This is also a shame because the highs and lows are very pleasing. I am also surprised because I have used several Altec systems and been quite impressed. When you step up and drop $130.00 on speakers you should expect a certain sound quality that is lacking here. If these were $50.00 then it would be fine you make concessions. If it sounds like I am being overly harsh it is because I am considering the price point of the system. I suppose it sounded really good on paper. I appreciate that this configuration might work well in theory, but in reality it adds little. I find it strange that this design made its was through Altec's system of checks and balances. With some source material this isn't a big problem, but for rock or vocal-heavy music it is annoying. This makes for a "weak" sound, where the sound levels, in much material, seem low despite the volume being turned quite high. The midrange sound is characterized by a twang right in the middle and an absence of lower tones. However, in the normal position the midrange is simply too weak. When the speakers are laid on their backs, so the tweeters are shooting skyward, the midrange has a fuller sound. (This was a tacit admission that the original I-Trigues were missing something, but that's neither here nor there.) While the hell-ward-firing drivers surely add something to the VS4121s, it is not enough. This design reminds me of Creative's new I-Trigue speakers, which rely on side-firing drivers to provide oomph for the midrange. I took a picture of the bottom of the satellite, as you will see in a moment. The dome is attached to the speaker so that it hovers about one-half inch above the surface of your desk or table. Each of these domes houses a downward-firing midrange driver. Notice the dome-like enclosures behind the tower of each satellite. But besides the aesthetic, the satellites are cleverly engineered to provide as wide a sound as possible. The look is mirrored in the sub, which has a single 6.5-inch driver mounted behind similar mesh. Each of the satellites has plastic mesh covering two tweeters mounted in the top half of the enclosure. Aesthetically they are flat faced and very modern looking. Do they sound good enough? No.Īltec went all out designing the VS4121s. Unfortunately, the VS4121s don't quite offer performance to match the price. Many surround rigs have matrix modes that stretch a stereo signal over five (or six or seven) channels, but there's much to be said for listening to stereo music in its native format. After all, even the most dedicated gamer will spend a huge portion of his or her time listening to music. While full surround sound is useful in some applications, 2.1 will do the trick for most people most of the time. The VS4121 fall into a newly invigorated market for solid 2.1 desktop speakers. This in mind, the VS4121 system is one that matters greatly to Altec. The company has several fully stocked families of speakers, but hasn't released anything new in some time. It's been a while since I've reviewed a set of Altec Lansing speakers.
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