Surround for the Desktop
Video cards have been the big news in the gaming industry since the introduction of the Voodoo cards several years ago. Advances in video quality and effects offer gamers detail unheard of just two years ago. While ultimately the video market usually catches the headlines, the audio performance of the PC has also risen to previously unheard of levels. We have seen the rise of 3-piece systems, 4-piece systems, and now 5.1 PC systems are making it into the mainstream with offerings like the new Altec Lansing 5100. As users continue to push the limits of the PC home theater system, the 5100 steps up to bring high quality 5.1 audio, without the high price tag. Priced between the massive 641 System and the 4100 4.1 System, the 5100’s offer gamers solid sound at a reasonable price.
Official Specs from the Altec Lansing website:
73 Watts Total Continuous Power RMS (4×7W Satellites; 22.5W Center; 22.5W Sub)
100 Watts Total Peak Power
Ported, Dual Subwoofer Drivers
6-speaker surround sound system
High Performance Micro Drivers
Full-Function Digital Controller
Headphone Jack
Auxiliary Input Jack
Cast Alloy Stands
Color-Coded Cables
The system features six speakers; four satellites, one center channel, and one subwoofer. The satellites are typical Altec Lansing, with distinctive style, and a very small desktop footprint. The speakers include integrated alloy stands, for both the satellites and the center channel. Each of the four satellites features two 1″ neodymium micro drivers in a vertical arrangement. Each speaker is treated to small crossbar to prevent accidental contact with curious fingers or other objects, something Apple should consider with their odd system speakers. The alloy stands are quite heavy, and keep the speakers firmly in place on the desktop. The individual speakers are labeled by position, and have permanently attached, color coded wires. We would have liked to see wire posts for custom wiring, but given the low price of the 5100 system, this omission is not a terrible problem. The satellites connect to the subwoofer by way of brightly colored RCA-type plugs. The satellites are wired with more than enough cable for the average user, and soldering additional wire would be possible if absolutely necessary. The system does not come with wall brackets for the rear speakers.
The center channel speaker is similar in size and appearance to the satellites speakers. The center speaker is oriented horizontally, and features a small attachment to change the speaker angle for desktop or monitor-top placement. Like the satellites, the wire for the center channel is permanently fixed, and features a color coded connector. The center channel receives 22.5W, slightly more than the satellite speakers.
The heart of the 5100 system is the subwoofer, which features dual 4″ long throw drivers. The two drivers are arranged horizontally in a nicely styled cabinet. The rear of the subwoofer enclosure hides the speaker inputs, Aux input, main power switch, Center channel mode switch, and wired controller input. The selector switch for the center channel mode can be set to Center Mix On or Off, enabling or disabling the center channel. The system amplifier is housed in the subwoofer enclosure, as is typical of PC sound systems. The subwoofer is ported, to maximize the bass response from the smaller 4″ drivers. The enclosure features wooden construction, with decorative plastic base panels to match the stylized look of the alloy speakers stands. Altec Lansing includes the necessary connectors to attach your gaming console the Aux Inputs on the 5100, adding more to value of this system.
The wired controller closely resembles the unit that ships with the high-end 641 system, and brings all of the necessary controls to the desktop. A small alloy stand keeps the controller in place when not in use, and matches the styling scheme of the satellites. A power button, Tri-Mode selector, volume knob, bass/center, and treble/rear selectors. The Tri-Mode selector is used to choose between the three sound modes of the 5100 system; Stereo X2, 4.1, and 5.1. In Stereo X2 mode plays the front input through the front, rear, center, and subwoofer channels. This mode is ideal for music or simple stereo sound, with the added advantage of a room filling 6-speaker output. The 4.1 mode makes use of the front and rear inputs, mixing the center and sub woofer output from the two active channels. The 5100 is a 5.1 system, and this is the mode where the system shines. When connected to a 5.1 capable sound card, the system transforms your PC into a full surround sound experience. This mode offers five separate channels for maximum spatial effects during movies and 5.1 enabled gaming. Hidden on the top edge of the controller is a headphone jack, for that personal gaming time when the full force of the system is not needed.
Installing the system is a simple color-matching affair, attaching each of the speaker wires to the appropriately colored port. The 5100’s include a manual and quick connect poster, detailing the installation process for those not familiar with making the connections. We had the system up and running with our Game Theater XP in less than five minutes.
Testing speakers is subjective, and based largely on the listening preferences of the reviewer. It is also hard to compare two different sets of speakers, since most people cannot remember with absolute clarity one speaker system to the next. For our review of the 5100 system, I placed two of our test systems in the same room, and arranged three different speaker systems for direct comparison. The comparison systems were Altec Lansing’s own 641 4.1 system, and the Logitech Z-560 4.1 system. Both test PCs were running identical sound cards, and the speakers were arranged to get the maximum sound quality from each system. Our testing covered three common PC tasks; Gaming, DVD Playback, and Music, along with a battery of sound quality tests courtesy of Telarc’s Surround Sounds CD. Each test was run on both system simultaneously, and we were able to simply switch between the competing systems for instantaneous comparison.
Altec Lansing lists the 5100 System under their PC Gaming category, so this was where we started our testing. We ran the system through several hours of our latest online favorites, Battlefield 1942 and Unreal Tournament 2003, before settling in for the moody atmosphere of Alice. With all three titles, the 5100’s satellites produced very clear, precise sound fields. The smallish subwoofer managed to provide just enough bass to rattle the table, but not overwhelm the highs and mids of the satellites. The speakers produce solid midrange, despite the size of the satellite/center channel drivers, and the subwoofer seemed well matched to the power output of the system.
For DVD playback, we opted to use Star Wars Episode I, Duel of Fates sequence (Darth Maul versus Obi Wan). Power DVD in 5.1 mode was quite good, and again we found the satellites and subwoofer to be a good match. While the 5100’s will not create the same ear-damaging sound of the more expensive 641 system, the overall sound is of a high quality and more than enough for the small dorm room or individual viewing. The 5.1 effects were displayed well in this test, and the addition of the center channel was very obvious when compared with the 4.1 systems. Dialogue was most noticeably improved by the center channel, which was to be expected.
Music playback on the 5100’s was average. The overall sound quality was good, but the lower power and smaller subwoofers didn’t quite keep up when the volume was high and the bass heavy. Rap and dance music pushed the sub to it’s limit, although other types of music less dependant on heavy bass tracks fared much better. At less than maximum volume, the 5100’s performance was excellent for a desktop system, and should far exceed the requirements of the average user.
We completed our testing with a barrage of 5.1 effects from the Telarc Surround Sound CD. This CD offers music, sound effects, and surround sound tests to push a system to limits. Moderate volume levels, like those typically used by an individual sitting at a desk, produced the best performance from the 5100. Pushing the volume to excessive levels introduced some distortion, but this was generally loud enough to be uncomfortable to the user as well. As with the other tests, we found that the 5100’s didn’t produce wall-shaking, pounding sound. Instead, the 5100’s offer crisp, clear music, spectacular gaming audio, and true 5.1 DVD playback, for well under $200. Don’t get me wrong, these speakers are loud, just not neighbor-calling-the-cops loud like the bigger, more powerful 4.1 systems out there. For the PC user that wants a sound system that can do it all, without the $400 price tag of a high-end system, the 5100’s are definitely a system to look at. They sound great, look just plain cool, and the price is about the same as a good 4.1 system.
