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Altec Lansing MX-5021


Date
: 01/13/05 – 06:42:20 AM

Author
:

Category
: Sound

Page 1 : Introduction

Manufacturer: Altec Lansing
Price: $199.00

Probably one of the least paid attention to areas when buying a new computer is sound. It doesn't take a person who builds their own systems to be able to pick up a descent set of speakers for the computer, but the average user doesn't have such high demands as those who game and center their media viewing/listening around the computer. Such users look for high powered, high quality PC speakers or home theator setups to bring the environment to life. Those who don't have tens of hundreds of dollars to spend on a top notch home theator system will find that a high-end PC system will do quite nicely.

In this review, I'll examine the
Altec Lansing MX-5021
speaker system. These speakers are a 2.1 channel, THX certified set of speakers designed for high quality audio listening and even a bit of gaming. So that said, I'll be giving these speakers a comparison in music, movies, and games to Logitech's Z-680 speakers in a 2.1 configuration to level the playing field, and perform similar to the comparably priced Z-2200s that were recently looked at.

Page 2 : Specifications

While the power output of the MX-5021 speakers pale in comparison to those of the Z-680s and even the 2.1 Z-2200s, these speakers are able to deliver a lot of volume with that 90 Watts. What's more, the MX-5021s are able to deliver a wider range of frequency response than Logitech's offerings. This means that these speakers should be able to deliver a slightly wider range of bass and treble to owners.

Page 3 : Package

Altec Lansing shipped their retail package and it arrived in perfect condition. The box has printed on it all the information buyers would need to identify and get an idea of the speaker's capabilities.

Opening up the box, you'll be presented with a detailed guide, printed on the flaps, on different setups for which the speakers can be used.

Inside are a manual, speaker wires, mini-phone wires, composite to 35 mm mini-phone adapter, cleaning cloth, wall mounts, control pod, remote, two satellites, and subwoofer. Below are pictures of what's been included.

Not marketed solely for computers, the MX-5021s are able to be used with TVs, consoles, MP3 players, etc. This adapter helps make some of those connections to composite sources possible right out of the box.

The most suprising thing included with these speakers was a nice velvet-like cloth. It's a nice touch, and helpful for removing streaks and finger prints from the black finish of the satellites and control pod.

If by chance there's no desk space to spare, the included wall mounts should help. They attach easily to the back of each satellite with a single screw.

Page 4 : Package (continued)

The satellites and control pod are all presented in a glossy, piano black finish. Because the surface is so glossy, it becomes a magnet for finger prints and so the cleaning cloth comes in handy.

The control pod is wired to the rear of the subwoofer. The top of the unit has a large knob to adjust the volume, two buttons for adjusting the levels of treble and bass, and a more prominent power button. LEDs are placed by each function to indicate power, selections, and levels (treble, bass and volume). The control pod also has a small place to hold the IR remote, and you can see it in the picture below.

While one side of the control pod offers nothing functional to speak of, the left side has 35 mm mini-phone jacks for connecting headphones or auxillary components.

In the next image, you can see the bright blue LEDs that indicate the different functions as mentioned. Also you can see in this picture the IR reciever, so it is important to place the control pod in a spot easily visible if you plan to use the remote.

The remote itself is very small and has all the functions of the control pod located on it. Naturally, Altec Lansing has included a battery.

The speakers themselves are what make or break the whole setup. Each satellite and the subwoofer are covered with a meshed grill, and on the satellites this is removable as shown. Each satellite has a horn-loaded tweer for wider audio dispersion and two 3" polypropylene full-range drivers. The MX-5021 speakers have almost as many drivers as some 5.1 sets. Also, the satellites are magnetically shielded so that you can sit them close to your TV or monitor without fear that your speakers will harm them.

Looking at the back of the satellites shows off that piano black finish and makes it visible to see the positive/negative spring clip connections and the holes necessary for attaching the wall mounts.

The following picture shows exactly how the wall mount fixture looks when attached to a satellite. In between this piece and the satellite is a foam strip that keeps you from damaging the speaker as well as dampening vibrations.

>From an angle the subwoofer is quite plain looking, but when looking head-on you get to see the woofer, Altec Lansing logo, as well as the famed THX logo.

The rear of the subwoofer enclosure has spring clip connections for both left and right speakers, the connection for the control pod, 35 mm mini-phone input, power cord, and a small nook where you can tuck the power cord away when moving the system.

Page 5 : Installation

Speaker installation is usually pretty quick and easy, though with larger sets of speakers the trouble comes in finding places to put the satellites and how to mount them. Because of the satellites small footprint, color coded speaker wire, and the fact that there are only 2 satellites and not 5+ makes the time taken to set things up a matter of minutes.

What I did next was adjust the levels between my sound card and the speakers to suit my tastes. Unlike previous speakers I've used, many of which are Logitech sets that have been THX certified and have an almost overpowering bass that needs turned down, the MX-5021s have a modest defualt bass level that most will raise. I found that the bass level was comfortable at about the half-way point or slightly less.

Page 6 : Testing

The system I use to test with is my workstation comprised of the following:

Intel Pentium 4C 2.4GHz @ 3.2GHz (Northwood) @ 1.65 V
2*512 MB PDP Systems PC3200LLK DDR RAM
Maxtor 60 GB 7200 RPM 2 MB Hard Drive
Abit IC7-G Motherboard
ATi 9700 Pro Video Card
Coolmax 400 W Power Supply
Nu Tech DDW-082 DVD Burner
M-Audio Revolution 7.1 Sound Card
Cooler Master Cavalier 1 Case
Windows XP Pro SP2 + Latest Drivers, Updates

The first test was for noise. I listened for noise in a typical volume state and in max volume none was audible. If do hear noise, it may very well be your sound card. The only sound card Ive tested to produce zero noise is M-Audio's Revolution 7.1, as this is a test they give attention to when comparing to competing cards. The Z680s on the other hand will produce slight noise as does the Philips Ultimate Edge.

The remaining tests conducted to the MX-5201s were subjective listening in music, movie, PC gaming, and console gaming. I watch movies regularly and enjoy watching all genres. One of my recent favorite movies was Equilibrium. The movie was watched in stereo without any surround algorithms applied and the quality was just great; the highs and mid-tones crystal clear and bass powerful, but not overwhelming.

The music I listen to relies a lot less on bass, but it's still an important component. I listen to a lot of punk rock, and particularly emo. Music listened to was Midtown, Spitalfield, and Yellowcard. There was a noticable difference in sound between the MX-5021s and the Z-680s and it was most notably in the highs. Both have good highs, but things sounded a bit clearer with the MX-5021 setup. The bass on the otherhand was quite similar and pretty difficult to say which was better, but I tended to prefer the powerful response of the Z-680s woofer.

The games I played on the computer portion of testing were Half-Life 2 and Vampire – The Masquerade: Bloodlines. Both games are of deep single-player experiences that use audio as one of many tools to pull players into the environment. While 2.1 setups are not be the best choice for environmental audio, they can still do the job and satisfy most. I found that only sounds from behind were difficult to discern, but otherwise positioning worked well and will work better depending on the sound card you may have.

On the testing of the MX-5021s output using a GameCube and Xbox, I found the audio to be similar to the Z-680s in sound with the MX-5021s exhibiting more prominent treble – bass could be adjusted to suite your taste. On the Xbox it was the fast paced and fun Burnout 3 that I played the most with these speakers. On the GameCube I had most of my fun testing these speakers with WarioWare, a game that featuring a lot of mini-games filled with different music and sounds. My experience with console gaming and these speakers was such that I'd recommend them to anyone who doesn't have access to a nice home theater setup.

Page 7 : Conclusion

These speakers are not the best solution for gamers or movie buffs looking for the best positional audio they can find for their setup, but the quality of sound that you get from these speakers is up there with the best I've heard from a 2.1 setup. The clarity of the highs and mid-tones sounds is what really sets this particular set apart from similarly priced and featured setups.

The system comes with enough power for almost any user, and will be capable of reasonably loud volumes without distortion. These speakers, while priced somewhat high for a stereo set, can be found much cheaper on the street and I definately recommend these to those looking for a setup that takes up little space, has big sound, and can be used with their consoles, TV, and computer. I am willing to bet you'll be impressed.

Advantages

Affordable
Powerful
Excellent sound quality, especially highs
Small footprint
Absolutely no audible noise

Disadvantages

No optical connections
Not ideal for surround sound

A huge thanks to Altec Lansing for making this review possible.