14. Conclusion

This comparison test proves that, in general, where sound quality is concerned, there is a clear relationship between the quality and price of a system. MegaWorks 550 5.1 wins universal approbation for its quality and power, making it a system that is superior to any other multimedia speakers tested hitherto. Of course, it shouldn't be directly compared with the other systems in this test, which are more modest in scale. One cannot help but compare it, however, to the no-less-attractive Logitech Z-680, which, despite a minor manufacturing defect, offers excellent value for money. These speakers are very likely to win the votes of anyone who insists that the decoder be external, especially as the Z-680 decodes DTS as well as Dolby Digital and Prologic II. This makes it particularly attractive to owners of game consoles. In short, the matter is settled. If you need a decoder and power, opt for the Z-680, but if quality is your only criterion, then choose Creative Labs' MegaWorks 550.

It's not easy to differentiate between the 251 and the Z-640. The 251s win by a short head, thanks to their indisputable value for money. It's just a pity that Logitech did not opt for a price below $80 for their Z-640, as they did for the Z-540. Even though the quality matches the price, they still can't match up to the 251, which is in a class of its own as far as the bass is concerned. The 5100s are in a different league, thanks to their very innovative and attractive design. All that can be said is that the Altec Lansing has created a real challenge by adopting this design while continuing to maintain a more-than-adequate quality, and all this for a price that, when all is said and done, is much lower than that of certain entry-level home theater systems that have a design that is just as attractive, but a quality that is often debatable.