It was a question of when and not why? And Altec Lansing has finally done what was widely anticipated for some time. And here comes the second wave, the XT2, an improved version of its popular XT1 laptop speakers. It’s common sense that Altec wanted to leverage the popularity and goodwill of the XT1, which won a lot of critical acclaim from the geeks worldwide. An improved version is sure to draw in the crowds and rake in the moolah.

Innovative looks with a stylish sleek quality make XT2 stand out in the crowd. The lightweight speakers are portable with a capital ‘P’ and they can be folded and put into the travel case that comes with it. The case thankfully has enough space to hold the speakers, cables and an AC adapter which has as variety of plugs suited for the requirement of different countries. The AC adapter can provide respite to the overworked batteries and run the speakers on power. The XT2 speakers are lightweight and come with unbelievably sleek dimensions of 2.2′(W) by 1.4′(D) by 7.4′(H).

Now, let’s look at its core features. The XT2 offers blistering volumes that do not mar the audio clarity. In fact, the audio clarity is way better than the ones blared out by the built-in speakers of most laptops. The XT2 speakers can also be powered by USB which may not provide enough bass but that can be resolved by the use of the optional subwoofer, offering that extra oomph! The controls comprise volume and power on the right speaker but there is no control available for bass or treble.

Along with the basic functions of the speakers, the XT2 also comes with the added feature of a built-in microphone which utilises the Voice over IP (VoIP) communication. The VoIP comes in handy for online gaming.

And three cheers for its looks. The XT2 power indicator has a blue glow which truly steals the thunder from competition. The slim and silver mesh front adds to the appearance and can be enticing for any geek who has a thing for a good-looking PC. In fact, the XT2 speakers will be an ideal fit for the stylish mac. And since the XT2 speakers are easy to set up, these are really a good buy. Though it’s unfair to compare XT2 to a 2.1 desktop sound system, the former will do just fine when it comes to ensure better quality audio for portable computing needs.