Home > Consumer Reviews > Altec Lansing 641 Digital Computer Speakers

I purchased the 621 Altec Lansing not for a computer, but for a home theater system. I learned you could do this after purchasing a Altec Lansing 2100 speakers for my HP Pavillion. The 2100 is also a great product...The 621 speakers have 2 inputs (1 main and 1 aux.). One y-adaptor is included and you could purchase an additional 1/8 to 1/8 microphone jack and a Y-adaptor for the L/R audio output at [your local store]...The mid range, highs and lows are very accurate and precise. I expected some noise at higher volumes, but the speakers are so powerful and efficient that you don't hear noise except at ear drum damaging levels...This is a great set up if you don't want 6 speakers for surround sound. I replaced an expensive 2 speaker/1 subwoofer home theater system offering 5.1 sound and saved [money]...I think the power and sound quality of this speaker hooked up to a DVD with virtual surround and VCR would make most people very happy. It sure makes a lot of sense for me.

I wish I knew about this a while back and would not have wasted so much money in the past. Give it a try.

Well, when you see these as a pic on your comp, you're prolly thinking so what's the big deal they don't look so great. Well the satellites are about as big as my old sub. The sub is twice the size of my computer tower and weighs like 20 lbs itself. The box these things come in is mother freaking huge.

Aside from their sheir brilliant looks, the sound couldn't be better. Talk about crisp and clear. This is the loudest computer speaker system I'v every heard. And for it's power you couldn't get a better deal than altec. 400 watts total power You need not even go past the first led notch for volume cause I actually knocked some [stuff] off of my walls with just the second nothc. There are 5 volume level ligts. You can set bass and trebble with the remote control and I'm talkin you get some serious bass out of these things.

The remote has a pretty long cord and you can postition it just about anywhere so that's another pluss. The remote also has a stand. NO it's not plastic even though it may look like it in the pic. It's steel. It's pretty heavy too for how small the little stand is. The remote offers all the features you could wish for cept for a band tuner which you can do on most music software, but like anyone will ever put a band tuner on remote.

Ummm setup is pretty easy. Just plug in the speakers which are colored coded for the not so computer and speaker literate. Ummmm, cords are very long so you don't really have to worry about where to put them to get them close enough to the sub. The only short cord really is the line that connects to the computer, but it's 5 ft about, so it will work for most people.

Don't set the sub on a wall shelf cause it will tear your wall apart. THis little mofo weighs like 20 lbs and will rip it right out of your wall even if you got it planted in a stud.

Overall great system and loads of features. For this price you can't get a better deal. buy it buy it buy it!!!!!

I spoke to an Altec Lansing tech today and he told me a very important thing about them.

The speakers had a flaw in powering down the system that made the subs die in about an 8 month periond.

If you used ONLY the remote to turn off the system and left the power switch located on the back of the subs on, the subs will still be powered thus shortening their life.

In order to keep the subwoofer life you have to:

1.) Turn off the power using the remote first.

2.) THEN then turn off the power switch on the back the subs.

If you do that simple thing, these awesome speakers will last you forever. I hope this helps out everyone!

-Chris

Altec Lansing has definitely cooked up a special treat for all of us. Arguably the best gaming system on the market at the moment, the Altec Lansing 641 delivers 400 watts (200W RMS) of pure power.

Set-up and installation is a walk-in-the-park with the 641. Simply connect the speakers and remote to the massive subwoofer, and you are practically good to go. You can derive the best output from this monster by placing the front pair in front of you and the rear pair facing your back; both at ear level. Most four to five speaker systems are not equipped with large lengths of wire for optimal performance. Altec, however, envisioned and addressed all the potential woes for their consumers. The 641 is equipped with large lengths or wire, wall brackets as well as connectivity features to connect the speakers to additional gaming consoles!

The sound quality is crisp and crystal clear. The treble delivers excellent performance without being overbearing, and you must experience the bass on your own to feel it. The subwoofer is NOT magnetically shielded to crank out maximum vibrations, hence, I would suggest placing the sub away from your monitor. It is difficult to verbalize the intensity of the bass; but don't be surprised if you get complaints from your neighbors.

There were only two things that disappointed me. First, it is a spatial nightmare! The subwoofer is almost as large as a small minitower, if not larger! Secondly, the remote is wired!?!? I cannot understand why Altec would have a wired remote in this age. Conversely, the remote is packed with an array of features. Treble and bass control, multiple sound modes (stereo, stereo X2 and gaming) and of course, volume control and power.

Being a gamer at heart, I tested the speakers with Quake 3, Need for Speed and various other games. One word: Spectacular! I have not seen most speakers in the $... range come even close. The Klipsch 4.1, probably the next best system, clearly falls way short of the 641.

Outstanding sound quality, more features than you can handle, handy remote and bone-rattling bass is what makes up this package. For the price (I got mine for under $..., including shipping), it does not get any better than this! If you have space for another minitower at your computer desk, buy this system immediately.

I recieved my Altec Lansing 621 speakers 2 days ago. The Box was really heavy, mostly due to the subwoofer which is enclosed in a solid wooden cabinet. I have read much about the specs of this product, but what I think matters is that how they really satisfy my taste. I am a serious music listner, endulged in classical music. I will not compare these speakers to my Bose 302 powered by quad preamp and power amplifier....price surely makes a difference in quality, but for that price range I am satisfied by the quality of sound they provide. All the highs are definetly there, the mid range is sweet and adequately ditailed and the bass very subtle. They can go very loud...more than anyone would require for a living room, but at extreme loudness I can notice some distortion, doesn't worry me because I will not use them at this ear damaging volume level. What is attractive is the natural sounding clean bass. I have heard other subwoofers that can produce spectacular distorted bass...but for the 621 the bass sounds natural and well defined shaking everything even the other rooms in the house. The speakers come with a wired remote control with a power button and 2 volume buttons. The only two disadvantages I have so far found are that the length of the remote cord (it should have been a bit longer...apparently they didn't put in mind the required slack) the other thing is that the volume is digitally controled by two buttons and you can't know at what level the speakers are set! As a whole, they are good value for money, provide a pleasurable sound experience for music and movies and will shake the house when you need them to do so.