The speakers are housed in black plastic shells with pink accents. They are covered with black mesh to protect from them from dust or other objects. Dual RCA connectors transmit audio signals from the subwoofer to be projected through the satellites. The back of the speakers are plain, with only a hole to mount them to a wall and a slot at the bottom for attaching the feet.
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The subwoofer is long and thin, with the port on the right. It has four hard rubber feet and all of the connections are contained in a small inlet on the left side of the unit. The sub connects to the satellites using left and right RCA cables, and the control pad uses a proprietary connector. There is also a dial for adjusting bass level.
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The control pad is small and light and sits comfortably on your desk. It takes the computer signal from the 3.5mm connector and sends it to the subwoofer to be distributed between the satellites. A round button on the bottom right of the unit turns the power on and off, and a large dial in the center controls volume. On the left, treble levels can be adjusted using a small, scroll-style wheel. The bottom contains a headphone output, a microphone, and an auxiliary input.
Sound Quality:
The Altec Lansing VS2421 speaker system has good audio quality for a budget setup. The speakers deliver crisp, clean sound, and the subwoofer has strong stable bass. Compared to my Logitech X-240's, the speakers really dish out some nice audio, but the subwoofer is a lot less thumpy. If you listen to tons of rap or rock, you might want to look for a bigger subwoofer, but for most listeners, the bass levels will be acceptable. The satellite speakers, on the other hand, are great! They handle higher pitches better than comparable setups, and provide much cleaner tones. They deliver well for all types of music, whether it be classical, electronica, or rock. Unfortunately, the Integrated microphone did not function, so it is impossible to comment on its sound quality.
Conclusion:
Overall, the VS2421 speaker system is compact, easy to set up, and delivers good audio quality for the price of about $50 US. The speakers are well built, and the control pad is convenient and easy to use.
Pros:
+Well-built
+Clean sound
+Compact subwoofer
+Easy to set up and use
+Convenient control pad
Cons:
-Slightly dull subwoofer
-Wires aren't long enough for home theater use
-Satellites aren't as compact as other similar setups
