Reviewed: August 4, 2002
Reviewed by: Mark Smith
Manufacturer
Altec Lansing
Type: Speakers
System: PC/Home Audio
Rating: 10.0
Features
MSRP: $179.95
During my yearly trek to the E3 show in LA I visit hundreds of booths and see thousands of new and upcoming products. While software makes up a majority of the items I get to see, there are the occasional hardware manufactures displaying the latest in technology. Altec Lansing was one of the hardware vendors I had the privilege of visiting this year, and not only did they offer one of the nicest and most inviting booths at the show, they also had an amazing collection of new speakers for both home audio and PC.
The Model 5100 was easily the showstopper at this booth. The futuristic styling and sexy curved lines of this 6-speaker system turned the heads of anyone who passed by. But due to the overwhelming ambient noise on the show floor it was virtually impossible to find out if these speakers sounded half as amazing as they looked. Only after I was able to install these speakers on my review PC was I able to confirm that these are some of the best speakers you can currently buy.
For the past eight years I have been using the Altec Lansing ACS500. Back in 1994, these were the highest quality speakers you could buy and even included a Dolby Pro-Logic decoder built into the speakers. These speakers have followed me for the past eight years, being hooked up to over a dozen different systems each time I upgraded my computer.
Prior to reviewing the 5100 speakers I had the privilege of reviewing Altec Lansing’s other 5.1 speaker system, the Model 251. Those speakers were a major evolution in PC audio, yet I was still surprised at how much further Altec Lansing could take their speaker design and features. The 5100 system truly reaches new heights of technical and aesthetic achievement.
Like the 251 series, the 5100 is a 5.1 system – the 5 being the five satellite speakers and the .1 being the subwoofer. The speakers themselves are not much taller than the Dr. Pepper can sitting next to the one on my left, and their width and height are just a bit smaller than your typical TV remote. Each speaker features dual 1” neodymium micro drivers and is mounted to a silver alloy stand for a total dimension of 2.25”(W) x 2.5”(D) x 7.3”(H).
The speakers are deceivingly smaller than you would expect for the power and quality that they deliver. The entire set features a smart design using a stylish charcoal and simulated brushed aluminum finish that will compliment any desktop without monopolizing valuable surface space. The center channel can go on top of your monitor or beneath it, and you can use the handy plastic insert to tilt the speaker for optimum effect.
From the time of opening this box of carefully packed, individually wrapped speakers to listening to my first audio CD, about 12 minutes had lapsed. Installation is really that easy thanks to the color-coding of the cables and the speaker jacks, plus the extremely “friendly”, but virtually unnecessary, Quick Connect Card. An 8-year old could hook these speakers up.
While these speakers feature support for 6 discreet channels, the number of audio channels you will be able to hear is totally up to your sound card. If you have a newer 5.1 sound card then you will be able to match each individual connection (front, rear, center) from your sound card to the input jacks on the subwoofer. If you are hooking up an older sound card, audio device, or a video game console (using the included audio-splitter/converter) you may only have support for two or four channels. The 5100 features an Auxiliary input jack allowing you to hook up a CD or MP3 player without having to disconnect your PC. This is a very nice feature and one that was not available on the 251 speakers.
Since it would be impossible to put controls on the actual speaker, the 5100 comes with a matching wired remote. This remote is molded in the same color as the speakers and is an identical match in size and shape. When resting in the silver alloy cradle it looks like another speaker. A headphone jack in the remote allows you to easily mute the speakers and personalize your listening enjoyment.
The remote includes a power button and a knob that controls the master volume by default. Using the option buttons you can independently control the levels for the sub, rear and center channels, as well as bass and treble. The mode select button allows you to toggle between Stereo x2, 4.1 Gaming, and 5.1 sound modes. Bright green LED’s light-up to indicate the various modes and a 5-LED bar arcs around the know indicating current volume or bass/treble levels – very cool!
The Stereo x2 mode is ideal for MP3 or CD players and listening to music using the 4.1 Gaming mode is perfect for EAX and other surround sound supported games. The 5.1 is the pinnacle of surround sound and works great for watching DVD’s provided you have a 5.1 sound card.
Even if you have to settle for a Stereo x2 mix, these speakers sound crystal clear and surround you in glorious digital music and sound. The 5100 audio processor can optionally mix a virtual center channel if your card doesn't support one, and the 150Hz crossover separates the low frequency sounds, routing them through the powerful dual ported 4” long-throw woofers.
I tested these speakers with everything I had in my audio arsenal. I played CD's, MP3's, and DVD's and they all sounded amazing. Considering these speakers are virtually invisible, the sound seems to emit from nowhere. The Stereo x2 mode does a great job of surrounding you with sound, even when the rear channels are just mimicking the front. The subwoofer generated some serious bass, moving enough air under my desk that I could feel it through my pant leg.
The true test of these speakers was when I started playing some of my newer games that supported the surround or EAX features of my Audigy sound card. Games like Soldier of Fortune II, Sum of all Fears, and NASCAR Racing 2002 became entirely new experiences. The 3D effects added a spatial quality to these games that really put me "in the game". These subtle nuances actually enhanced the gameplay by allowing me to use my ears as well as my eyes. I could now hear enemies approaching from the rear by the cracking of a twig in the right-rear speaker, or hear that stockcar bearing down on my left side trying to pass.
Of course, all of these sound effects and the quality in which you will hear them are dependent on the sound card in your system. Suffice to say that if you have a multi-channel audio card then the 5100 speakers are definitely the right speakers to show that card off.
My only complaint with the 5100 is the same one I share with the 251 and that is the length of the connecting cables for the rear speakers. My gaming area is approximately 12’x12’, and it took considerable effort to carefully run the cables to the wall behind me. In the end, I was able to put the speakers in their ideal positions for maximum surround effect, but there was not an inch to be spared and that is with running the cables under my chair mat. If you wanted to run the speaker wire around the perimeter of the room you are out of luck unless you purchase an extension cable.
Personally, I heard little difference (if any) in overall quality between the 251 and 5100 systems. The specs (distortion, signal-to-noise ratio) are virtually identical except for the Frequency response which is slighter greater on the 5100. I’ve always been a sucker for looks and features and the 5100 is going to make you the envy of all your friends when they see them sitting on your desk.
From the moment you pull that top piece of packing foam out of the box you can tell these are the coolest speakers on the planet. The Model 5100 speakers look great and sound incredible. Priced at $179, they are admittedly a luxury item. You will have to ask yourself if the sexy design, an extra 10 watts of power, an Aux input jack, a nifty remote, and the 4.1 gaming mode is enough reason to spend another $80 over the 251 series. I say “Yes”, but the final decision is up to your ego and your wallet.