Altec Lansing XT1

We awarded the XT1 our Editor's Choice way back in February of this year, and there's very little question why. Altec Lansing knows how to make a great audio system, made all the better by the subsequent $20 price drop. The speakers are tall and skinny, allowing for maximum desktop space. A clever design touch is the plastic base on the audio cords that allow the XT1s to stand up when plugged in. The XT1s are USB powered, which means that they only work if your notebook is turned on; an auxiliary jack located on the right speaker connects your iPod or other music player. Above that jack are three buttons, Volume Up, Volume Down, and Power.

The $99.95 price tag makes the XT1s the most expensive speakers in our roundup, but the sound quality emitted from the skinny silver towers justifies spending close to triple digits. Make sure that you don't play a game of Far Cry too late at night, lest you risk scaring the hell out of your neighbors with the gun shot sounds. We won't be making that mistake again any time soon.
www.alteclansing.com

Wattage: 1.5 Watts
Weight: 1.5 pounds