Altec Lansing speakers are quite popular among PC users, thanks to their attractive price tag and top-notch audio quality. The company recently launched a slew of products in India, which include both wired as well as Bluetooth-enabled speakers.
We got to try the new Altec Lansing Zine 2.0 – a pair of desktop speakers primarily aimed at typical day-to-day usage for your home or office. These speakers are currently available on Amazon India at Rs. 1,838, while their original price tag is Rs. 2,450. We took them for a spin to find out if the Altec Lansing 2.0 promises what it delivers. More importantly, is it worth the money. Let’s see.
Build and Design
The Altec Lansing 2.0 Zine sports a high glossy finish that complements your room decor. The ergonomically designed curves give them a modern look and feel, and they looked nice with my room’s set up. The button layout is also easily accessible. The right speaker houses the volume control dial and the power button. Notably, there’s also a 3.5mm audio jack housed between the volume control knob and the power button. You can use it to connect via AUX or USB to play music through your laptop or phone.
Read More: Altec Lansing MZW300 Review
All in all, the speaker’s design aesthetics and build quality works rather well for the price.
Hardware, Features, and Performance
Key specifications on the Altec Zine 2.0 include 40W of power output and a frequency range of 20Hz-20KHz. Talking about sound quality, I noticed that output levels were quite loud and satisfactory for normal usage, but the clarity level goes for a toss when you crank up volume levels. I mostly played electronic music while testing these speakers, and overall I was pretty satisfied with the sound quality, but far from impressed. Bass levels are pretty decent; however, mids and lows aren’t that well defined.
Overall, the Altec Lansing 2.0 Zine has enough going on that makes it just about okay for normal home usage. The output and range are good for movies, or while playing games. Having said that, the sound quality on this one leaves a lot to be desired, especially if you consider the price point.
Pros:
- Well-Built
- Good output
- Simple and easy to use
- Both AUX and USB support
Cons:
- Distorted sound output at max levels
- Still bulky for a compact set of speakers
Wrap Up
The Altec Lansing 2.0 Zine is not bad for Rs. 2,199. The build quality is excellent, output levels are satisfactory, and the speakers have what it takes for regular home use. Having said that, I expected a lot more from an Altec Lansing speaker. Yes, these are low-cost speakers, therefore we have little expectations for them. But given the Altec Lansing logo across the front, I was expecting these speakers to pack a lot more punch. I still use my old Logitech 2.1 speakers that cost much less and produce much better sound. If you’re looking for speakers at a similar price, I’d suggest you look elsewhere.
