Altec Lansing 5100 Troubleshooting Tips, System Specifications, Headphones

No LEDs are lit.

No sound from

one or more

speakers.

No sound from

center or rear

satellites.

Power isn’t turned on.

AC cord isn’t connected to the wall outlet.

Surge protector (if used) isn’t powered on.

Wall outlet not functioning.

Power isn’t turned on.

Volume is set too low.

Audio cable isn’t connected to audio source.

Audio cable is connected to wrong output on audio

source.

Problem with audio source device.

Switch on the rear of the subwoofer is not in the

proper position.

Rear or center level is set too low.

Press Power button on the rear of the subwoofer and on controller.

Check to see if the AC plug is connected to the wall outlet.

If the subwoofer’s AC power cord is plugged into a surge protector, make sure

the surge protector is switched on.

Plug another device into the wall outlet (same jack) to verify the outlet is

working.

Verify the subwoofer’s AC power cord is plugged into the wall outlet.

Verify the has been pressed and the green LED is illuminated.

Verify that the power switch on the rear of the sub is in the ON position.

Turn the volume knob clockwise to raise the volume.

Check volume level on the computer sound card or alternate audio source

device, and set at mid-level.

Check plug connections on both the subwoofer and source. Make sure the

signal cables are inserted firmly into the correct jacks.

Make sure the green 3.5mm stereo cable is connected and fully inserted into

the “line-out” jack of the audio source.

Test the speakers on another audio device. Remove the green audio cable

from the audio source device and connect it to the “line-out” or headphone

jack of another audio source.

Change the position of the switch.

Increase the rear or center speaker volume level.

Troubleshooting Tips

Total System Power: 100 Watts (50 Watts RMS)

Frequency Response: 40 Hz – 20 kHz

Signal to Noise Ratio @ 1 kHz Input: > 70 dB

Crossover Frequency: 150 Hz

System THD (distortion): < 0.50 % THD @ -10 dB full-

scale input voltage

Input Impedance: > 10k ohms

SATELLITE AMPLIFIED SPEAKERS

Drivers (per satellite): Two 28mm micro drivers

SUBWOOFER

Drivers: Two 4" long-throw woofers

POWER REQUIREMENTS

USA, Canada, and applicable 120 V AC @ 60 Hz

Latin American countries:

Europe, United Kingdom, 230 V AC @ 50 Hz

applicable Asian countries, and

applicable Latin American countries:

ETL/cETL/CE/NOM/IRAM Approved

The answers to most setup and performance questions can be found in

the Troubleshooting guide. You can also consult the FAQs in the

customer support section of our Web site at www.alteclansing.com. If

you still can’t find the information you need, please call our customer

service team for assistance before returning the speakers to your

retailer under their return policy.

Customer service is available 7 days a week for your convenience. Our

business hours are:

Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight EST

Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST

1-800-ALTEC-88 (1-800-258-3288)

Email: csupport@alteclansing.com

For the most up-to-date information, be sure to check our Web site at

www.alteclansing.com.

For International Customer Support, please refer to our Web site at

www.alteclansing.com

Designed and engineered in the USA and manufactured in an ISO9002

certified factory. United States Patents 4429181 and 4625328 plus other

patents pending.

System Specifications

Symptom Possible Problem Solution

Console Gaming

Most console game systems feature dual-RCA outputs. Popular console

systems manufacturers include Sony®, Microsoft®, Nintendo®and

Sega®. To connect your speakers, follow the steps below:

1. Make sure your console gaming system is turned off.

2. Locate the AAC1 Y-adapter included with your 5100 speaker system.

The AAC1 Y-adapter has a green 3.5mm stereo jack on one end and

two RCA jacks on the other—one red and one white.

3. Locate the red and white RCA plugs on the end of the cable

connected to the back of your console gaming system. Connect them

to the matching red and white RCA jacks on the AAC1 Y-adapter.

4. Locate the cable with the green 3.5mm stereo jack.

5. Insert one end of the green plug into the color-coded input on the

rear of the subwoofer labeled front input. Insert the green plug on

the other end of this cable into the lime green jack on the AAC1

Y-adapter.

6. Set the mode on the controller to the StereoX2 position.

NOTE: To ensure sound emanates from the center satellite, be sure that

the center mix switch on the subwoofer is in the “on” position.

Portable Audio Devices (MP3, Portable CD Players,

etc.)

1. Locate the cable with green 3.5mm stereo plugs.

2. Insert one end of the green plug into the color-coded input located

on the rear of the subwoofer labeled front input.

3. Insert the other end of the green input plug into the computer stereo

(green) output.

4. Set the mode on the controller to the StereoX2 position.

NOTE: To ensure sound emanates from the center satellite, be sure that

the center mix switch on the subwoofer is in the “on” position.

Center Channel Operation

If your speaker configuration does not allow for use of the center

satellite, simply disconnect the satellite and use the remaining four

satellites. When the center satellite is disconnected from the

subwoofer, the center signal is mixed into the left and right front

satellites.

NOTE: When using the center channel, to ensure sound emanates from

the center satellite, be sure that the center mix switch on the

subwoofer is in the “on” position.

Center Channel Stand

You will find the center satellite stand in the packaging foam in the

groove next to the center satellite. Affix the stand into the mounting

holes on the bottom of the center satellite.

Headphones

To use headphones with the system, plug them into the labeled

jack on the front of the controller. When headphones are connected,

all satellites and the subwoofer are muted.

Power On/Off

Turn on the Altec Lansing 5100 speaker system by first ensuring the

power switch, located on the rear of the subwoofer, is in the ON

position. Then push the standby button which is located on the

System Controller. A green LED will illuminate above the StereoX2

mode button when the unit is fully powered.

If the power switch on the rear of the subwoofer is in the OFF position,

the entire unit is shut off.

Master Volume Control

Locate the rotary knob on the System Controller. The rotary knob acts

as the Master Volume control for the overall system when no other

buttons have been pushed. It is also used to individually adjust the

bass, treble and rear sound levels. If any of these functions is selected

but not used for a few seconds, the control reverts back to the Master

Volume control.

Five LED indicators around the control show the position of the

control. In the extreme counterclockwise position, all LEDs are off. As

the control is rotated clockwise, the LEDs illuminate one at a time until

they reach the maximum position, where all LEDs are glowing.

Bass/Center Control

The Bass and Center buttons are located on the System Controller.

When the Bass button is pushed, the bass LED will turn on and the

rotary knob will change the level of bass on all speakers, having the

greatest effect on the subwoofer. The LEDs around the rotary knob will

illuminate one at a time to indicate the level of bass boost or

reduction. The center LED indicates the default position. Pushing the

bass button again will immediately exit this function.

When the Bass/Center button is pushed and held for three seconds, the

Bass/Center LED will flash and the rotary encoder will continue as the

center speaker level control.

Treble/Rear Control

When the treble button is pushed, the Treble/Rear LED will illuminate

and the rotary knob will change the level of treble on all speakers.

The LEDs around the rotary knob illuminate individually to indicate

the level of treble boost or reduction. The center LED indicates the

default position. Pushing the treble button again will immediately exit

this function.

When pushed and held for three seconds, the Treble/Rear LED will flash

and the rotary encoder will adjust the rear speaker level control.

Mode Selector

The Tri-Mode Selector button is located on the System Controller. The

Tri-Mode selector changes the operation of the system between the

three modes: 5.1/4.1/StereoX2. Pressing the Mode button cycles

through the three modes.

The 5.1 Mode works with your 6-channel sound card to bring your

favorite films to life. In this mode, the Front Input plays on the front

satellites, the Rear Input plays on the rear satellites, the Center Input

plays through the center speaker and the subwoofer plays from both

the Front and the Rear Inputs.

The 4.1 Mode is perfect for gaming with deep, resounding bass and

clear highs. In this mode, the Front Input plays on the front satellites,

the Rear Input plays on the rear satellites, and the center and

subwoofer plays from both the Front and the Rear Inputs.

In Stereo X2 mode (system default), the Front Input plays on both the

front and rear satellites, the center satellite and the subwoofer.

NOTE: When using the center channel, to ensure sound emanates from

the center satellite, be sure that the center mix switch on the

subwoofer is in the “on” position.

The rotary knob reverts to Master Volume control function when a

period of three seconds of inactivity occurs after adjusting the bass,

treble or rear speaker levels.

The standby button found on the controller denotes a standby

mode which mutes the speaker and subwoofer volume. Pressing the

standby button again returns the system to its previous settings.

System Reset to Factory Default Settings:

To return to factory default settings, press both the Bass/Center and

Treble/Rear buttons at the same time and hold for five seconds. This

will reset the bass, treble, mode volume and rear volume settings.