TMRaven
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2011
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I'd like to share a review I just posted on amazon upon getting these little gems. Hopefully it'll help out anybody in the future looking for budget computer speakers.
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At the time I ordered these for my mom's new computer, they were 19 dollars on amazon.
In my middle 20s, I'm a middle-of-the-line audiophile, with a decently performing PSB speaker rig, and an amazingly performing hifiman headphone rig. Needless to say, I've been spoiled off great audio for the past 3-4 years of my life. For around 20 dollars, I didn't expect much of these Altec Lansing computer speakers-- my expectations of them were to be closely in line with the majority of smaller 2.1 Logitech rigs I audition at best-buy from time to time (that is to say, boomy and tinny at the same time with no focused imaging)
For just around 20 dollars, these things have wow'd me quite a couple times already as I run down the list of my test tracks I usually do when comparing audiophile equipment. First thing's first, the form factor and convenience of the control panel are nice. Their size is a nice compromise between a mini pair of monitors and a smaller set of cheaply looking computer speakers. Power, volume, tone control and auxiliary input line the bottom of one of the two units. They are a bit on the lighter side for their size, and I perhaps would've liked to see them a bit heavier, but I can't really complain for 20 dollars.
As for their sound, the immediate first thing that stood out to me was their imaging and soundstaging ability. I would have thought that a 20 dollar pair of speakers wouldn't have that-- the ones at best buy and a couple friends' external computer speakers certainly don't have it. Not only is the center image these things produce very defined and separated, but their virtual sound-stage is very wide and extremely deep for the price. Large orchestral compositions are rendered with very appreciable depth and spaciousness to their sound. You can nearly touch the vocals out in front of you on well-recorded songs.
Besides the imaging, I found myself with the tone dial set at around 60% on average to achieve the best timbre and balance out of them that I was accustomed to with my PSB rig and Hifimans. There is a great sense of clarity without an over-emphasized amount of treble. The mids are slightly mellowed out in the overall grand scheme of things, but much richer than other speakers I've heard of, and imaged beautifully. Many 2.1 setups suffer from a considerable amount of bass bloat, but the passive radiators on these minimize any unneeded bleed and distortion that's often associated with those types of speakers. Their is a lack of bass depth, but I much rather have a lack of bass depth than too much sloppy bass.
Overall I say these are a nice compromise between warmth and clarity, that is a pleasing sound signature most everybody can appreciate. A great bargain for just 20 dollars.
http://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing-VS2620-Speakers-Computers/dp/B0025VKUQG/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
__________________________
At the time I ordered these for my mom's new computer, they were 19 dollars on amazon.
In my middle 20s, I'm a middle-of-the-line audiophile, with a decently performing PSB speaker rig, and an amazingly performing hifiman headphone rig. Needless to say, I've been spoiled off great audio for the past 3-4 years of my life. For around 20 dollars, I didn't expect much of these Altec Lansing computer speakers-- my expectations of them were to be closely in line with the majority of smaller 2.1 Logitech rigs I audition at best-buy from time to time (that is to say, boomy and tinny at the same time with no focused imaging)
For just around 20 dollars, these things have wow'd me quite a couple times already as I run down the list of my test tracks I usually do when comparing audiophile equipment. First thing's first, the form factor and convenience of the control panel are nice. Their size is a nice compromise between a mini pair of monitors and a smaller set of cheaply looking computer speakers. Power, volume, tone control and auxiliary input line the bottom of one of the two units. They are a bit on the lighter side for their size, and I perhaps would've liked to see them a bit heavier, but I can't really complain for 20 dollars.
As for their sound, the immediate first thing that stood out to me was their imaging and soundstaging ability. I would have thought that a 20 dollar pair of speakers wouldn't have that-- the ones at best buy and a couple friends' external computer speakers certainly don't have it. Not only is the center image these things produce very defined and separated, but their virtual sound-stage is very wide and extremely deep for the price. Large orchestral compositions are rendered with very appreciable depth and spaciousness to their sound. You can nearly touch the vocals out in front of you on well-recorded songs.
Besides the imaging, I found myself with the tone dial set at around 60% on average to achieve the best timbre and balance out of them that I was accustomed to with my PSB rig and Hifimans. There is a great sense of clarity without an over-emphasized amount of treble. The mids are slightly mellowed out in the overall grand scheme of things, but much richer than other speakers I've heard of, and imaged beautifully. Many 2.1 setups suffer from a considerable amount of bass bloat, but the passive radiators on these minimize any unneeded bleed and distortion that's often associated with those types of speakers. Their is a lack of bass depth, but I much rather have a lack of bass depth than too much sloppy bass.
Overall I say these are a nice compromise between warmth and clarity, that is a pleasing sound signature most everybody can appreciate. A great bargain for just 20 dollars.
http://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing-VS2620-Speakers-Computers/dp/B0025VKUQG/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
