Standing in a branch of Circuit City, looking for a network card, the last thing on my mind was a new speaker system for my computer. I didn't need one.

20 feet away a young kid was pushing buttons on the shelf that displayed computer speaker systems, listening to each in turn. They weren't all that good, though one or two sounded better than my own at home. Then he pressed the button for the system at the end and with a dozen or so other people I turned quickly to see where the sound was coming from - not because it was loud, but because it was such a different quality to the rest and so good.

It was a set of Altec Lansing 621 speakers and without doubt these were the very best of the long row of systems in the store. I listened some more and using the rather inelegant remote, turned the volume up, and up a bit more.

After five minutes I'd justified the cost to myself - after all, what digital video editor is without a great sound system to play the soundtrack back on?! I left the store with their last pair, and I can promise you they're not going back.

Comprising a large shoe-box sized subwoofer that has all the electronics in it, a bunch of wires to add to the average behind-the-computer spaghetti, two satellite speakers that are somewhat larger than in most other systems, and a wired remote that controls nothing but power and volume (but which sits on a rather sylish metal mount), the 621 speaker system looks neat, perhaps a little futuristic, but nothing really special. The speakers look well made and the subwoofer is rather heavy. One feature I liked was that the system has two sound inputs so it can be used with two seperate sources at the same time. That's not so good if you're trying to play a CD on both, but if (like me) you've got two computers on the same desk and use one at a time, this system can work with both without messing around the back.

I plugged the system together, plugged it into my Mac and sat back to listen.

It's difficult to describe the sense of complete enjoyment and involvement that these speakers give to music. They project clear, crisp and powerful sound that is solid and entirely believable. With the control on the subwoofer turned up only as far as needed for the bass to sound properly balanced, the speakers were truly amazing. I turned them up, and then up again until music filled the room in a way I would never have thought such a small system could achieve. They go loud, though not quite deafening.

There are a couple of small complaints however. The most important is that while the satellite speakers are shielded and can be used right next to a monitor, the subwoofer is not. Injudiciously placed it can suffer hum or crackling, and believe me, at any volume at all you don't want to hear that! Sited away from the computer however it's just fine. I also think the satellite speakers are bit too big to comfortably fit on a desk with a good-sized monitor, though they look good. I was also going to complain about the price - mine cost $129 which seemed fair, but the recommended price of $149 seems high - until, that is, you listen to them. Somehow they don't seem pricey at all after that!

In the end, this Altec Lansing speaker system is really quite amazing. Whether used for CD playback, DV editing and sountracks or just for watching DVDs, the quality of sound is always excellent, often stunning and sometimes almost breathtaking. It produces great detail yet can do so with great power and force and always sounds controlled and accurate.

Maybe it's overkill to plug these into a computer - but so far they've impressed me with every use. Find some and take your ears out of mothballs.... these speakers deserve a listen!