Altec Lansing's motto for its Expressionist Bass FX3022 PC multimedia speakers is, "All the bass in half the space." The concept is a good one. You take the subwoofer that normally sits on the floor, shrink it down, and integrate one into the bottom of each speaker. That way the user gets an ample amount of bass without having to deal the extra gear and wiring.
Before we get to the sound test, let's start with the superficial stuff. The $130 Expressionist Bass FX3022 makes for a striking set of speakers. They've got that sort of retro futuristic look that's reminiscent of something you might see in the video game BioShock. The flattened-cone enclosures are just a little over 10 inches tall with a diameter of about 5 inches at their base. The speakers are finished in a glossy, piano black, with some silver trim around the top-speaker port, which covers a 1.5-inch driver (the built-in downward-firing subs are 4 inchers). Altec's new logo is tastefully printed on the front in bronze lettering and stamped into the plastic on top of the left speaker.
As for the volume controls and power, they're on top of the right speaker. The buttons are rubberized and easy to access if you're sitting at your computer. That said, some PC speakers these days come with a remote, and it would have been nice if the FX3022's did, too. Perhaps a future model will.
