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| | Manufacturer: Altec Lansing | | Mac OS X: Any Version  Mac OS Classic: Mac OS 8.6
Requires: Minijack Audio Port |
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Altec Lansing 2100
October 23, 2002 | Greg Gant | | Pages: |  | 1 | 2 |  |
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A Sound Speaker As a whole, the 2100s are a solid set of speakers, with well-driven bass, and responsive mids and highs with clear definition. Altec Lansing opted to use dual 1-inch drivers rather than one larger driver or a tweeter/driver combo; due to the nature of the small drivers, highs are crisp, but the midrange is slightly thin.The speakers are fairly forgiving for positioning, thanks in part to the well-balanced satellites. The satellites sound best when placed below ear level, but still sound pleasant even if placed above ear level. Also, unlike some computer speakers, the 2100s sound good from a distance. This is a plus when watching movies or listening to music. To test the full range of use for these speakers, I connected the 2100s to my television. As expected, the 2100s were a considerable upgrade over the television speakers. Some may want to consider getting these as an inexpensive way to beef up the sound on a TV or gaming console. As a whole, I enjoyed them on my TV almost as much as on my computer. The 2100s fared well for general use--from games, to music, to movies. Explosion-heavy games such as first person shooters sound better on speaker sets that feature a larger subwoofer. The 2100s didn't have quite the same level of enhanced stereo as the PlanarMedia 9s or the MidiLand Powerstixx, but sounded better on the whole for movies. The 2100s are much more ear-fatigue-friendly than some of its competitors. Ear fatigue is caused by overly bright and/or overpowering treble sounds over extended periods of time. Some speakers after longer periods of time cause the listener to feel discomfort and the desire to stop listening. I found that the 2100s provided longer periods of pleasurable listening than the PlanarMedias or Powerstixx. Users who intend to use these speakers for extended periods of time won’t be disappointed. Introducing the Soon-to-be-Infamous Drop Test Altec Lansing gets points for metal stands on the satellites. I’ve broken plastic stands on a set of computer speakers after they had a brief encounter with wood flooring. As a stress test, I bumped the satellites off the desk onto carpet and then dropped them from a high kitchen counter onto linoleum at varying angles. The speaker stands remained unscathed and unharmed. The speakers themselves sustained no audible or visible damage. Final Thoughts For ages I’ve been using the Altec Lansing ACS 48s (now out of production) as the bar to measure 2.1 computer speaker sets. The 2100s won’t replace the ACS-48s as the speakers to beat but will be one I’ll definitely use as a reference in future reviews. The Altec Lansing 2100s retail for $100 but they can be found at some major e-tailers for as low as $70. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better deal for the price.
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