Altec Lansing FX3022 Expressionist BASS 2-Way Speaker for PC and MP3
- Computer speaker system with subwoofer built into speakers
- Built-in amplification provides 25 Watts
- Custom built 40mm drivers provide clear and realstic sound
- Auxiliary input lets you connect MP3, CD, and DVD players
- Measures 5.25 x 10 x 5.25 inches (WxHxD); backed by one-year warranty
Product Description
Forget about bass booming at your shins. The Expressionist Bass features twin desktop speakers with subwoofers built right in. That’s right, the bass is in the base of each speaker. Separate 1 1/2″ drivers deliver mid and high frequencies so vocals and details come through with brilliant clarity. An auxiliary input allows convenient connection of any MP3 player. Designed to complement contemporary computer and monitor styles, the Expressionist Bass brings music, movies and games to life.All the bass in half the space! It is a stylish, space-saving speaker system with powerful, desktop-level bass thanks to dual down-firing, radiating subwoofers.Amazon.com Product Description
The Altec Lansing Expressionist Bass FX3022 speakers provide crystal-clear sound in an attractive design that fits comfortably anywhere in today’s digital home. Thanks to subwoofers built right into the desktop speakers, you’ll enjoy powerful and deep bass from a compact packa… More >>
Altec Lansing FX3022 Expressionist BASS 2-Way Speaker for PC and MP3
I wish I would have went with my first pick on speakers. These speakers have way to much bass in them. I listen to rock/punk music and the bass is horrible i have to change the EQ on my iPod to even listen to the songs. It drowns out the vocals on almost every song. I will be returning these speakers.
I am playing a favorite radio station through the new speakers on my computer, and wow. I love that I can feel the bass gently where I’m leaning my elbows on the desk. I love the sound. They are great!
I couldn’t tell much from the instructions that came with them, but I just carefully disconnected the former speakers and plugged these in the same way–and voila!
I did have to figure out that there was an “On” button on top of the one with the electrical and speaker wire connections on it. When I pressed that button a pretty blue light came on, and some sounds began to come through. I had noticed a “+” button and a “-” button on either side of the “On” button, so I pressed the “+” a few times, and voila, beautiful sound!
These speakers are such a pleasure. I’m so glad to have them!
These are decent space-saving speakers, but you can get better sound for the price.
The units strongly resemble large shiny upside-down plastic tumblers with feet. The space-age Coffee Cup design is contemporary, but not entirely attractive.
Those feet allow the sub to fire downwards, which raises my first concern with this 2-way desktop design– my IKEA desk vibrates even at modest volume such that I can feel it through the mousepad or keyboard. If you play music most of the time, at least the bass-heavy stuff I favor, this may annoy you too.
As far as bass-heavy goes, unlike most separate subwoofers, you can’t adjust the power of the bass separately to suit, only overall volume. You may be able to do this from software, but the lack of a platform-independent way to do this (”a knob”) is limiting.
On the positive side, having the downward-firing sub in the same place as the tweeter makes for sound that feels more “integrated” than the sub off in the corner. Unlike my other speakers, it doesn’t sound like I’m listening to my audio with a bass track playing off somewhere else that just happens to coincide.
I’ve owned and used many PC speakers over the years, and I compared these to the Logitech Logitech x-230 2.1 2-Piece Dual Drive Speakers with Ported Subwoofer (that I was replacing) and my favorite Logitech Z-2300 THX-Certified 200-Watt 2.1 Speaker System (Silver) on the adjacent Gaming PC. All speakers were in the same room and tested with the same audio. Now, audio dynamics are a matter of personal taste, but I found the sound of these speakers reasonably clear and they have a better developed mid-range than the cheaper X-230 (which has a very weak mid-range). But contrasted to the crisp, powerful Z-2300 THX speakers (only slightly pricier), these Altec Lansings sounded muddy and uninspired through their entire range.
However, also by contrast, the Z-2300 is huge; the sub/base unit is as big as the Dell Inspiron PC they are attached to. So, for general usage, I’d rate these speakers as only 3 stars, but for the space-saving niche to which they are marketed, they get the extra star for size vs quality.
Recommended, with reservations, for users with limited space.
Pros:
- This pair of speakers sound beautiful…gorgeous! It produces a roomful of sound in the living room and sound fantastic in the bedroom at very low volume level. Just recently, speaker manufacturers are incorporating subwoofers in these smaller packages. The subwoofer makes a huge difference.
- Powerful, voluminous sound considering its size and small footprint.
- Sleek, shiny, nerdy, cool, looks great. It can be a conversation piece.
- Easy access on/off switch and volume control.
- Easy setup
- With an extra auxiliary input.
Cons:
- There is no knob or button to adjust the subwoofer level. The speaker are a bit bass heavy.
- No remote control. It would be nice to have one, since most MP3 players don’t have it’s own remote if you are slumped on a couch.
- The downfiring subwoofers would benefit greatly with a protective metal grill. You might accidentally damage the paper by holding the speakers from the bottom.
Great match for your desktop PC’s, notebooks and MP3 players. This is not an ipod dock; but the input will work with all kinds of MP3 players. Also excellent as a stereo speakers for a mini home theater setup in a dorm or a small bedroom. The two speakers are permanently connected with a thick cable. It comes with an AC adapter and 6 ft length audio cable. One good addition is a cable splitter to work with a red and white RCA source.
I gave these Altec Lansing FX3022 Expressionist BASS 2-Way Speakers a real workout with my laptop and especially with my iPod and these babies really pack a lot of oomph for their compact size. Because the 4″ down-firing subwoofers are built into the base of each speaker, you get a considerable desk-top bass kick without requiring a separate subwoofer. I also like the inconspicuous built-in on/off and volume touch controls on the top of the right speaker. There’s a separate AUX IN jack for connecting DVD and CD-players in addition to MP3 players. All in all these speakers deliver the high-fidelity goods in a sturdy, compact, attractive, affordable package.