Home > Consumer Reviews > Altec Lansing ACS22 Computer Speakers (2-Piece)

I have had seven different computer speaker systems, including numerous four and five piece systems, and I will honestly say, I've never heard a better set of speakers than the Altec Lansing ACS48. They are incredibly clear and vibrant, the all wood subwoofer cabinet ensures that bass is clear and responsive, the main speakers are equipped with midrange speakers and tweeters, and treble is outstanding. Pros: Excellent sound quality, low cost, easy to set up Cons: large bass module, no treble adjustment, bass adjustment knob not easily accessible (on the module itself)

Certainly not the best speakers you could ever have for your computer, the ACS33 nevertheless fills an important niche in the market. If you're looking for subwoofered sound on the cheap, this is probably your best bet. They're competent performers, without taking price into consideration. Look at how much they cost, and you'll think there aren't better speakers made on the planet. They have the potential to work, as do most speakers, on both Macintosh and Windows machines.

Interestingly, they also have a secondary use. Because they don't need a computer to work at all, they can be plugged directly into any stereo system that has the ability to output its sound (that is, one which has an AUDIO OUT jack). They can thus give resonant stereo sound--even to lowly portables. You'll think twice about whether you really need to upgrade to a whole new system after hearing these speakers. (Before buying for this purpose, however, I'd recommend you go to altec-lansing.com and grab the manual for this product, just to make sure that it's compatible with your stereo.)

Inasmuch as there are drawbacks to the speakers, they are ones you would expect from a product so inexpensive. As another reviewer has rightly pointed out, there's no volume control on the woofer. There's also no bass, treble, or speaker-independent volume control. And the speakers are rated at only 10 watts, with a relatively indelicate frequency response.

But, big deal.

If, like most people, you've got your computer jammed into a corner in a busy room, you don't have the soundspace to set up a truly extraordinary auditory experience. If you've got a lot of people living with you, anything more than 10 watts is discourteous, anyway. Unless you have a room that you can dedicate to the computer, and that's relatively isolated from others, it's extremely unlikely you would actually be able to use more than this system offers.

I just recieved my set Altec Lansing ACS 48's after about three days. I just have to say first off that these speakers are totally worth the money. Before I bought these speakers, I used a pair of 30 dollar no name speakers. I truly did not think that there would be that much of a difference, but it has become quite obvious that there definitely is. This unit provides so much bass that my room shakes with each thump. Also, the mid and high range is excellence, since I hear things in songs I never heard before.

By the way, the technical information provided by Amazon is erroneous. The sub has 40 watts of power, and each satellite has 20 watts, totaling to 80 watts of pure power. If you have the extra money, you just have to buy these speakers.

The only bad thing is that there is no treble control, and the bass control is on the back of the sub, which may be inconvenient for you. Oh yeah, and the subwoofer is quite large, so make sure you have enough room first.

I bought a set of these for a co-worker because they were inexpensive, but I was very impressed at how nice they sounded for the money. They have 3 other features I really like: 1, a simple volume control that controls both speakers. 2, the voltage adapter is built it, so there's no external AC adapter to use up 3 spaces on a power strip (it has a standard AC plug). 3, an external headphone jack that makes it easy to disable the speakers and listen quietly. I was so impressed, that I bought a set for myself.

I bought these for my college dorm. They're excellent - an extraordinary deal and a lotta bang for the buck. Everything always sounds in great balance, as compared to some speakers I've heard, where it's all bass and no sensitivity. Don't get me wrong; the bass is enormous on these, but coming from a music major, these speakers sound NICE. Lots and lots of power with no distortion. Another plus is the dual input, which I used to give my little boom box some power, and plugged my VCR into for some really nice cinema sound. Go for it!