7. Altec Lansing 251

The 251s were the first Altec Lansing speakers to offer 5.1 sound. They provide an entry-level solution aimed mainly at gamers, but also for people who watch DVD videos on the PC. The look is that of the Altec Lansing entry-level 2.1 speakers, such as the 221, for example. The woofer is thus quite small in comparison to the same manufacturer's more powerful systems. The front-right satellite speaker carries the controls, including the on/ off button, overall volume, and central channel levels, as well as those for the surround speakers. This satellite speaker also offers an amplified headphone output. The level of the bass is also adjustable, but only from the back of the cabinet, which is not very practical. The cabinet has connections with three analog input sockets for 5.1 sound, as well as outputs to various components. The 251 claims to have a signal-to-noise ratio of better than 70 dB and a bandwidth of between 35 Hz and 18 KHz. The crossover is at150 Hz, which is standard for speakers of this type. The 251s consist of four satellite speakers with a power of 6.5 watts RMS for the front speakers and 7.2 for the surround speakers, with a central channel of 7.6 watts RMS and a 25-watt RMS woofer. As in the 5100, Altec Lansing supplies the 251 with an AACI minijack adapter so that the system can be connected to an RCA games console.