Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra review

There's much to like here, but the poor treble holds back this desktop system in a major way Tested at £180.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Altec's done a lot right here, but that treble's really rather wrong

Pros

  • +

    Good detail and rhythmic control

  • +

    tight, deep, and impressively integrated bass

Cons

  • -

    Clattery, hard edged treble spoils the rest of the delivery

  • -

    no USB input

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It's no secret that vast swathes of the population are using their computers to listen to music and watch video. And that means desktop systems like the ambitiously monikered Expressionist Ultra are very much in vogue.

After all, have you ever heard a laptop's built-in speakers and been anything but horrified? Thought not.

The Altec Lansing is a fairly typical, but stylistically synergistic, 2.1 arrangement. The interesting bit is the controller – a twistable, dome-like device with treble and bass controls, and some rather hypnotic light patterns.

It's this little unit that contains the system's only input – a 3.5mm socket. Surely a USB connection should be included when you're spending £180 on a PC-friendly device these days?

Treble costs this system stars
Obviously that's more of a niggle than a full-fat complaint. We've reserved that for the sound. The problem is the treble, which manages to be both badly defined and harsh at the same time.

Play Just Jack's Embers and the delivery becomes rather unpleasant. Vocals are sibilant, unnatural and messy, while violins are uncomfortably brash.

And this is a Lossless recording; use lower bitrates, or stream content from Spotify or YouTube, and the problem's worse.

Impressive bass weight
And it's bad enough to ruin a performance that's otherwise very decent. Bass weight and depth are impressive, and yet the sub still manages to integrate seamlessly with the smaller satellites, leading to a tonally unified presentation.

There's good detail, timing and drive all-round, too, and the soundstage is surprisingly three-dimensional.

The problem is that it's really hard to concentrate on the positives when your ears are ringing with the negatives.

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What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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