Features & Specifications
The rear surround speakers are indie one cabinet and require no wires from the front speaker to operate. The front sound bar features both front surrounds and the center channel inside one long case. The system communicates wireless with the rear speakers with 2.4 GHz wireless technology. The rear of the front sound bar has several connectivity options including three digital inputs (two optical and one coaxial), three analog inputs, video output for on-screen display used in set up. A subwoofer out is included as well, but no sub ships with the system.

Also included with the speakers are the brackets you need to wall mount the speakers for use with your wall mounted HDTV. A universal remote is included as well so you can control multiple components with one remote. The MSRP for the Altec Lansing PT8051 Wireless Theater System is $999.

Set-up & Use
Setting the system up was the easiest home theater sound system install I ever did. I connected the digital optical out from my PS3 to the rear of the Altec Lansing PT8051 Wireless Theater System and installation was done. You don’t have to run one single wire with this system, though you do have to plug the front and rear speakers into an AC outlet. I was very glad to see a pair of optical inputs on the back of the sound bar, which means you can use the optical out from your HDTV and get digital quality sound from your TV programming as well. In addition to the universal remote, there is also an array of controls on the front of the speaker that allows you to control the inputs as well.

For testing, I fired up some PS3 games with Dolby Digital Surround Sound and played for a long time. The sound quality is very nice. However, the system is almost devoid of bass. If you like to hear and feel the explosions in your games and movies, you will most definitely want to buy a powered subwoofer to go with the Altec Lansing PT8051 Wireless Theater System.

With the close proximity of the speakers, the separation of sound between channels wasn’t as good as my SLS Audio Q-Line silver system. However, my wife really liked it because it had no wires running around the living room. Surround sound quality with HDTV programming from my cable box was good. You can clearly hear the voices, but again I found myself wishing somewhat for more separation in the channels. This is likely a symptom of me being so used to my personal home theater. I also again missed the bass I get with the powered sub that came with my SLS home theater.