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What would you do if you wanted to make your iPod or other MP3 player the centerpiece of a dorm room, bedroom, or office system that really cranks out the sound? Altec-Lansing has a couple of answers. To go to the main page for Digital Music Revolution coverage, please click here. To Go Back to Sound Investments, please click here. For a bookshelf system at a sweet price, look at
Altec Lansing's new
MX5021. It has a street price of $139, meaning that if you don't need
inMotion's
portability, this will be bigger sound for about the same money. In principle, the MX5021 can be used as computer speakers, but that is not a good fit. Literally -- the speakers are very wide for desktop use and the Subwoofer takes up a lot of space. The speakers have mounting brackets on the back that allow them to be hung on the wall, or you can simply stand them up on a bookshelf. The black-colored system looks at home on the bookshelf or wall. The speakers have a fabric covering like most audio systems, and the proportions and heft say "stereo components" not "powered speakers." But powered they are, and they are pretty much in the kick-butt output range. Hook your player into the system's main input jack, or into the auxiliary input jack on the controller unit, and you will be pumping out serious tunes. There's even a remote control, and setup options for using it with televisions and gaming devices. To my ears, the MX5021 is biased toward rock, with emphasis on bass and strong output. But it handled jazz and classical well. Just the thing to please kids and bug their parents. If you are looking for a speaker upgrade for your PC that really is an upgrade, Altec Lansing has just rolled out the $220 FX6021. Also a "2.1" system (two speakers and a subwoofer), the FX6021 has a
different color scheme -- silver, a different design -- the speakers are
narrow and on pedestals for placement at the side of a computer monitor, and
a different sound -- more moderate volume, more neutral sound. It, too, has a controller unit to adjust volume, treble, and bass, with headphone and auxiliary input jacks. It comes with a remote control to let you change volume if you want to step away from the desk and listen to tunes from your sofa or easy chair. Altec Lansing uses what it calls "InConcert" technology to enhance FX6021's sound. There are six drivers (speaker cones) in each speaker, spaced, the company says, to allow for optimum sound distribution. InConcert also uses multiple amplifiers to enhance sound, frequency filtering, and assorted other audio-electronic wizardry to improve sound. But who cares about the engineering; the question is: how do they sound? I do not profess to be a audio expert, but even my ears could sense the FX6021's capabilities. The same MP3s on my PC that sounded a little dull on my previous speakers came to life on the FX6021. Crisper highs, more pronounced bass, clearer vocals. Interestingly, Altec Lansing's press release on the speakers positioned them as companions for plasma and other flat screen TVs. (Take the bases off the speakers and you have flat units to hang on either side of your TV.) That's certainly a good application. But as the digital music revolution moves ahead and users find that an increasing percentage of their music is stored on hard drives, a multimedia PC cries out for the FX6021's capabilities. Both the MX5021 and the FX6021 give you sound that matches up well to much pricier audio systems. Both are definitely sound investments. (c) 2004 Al Gordon. In addition to his computer interests, Al Gordon is a principal in the Boston-area strategic consulting firm, Mary Fifield Associates, www.maryfifieldassociates.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can reach Al Gordon at:  Return to Top
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