Rating: 
Summary: Powerful bass, music lacks overall warmth
Review: I've had these speakers for almost three years and can't believe that they've failed for some reviewers. They work just like brand new.This system does what it says: it's designed for gamers. Q3A and CS games have perfect sound effects. You can feel the rockets exploding or count the bullets blasting out of your M16 with the subwoofer. Positioned correctly, the satelites provide spectacular surround sound. They are especially useful for those climatic ends when you need to hear where those footsteps or gunshots are coming from. As an avid music collector, I can say that these speakers do a pretty good job of handling many types of music. However, it lacks warmth with classical and thrash (yes, old school Metallica and Sepultura). The sound comes out dry, which is why I'm giving this 4-stars. I haven't had a chance to test the digital inputs, so I can't help you there. SB Live! 5.1 users like me should look for a different package if digital is so important (which it isn't... look at Klipsch!) At 90 bucks (wherever you can find them), the ACS56 is a great bargain. My friend has an ATP 2.1 set that works great too. Altec Lansing is THE choice when you're looking for multimedia sound from low-end to the upper mid-range cost brackets.
Rating: 
Summary: Best low-cost 5 speaker system
Review: After reading some reviews on the product, I purchased it about a year ago. After listening to several other sets of PC speakers since, I STILL haven't found a better "bang for the buck" system. If you're an audiophile, you probably want a higher-end set of speakers. I recommend the ACS54 to anyone looking for great sound at a reasonable price.
Rating:
Summary: Great sound quality in low price range
Review: I have these speakers for almost three years now and I'm very satisfied with the performance. Rock solid bass (don't compare it to Harmon Kardon or JBLs) at a very low price (I bought it for $52). If your Audio CD/MP3(VBR at 160-320Kbps range) is of good quality then it will certainly give out the best sound, same is the case with Games.
Rating: 
Summary: Buyer Beware!!!
Review: These Speakers seem great at first..... I should know I've owned two sets in three years.... The first set I bought ...in early 2000. I moved in 2001 and shortly after moving the Subwoofer went out. The satellites worked, just no bass, since all the bass is channelled through the sub. Ok I then ordered another set from Amazon.com, that set died this weekend. Same thing the Sub is gone. The satellites sound fine. If it was something different I'd see it as a fluke. But it was the same problem both times. Because of this I doubt I ever buy another Altec Lansing product again. When I first heard this set at best buy I was in love they blew away the Cambridge soundworks and boston aqcoustis that were on display at the time. The sound gets alot richer after about two months or so when the speakers get good and broke in. However like most folks I am not made of money and can't afford to buy multimedia speakers every year. I'd recommed either going with Klipsch, my roomate has had his Klipsch for over a year and a half and they rock when combined with an SB Audigy card. Me I think I'm going to try the Logitech Z560 this time around, due to all of the hot reviews I've read and friends have had these since they hit the market. Besides they have had a nice price drop recently too.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Value for a small room
Review: This is perfect for the college dorm or small apartment. Good bass, although when watching movies one may need to turn it down in order to avoid distortion. The woofer should be placed in an enclosed area to really maximise its potential. Speaker cables are problematic as they are not flexible for different layouts. Hiss levels on this speaker setup are also loud for something this small. Overall, a good economy buy, but don't expect world class sound quality.
Rating:
Summary: Good entry level speakers for its time
Review: With the introduction of newer entry levels speakers (most notably the Logitech Z series), many people have wondered about the worth of these speakers. Certainly they are not stellar in all categories, nor would I categorize them as being super in any one. Compared to my Z-680s, they are certainly not as rich in tonal quality nor in overall dynamic range, but considering that the Z-680s cost me four times as much, and the ACS54s should not be considered a disappointment. However its primary competition is most likely the Z-640 and Z-540 from Logitech. You can find the Z-640s for around [money] if you look hard enough, which means paying more than [money] for a ACS54 is of questionable value. The Logitech Z-640 and Z-540s definitely have a lot more low end and high end, but in my opinion their midrange is not as defined as the ACS54. There are also some other 5/6 speaker sets in the [money] price range that offer comparable value, though don't for a minute think they are up to Klipsch 5.1/Logitech Z-680/Megaworks 550D quality. For a set of speakers that won the 3D Sound Surge Seal of Approval in May 2000 ..., I'd say they have been since outdated, though if you can find one for about [money] they do offer a decent audio experience. Won't likely get you in trouble with the neighbors, but still bags some punch. I gave them 4 stars because I've been a satisfied owner for more than a year now, and only recently replaced them. They certainly offer much better value than the CyberAcoustic CA-4100/4400 speakers and almost certainly better than any entry level 3 piece speaker set.
Rating: 
Summary: Completely worthless
Review: I wrote a review about this system a while back, and I explained that I didn't like it. Now, I have even MORE complaints. I have had my speakers for 1 1/2 years. I have returned them four times, until last week. I have now thrown my system away. I am through with Lansing. The four times that I brought them back, I had the same problem every time. My amplifier on my rear speakers blew out every single time. My last set, my fourth set, died on me last week. I have had quite enough of this horrible service. If you want GOOD speakers, I suggest looking elsewhere. These speakers are for toddlers that like their products breaking on them every 4 months. I am goin for the klipsch bad boys. Those things pack 500w sound and have a dedicated center channel. Goodbye "Mr. Unreliable" of Altec Lansing. I am goin for the big boy speakers over at klipsch. =)
Rating:
Summary: Great speakers...
Review: This are a great system of speakers for computer...sound great specially in a sound blaster 5.1...but in venezuela only cost me 50$
Rating:
Summary: Altec Lansing has blown it again
Review: I know that this review is a bit late, but I want to make sure no one buys this piece of hardware... This was my first 4.1 (4 speakers and one subwoofer) system, and I am buying a 5.1 (5 speakers and one subwoofer) system very soon. I am extremely dissapointed with this speaker setup. First off, these speakers don't sound all great...I had 2 piece speakers that sounded better than these. Secondly, these speakers seem to have a high pitched hiss at medium to high volume levels. I was very dissapointed to hear hissing at high volume levels. This is obviously not a speaker system to fill up a room. I do not recommend this system for music, especially MP3's. These speakers are worse for gaming. The rear speakers are terribly unballanced. The only way to get A LITTLE bit of surround sound in is to turn the woofer all the way down, but I would rather have bass than surround. Instead, the sound feels like its coming from thin air, and not from certain places. If someone shoots you and the bullet wizzes by you, you will not feel that emotion. You will hear it from all around, and maybe even from the opposite side from whrere it was wizzing past you. These speakers are bad for gaming. MOVIES i don't even want to get into. DVD's and Divx movies sound horrible, and the bass overpowers the sattelite speakers by far. There is no feeling in the sound, and Morpheus in the matrix sounds like a robot with these speakers. I only recommend these speakers for people that are an extremely tight budget, and for people who do not own 5.1 sound cards, like Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 or Sound Blaster Audigy. Do not get this system unless you fit the description above.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for the price
Review: Great sound, a bit of static at high volumes though. Good for a normal sond system.
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