Help Me Choose Speakers for My Vintage DOS/Windows XP System (ACS5 or HK195) \ VOGONS

Help Me Choose Speakers for My Vintage DOS/Windows XP System (ACS5 or HK195)

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First post, by Tempest

Posted on 2026-07-19, 16:11

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Through some fortuitous luck I happened into two different sets of vintage computer speakers that I intend to use with my DOS/Windows 98/ XP systems. However I really don't know much about speakers so I'd like to ask the group which ones of these would be better: Altec Lansing ACS5 or Harman Kardon HK195. Neither has a subwoofer and to my untrained ear sound about the same (although I really didn't do a thorough test). The AL speakers are very similar to the ones I had on my 486 back in the day (except that one had a subwoofer with it), so looks-wise I'm kind of partial to them. Any suggestions on which would best the best to use? I'll probably plug the set I don't use into one of my other classic computers so they won't go to waste.

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Reply 1 of 8, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2026-07-19, 17:18

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Since you already have both sets of speakers, I would just try them both and use the set that sounds better to you.

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Reply 2 of 8, by NeoG_

Posted on 2026-07-19, 22:55

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The sound quality of these is nothing to write home about, so it would be more of a visual match. The ACS5 has an early 90s vibe and the HK195 has a late 90s vibe, so you can pair them appropriately.

98/DOS Rig: BabyAT AladdinV, K6-2+/550, V3 2000, 128MB PC100, 20GB HDD, 128GB SD2IDE, SB Live!, SB16-SCSI, PicoGUS, WP32 McCake, iNFRA CD, ZIP100
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Reply 3 of 8, by Tempest

Posted on Yesterday, 13:03

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Ok if neither is anything special then I'll go with the ACS5 then. I just wanted to see if one was considerably better than the other.

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Reply 4 of 8, by NeoG_

Posted on Yesterday, 13:11

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Tempest wrote on Yesterday, 13:03:

Ok if neither is anything special then I'll go with the ACS5 then. I just wanted to see if one was considerably better than the other.

Given that you are the one that will be using them, what do you think sounds better out of the two?

Reply 5 of 8, by Tempest

Posted on Yesterday, 13:13

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NeoG_ wrote on Yesterday, 13:11:

Given that you are the one that will be using them, what do you think sounds better out of the two?

They sound the same to me, but I'm not really an audiophile. I just want something with a good range that doesn't sound tinny or is going to crackle on me. Sounds like either of these will do.

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Reply 6 of 8, by theelf

Posted on Yesterday, 13:36

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and the pictures?

Reply 7 of 8, by Tempest

Posted on Today, 00:40

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theelf wrote on Yesterday, 13:36:

and the pictures?

Best I can do right now. You can see the HK speakers hooked up right now and the AL speakers in front (not hooked up).

The attachment IMG_8061.jpeg is no longer available

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Reply 8 of 8, by theelf

Posted on Today, 06:45

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Tempest wrote on Today, 00:40:

theelf wrote on Yesterday, 13:36:

and the pictures?

Best I can do right now. You can see the HK speakers hooked up right now and the AL speakers in front (not hooked up).

The attachment IMG_8061.jpeg is no longer available

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