Great value for MP3/CD listeners
Written: Mar 27 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good sound, easy, a step up from tinny "computer speakers", nice footrest
Cons: Lack of sophisticated controls
The Bottom Line: For those who use their computer to listen to MP3s and CDs, and don't have stringent sound quality requirements, I recommend the ACS54 as a very good value.
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| mcjester's Full Review: Altec Lansing ACS 54 4 Speakers |
For the price, the Altec ACS54 is quite a fine set of speakers. Consisting of a subwoofer and four satellite speakers, it can put out more than enough pretty good quality sound for most any purpose.
Price: I got the set for $50 after rebate from CyberRebate (I just checked and they don't have them any more), but I would still buy them for $80 or even $90.
Features
Subwoofer: The greatest failing of the two-speaker pairs that comprise most computer speaker systems is their inability to produce low-range (bass) sounds, which not only detracts from the pleasure of listening to bass-heavy music (a category most modern music fits into), but also leads to the high-range (treble) being unusually strong and a general lack of musical balance. The core of the ACS54 is a wooden-cased subwoofer, a device specifically used to recreate low-range sounds. I'm impressed by the sub on this system: it can really get the floor thumping. It also has a dial to adjust the strength of bass in proportion to the rest of the ranges. One final note: the subwoofer makes for a nice footrest!
Four satellite speakers: If you have a four-channel sound card, or a DVD system, you can take full advantage of the four-speaker system of the ACS54. Even if you are only listening to regular two-channel (stereo) sound, which is the format of CDs and MP3 music, the four speakers are marvelous for surrounding the listener in music. Right now, I'm listening to Smash Mouth with the two main speakers on either side of the monitor, and the two rear speakers on counters of either side of my computer chair. The four-speaker system is also a great way to fill a dorm or apartment room with sound: the cables of two of the speakers are actually quite long (and of course, you could go to RadioShack and cheaply buy extension cables).
Controls: I'm a little disappointed by the lack of equalizer controls (not even a simple Bass and Treble), but I guess that comes with the price. There are three dials: a master volume control and a "surround" control (for the rear speakers) on the front right satellite speaker, and a bass control on the subwoofer. If you care to adjust equalizer settings, you must do so externally (as in, directly in Winamp). The subwoofer also acts as a powered amp, so you can crank up the volume quite high.
Ease of setup: As long as you can read a simple manual, the hardest part of setting up the system will be deciding where to put the speakers (you can even hang the two rear speakers on the wall with a nail if you so choose). It comes with all the cables you'll need, and it uses the sound jack common to virtually every computer, so there's no compatibility problem.
Sound quality: You shouldn't be expecting marvelous sound, because you simply won't get that out of a sub-$100 system. That said, I find the sound the ACS54 puts out to be perfectly acceptable for my listening, which is mostly MP3s.
Durability: I've dropped one of the satellite speakers a half-dozen times, and it still puts out the same quality sound. Don't try it at home, but that shows me it's not a totally cheap piece of junk.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mcjester
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Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
I'm into cooking, travel, technology, languages, and writing.
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