I bought this set to replace 20yr-old Altec Lansing ACS45.2 multimedia speakers that gave a loud pop on a recent evening, finally giving up the ghost. The Altec Lansings were awesome speakers, and I think I paid more for them 20 years ago than I paid for these Logitech replacements. These Logitechs produce very decent sound for inexpensive computer speakers, but they pale in comparison to my poor, dead Altec Lansings. The subwoofer is about half the size (and weight) of the Altec's, so it isn't surprising that it produces less sound pressure overall, and that the sound is a bit muddier. The tone of this set is much sharper than the Altec's rounder sound. I certainly prefer the sound of the Altec Lansing ACS45.2, but they're not available anymore. These Logitech speakers will do for me, since I no longer listen to music on my PC. I think if I wanted to use these speakers for music, they would not satisfy me. Too sharp; not enough subwoofer, and no way to increase or decrease the subwoofer output. The sharper tone is good for voice clarity on YouTube videos and podcasts. I'm not a fan of the exposed driver look of the satellite speakers, much preferring the understated simple cubes with grill cloth of the Altecs. I also prefer the ivory color of the Altecs over the black and silver of the Logitechs. The remote-control pod seems largely unnecessary. It has a power button that turns the speakers on and off and a small green LED to indicate power status, but I can't see why I would use it. The pod also has a diminutive volume wheel, but I can't imagine using that either, since I control audio volume from the roller on my Logitech G910 keyboard. I just set the speaker control pod wheel to MAX and leave it there. Previously, I used a third-party (Radio Shack, I think) output pod that extended the speaker out and mic in from the back of my PC to a convenient location under the front edge of my desk; this was a simple little pod about the same size as the control pod for these Logitech speakers, but it provided remote headphone and mic plugs as well as a simple A-B button to toggle between them. The new Logitech control pod doesn't work that way. The power button toggles the power on and off for the speakers, but the headphone plug serves to mute the speakers whenever headphone or earbuds are plugged in anyway, even with the speakers remaining powered. I like to leave my headphones plugged in all the time, preferring the A-B switch of the old Radio Shack pod to select between speakers and headphones. With the Logitech pod, you can't leave your headphones plugged in without it causing the speakers to mute. The issue for me is wear and tear on the headphone plug. I switch back and forth between speakers (when I am alone) and headphones 2 or three times a day…that's a lot of cycles of insertion/removal for that plug. I doubt it's going to hold up for twenty years to compare with the Altec Lansings. We'll see how it goes. With my previous setup, the third-party A-B switch didn't matter. It was less than $10 and could easily be replaced anytime. The control pod on these new Logitechs is hardwired into the subwoofer (which also contains the power supply.) I guess all good things must end, and the Altec Lansing ACS45.2 were VERY good things! I didn't measure the cables, but they're plenty long enough to reach from the PC case (which sits on my desk behind my monitor) to both the subwoofer on the floor under the desk, and for plenty of separation between right and left satellite speakers on the desktop on either side of my 34" Ultrawide monitor. The wire to the control pod reaches from the back of the subwoofer on the floor against the wall to the front edge of the underside of my desk, where I mounted it with gel tape so I can easily access the headphone plug.
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