The Altec Lansing 251 5.1 speaker set has been on sale a lot lately, tempting those keen to experiment with a 5.1 sound system for their computer for gaming and playing surround-sound music and movies. At $60-$70 it looks like a bargain, especially from a manufacturer like Altec Lansing with a good reputation in the speaker field. But this is a case where you get what you pay for.

This is a small, low-powered, cheaply-constructed speaker set, entirely in keeping with the price. The satellites use single 3" drivers, so they are not really capable of reaching the high notes. The subwoofer is small and light, so you know it isn't going to overpower you with deep base. My expectations were not all that high, and they weren't exceeded. With music, the highs are absent, the midrange is muddy, and lows are weak. The subwoofer is prone to be boomy in the upper-mid bass if you turn it up. The volume is adequate for a small to mid-size room, but if you try to turn it up very far the sound quickly becomes distorted, and the speakers start to rattle and buzz. I noticed that almost every 251 demo system I looked at in several stores had one or more blown drivers, so turning it up is probably not a good idea!

I have read some reviews that said this system sounded great. I don't know what they were comparing it to, but that's a wild exaggeration. The sound is not objectionable, but you won't be impressed compared to even the cheapest home stereo system. My inexpensive Advent home stereo speakers driven off a Sound Blaster 16 card outclass the 251s by a long shot.

It's probably better for gaming than for music, but gamers who like gut-thumping bass and percussive explosions will probably be disappointed with the limited power and lack of deep bass.

The physical setup of the speakers is easy, with color-coded cables supplied. Each speaker has a small metal stand (not adjustable), with the centre one slightly different so that it can sit on top of a monitor. Some people complain about short cables to the rear speakers, but they were fine for me, and it's not rocket science to add your own extensions. The right-front satellite has balance controls for the rear and center channels, as well as the master volume. The only tone control is a level control somewhat inconveniently placed on the rear of the subwoofer. The power supply is inside the subwoofer, which is better than a separate power brick.

So, fine if you really want to experiment with 5.1 sound on a tight budget, and you are comparing it to cheap low-end computer speakers. But you would do better to spend a few dollars more if you want to listen to music or have 3D game sound blow your socks off.

Alternative choices:

In side-by-side comparison the Logitech Z640 5.1 system sounds better to me at the same price, but you aren't going to find a 5.1 speaker system in this price range that's really satisfactory for playing music. I would say either spend the same amount on a better 2.1 system for music, or go up to about double this price. The Altec Lansing ATP3 (a 2.1 system for about the same price which I compared with the 251) has much better sound, with clear highs and cleaner, more powerful bass. The Altec Lansing 5100, a 5.1 system for about twice the price, sounds better than the 251, although not as good as the ATP3.