Sweet, Sweet Music (and sound!) from Altec Lansing
Written: Feb 03 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy to install, plug-and-play, attractive vertical design, easily accessible volume control
Cons: if you expect top-notch sound with subwoofer, these speakers are not for you
The Bottom Line: An inexpensive speaker that gives good sound.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Altec Lansing VS2320 2 Speakers |
The old speakers lived a good life. They were pampered, but in the end, dead is dead. There was no other verdict but to buy new speakers. That is why we now own these Altec Lansing Speakers (model # VS2320).
Description
There are two speakers in the cardboard box with color-coded cables. The box proclaims the speakers are Plug-and-Play. The carton also has suggested uses: video gaming, MP3 players, CD players, TVs & DVD players, PCs and laptops. In larger letters, it says: "Perfect for PC & iPod".
These speakers are a silver color and weight about two pounds each. Each speaker measures 9" high x 4" wide x 3 1/2" deep. The sound pressure level is 89 dB. The maximum power output is 5 watts. System response is 85 Hz to 18 kHz. On the front of the right speaker is a volume knob and control knob as well as a jack for a headphone and an auxiliary jack. A green light indicates the speakers are operational.
On the bottom of the carton in small print, it says that an add-on Console Gaming Y-Adapter might be needed but is not included. If you need one, though, it can be purchased from the Altec Lansing website.
The carton and User's Guide are labeled in English, Spanish and French. The User's Guide is a folded sheet of paper offers a page of warnings, cautions, warranty information (1 year), and customer service contact information, including an email address and toll-free telephone number.
Our Experiences
When I pulled these speakers from the box, I was impressed with how attractive they are. They have a fairly small footprint at 4-inches, and have a vertical design. The silver mesh fronts and casings go well with the silver computer tower. It almost looks like a matched set.
The hardest part of installing these speakers was maneuvering the computer tower so that I could see the jacks at the back of it in order to plug in the speakers. Installation was straight forward, literally plug-and-play. If you want written installation instructions, you won't find them with these speakers. Instead, on the top flaps of the carton are pictorial illustrations for how to connect the speakers.
Note that these speakers do not come with a subwoofer. We knew this when purchasing them. Space is limited around the computer, and finding room for a subwoofer was not an option. However, the packaging for these speakers said they had "bass enhancement technology" to create quality sound without a subwoofer. These speakers also include drivers that are house in a ported enclosure to achieve high-quality stereo sound.
We are very pleased with the sound quality of these speakers. I have played CDs on the computer, and the sound is wonderful. Mind you, if you are an audiophile and have to have top-notch sound, then you will most likely be unhappy with these speakers since they don't have the full spectrum of speaker bells and whistles. For us, though, they are terrific.
It's also great that the volume and tone control and jacks are on the front of the speaker. Very convenient. I had one set of speakers where all the controls were located on the back of the speaker, and boy was that a headache.
I also like the fact that these speakers can plug-and-play with a variety of electronic equipment. Should I wish to, I can use these speakers with my portable DVD player or MP3 player. It's nice to have options!
The one downside is that these speakers are larger than other models if you are thinking of portability. They might be awkward to lug around if you are looking to carry them from location to location.
Purchasing
These speakers were purchased at my local Target store for $29.99.
Summary
We are very happy with these Altec Lansing Speakers. They look elegant beside the computer, and the sound is great. They were also easy to install, another bonus. Not bad for inexpensive speakers!
I hope you found this review useful.
Enjoy the day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Please read my other reviews:
Phillips Portable DVD Player with screen
LiteOn DVD Recorder/Player
Acer 19” Widescreen LCD Monitor
ViewSonic 19" LCD Monitor
Westinghouse 19" LCD Widescreen Television
Copyright 2008 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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