Price Paid:  $40.00 from EB

Summary:
These little guys sound great and the price cannot be beat.

The satellites are about 3"x3"x3", and the sub is about 6"x6"x6". The volume control is really small, approximately 1"x1.5"x.5", but helpful as I am using these as my rear speakers. If the volume control was on the speakers, I would have to get up and walk back a few steps to adjust it. As it is, there is sufficient cord to place the volume control on top of the CPU. My front speakers are Altec Lansing ACS 48's, another 2.1 setup, which have volume controls on the speakers themselves. As they are placed on either sides of the computer desk, the volume control can be easily reached. The combination of the two with my SB Live works really, really well. Since I'm running both subs, I have plenty of bass for my apartment computer room!!!! My neighbors below do not likely share my positive opinion, of course, but that cannot be helped :) Using both speaker sets, I have yet to turn up the volume of either past 4-5, as that is about as loud as I can take it without wondering whether the apartment manager will be paying a visit. Suffice to say, there is no problem with volume here folks, when combined with another 2.1 solution. In fact, purchasing two of these sets will cost you about the same as a very modest 4.1 solution, and you will have twice the bass!! (...well, at least theoretically.)

My favorite game when it comes to sound is Ghost Recon, which works well as a test subject for these speakers. The accuracy of the sound in that game is astonishing, and with these speaks I was able to hear everything from the footsteps of my team members behind me to the sounds of the wildlife. Not to mention the bullets whizzing by!

To wrap this up, here's a breakdown of my opinion:

1. Ease of use: 100 out of 100. Everything from the cord length to the volume control worked well for me.

2. Sound volume: 100 out of 100. The volume of these speakers is more than sufficient for an apartment room. I would recommend a set with larger satellites and a larger subwoofer for larger rooms, however.

3. Sound quality for Gaming: 80 out of 100. These speakers will do everything you ask of them in gaming environments, when combined with another set of 2.1's. Again, I haven't tested them extensively alone. The only reason that this score isn't closer to 100 is that there are so many better sounding speakers out there for triple, quadruple, or quintuple the price. If I change this category to sound quality for gaming, considering the price, they would definitely score 100. I've heard plenty of 2.1 speaker sets that cost $80, $90, $100+ that have very comparable sound.

4. Sound quality for Music: 70 out of 100. This is not hi-fi here folks, but these speaks don't crack, pop, or significantly distort at normal to moderately high volumes.

5. Price: 100 out of 100. The $40 price tag on these speakers cannot be beat, considering that they function very well for gaming. I assume you could even find them for a few bucks less if you look around a bit!!!

Overall score (not an average): 90 out of 100. I am extremely happy with these speakers and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone as a supplement to a second set of 2.1 speakers. With the capability of SB Live and similar cards, allowing for 4.1 and 5.1 setups at a very reasonable price, there is no excuse to game in stereo only. That said, I’m off for another stomp in the deserts of virtual Eritrea with some fellow Ghosts.