I got these speakers as an open box special at a store for $25 but i saw them sold new for $30-40. I've been looking for a budget yet quality PC speakers to replace my awfully sounding generic speakers (MLi was the brand name i believe) and the sound of the ACS33 just blew me away (for the price).

After some long (re)searching i am convinced: the low price and great sound quality make ACS33 the best choice for PC speakers. I believe you cannot get a decent subwoofered system for less. There are very few complaints about the sound quality from other reviewers and i have to claim that the ones who complain are purely wrong. I don't know what they expect from cheap PC speakers, obviously it's been a while since they've listened to a regular $20-40 PC speaker last time. Yes, the sound quality of ACS33 is far from the quality of an expensive hi-fi stereo system. Almost as far as it is from a regular inexpensive PC speakers on the other side (that subwoofer really makes a lot of difference). I tried scores of various non-Altec systems sold in computer stores for $70-100 dollars (some flashy yet generic brands) and they all were much much worse sounding (although the looks are what's called "modern and slick" - i.e. those speakers also look terrible). Altecs are very nice and classy looking too...

There are better PC speaker systems on the market but don't blow more than $40 on PC speakers, the difference in sound will not be worth the difference in price. If you need a really good sound from your PC and are ready to spend over $100, don't buy PC speakers at all. Connect your computer to a hi-fi system in that case. That what i am doing currently. But i am keeping my Altecs just in case - what a great great value!!!

As for the low points: what everyone says. This model doesn't have any frequency controls, although i never felt an urge to use them: i find the system is well balanced plus there are ways to control frequencies through software. Another bad thing is that all the wired are attached, hardwired. That is definitely a down side and it reduces versatility of the item quite a bit. I believe the next higher Altec model is different.


Recommended: Yes