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Provides: Speakers for computer and MP3 players with built-in dual subwoofers
Developer: Altec Lansing
Minimum Requirements: Computer, MP3 player or other audio device with 1/8” stereo mini output
Price: $129.95
Availability: Out now

I’ve never really gotten into Dr. Who. When my science fiction sensibilities were being formed, ugly British dudes in scarves didn’t fit my definition of an heroic figure. This won’t prevent me, however, from telling people the Expressionist Bass speakers framing my MacBook are Daleks. Not that they look entirely like Dalek’s, of course, but if the inaccuracy of the joke bothers you, you’re not likely the type of fellow to ever want to visit me, anyway.

These Dalek’s are actually the Expressionist Bass speakers from Altec Lansing. Reviewing Altec Lansing speakers is generally an exercise in superfluousness, because you know they’re going to sound great. The question with each product is how accessible it is, and whether it’s worth the price. So, we’ll drive towards that, beginning with the design.

For those bewildered by my Dalek comparison, I’ll say that if the Expressionist Bass speakers were bright orange, they’d look like construction cones with lights (or reflectors) at the top. The cylindrical design is 5.25” wide at the bass and 2.75” wide at the top, and stands 10” high. Jutting out from the side at the top of the cone is a 1.5” speaker to handle the mids and highs.

Satellite specs:

• 3.5 Watts per channel
• 12 Ohms
• 10% THD
• 200 Hz - 16 kHz System Response: 40 Hz - 16 kHz (-10 dB) Signal to Noise Ratio
• 1 kHz Input: > 85 dB

The sound from these little guys is fantastic. Very clear, with excellent separation. I quite easily found a setting that perfectly centered the sound directly in front of me. For music, movies and games, it almost felt as if I had a surround system hooked up to my computer, with a center channel under my MacBook and satellites on either side. In a conversation with the Expressionist Bass’ developers, I was informed that the internal industrial design of the speakers actually harkens back to the 30s and 40s; a heritage Altec Lansing is embracing across their entire lineup.

The selling point of the Expressionist Bass speakers, however, as you probably gleaned from the title, is the bass. Rather than throw a separate subwoofer into the package, Altec Lansing is keeping it neat and tidy by placing a 4” 9 Watt long-throw subwoofer in each speaker (making this, in effect, a 2.2 speaker system). 85% to 90% of the speakers, in fact, is dedicated to the subwoofers, which get great sound.

In fact, it may be a bit too heavy, seeing that the bass isn’t under your desk pumping into your shins. This can interfere when listening to music, but is fantastic for movies and games. There are no bass/treble adjustments, so you’re stuck using software to adjust the EQ, provided the application has EQ. Altec Lansing feels they have the bass/treble tuned to a good balance now already, and that’s pretty much true, but it would’ve been nice to have the ability to adjust this when necessary.

Subwoofer specs:

• 9 Watts per channel
• 4 Ohms
• 10% THD
• 40 Hz - 200 Hz single channel loaded

Now, let’s talk about the buttons for a moment. All of your controls sit atop the right speaker: volume up, volume down and power. The power button has a soft blue glow when on (pictured below in orange), letting you know at a glance if you forgot to turn the system off, but also not distracting you while you work. The volume is controlled by separate up and down buttons, which are easy to operate, but which do nothing to let you know what volume you’re at. A knob or slider wouldn’t have looked as good, but I always prefer to have volume control that indicates in some fashion where the volume is set before I even turn on the unit.

An auxiliary input sits on the back of the right speaker, allowing you to bypass the computer for connection of an MP3 player, CD player, etc. I tested this with my Nintendo DS, which I now don’t recommend anyone does, by the way, as it’ll only serve to illustrate just how bad the built-in DS speakers are. Anyway, again, although it wouldn’t have looked as good, I would’ve preferred to see the auxiliary input on the side or even the front for easier access.

The Expressionist Bass system currently comes in glossy black or white, both which will nicely frame your iMac or MacBook (more colors are ini the works). The design won’t appeal to everyone, but I think they’re pretty cool. More importantly, they sound fantastic. A separate subwoofer is logical when connected to a 5.1 surround system behind your TV. But for computer audio, placing a separate unit at your shins doesn’t make much sense acoustically or logically. The Expressionist Bass system keeps the audio at desk level, where you need it, and does so at a price point that’s liable to “exterminate” the competition.

Sorry. More Dr. Who there. Maybe I watched that more often than I thought…