When I agreed to do a review of the Aztech AMS 5.1 multi-channel speakers, I had probably thought, Oh, what can be so special about a pair of speakers? When I saw the packaging, I was flabber-gasted; more so when I tried to lift the box, which is about as heavy as a PC.

Yes, the AMS 5.1 Speaker System (AMS5.1) is a high-end speaker system consisting of:

• One 23-watt, four-ohm, 5.25-inch powered subwoofer
• Five seven-watt, four-ohm, 3-inch compact satellite speakers with three 3-metre speaker cables and two 6-metre speaker cables
• One Digital Control Unit with a two-metre interface cable
• One Infrared Remote Controller

Your Home Theatre

I use Altec-Lansing speakers at work on my Dell PC but other than the brand name, they are nothing to write home about. At home I have had tinny little unpowered speakers that came with a sound card or bought at the Reject Shop for $4. My children have spoken of a friend who has surround sound for his gaming PC. Not having seen it, I dismissed the concept as something that is OK for other people or too difficult to duplicate. You know what is coming, right?

Yes, installing the AMS 5.1 for the sake of the review was as simple as plugging the subwoofer into my year-old single-output sound card and the mains power, plugging the satellite speakers into the subwoofer, and gently turning up the volume. For a permanent installation, one would mount the speakers on a wall behind the user and on the desk or wall behind the monitor.

Features

• 700 W PMPO Output Power (58 W RMS).
• Supports 2-channel, 4-channel and 5.1-channel
  analogue inputs.
• Outputs discrete 2-/4-/5.1-channel audio output 
  with any 2-/4-/5.1-channel input sources.
• Outputs 2-/4-channel 3D positional audio effects with any 3D interactive sound modules.
• AMS Movie Surround Processing for 2-to-5.1 channel surround sound output.
• AMS Simulated Centre Processing for 4-to-5.1 channel surround sound output.
• Preset Environmental Effects such as Jazz, Game and Rock.
• Memory storage for user-defined settings.
• Independent programmable volume and mute control
  for individual channels: Subwoofer, Centre, Front Left,
  Front Right, Rear Left and Rear Right.
• Magnetically shielded speakers.
• Digital Control Unit.
• IR Remote Controller.
• Well-suited for 3D interactive sound cards such as Aztech PCI 368DSP, Aztech PCI 288-Q3DII, Creative Sound Blaster Live and Diamond MX300.
• Also suitable for AV equipment such as DVD/LD/VCD players, hi-fi gear and portable audio output devices.
• Headphone output
• Brackets, rubber feet and screws for satellite speakers

As expected, installation was simple, as there is no software to load on the PC. The effect of surround-sound is very impressive, particularly in a game that is optimised for 3D sound. I don’t have a sound card with a separate rear channel output, but its A3D chip when coupled with the rear speakers of the AMS5.1 was effective enough for me. I am sure I could wake up the neighbours at full blast, but I did not attempt that. The control unit has a large knob that you turn through several rotations to increase or decrease the volume. This can also be done with the remote controller. You can also adjust (or mute) any of the six speakers individually by holding down the specific button (as you would the Ctrl key on your PC) while adjusting the volume.

There are seven preprogrammed environmental settings:

• Rock
• Pop
• Jazz
• Default
• Night
• Game
• Cinema

You can also store seven of your own settings in the keys marked 1 through 7. Clearly, the speaker system is very flexible and satisfying. It would make a fine Christmas gift for yourself (or, in the season of giving, for your family)

Availability

The AMS 5.1 Speaker System retails for $200, which is cheaper than its US RRP of US$199. To locate your nearest reseller, contact either of the two Aztech distributors below.

• Achieva Technology (02) 9742 3288
• NatComp Technology (02) 9712 0099