Altec Lansing Ships ACS54 PowerPlay Plus Gaming Speakers

Altec Lansing has started shipping its ACS54 PowerPlay Plus, five speakers aimed straight at PC gamers. You get four satellites and a wood subwoofer pushing 40 watts total, with discrete four-channel output: real rear speakers, not a simulated trick. Quad inputs hook up to the 3D positional sound cards that put out a rear channel, which is exactly what the current crop of games is built for.

If your sound card is plain stereo, the system can still fake four-channel surround through a standard stereo connection. Separate volume controls for the mains and the rears let you dial in the sweet spot from your chair, and the rear satellites have keyhole brackets for wall mounting, which saves you the milk-crate speaker stands. The ACS54 hits retail shelves next month. Games have been begging for real rear channels; the speakers are finally catching up.