It's when you get to audio quality that the E3350 shows its budget-minded pedigree. While the system has good treble extension, there's an emphasis in the lower-treble and upper-midrange frequencies that makes the system sound a bit tinny. Well-recorded acoustic tracks also lose some of their ambience, and stereo imaging isn't as good as what you get from most of the other 2.1 systems we've tested.

Still, the upper frequencies sound pretty good considering the system's price; it's the lower frequencies that are somewhat problematic. Subwoofers that use small drivers often sound boomy, with an emphasis in the upper-bass frequencies. They can also sound "one-notey" at the low end--instead of distinct bass notes of different frequencies, you get a thumping bass line that muddles notes together. The E3350 suffers from both flaws, especially at louder volumes: the system provides decent bass impact and kick, but many of the low-frequency notes seem to blend together, and the boominess of the system can get fatiguing on certain tracks. I also found that the subwoofer vibrated quite a bit if I cranked the volume too high. While you can lower the bass output using the sub's bass-level dial, this also affects the system's tonal balance.

(In my testing, the E3350's bass response starts to roll off above 100Hz, and by 80Hz has faded significantly. In other words, don't believe the manufacturer's claim of 40Hz performance.)

The E3350 may not look like a budget speaker system, but despite the fancy design and some nice features, it's still a system that costs less than $100. Which means you aren't getting high-end audio here: Bass extension is limited, the E3350 strains at louder levels, and sound quality isn't as balanced as what you get when you spend more. On the other hand, if you're on a tight budget, the E3350 provides decent sound quality, some nice features, and a standout design that could make the system a tempting purchase.