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At the recent CES show in Las Vegas, Altec Lansing showed
off what easily looked to be the best speaker showcase of the entire event
for both PC and music enthusiast speaker systems. We get a chance now
to look at the brand new MX50121 Speaker system, a 2.1 THX-certified speaker
system offering some incredible quality of sound and a very sleek and
sexy look.
specs and info
This system is targeted for higher end customers with the
price tag of $199, but as the old saying goes, you definitely get what
you pay for. It's not just about the piano black look and stylish looking
speakers and subwoofer - it's about a speaker system with incredible amounts
of power (loud!!!) which at the same time produces some of the best quality
of sound for PC computing today.
The Specs...
| Sound Pressure Level : |
103 dB |
| Total Continuous Power : |
90 Watts RMS |
| System Response : |
30Hz - 22kHz (-10dB) |
| Signal to Noise Ratio @ 1kHz Input: |
> 80 db |
| Drivers (per satellite) |
1 1" horn loaded tweeter and 2 3" full
range drivers |
| Subwoofer Driver : |
1 6.5" long-throw woofer |
The specification of particular importance that isn't on
the list above is the THX certification. Obviously if you're looking for
quality of sound in a cinema like fashion, you're going to want these
speakers.
installation
Altec Lansing's speaker systems are world renowned for being
easy to install, and nothing has changed with the MX5021 speaker system.
The control unit very easily installs into the subwoofer, along with the
speakers who use an ultra-thin positive/negative wiring. The subwoofer
then plugs into your sound card, and you're rocking away to whatever your
heart desires. From the control unit there's a tiny remote control (battery
included) as well as 2 jacks - one for headphones, and another for an
auxiliary input (convenient!). Installation for this speaker set takes
about 15 minutes, maximum, and can easily be accomplished for the most
inexperienced of users.
performance
I'm used to being impressed with the products from Altec
Lansing, but to ask for a 2.1 speaker set for $199 seemed a little high,
but the specs of the speakers seemed impressive, so I definitely was curious
to hear these speakers in action. The first thing I tried listening to
was some high-quality MP3s (160 rate) and I literally dropped my jaw in
response to the level of quality I heard from the speakers. They were
simply amazing, astounding, and a thousand other flattering words.
Ahh ... but how LOUD would they go - and would the sound
degrade? Well I kept cranking the sound up and up ... up and up ... and
the sound was FRICKING LOUD. Then I realized I had only pumped this thing
a little over half power ... so imagine that! These puppies are crystal
clear, sound amazing, and they offer the power that I demand as a power
gamer and as someone who loves to listen to his MP3s so loud that I can
listen to them throughout my house. To say I was impressed with the performance
would be the understatement of 2004.
Overall Comments
I enjoy a lot of space on my desk and generally feel that
most 4.1 and 5.1 speaker systems for PCs aren't worth the money people
pay for them, because they never put the rear speakers behind them. So
it's really extremely rare to get a true 5.1 speaker experience from a
PC that sits on a desk ... so why put $199 into a 5.1 set that offers
decent quality sound and decent levels of sound when you can put the same
money into a beautiful 2.1 set of speakers that offer superior quality
and levels of sound? It's logical for PC gamers to start thinking that
a 2.1 speaker set really is the best solution of you don't have the room
to put speakers behind you. Even better was ZERO hiss or interference.
I love it.
The MX5021's are a sleek, sexy, attractive, and impressive
set of speakers, and perhaps the best PC sound solution I've seen in all
my reviewing years. Yes, they're really that impressive. The performance
was by far and away a perfect rating, and the value of the speakers is
very high - sure you're paying a pretty penny at $199 (if you shop around
you can find it cheaper), but to be honest, they're worth the price. If
you're also looking for a "coolness" factor to impress your
friends or loved ones with, the sleek piano black look to the speakers
will definitely impress, as will the teeny-tiny remote control.
These speakers will definitely last you
for years on end. If you're not impressed with them, there's simply no
solution out there that will really satisfy your needs. I highly suggest
gamers look into these speakers, as do people who love to listen to music
on their PC ... both crowds will be very happy with the quality of sound
from all ranges. The Altec Lansing MX5021 speaker system is amongst the
best speaker set, if not the best, we have ever seen and reviewed. The
only negative might be the price, but trust me, you get exactly what you
pay for!
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10 / 10 |
OVERALL SCORE
98%
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9 / 10 |
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10 / 10 |
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10 / 10 |
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10 / 10 |
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9.8 /
10 |
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