I'm a bass player by trade, and the primary job of these computer speakers is to play my audio CDs. They have a frequency response of 35Hz (pretty close to the rumble of a 5-string bass' low B string) all the way up to 20kHz (and yeah, even after years of standing on the hi-hat side of a drummer, I can tell when I'm getting shorted on the highs). They've got more volume than I need (12w for the satellites, 20w for the sub). And most of all, they sound good--they're unstrained, natural, and well-balanced with precise imaging. I find them very musical.

These speakers came to me as part of a NuTrend system. Just after I bought them, the Cambridge 4-satellite-with-sub system went on sale at OfficeMax. Not that I was the least dissatisfied with the Altecs, but having read great reviews on the Cambridge system, I figured I'd them a trial. I took them back the same day. No matter the supposed advantage in imaging while playing games, in comparison to the Altecs, the sound struck me as harsh, strained, and just plain unpleasant. They made me appreciate my Altecs even more.

I liked the Altecs enough that I didn't bother to buy replacement speakers for my component system as I'd promised myself I would (the old ones had been blown out). Instead, I gave away my remaining components. The Altecs are surprisingly satisfying for playing music CDs, and the sound quality really sucks you into a good DVD movie.

This would make a great gift for anyone suffering with cheap speakers, both those who were too busy thinking about other choices to think too hard about speakers (like techies) and those on a budget (like teens). And when you get ready to flesh out a new system for yourself, before you toss any old 5-speaker system into your basket just 'cause it's got 5 speakers, audition a good Altec 3-speaker system first. You might end up saving yourself a few dollars, a few square inches of desk space, and a whole lot wear and tear on your ears.

Note: While I depend on the Altecs for casual listening (very convenient, pleasant sound), for critical listening (inconvenient, audiophile sound), I break out my discontinued Sony MDR-V6 closed-ear headphones. This covers all my listening needs for the smallest possible cash outlay. You may wish to adapt this two-level approach for your own needs.