INTRODUCTION

   I first started paying extra attention to speaker systems back in 1998 when i received the DVD-ROM/MPEG Decoder card bundle by Creative labs called the Encore DXR2 which back then was pretty much the best and perhaps only way for someone to watch DVD's with the highest possible A/V quality. Of course it goes without saying that i matched the Encore DXR2 bundle with the only mid-end 5.1 Dolby surround compatible speaker set i could find for just under $400 (i think it was manufactured by TEAC). Since then however although I’ve used and tested several 5.1/7.1 Dolby/DTS surround sets from various manufacturers like SONY, Yamaha, Tannoy, Klipsch, Crystal Audio and Logitech i have to admit that not many 2/2.1 speaker sets have made it into my house and/or my lab (the only ones i can recall reached my lab just over a year ago and were manufactured by Scythe and Sandberg). Today we are going to take a look at a dual speaker set manufactured by Audyssey, a company which may not be well-known by most of you but according to several professionals around the world they are considered to be amongst the best at what they do right next to legendary manufacturers like BOSE.

   We are a Los Angeles-based company that designs and develops innovative audio technologies and products for music fanatics and movie buffs like you. Our roots are in R&D and we solve audio problems so what you hear is an accurate reproduction of the recorded music, movie or live performance you are listening to – how it was meant to be heard. Our digital technologies solve some basic audio problems, such as spikes in volume or poor sound quality at low volumes. We also delve into more complex audio problems, such as the way room acoustics are impacted by furniture, walls and windows, and how to compensate for small speakers when limited by the laws of physics.

   The Audyssey Lower East Side Media Speakers are not something you see every day especially since the designing team behind them seems to have taken a stroll down memory lane and ended up at least 30-40 years in the past. Of course that's not necessarily a bad thing and i do happen to enjoy the retro look of these speakers and the high build quality is also something taken from the past, however taste does vary so i really can't speak for everyone. Leaving out appearances Audyssey also packs their patented EQ and BassXT technologies with their media speakers which help cancel distortion, produce sharp sound and boost bass levels (thanks to the 4 bass radiators) without however sacrificing sound quality in the process. So at least on paper the Audyssey Lower East Side Media Speakers look like they can easily stand their ground against the competition (even against good 2.1 sets) and it's up to us to see if that's really the case.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES 

 PACKAGING AND CONTENTS 

Even the box inside which Audyssey packs the Lower East Side Media Speakers feels retro thanks to the color combination and images used to dress it.

The features of the LES Media Speakers are placed on the right side in 4 languages.

A few words about the Lower East Side are placed at the rear of the box right next to the features, specifications and bundle contents tables.

The entire bundle is safely placed between two large cardboard pieces.

Although inside the box you will find the Lower East Side Media Speakers, quick start guide, warranty information paper, speakers interconnection cable, 3.5mm mini jack cable and the AC power adapter with two different power tips (EU, UK) i was a bit disappointed to see that Audyssey does not include an optical (Toslink) cable.

 THE LOWER EAST SIDE MEDIA SPEAKERS 

The design of the speakers is quite simple (yet somewhat attractive) and not what I’d call exciting in any way, however the materials used are of high quality (mainly wood and metal) giving both speakers a solid/sturdy feeling.

Each of the speakers feature a 3.5" driver (woofer) and a 0.75" silk dome tweeter while measuring 23cm in height, 12.4cm in width and 17.3cm in depth with a total weight of 1.285kg. Unfortunately the grilles are not removable so i couldn't risk damaging the speakers in order to take a closer look at the woofer/tweeter.

The volume control knob has a nice feeling to it and also doubles as the power on/off button (press it inwards to turn them on/off) while right next to it we see 3.5mm mini jack headphone output.

As mentioned most of the unit is made from high quality wood but it is this red stripe after which the Lower East Side Media Speakers got their name from (the people over at Audyssey say that the stripe is connected to the red brick buildings of the Lower East Side).

The Audyssey logo is also placed on the right side of each speaker but it's quite faint.

A sticker with the unit's electrical requirements and country of manufacture is present at the bottom.

A single passive bass radiator is placed at the rear of each speaker (no wonder bass is their strong point).

At the lower rear end of each speaker we find an Optical Audio input (Toslink), 3.5mm mini jack input (aux), the two interconnect holes and the AC power plug.

I haven't used such a thin interconnect cable like the one supplied by Audyssey in over 5 years but it should be more than enough for a stereo speaker set.

CONCLUSION 

   Before i start my conclusion about the Lower East Side Media Speakers System you all need to know that it will take a long period of time before they sound the way they should (i had them playing music for 40 hours prior to doing this review) just like headphones, earphones and pretty much every speaker system out there. So exactly as advertised the Lower East Side Media Speakers excel in bass in such a way that at first you may not like how they sound especially if you prefer low bass levels and unfortunately since there are no treble and bass knobs you will need to make all adjustments via the connected device. Audyssey has also focused a lot in detail and honestly although i really liked that "extra" feeling when listening to my favorite bands (Phil Collins, Sting, Michael Jackson, Roxette, Scorpions, even Metallica and Iron Maiden) that can also become a double edged sword sometimes especially with mediocre recordings since along with the good audio they also tend to point out the bad as well. Aside all the performance enhancements however Audyssey has also placed an auto-off function which turns both speakers off after a small period of time goes by without using them (green spirit). The only two drawbacks i could come up with these speakers is the limited audio power which may disappoint anyone who might want to throw a small party with them (not that that's what Audyssey designed them for) and also the lack of treble and bass adjustment knobs which could help you set the bass levels to your liking without much fuzz.

   I was surprised to see that the Audyssey Lower East Side Media Speakers System retails for just around USD190 inside the USA and 200Euros inside the EU, a price tag which may indeed seem quite high for a stereo speaker set but we need not forget that similar desktop stereo speaker sets from JBL, Klipsch and other manufacturers (we are not talking about mediocre computer speaker sets) cost just as much and sometimes even more. Long story short the Lower East Side Media Speakers are not aimed at everyone out there but rather towards people who pay attention to detail (more specifically build quality), enjoy listening to crystal clear music, love the extra bass and are willing to pay extra for all of the above. Personally i have yet to see a better, more complete desktop stereo speaker set, at least not a compact one and that's why i am happy to award the Lower East Side Media Speakers System by Audyssey with our Platinum Award.

PROS

- Excellent Build Quality
- Design (For Some)
- Compact Size
- Rich/Deep Bass
- Audio Detail
- Optical In (Toslink)
- 3.5mm Input/output
- Auto-Off Feature 

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- No Bass/Treble Adjustment Knobs
- Not Too Powerful (For Some)