Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra
The Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra is a mixed bag of good sound in a large package that works very well even with a few problems.
Ease of Use, Performance: 13/25
Look & Feel: 18/25
Features 18/25
How much I enjoy 20/25
Total: 69/100
The Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra is a large 2.1 speaker system for use with a computer, television or other sound output device using the 3.5 mm stereo connection. The speakers come pretty well with a decent amount of extras including a 3.5 mm stereo cable and a 3.5 mm female to RCA female adapter.
The Expressionist Ultra is a 2.1 speaker system that uses a separate control module for volume, bass and treble control as well as auxiliary jacks. The speakers are a unique design with a very large subwoofer that measures 10.2 inches wide, 15.1 inches deep and 15.8 inches tall in a trapezoid shape.
The two speakers are round tubes containing a 3” midrange driver on a plastic base with a smaller tweeter above it so you have five speakers in the set. The Expressionist provides 200 watts using separate amplifiers for the bass midrange and treble for some great sound.
The separate amplifiers mean being able to control the bass, treble and volume independently for a better individual sound system. The control module is a nice looking round almost cone shape but is a bit of an annoyance to work with until you get the hang of it with a twist knob that brings the volume, bass and treble up or down.
To change the volume you twist the rubber coated cone of the control about a quarter turn in either direction and the volume will go up or down. To change either the bass or treble you simply push that button and adjust the control knob the same as you would for volume.
This control knob is not a simple dial but is spring loaded so it snaps back to the original position after you move the volume or whatever up or down. This spring loaded dial makes for an odd adjustment and does take a little getting used to when making your adjustments but it does work well once you get used to it.
The control module also has a 3.5 mm headphone jack and an auxiliary input on it as well as some blinking lights that have a pattern they follow even when playing music. The pattern is not due to the sound or audio playing but is a continuous pattern whenever it is powered up which can be annoying.
Other than the blinking lights the only other problem I found when using the expressionist ULTRA was a hiss when there is no audio with the power on. When I first connected the speakers to my computer and powered them up there was a hiss from the speakers that was on whether there is anything connected.
I looked on the internet and found a couple of others who found this problem as well so decided to ask Altec Lansing about it but have not received an answer from their customer support. The hiss is noticeable when there is low or no sound coming from whatever is connected to the speakers but when there is sound it is not noticeable.
To give some comparison I tried to hear the sound from where I usually sit when watching TV and I could not hear the hiss when the TV was muted. I tried turning on my PlayStation 3 that sits below the speaker system on the same shelf and the PS3 with its internal fan is louder than the Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra hiss.
I found it not a large deal and have been using the speakers for both my computer and entertainment while working in my office as well as in my living room connected to my television, DVD player and PS3. I find that the hiss or static is not a big problem, you just have to turn off the speaker system when not in use but it may be a deal breaker for you.
I found this to be an odd review to perform and write about as the speaker system worked well and sounds great for both regular HDTV viewing as well as Blu-ray movies but the hiss does bring the score down. The control of volume, bass and treble with a twisting motion instead of a simple up and down also adds to the downgrade in performance as it just is not easy to fine tune these adjustments.
Other than these two things the Expressionist Ultra did sound great and works well as both a console or PC speaker system or as a main entertainment system for a television with the usual DVD player or a Blu-ray player. The Expressionist Ultra costs about $150 from several sites on the internet even though it retails for $200 from Altec Lansing.
The sound is clear and crisp for highs and of course with the size of the subwoofer the bass is great and really can rattle, or at least vibrate windows in the same room. Listening to movies like Pearl Harbor or the current crop like Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaur or Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was a great experience and I found the speakers performed well.
My family has also approved of leaving the speakers in the living room after the review as they sound really good so they work well enough from an entertainment standpoint. Connected to a computer they sound great and even surround sound works pretty well considering they are a 2.1 speaker system.
The addition of small tweeters on the speakers add a clarity and definite advantage over a more conventional speakers system as well as making the looks standout. The Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra is a unique and different speaker system and one worth taking a look at.
While this may be a hard sell and one that you have to put some thought into the Expressionist Ultra is a sound system that works well even with a few problems.