Top 5 2.1 Channel Speakers

The search for good audio never ends! Some like heavy bass while some may prefer clean and natural sound. For audio enthusiasts to casual listeners, PC has become the main center of entertainment for many. One problem though, there are not many good sounding PC speakers to bring the audio experience to a next level for consumers in the current market. However, after  we heard and tested the latest speakers t, we came up with the top 2.1 speakers from different prices. Read on and find out whose sound would please your ears the most.

1) Creative GigaWorks T3

Rating : Very Good

Price: Rs. 16,990

The Gigaworks T3 is a neatly designed 2.1 speaker system that has two cubic satellites and a three driver powered subwoofer. The satellites are around the size of a standard rubiks cube which make it suitable to place them without much problem on the desk.They stood firmly with the support of their metallic stands. Each is powered by a full range 2-inch driver to deliver crispy mids and clean highs. The subwoofer uses Creatives own SLAM (Symmetrically Loaded Acoustic Module) technology which is actually comprised of three drivers in a port-less enclosure. The subwoofer has a dimension of 287mm x 236mm x 213mm and weighs 5.9-kg which provides stability when those three drivers are roaring below 30Hz. Behind the subwoofer is where all the cables are connected and it also has a bass level controller here. To make operating easier there is wired remote control pod which has a neat rounded design with ports for headphones and auxiliary sandwiching a blue LED power indicator. (Read more..)

2) Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra MX6021

Rating: Good
Price: Rs. 8,610

The Expressionist Ultra MX6021 has a striking design that would draw anyone’s attention. From the translucent front panel on its satellite and the futuristic control pod to the monstrous subwoofer, this Expressionist from Altec has a synergistic build and design. The build quality of the satellites despite their glossy plastic finish is quite sturdy and doesn’t feel cheap. The glossy finish attracts dust and fingerprints though. The control pod is the most interesting part of the system unit and has controls for volume, treble and bass. It is a wired remote control that has buttons at the top. Adjustment is made by turning the textured knob that is accompanied by a mechanical clicking sound and the level is indicated by the LEDs lights at the base. These LEDs blink at random while music is being played. ( read more..)

3) Altec Lansing Octane 7 ( VS 4621)

Rating: Good
Price: Rs. 3,990

Just like the old Altec Lansing VS 4121 speakers, the satellites of the Octane 7 are torch-shaped with a round base. The slender part of the satellite has two 1-inch micro-drivers and the rounded base houses a down-firing 3-inch midrange driver. This down-firing arrangement (Altec Lansing claims) reflects the sound waves from hard surfaces and disperses the sound in all directions. Due to this obvious reason, the satellites are not mountable.
The right channel satellite has controls for volume, bass, treble and auxiliary in, but unfortunately, there are no headphones out. The satellites have a fixed cable that plugs into the back of the subwoofer.  The subwoofer has a 6.5-inch side-firing, long-throw woofer and its back has a fixed power cord, power switch, 3.5mm line-in jack and ports for hooking up the satellites’ cables. The Octane 7 works with MP3 players, laptops, PCs, DVD players and anything else which has a 3.5 mm audio jack. ( read more..)

4) Creative Inspire S2

Rating: Good
Price: Rs. 5,999

The Creative Inspire S2 is a miniature 2.1 speaker system that is designed for notebooks, MP3 players and a PC. It is a small adorable sound system that also sounds as sweet as it looks.In terms of specs, the Inspire S2 does not bring anything new. The satellites have 2-inch drivers hidden behind the grille while the compact subwoofer is powered by a 5-inch driver which again is protected by a grille. The satellite is rated at 6-watts RMS per channel, the Direct- Throw subwoofer is rated at 17 watts that makes the total output 29 watts RMS. Its total power is good enough to fill a mid-size bedroom. The system has a claimed frequency range from 40Hz to 20kHz and a >75dB  Signal to Noise Ratio. ( read more.)

5) Altec Lansing expressionist BASS
Rating: Fair
Price: Rs. 5,490

What happens when two subwoofers are hidden under the set of two satellite speakers?  You get a 2.2 channel audio which is exactly what the Altec Lansing Expressionist Bass FX3022 offered.
The FX3022 are two set of conical shaped desktop speakers uniquely designed with dual down-firing subwoofer at their base. They have a glossy black finish with the right channel sporting ports for AC adapter, line-in jack and aux-into connect other audio source. On the top of this right speaker are volume controls and power switch button with no controls for treble and bass though.  There is one 5-inch full range drivers on each speaker while their 4-inch drivers at the base radiate the mid bass at 360 degree.  The total speaker power output is rated at 25 watts RMS which would be enough for most office or home use. ( read more..)