Altec Lansing VS4121 Speaker Review

Wattage Ain’t Everything!

by Josh Walrath

Specifications

            Each satellite contains 2 x 28 mm full range drivers, as well as a 3” mid-bass driver that points downward.  The satellite is rated for 6 watts per channel, but those 6 watts are used very wisely.  The subwoofer contains a single 6.5” long throw woofer rated at 19 watts.  The total continuous power is rated at a meager 31 watts RMS, which is far below that of other comparable products.

The contents are simple, but in light of some other highly complex surround systems... simplicity has a quality all its own.

            The satellites are made of a high density plastic shell with a plastic grill in front of the drivers.  These grills are fixed in place and cannot be taken off.  This is unfortunate as I have found that removing some of these covers can really wake up a set of speakers that may be slightly underpowered.  On the right satellite is also the headphone jack, which automatically cuts out power to the speakers once it is plugged in.  The pass through quality of the headphone jack is comparable to the jack on the source (be it a sound card or CD player).

            The subwoofer is made of high density particle board and features a perforated plastic cover.  This cover is also non-removable, but it does not appear to affect the sound as much as the grills on the satellites.  The subwoofer is also ported, which may cause some audible “huffing” if the woofer is working hard.

            Do not let the 31 watt RMS number scare you, as a well designed set of speakers can adequately utilize that power to create fantastic sound.  While the wattage is not that great, it does appear that the amplifier handles a good amount of current, which may explain why these speakers sound as good as they do with a minimal amount of wattage. 

Sound Quality

            These speakers do not exhibit any hiss at elevated sound levels by themselves.  Other components, such as integrated audio or a cheap soundcard, can introduce hissing and popping.  When plugged into a good soundcard, the VS4121’s exhibit none of these problems. 

Altec Lansing gives you plenty of cable to place the satellite nearly anywhere (as long as it isn't too far from the subwoofer).  You can barely see the headphone jack on the bottom right side of the satellite.

Music Playback

            This may be the area where the VS4121’s were primarily aimed at, but it is also the weakest area in terms of audio performance.  The downfiring 3” mid-bass drivers are supposed to open the sound field throughout the room.  While it does a decent job of that, it also muffles a lot of the midrange, and much of the energy is dissipated on the surface they are sitting on.  This results in a distinct lack of midrange in many pieces.  Of course, the harder the surface they are on, the better these speakers will sound.  A glass top table would probably be the best environment for these speakers.

            The sound field sitting in front of the speakers is actually quite good, and due to the nature of the downfiring mid-bass drivers, it is wider than usual for desktop speakers of this power.  When closing one’s eyes and listening to a well recorded piece, the sound field does extend well beyond the area where the speakers are located.  After a while it is very easy to sit back and imagine that you are no longer in a small office.

The controls on the right satellite are very simple and self explanatory.

            The bass is very pronounced, and surprisingly crisp.  Altec did a very good job with this subwoofer design, as it produces very pronounced bass that is not boomy or indistinct.  In fact, the bass may be a little too strong for some smaller rooms, but with a quick turn of the bass knob, the user can adjust the sound to their tastes.

            The overall impression when listening to a wide variety of music is that the VS4121’s accurately convey the high end and the bass, but the midrange is not nearly as pronounced as it should be.  This does have a negative effect on the listening experience, as many musical pieces do not sound as expansive as they should.  For a user who is not an audiophile though, the music will be very clear and neutral without any shrieking highs or boomy lows.

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