We received Altec Lansing's premiere video game audio package -- the XA3051, a 100 watt 5.1 speaker system with Dolby Surround Pro Logic support that can not only intensify your video game enjoyment, but also give new life to your music & DVD player.
Thanks to home entertainment equipment like DVD players and the evolution of computer and video games, a new respect for audio performance has been on the rise, following only the visual quality and effects of those genres. Though the GameCube has no direct support for 5.1 sound, it has become the gold standard for home entertainment systems. Additionally, prices for these audio systems have come down, making mid range and high-end products more powerful than ever before. Altec Lansing, no stranger to the field, is well established in capitalizing on sound systems designed for home entertainment, computers, and now video games.
Last summer, we spent some time reviewing Altec Lansing’s audio equipment designed specifically for video game consoles. The XA3021 2.1 Speaker System achieved its modest goals as a 40 watt TV speaker replacement. The XA3001 Subwoofer was fine for those looking for a little extra kick from their platforms. Finally, we have gotten our hands on Altec Lansing’s premiere video game audio package -- the XA3051 -- a 100 watt Dolby Surround Pro Logic 5.1 speaker setup that can not only intensify your video game enjoyment, but also give new life to your music and DVD player for about the price you would expect.
THE SYSTEM
While the XA3051 is a 5.1 sound system, it does not offer true 5.1 performance. Dolby Surround Pro Logic only supports 4 channels: left, right, rear, and center. This system qualifies as 5.1 due to having two rear speakers producing the same rear feed, plus a subwoofer. For true 5.1, you'll need a speaker system supporting Pro Logic II or Dolby Digital.
If any of this review sounds familiar as you read it, it’s intentional. Due to being from the same product family, the XA3051 resembles the XA3021 in appearance and features, and much of what applied to the 3021 also applies to the 3051, only now performance is on a grander scale. It’s not an easy task to review audio systems in a written form; ultimately it’s going to be up to your own ears to decide what is best for you at the best price you can afford. What’s key is that performance must be judged in the context of which the product was developed -- in this case, video games and TV audio. But first, we must touch up on the specs and features of the product.
Specifications:
Features:
The unit comes in a large black and green box with just about everything you need: 4 satellite speakers, 1 center speaker, subwoofer, wired controller, 3 meter stereo A/V cable, 3 meter composite video extender cable, power adapter, manuals, free lunch, Britney Spears nude photos, etc. No, not really. I’m just making sure you’re still paying attention. Like the XA3021, the only thing missing from the box of the XA3051 is an auxiliary cable that would enable the consumer to connect a portable CD or MP3 player to the system to listen to those devices over this audio system. This is a small and inexpensive cable. Hopefully Altec Lansing will include one in future products to make the package truly complete.
SETUP
Upon opening the box, the large subwoofer is the first thing you’ll notice, taking up the bulk of the package. The subwoofer of the XA3021 reviewed last summer was torpedo-shaped and could be set vertically or horizontally, but could expose the unit’s cable mess right before your very eyes because the cables attached to the side. The XA3051’s subwoofer is a bit wider, and can also be set vertically or horizontally. However, no matter how you stand it, the cables are always on the back, out of sight and out of mind.
The next items you’ll notice in the box are the two front, two rear, and center speakers that make up the rest of the audio system. The subwoofer and speakers all have the same “stylishly loud” front grill. The system may be a bit of an eyesore to those looking for a solution that doesn’t stand out from the rest of your entertainment center equipment.
The speakers feel a bit heavy for their small size, which is a comforting sign of quality. The unit looks tacky, but clearly the speakers are well-shielded and contain quality parts. Each satellite is labeled left/right, front/rear, or center, so connecting them to the subwoofer base is fast and mindless. The connectors are also color coded.
What’s key here is the placement of all of these speakers. Certainly, you want the center speaker to be as close to the TV as possible, so placing it on top of your set is ideal and safe because it is shielded. The left and right front speakers are ideally placed on either side of you in the front corners of the room, and the same goes for the left and right rear speakers… only they go in the rear. The wires for the front speakers are a full 10 feet long, and the rear speaker wires are about 16 feet, so consumers should have no problem placing the speakers in their correct positions in an average-sized room. Low frequency noise is non-directional, so the subwoofer base can be placed anywhere you choose. However, placing it on the floor close to a wall or in a corner provides better bass efficiency and optimum sound. The subwoofer is not magnetically shielded, so it should be at least 2 feet away from TVs, computers, and monitors.
The next step of the installation is attaching the wired controller. This controller is important because it contains the entire control set to operate the audio system. It allows you to control settings from where you are sitting rather than making adjustments on the base unit itself. You can turn the unit On/Off, control master, left, right, center, and rear volumes, adjust bass and treble levels, reset volumes, bass, and treble to default levels, and test all five satellite speakers to verify their operation. Plugging in the wired controller was also easy, but mind that it connects like a keyboard or mouse does to a computer -- it has a pin layout, so don’t bend the pins trying to cram it in the slot. I’ll go into more details about the controller in just a bit.
The next step is to determine what kind of connection you are going to establish. Are you going to use the XA3051 as the audio source for a gaming system or DVD player? Are you going to have your TV connect to it as a simple replacement to your TV’s speakers? Or are you going to connect your personal electronic devices (like portable CD or MP3 players) to it?
For now, I’ll describe how to go about connecting a video game system. If the XA3051 is going to be used as an audio system for your DVD player, the same instructions apply. If you have your game system’s audio/video cables plugged into the back of the TV or VCR, you’ll have to reach around and disconnect them and plug them into the XA3051’s audio input jacks. I’ve connected and disconnected these cables a million times, and it doesn’t get any more fun or hassle-free, but once it’s done, the audio jacks plug in effortlessly to the base unit (red/white).
Most gamers use the yellow input jack to connect the video to the TV or VCR. If the A/V cables are plugged into the XA3051, the video cable would naturally have to come out as well. Altec Lansing has thought of this already. The unit includes a 10 foot long yellow composite cable extension so that the yellow jack can be plugged into the TV/VCR while the red and white cables are appropriately connected to the XA3051.
Also in the box comes a 10 foot long standard red/white composite cable, in case you want to connect your VHS, DVD player, or whatever else to the unit.
You can also connect your personal electronic devices into the unit by using the AUX IN jack. Unfortunately, as mentioned, the unit we received did not include an auxiliary cable. This would be a good thing for Altec Lansing to include in the future, as it’s inexpensive, it saves some hassle for the end user, and it’s just about the only thing missing from this otherwise completely accessorized unit.
Once your type of connection is established, it’s time to connect the power cable. Like the wired controller, the power connector contains pins, so take caution not to flatten them. The power cable contains a heavy brick towards the middle (just like the GameCube’s power cable, only HEAVIER). They’re often a necessary evil, but always annoying when the wire from the base unit to the power brick is so short that the brick could dangle off the side or back of your desk, dresser, or entertainment center that is only waist height. This could put weight stress on the base unit, and accidentally cause it to fall onto the floor if you hadn’t placed it there already. This is another good reason to keep the subwoofer on the floor.
Finally, we’re all set up. Time? About 10-15 minutes up to this point. Now it’s time for some fun.
THE WIRED CONTROLLER
Turn on your TV, console, and XA3051 because it’s time to play. The wired controller is your complete and only source to powering the speaker system… and all from your couch. Life is good. As mentioned, you can turn the unit on/off, control the master, left, right, center, and rear volumes, adjust bass and treble levels, reset volumes, bass, and treble to default levels, and test all five satellite speakers to verify their operation.
The controller attaches to the base unit, so it is not wireless like a TV remote. However, being wired does have an advantage. The controller features two headphone jacks, allowing two players to quietly listen to their game playing, while taking advantage of the XA3051’s power and not waking up the rest of the house. Being limited by the wire for the sake of headphone jacks is a rather subjective benefit. Some may prefer the controller be wireless, and have the headphone jacks on the base itself. For others, however, the controller being wired may be worth it. There’s no fault in doing it either way, and the unit doesn’t lose any points for using the method that it does.
HOW IT SOUNDS
The GameCube doesn’t have a lot of Dolby Surround Pro Logic support, so it’s difficult to truly test it on our favorite purple/black/platinum play thing. But nonetheless, to test the system, we pulled out a number of source materials. Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2, The Matrix DVD, Terminator 2 DVD, and The Eagles – Hell Freezes Over. The Eagles are an older SoCal band, but it was specifically selected for the sound test because this particular concert DVD will benchmark any home theater you can throw at it. The weak shall perish.
I’d love to convince you that it was hard work watching these movies, playing Rogue Leader, and listening to some Eagles, but I’m sure it’ll end up fruitless. I’ll try anyway. After rigorous, rigorous benchmark testing where blood was drawn, sweat was poured, soda was spilled, and tears were wept, The Matrix credits began to roll and I had to come up with a fair, if not subjective, assessment of what I heard.
Television speakers, on average, only contain 3 watts of power (1.5 each). Truly, the 100 watt XA3051 is a considerable advance from muffled mono sound and stereo television speakers. Cranking up the volume is an empowering experience. With a full blast of bass applied, you will feel your insides vibrating with the beat of the music. The XA3051, combined with a music- and sound effect-intense video games or movies is a show all its own.
The XA3051 is a 5.1 audio system that exudes the power that you would expect from a unit in the $199 U.S. price range. If you are stuck with a mono television, or if your stereo TV is no longer cutting it for you, this unit is a nice aural alternative that will give you quality Pro Logic performance. It is hard to say how the unit compares to other systems in its price class. Generally, you will always get what you pay for. There are systems that go as low as $99 or less, and it shows. There are also units that go as high as $400 and higher and that undeniably shows as well. The XA3051 itself does not excel in either value or high-end performance, but you will certainly enjoy it as a quality, well-crafted product.
HOW IT'S BUILT
As mentioned before, at first glance of the XA3051, it may be a bit of an eyesore with the exaggerated grills on the front of the subwoofer and speakers. The unit can be used with a number of devices, such as TV audio, DVD players, CD players, MP3 players, VHS, etc., but clearly the unit was designed with gamers in mind. It only has one set of stereo A/V inputs, so unless you get an adapter, you are limited to only powering one of the above devices at a time. The exception to that are devices that use the alternative auxiliary input jack rather than the red/white composite inputs.
The subwoofer contains all of your connections. It was a little lighter in weight than expected, and is not shielded, but nonetheless has a sufficiently sturdy casing. The subwoofer can be set up vertically or horizontally, based on your own personal preference. Unlike the XA3021, the XA3051 has all cable connections going out the back, keeping the wire mess hidden.
All 5 speakers were heavier than expected, suggesting a good, quality design. The external casing is the same caliber as the subwoofer. Naturally, they are shielded to prevent interference problems, and they are nice little units. The audio clarity and power was impressive for their size – much more engaging than the stereo speakers on the 20” Toshiba television that the unit was tested on. The wires that attach the speakers to the subwoofer were adequately long at 10-16 feet, so there is ample flexibility in placing speakers around the room. If desired, the speakers can even be wall-mounted thanks to their adjustable bases.
CONCLUSION
The Altec Lansing name has a long history behind it, and many customers may know them from the speakers they got with their computers or bought at retail stores. That same quality can also be found in their “XA” line of video game audio systems. The XA3051 is a quality Pro Logic audio solution, especially for gamers tired of weak and inadequate TV audio. There is now a 100 watt max sound system within their grasp that’s designed specifically for them if they can get past the “loud” presentation of the speaker grills.
The XA3051 is the top model of Altec Lansing’s video game speaker lineup. The XA3001 is a subwoofer-only unit that retails for about $50. The XA3021 is a mid-range 40 watt 2.1 sound system that sells for about $100. Whichever you choose, PGC has now given their thumbs up to all available models. The “XA” family of audio systems is a safe bet for anyone looking for more out of their games and movies.
(Note: Please make sure to read Page 2 of this review in order to get a detailed breakdown of the scores.)
