4. Altec Lansing VS 3151R Puts Volume Above All, Continued

The satellites, which are very similar to the ones used in other recent Altec products, use a full-range speaker about 5 cm (2") in diameter, well protected behind a metal grille. With their aluminum surround, they're esthetically pleasing if you like the classic, restrained style.

The subwoofer is wider than it is high, which is fairly rare. It's fitted with a 13-cm (5") driver with a half-roll suspension that gives it a fairly long throw for its size. It uses a classic bass-reflex loading, with the port opening on the front panel - which will facilitate installation since it can be placed against a wall or in a corner without obstructing the necessary air flow.

Like many other systems with modest power, the 3151 provides more wattage for the center channel, which is heavily used when screening movies. This approach gives better performance without having to pump up the overall volume too much.

Technical characteristics

Bass power output: 20 W Satellite power output: 4 x 5 W Center channel power output: 10 W Frequency response: 40 Hz - 20 kHz (-10 dB) Inputs: 2 line (5.1 and stereo) Headphone jack: on control unit Satellites: 2" full-range Subwoofer: 5.25" woofer Satellite dimensions : 81 mm (3") x 210 mm (8") x 79 mm (3") Subwoofer dimensions: 251 mm (10") x 146 mm (8") x 209 mm (8")