The flagship of this line, the , released in the late 1990s, remains a cult classic among audiophiles and retro-computing enthusiasts. The system was unique for its "Side-Firing" geometry. Unlike standard desktop speakers that fired directly at the user, the ADA305’s satellites utilized drivers mounted on the sides of the cabinets. This design was not aesthetic but functional; by bouncing sound off walls and room boundaries, the ADA305 created a soundstage that was significantly wider than the physical placement of the speakers. In an era before true 5.1 surround sound systems became affordable for the average consumer, the ADA305 offered a pseudo-surround experience that was nothing short of revolutionary for gaming and early DVD playback.
| Feature | Altec Lansing ADA 890 | Creative/Cambridge SoundWorks DTT2500 | Klipsch ProMedia 4.1 | |---------|------------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------| | THX | Yes | No | Yes | | Dolby Digital | External decoder | Yes (internal) | No | | Satellite driver | 2" full-range + 1" dome tweeter | 2.5" full-range | 3" midbass + horn tweeter | | Subwoofer | 6.5" down-firing | 6.5" front-firing | 6.5" side-firing | | Typical price (2001) | $199 | $149 | $249 | altec lansing ada
: These speakers became a status symbol for early gamers and movie buffs who purchased high-end Dell Dimension 8200 systems, often serving as the center of home entertainment before dedicated home theaters were common. A Legacy of Survival The flagship of this line, the , released
Long before soundbars were a living room staple, Altec Lansing released the in 1998. Known as the "Voice of the Digital Theatre," it is widely recognized as the first multi-channel soundbar . While audiophiles at the time were skeptical that a slim cabinet could rival a full component system, the ADA-106 utilized side-firing reflective drivers and a powered subwoofer to create a surprisingly wide soundstage. The "Subwoofer on Steroids": The ADA-995 This design was not aesthetic but functional; by