One of the things that is often missing when you buy a computer – be it a laptop or desktop – is good sound. Yes, laptops are equipped with one or two small speakers that emit decent sound, but it is not exactly a full, rich stereo sound. These built-in speakers are not ideal for listening to music or watching videos – they only play very loudly and tend to be very deficient in the bass department.
If you want to bypass the laptop’s speaker and take that sound to the next level, it’s time to look for a small or portable speaker to compensate. The good news – the market is completely saturated with computer speakers that offer quality sound, taking your computer’s audio experience to the next level. Even a low-cost computer speaker can increase the sound quality to such an extent that you will be shocked by the poor quality of your laptop’s speaker.
There are a wide variety of PC speakers to choose from and you can certainly pair your PC with a Bluetooth speaker to increase the sound. That said, this list includes the best in the area of powered speakers – they have their own built-in amplifiers, which means they need to be plugged in.
Some of the speakers in this list have simple analog connectivity options, but most offer some form of digital connection – this means that you can connect them directly to your computer’s USB port. Others have wireless Bluetooth connectivity, which allows you to easily pair your speakers with all your Bluetooth devices, including smartphones and tablets. You can even position a defined Bluetooth speaker to simulate surround sound. As you might expect, better connectivity options tend to add some cost to the speakers, but some moderately priced speakers have excellent connectivity options, in addition to more than decent sound.
Note that we have not fully reviewed many of these choices, but we have listened to all selected models. If you’re looking for great sound, keep reading – the right speaker for your computer is sure to be here. In addition, we will update this list periodically as more speaker options for laptops and desktops hit the market.
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Creative’s Pebble speakers have been around for some time and now come in a V2 version with a USB-C plug (an included USB-A adapter) that powers the speaker, no extra power adapter needed. They cost $ 30, while the previous version V1 (with USB-A) can be purchased for $ 20. Note that this V2 model plays a little louder and sounds better than the V1.
They don’t offer incredible sound and are light on the bass, but are surprisingly decent for their low price.
A version with a subwoofer that offers more bass is available for just $ 40 (see below).
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Edifier makes a ton of PC speakers, and they are usually pretty good. We like the R1280DB because it has all the features you want, including an optical input and Bluetooth features in a very compact package that offers very good sound for a decent price ($ 130).
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In terms of sound for the money, it’s hard to beat Creative’s Pebble Plus 2.1, which includes a sub for under $ 40. The 4-inch sub isn’t exactly pretty, but it’s a black box that you can hide in a corner from your desk or under it.
This model is also powered by USB (there is no power adapter), but you must connect it to your device with a standard 3.5mm auxiliary input cable (included). Do not expect a high volume (after all, it is powered by USB), but it offers a better sound than you think for the money.
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The Logitech Z407 is a compact system with a small subwoofer that doesn’t exactly have a premium touch (it’s all plastic and the satellite speakers are quite light), but it’s attractive and has some interesting features. To begin, it is simple to set up. You can use it in wired mode with a 3.5mm auxiliary cable or connect it to your computer via USB. But most people will connect their devices to it via Bluetooth.
It comes with a hockey puck-sized controller (powered by two AAA batteries) that acts as a Bluetooth transceiver between any Bluetooth enabled audio device and the speaker system. You can skip tracks back and forth by touching the top of the disc and turning the dial to control the volume. It is also important to note that the speakers can be placed vertically or horizontally. It’s a cool design.
The sound is good up close, but the bass isn’t exactly steady (you can only expect a lot from a $ 80 system). This would work well as an audio system in a small room, but it just doesn’t have the juice to sound good in a larger room (it’s advertised as having 80W of power, but power ratings don’t mean much).
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The latest addition to the Audioengine family, the A1 speakers sound very good for their compact size, especially in terms of clarity. Like the more expensive A2 Plus (see below), they are a little shy down, but if you are using them up close (as is often the case if you are looking at a computer screen), the bass will look wide. You can connect a subwoofer to them, but that would substantially increase the price of the package. In a small room, they can function as your main speaker system, but they just don’t have enough power for a larger room.
The good thing about them is that they are beautiful. They are also simple to set up and wireless, so you can connect your computer – or another device – via Bluetooth. You only need to press the pair button on the back to activate pairing mode. A set of speaker wires connects the two speakers (the left speaker has the amplifier and all connectivity options). You can also use the auxiliary input port to connect your computer with an included cable.
Audioengine
If you can’t afford the $ 500 A5 Plus Wireless from Audioengine (see below) – or don’t like its rather large footprint – the A2 Plus is a good alternative, although it produces less bass and isn’t as loud or full-sounding. Still, it sounds great for a mini speaker the size of a bookcase and has a shiny piano finish that gives it a premium look.
I reviewed a previous version of A2 Plus in 2013. Now it has Bluetooth connectivity with support for AptX streaming (for AptX compatible devices), but it still uses a standard 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable that you connect on your device’s headset or auxiliary output.
At a price of $ 269, it offers excellent sound in a compact, attractive and minimalist design, which is why it seems to be so popular at the moment. Some websites have pending orders or are not available in certain color options (I personally like white).
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Razer classifies its Nommo Chroma speakers as “gaming” speakers, which is not surprising, as it is known for its gaming-oriented accessories. What I like about these speakers is that they offer a decent amount of bass without having a separate subwoofer, and you can adjust the bass with a button on the left speaker. This ability to produce some bass that has some impact should in fact attract players who like to have some visceral impact of explosions in the game to add to the immersion of the game. They are also quite decent for watching movies and sound great with music.
The added touch of the game is that the bases light up at the bottom with Razer’s Chroma lighting technology. You can program the colors or synchronize the lighting with the game to create an ambience effect.
As for connectivity, there is a USB-A cable that provides digital audio to your PC or Mac speakers. You can connect to the analog auxiliary port on the back of the left speaker (there is also a headphone connector on the back), but the digital connection sounds significantly better.
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Harman Kardon SoundSticks have been around for 20 years and have always been a favorite of Mac users because, well, they – and their transparent aesthetic – were marketed from the beginning to the owners of the first iMacs. Unveiled in January, the latest models have not yet been shipped, but are available for pre-order (I received a previous sample).
There have been some design changes, especially in the subwoofer, which has a cleaner and more elegant appearance without the plastic funnel inside. SoundsSticks 4 has 140 watts of power – the previous version had 40 watts. In addition, Bluetooth connectivity is now standard (with SoundSticks 3, there was an advanced model that you needed to buy to get Bluetooth). The speaker comes in two color options – one finished in white and the other with black.
The system is a little more compact than you might think when you see some of the photos, and offers a strong sound with bass that will shake a table at higher volumes if you leave the sub on your table (the sub is slightly smaller at 5, 25 inches compared to 6 inches for SoundSticks 3). As I recall SoundSticks 3, this new model looks more complete.
The only flaw I found was the lack of a digital wired connection. As in the previous version, there is an analog cable that you connect to the headphone connector or to the auxiliary output on your computer or other device. As a result, I tended to use only Bluetooth, which gives you more flexibility with the placement of the sub (the power cable is a little short). That said, you have to connect the sleek mini-tower satellite speakers to the submarine with color-labeled cables to make the connection easier, so the submarine should be very close to the satellites.
It is also important to note that you do not have to be a Mac user to purchase these speakers. They are compatible with any audio device that has Bluetooth or a 3.5 mm audio output port. If you can’t wait for SoundSticks 4 or just don’t want to spend $ 300 on PC speakers, you can purchase SoundSticks 3 for $ 200 or less.
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Audioengine’s amplified A5 speakers have been around for several years and have received some technology updates over time. The wired-only version costs $ 400, but if you want to add a Bluetooth option, the price goes up to $ 500. You can connect to your PC with a cable or via Bluetooth, but having Bluetooth is good if you want these speakers double as standard bookshelf speakers.
As you might expect, they have significantly more bass than Audioengine’s smaller A2 Plus, and resemble traditional monitor speakers. With an integrated 150 W amplifier, they provide clean, dynamic sound with lots of volume and will rock a medium-sized room without any problems.