The Altec Lansing 251 5.1 Surround Speakers
Introduction
What's
the difference between "PC gaming" speakers and "PC Music"
speakers? And why can't good sounding, musical speakers do dual duty as a
solid gaming rig? Altec Lansing has somehow divided the buying public into
several groups and the 251's fall squarely into the PC gaming category according
to them. I'm here to say that Altec has short changed themselves with their
251 model. It should be placed in both categories as this
spendthrift surround sound rig poses a serious threat to any other model in
its price range.
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Factory
Specifications
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Altec
Lansing 251
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- Power Output:
45 Watts RMS @ 1% THD, 60 Watts RMS @ 10% THD, 90 Watts Total
Peak Power
- Frequency
Response: 35Hz-18KHz
- Drivers:
5.25" Woofer, 3" Satellites
- Shielded
Satellites
- Input Impedance:
10Kohm
- S/N : >70dB
- Warranty:
1 Years
- List Price:
$99.95 USD
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Description
& Specifications
The subwoofer
is not the same one as in the 221's. Upgraded not only to five satellites
from two, this system has a resemblance to the 221 model in style. The boom
box gets more power and a 5.25 inch driver, up from 4 inches.
As these
satellites are in sealed boxes, I was unable to verify that the 3 inch mid/high
driver in the very same one from the ACS-48 and 621/641 models; however, after
listening to the 251's for over 40 hours, I can conclude that they do have
many of the same characteristics.
Altec is
still one of the very few companies that refuses to play the "boosted
power" ratings game. You know the outrageous claims such as, "1000
watts peak music power" from a 30W transformer. Magic I call it... No,
Altec gives realistic claims with distortion qualifiers. And remember that
power output does not equate to better sound, rather a better design does.
In tabular
form let's examine Altec's power claim:
| Distortion
Level |
1%
THD |
10%
THD |
Total
(Peak) |
| Power
Output |
45
Watts (RMS) |
60
Watts (RMS) |
90
Watts |
I attempted to get a closer
look into the subwoofer's internal transformer, but again it was a sealed
unit, so I'll trust Altec that all power claims have been met. Considering
their past record of truth in this heavily market sensitive area, I have no
reason to challenge their numbers.
