When I went to the computer store I must have listened to 20 different speaker / sub sets head to head on the shelf. The experience went kind of like this:
"tinny", "distortion", "ugly", "flimsy", "even more tinny", "WOW!", "no volume control", "expensive", "yukky".

The "WOW!" was the Altec Lansing 221 system. It was on special for $50 and the only system on the shelf that sounded anything like that was over $150 and the only one better was over $200.

I have to admit that it is mostly the sub that gives this system it's clarity. By having a good sub to anchor the set, the satelites can do their high frequency work without having to handle anything low. Most manufacturers put a high power amp in their sub (100 watts! 200 watts!) but get that power by working the op-amps at the upper range of their ratings, where the distortion runs rampant. You never get that with this system. I have driven the system at almost max volume and notice no distortion.

About the only tick mark against this system is that if I put the satelites too close to the rear of my 22 inch monitor they can pick up some fuzzy feedback. If I move them 4 inches further to the front, that goes away.

I am going to buy 2 or three more of these if they go on sale again and use them as room speakers for my low power distribution on my house stereo.