The drivers are too small and too weak to reproduce any low frequencies, so the result is a slight boost in sound levels. As for distortion, there really is none since it never reaches levels where it would be noticeable. In short, these are quiet speakers. For what it's worth, the Xpeaker is a neat contraption and useful in certain situations. However the hype is rather misleading. Thermaltake claims (and I quote), "Play it LOUD!! Xpeaker builds you a heart-pumping experience for games, music, and more!!". This couldn't be further from the truth. I did almost everything with the setup: fragging, listening to some tunes, watching a movie, etc. Yes, it's bearable, but the fact remains that the speakers are low on both physical dimensions and power. Therefore, any low frequency reproduction is unheard of.