Home > Consumer Reviews > Altec Lansing FX3022 Expressionist BASS 2-Way Speaker for PC and MP3 (Black)

Where stereo speakers are concerned, size matters. The size of the speakers matters, and so does the size or gauge of the cable that connects the speakers to each other and to the audio source. For decent bass one must have a speaker surface or speaker surfaces large enough to move a certain amount of air.

The Altec Lansing FX3022 Expressionist Bass speakers produce the best sounding bass I have heard on 2-way speakers designed for PCs and MP3 players in their price range. The bass speakers, or subwoofer drivers as Altec Lansing refers to them, are large enough (ALs specs say 4" each; the visible surface measures about 3 1/2" across) to push enough air volume to produce a satisfyingly deep bass sound, and to cause whatever desktop or tabletop they are set on to vibrate. The unique down-firing design of the subwoofer drivers amplifies the bass (as long as the speakers are on a flat, hard surface as opposed to, say, a thick carpet; even a thin tablecloth would absorb rather than reflect some of the sound). And the 1.5" "full-range speaker drivers," as AL describes them, that are near the top of each cone-shaped speaker really do put out a full range of sound, meaning good midrange as well as good treble.

As I write this I have these speakers connected to my laptop and I am listening to a live broadcast of an opera from the Metropolitan Opera House, and the sound quality is excellent and full. The orchestra and the soprano, mezzo, baritone, and bass singers all sound clear, full, and undistorted.

I have also used these speakers connected to an MP3 player set to play a selection of rock tunes during workouts, and the bass and overall sound is most impressive. The driving bass inspires a vigorous exercise session.

I don't know the gauge of the cable that connects the speakers, but it is considerably fatter than cables I've seen on any other PC and MP3 player speakers. I imagine that AL designed it that way because thicker speaker cable results in better quality sound. The lower the gauge, the thicker the cable, and as Amanda Moore writes on Crutchfield dot com's page on choosing and installing speaker wire, "the lower the gauge is...the better its capacity to pass the amplified audio signal."

As other reviewers have noted, the speakers are hardwired to each other, which means that they have to be moved together. Because the bass speakers or subwoofer drivers are exposed, this means that one must be extra careful when moving these speakers.

These speakers are almost the size of small bookshelf speakers, but because of their tapered cone-like shape they occupy less space than they would were they rectangular. They are just a bit shorter than the height of a roll of paper towels, and have a footprint almost as wide as a new roll of "giant" paper towels (or just a tad less wide than a new roll of Scott 1000 sheet per roll bathroom tissue).

Some time last year I purchased a pair of Creative Labs T20 speakers from Amazon and I have reviewed them here, and I remain mightily impressed and pleased with them. But since coming into possession of the Altec Lansing FX3022s I am beginning to wonder which speakers I prefer to listen to. Sometimes the ALs have too much bass, e.g., when I am listening to spoken audio or am watching online news clips and the like. But sometimes the CL T20s don't have enough bass and oomph compared to the ALs (which makes sense considering that the CL speakers simply aren't built to push as much air as the ALs are capable of pushing).

I love bass and I think one must be a bass lover to appreciate the Expressionist Bass speakers. But I don't love bass so much that I would want a car with a trunk that has been turned into a huge subwoofer, and I don't like it when I hear cars and vans, etc., that have that kind of overpowering bass emanating from them. I don't find the bass on these speakers overwhelming, but I do imagine that someone who cannot say that they love bass might find these speakers not to their taste. One negative about these speakers that I will note is that there is no way to adjust the bass on the speakers themselves; only the volume can be adjusted.

Follow up written on March 12, 2009: I wrote above that I was beginning to wonder which pair of speakers I preferred listening to, the Altec Lansing FX3022s or the Creative Labs T20s. Since then I've decided that I prefer the Creative Labs because to my ears, while the Altecs have what I describe above as a good midrange, comparison tells me that the Creatives have a very good midrange (in the sense of having greater subtlety, depth, and overall clarity; on a 1 -5 scale I give the Creatives a 5 for midrange and a 4 for bass, and the Altecs a 4 for midrange and a 5 for bass). I'm considering upgrading to a pair of Creative Labs T40s.

I am fairly certain I'll get flamed and accumulate a bunch of "not helpful" votes but too bad. These speakers are bass, bass and more bass. If you are the kind of person who likes their brains to jiggle from bass note vibrations, don't hesitate to send for these. I have never heard desktop speakers that have anywhere near the amount of bass as these do.

These are not little polite things. They take up a fair amount of real estate on your desk so make sure you have room for them. The construction quality is good; volume control is easy to use and accessible. Be careful when you handle them because the woofer is open at the bottom and you might poke your finger into them if you pick them up the wrong way. Also, I don't like the fact that the cord connecting the left and right speakers is not detachable.

Right away the first thing I noticed about these speakers when playing a CD through them is that they pump out a tremendous amount of thumping, flabby bass. They made the entire computer table shake and I could feel the vibrations in my chair. It is absolutely unnatural and after a while it becomes torturous. It does not faithfully reproduce recordings because of the over emphasis on bass. The midrange and treble isn't bad, but it is overwhelmed by the bass.

If you like bass, you will like these. If you like balance or finesse, look elsewhere. These are not high-fidelity speakers. They will get your attention but like someone with too much makeup, they quickly become tiring.

Two stars for the solid construction quality and if you can tame the bass they would sound fair, but these are way overpriced.

For speakers that size, they have a great range of sound and they are great for parties and campouts. I really like the way they are powered
with an AC to DC cord. That way, you can buy a 12 volt jumper battery
from any auto parts store and power the speakers with a "cigarette" plug and a DC adapter for notebook computers. You can listen to the speakers
at locations where there is no electricity. They are pricey for computer
speakers, but they are amazing. Yet, they won't compare with home hi fi speakers.

The newest iMacs - unlike previous generation iMacs - don't have the high quality speaker systems needed to get the most out of applications like iTunes. The sound quality is tinny and muffled. However, most people don't need a full surround-sound system to enjoy their favorite tunes and vids either.

Enter the Altec-Lansing FX3022! These speakers present exceptional sound quality for the price. What sets these speakers apart from others I investigated is the rich, deep bass from the bottom speaker. The quality of sound from these speakers rivals 5-speaker systems. The bass not only stands out on its own, but it resonates throghout the room. It's like having a sub-woofer, but without the extra box, wires and hassle. In addition, the highs and mid-ranges are clear and bright.

I have two criticisms of this product. First, the directions stink - especially if you're a Mac user. The connection is tricky for iMac users as the wiring is not intuitive. Secondly, the footprint of these speakers is a little bigger than you might expect when looking at the pictures. However, it's not too much more than most computer speakers - and no where near the three piece systems that Apple recommends.

Otherwise, I highly recommend these speakers to iMac users of all stripes. These are durable, sound great and are priced right.

I'll start by saying I got these for my office. In no way is this meant to be a review of anything other than home/office speakers, and as such - they are terrific ! All-around pretty crisp sound with good strong and punctual bass delivered right where you want it - the speakers themselves. Quite a piece of design ingenuity - these are pricey but deliver on their price. Well done !
So if you're willing to shell out the necessary $$ - you will not be disappointed.

The only thing I miss about the speakers is an integrated headphone jack. But since I work of a desk-situated laptop, it is not an issue for me, since I have the headphone jack right next to me.