EverythingUSB has a full review posted of Altec Lansing’s FX5051 5.1-channel speakers, which promise to provide full surround sound over a single USB-port connection. The reviewer was “quite pleased with the FX5051’s performance” and was overall impressed with the complete package including design and setup. Also, he notes that despite Altec Lansing stating no support for surround sound on Mac OS X systems, the FX5051’s actually did work with his Apple setup.
It’s a great solution for people with budget desktops or notebooks that don’t have good integrated sound or those that lack room for a discrete sound card. Especially for $249.
Altec Lansing FX5051 USB 5.1 Surround Speakers [everythingusb]