Over the past few years, computers have advanced a lot in terms of hardware and software. If we specifically look at the former, there are a few peripherals that have become all but obsolete today, such as a pair of traditional desktop speakers.
With Bluetooth speakers getting increasingly capable and affordable, the demand for wired desktop speakers has gone down. Then there is also the fact that desktop PCs themselves are waning in popularity. But somehow, this hasn't stopped manufacturers from continuing to launch desktop speakers in the market.
Recently, we got a chance to try one such pair of desktop speakers - the Altec Lansing Zine 2.0. So at a price tag of Rs 2,450, are these really something you should consider buying today? We find out.
Design and controls
The Altec Lansing Zine 2.0 sport quite a modern look and have a glossy finish. However, the build quality isn't as good as the looks. Despite being made of plastic, the two speakers are a bit on the heavier side with a weight of 889g.
Major specifications of the Zine 2.0 include a frequency response range of 20Hz-20KHz, an impedance of 4ohms and 40W power output.
Overall, we found the Altec Lansing Zine 2.0 to be quite well-designed. They look really good when sitting on the table.
Performance
Having tested them out for a few days, we're disappointed to say that the audio quality of the Altec Lansing Zine 2.0 isn't that great. The absence of bass and treble controls doesn't help either as you're stuck with the 'default' audio output.
During our testing, we tried playing music by connecting the Zine 2.0 to both a laptop and a smartphone. Both times, the music output got distorted at higher volume levels.
When playing EDM music, vocals get lost. Even the mids, highs and lows are not that good, but just decent enough.
Verdict
In our time with the Altec Lansing Zine 2.0, the speakers failed to impress. While the audio output is not extremely bad, it's certainly not as good as we had expected from an Altec Lansing product.
At Rs 2,450, we find the Zine 2.0 hard to recommend. For the same price, you can buy wireless speakers such as Xiaomi's Mi Bluetooth speaker. These have obvious advantages such as portability and the ability to work without an external power source.
When playing EDM music, vocals get lost. Even the mids, highs and lows are not that good, but just decent enough.
Verdict
In our time with the Altec Lansing Zine 2.0, the speakers failed to impress. While the audio output is not extremely bad, it's certainly not as good as we had expected from an Altec Lansing product.
At Rs 2,450, we find the Zine 2.0 hard to recommend. For the same price, you can buy wireless speakers such as Xiaomi's Mi Bluetooth speaker. These have obvious advantages such as portability and the ability to work without an external power source.
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