up catching my foot on the right rear speaker wire and dragging it a few feet. Im sure sooner or later its gonna just bust open and I'll have to get another package of cheap 4:1 speakers.

Great set of speakers for the price [Posted on 2004-10-14]
For the price, you really can't beat this set of speakers. The sound quality is excellent and the bass punches out the low notes quite well. I honestly can't say I've ever heard such an "inexpensive" set of speakers put out the crisp, clear sound that these do.
There are a few quirks that come with the manufacturing, such as the wires being too short for the rears. (I just put on extensions and it took care of that problem), but the speakers are also too light for the wires and the wires weight will toss the speakers around pretty well or make them sit crooked.
Look past that, and they're the best bang for the buck as far as speakers go.

GREAT QUALITY [Posted on 2005-02-16]
People who write reviews in Amazon about sound should understand the science of sound. There is no point in scoring an item 3/5 or 4/5 just because it sounds bad. Mach 1 is the speed of sound and sound travels at 760 miles per hour. The top speed of sound can be achieved on hot humid days. Humans can hear sounds between 20 and 20000 Hertz.

My point in explaining sound is simple. Altec Lansing is not crazy to build these speakers. They are made well. One can derive maximum utility out of these speakers when you place them in the right order, in the right position, in line with your ears, etc. Also, the quality of music played has to be good. There is no point in boosting the bass on the sub woofer if the mp3 file itself has high bass. And then people say that the sub sucks. Stupid freaks.

These speakers are great. If you can read somewhere about the science of sound, you won't complain about these speakers. They are priced low. Just place them well, use them wisely and play good quality music. You should be fine. Go ahead and buy it.

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