Tuesday May 12, 2009
Towering reverberations
The Altec Lansing Expressionist Bass FX 3022 exudes a commanding presence when placed on a desk but does it perform up to the standard?
By STEFAN NAIDU
When I took this pair of speakers out of the box and placed them on my work desk, I was reminded of the religious monuments erected by ancient Polynesians on Easter Island.
The Expressionist Bass FX 3022 really does look like one of those stone heads and it makes you feel like some sort of Polynesian monarch with a mandate from a higher power to turn up the volume and blast the beats.
They do not take up as much space as you would initially guess. The tower-like satellites house a down-firing subwoofer which is a great space saving design.
However, this model may not be for those who prefer to have a separate gigantic subwoofer.
Like most speakers, it was pretty straightforward to install as it is, literally, plug and play.
I was disappointed that it only had volume control buttons and lacked a bass control knob. Even the volume control buttons could be more prominent rather than being cleverly camouflaged on the top of the right satellite.
The wiring on this model is needlessly messy. The wires seem to merge together at the back of the satellite and it is incredibly difficult to be tidy with them.
Pump it up
I must say, I was quite impressed with the sound quality of the FX3022. The power of the bass while playing FPS (first-person shooter) games makes you want to duck for cover when you hear the gunfire.
If you turn the volume all the way up you may get a concussion from a grenade blast.
I decided to play a variety of music genres with this model and I can safely say it held its own when it came to loud beat techno right down to old country music.
Also, there was no crackle or distortion of any kind when the volume limit was reached.
As I mentioned before, there is no bass control knob which is probably the biggest drawback for this model.
For me, bass control is extremely important as I like to configure some of my tracks to the optimum bass level while I am playing my music.
Also, this model is a little on the expensive side. Perhaps the justification is the design and sound quality of this unit.
However, given the fact that the functionality is somewhat limited in its flexibility, I feel the price may be just a little unwarranted.
Conclusion
I do think the Expressionist Bass FX3022 is a fun addition to anyone’s computer.
The model lives up to the design, and holds its own when you are playing music and games.
The lack of bass control could be an issue for some but it’s certainly not a deal breaker.
All in all, an impressive system that may be just a notch over what could be considered a reasonable price for it.
Pros: Excellent sound and bass quality; unique tower-like shape.
Cons: No bass control; untidy wiring; a tad pricey.
Expressionist Bass FX 3022
(Altec Lansing)
PC stereo speakers
DIMENSIONS: 254 x 134 x 134mm (h x w x d)
Website:
www.alteclansing.com
PRICE: RM488
Review unit courtesy of Ban Leong Technologies Sdn Bhd, (03) 7956-6300
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