Altec Lansing systems are very good indeed, as are Bose and Bang and Olufsen...and many others
However audio fidelity can be very subjective. What one listener finds suitable/enjoyable another can find lacking or even objectionable.
Many years ago I was called to the home of a customer, who complained that the top-of-the-range system my employer had sold him was faulty.
In order to demonstrate what he meant, he commenced to play a recording of Beethoven's violin concerto on his very expensive sound system.
When I asked what was wrong with the resulting sound quality, he complained that the sound 'hurt' his ears.
To my ears the reproduction was excellent.
I then asked him to play the same music for a second time, but I surreptitiously adjusted the controls to employ a high degree of treble cut.
The resulting sound turned out to be much more to his liking.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the music or its reproduction. He simply had purchased a very expensive, high quality system, which he did not need or appreciate. A far less expensive system of lower sound quality would have suited his taste far better.
I use a pair of good quality Sennheiser headphones for listening to music on my computer.
In my opinion this is much better than what is typically used these days, unless you are located in a room with good acoustics and using a high quality hi-fi system connected to an high quality, high efficiency speaker system. In addition to high quality reproduction the model I chose also restricts the intrusion of other outside sounds and noise very effectively.
All that said, the ultimate proof of the pudding is in the listening. It is an highly subjective (personal) experience.
Taking a selection of your own music with you, go to a dealer who is prepared to let you try a range of different audio systems at your leisure in a quiet listening environment. Don't be rushed....take your time. Settle on the brand and model which suits 'your' particular ears.
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