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One of the things that is usually missing when buying a computer – whether it’s a laptop or a desktop – is good sound. Yes, laptops come with one or two small speakers that produce decent sound, but it’s not exactly full, full stereo sound. These built-in speakers aren’t ideal for listening to music or watching videos – they only play so loud and tend to be seriously lacking in the bass department.
If you’re looking to bypass your laptop speaker and take that sound to the next level, now is the time to look for a small portable speaker to take over. The good news – the market is completely saturated with computer speakers that deliver great sound, taking your computer audio experience to the next level. Even a low budget computer speaker can improve the sound quality so much that you will be shocked at the poor quality of your laptop speaker.
There are tons of PC speakers to choose from, and you can definitely pair your PC with a Bluetooth speaker to boost the sound. That said, this list includes the best in the field of powered speakers – they have their own built-in amplifiers, which means they have to be plugged in.
Some of the speakers on this list have simple analog connectivity options, but the majority offer some form of digital connection – that means you can plug them directly into a computer’s USB port. Others have wireless Bluetooth connectivity, which allows you to easily pair the speakers with all of your Bluetooth devices, including smartphones and tablets. You can even position a set of Bluetooth speakers to mimic surround sound. As you might expect, better connectivity options tend to increase the cost of speakers, but a few moderately priced speakers offer great connectivity options, in addition to more than decent sound.
Note that we haven’t fully reviewed many of these picks, but have listened to all of the selected models. If you’re in the market for great sound, read on – the right speaker for your computer is definitely here. In addition, we will update this list regularly as more laptop and desktop speaker options come to market.
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Creative’s Pebble speakers have been around for a while and are now available in a V2 version with a USB-C plug (a USB-A adapter is included) that powers the speaker, no additional AC adapter required . They cost $ 30, while the previous version V1 (with USB-A) can be obtained for $ 20. Note that this V2 model plays a bit louder and sounds better than the V1.
They don’t deliver huge sound and are light on the bass, but they’re surprisingly decent for their low price.
A version with a subwoofer that delivers more bass is available for just $ 40 (see below).
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Edifier makes a ton of PC speakers, and they’re generally pretty good. We love the R1280DB because it has all the features you want, including optical input and Bluetooth capabilities in a fairly compact package that offers great 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 doesn’t exactly look great, but it’s a black box that you can hide in the corner of your desk or below.
This model is also powered by USB (there is no AC adapter), but you must connect it to your device with a standard 3.5mm auxiliary input cable (included). Don’t expect huge volume (it’s USB powered after all), but it sounds better than you might 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 feel (it’s an all-plastic affair and the satellite speakers are quite lightweight), but it’s attractive and has a few features. interesting. To get started, it’s easy to configure. You can use it in wired mode with 3.5mm auxiliary cable or connect it to your computer via USB. But the majority of people will connect their devices to it via Bluetooth.
It comes with a hockey puck-sized controller (it is powered by two AAA batteries) that doubles as a Bluetooth transceiver between any Bluetooth enabled audio device and the speaker system. You can skip tracks forward and backward by pressing the top of the puck and turning the dial to control the volume. It should also be noted that the speakers can be lifted either vertically or horizontally. It’s a clever design.
It sounds good at close range but the bass isn’t exactly tight (you can’t expect that much from an $ 80 system). It would work well as an audio system in a small room, but just doesn’t have the juice to sound good in a larger room (it’s billed as having 80W power, but wattages don’t mean big- thing).
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The newest addition to the Audioengine family, the A1 speakers sound great for their compact size, especially in terms of clarity. Like the more expensive A2 Plus (see below), they’re a bit timid, but if you use them at close range (as you tend to do if you’re looking at a computer screen) the bass will feel ample. You can connect a subwoofer to it, but that would significantly increase the price of the set. In a small room, they might work as your main speaker system, but they just don’t have enough power for a larger room.
What’s good about them is that they are beautiful. They’re also simple to set up and wireless, so you can connect your computer – or other device – via Bluetooth. Just press the pairing 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.
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If you can’t afford the $ 500 Wireless A5 Plus from Audioengine (see below) – or don’t like its somewhat large footprint – the A2 Plus is a good alternative, albeit it produces less. bass and just isn’t as loud or full sound. Still, it sounds really good for a bookshelf-sized mini speaker and has a glossy piano finish that gives it a premium look.
I reviewed an earlier version of the A2 Plus in 2013. It now has Bluetooth connectivity with AptX streaming support (for AptX enabled devices), but it still uses a standard 3.5 audio cable. mm to 3.5 mm that you plug into the headphone jack or auxiliary output of your device.
Priced at $ 269, it offers great sound in a compact and attractive design, which is why it seems to be so popular right now. Some sites have it either out of stock or not available in certain color options (I personally like white).
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Razer bills its Nommo Chroma speakers as “gaming” speakers, which is not surprising as it is known for its gaming-oriented accessories. What I love about these speakers is that they deliver 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 bass that has vibrancy should indeed appeal to gamers who like to visceral impact in-game explosions to add to a game’s immersivity. They are also decent enough for watching movies and sounding great. with music.
The added gaming touch 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 your gameplay to create an ambient effect.
As for connectivity, there is a USB-A cable that provides digital sound 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 jack on the back), but the digital connection sounds much better.
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Harman Kardon SoundSticks have been around for 20 years and have always been a favorite with Mac users because, well, they – and their transparent aesthetic – were marketed from the start to owners of early iMacs. Revealed in January, the latest models have not yet been delivered, but they are available for pre-order (I had a first sample).
There have been a few design changes, especially to the subwoofer, which has a cleaner, sleeker look without the plastic funnel inside. The SoundsSticks 4 are rated for 140 watts of power – the previous version was rated for 40 watts. Plus, Bluetooth connectivity is now standard (with the SoundSticks 3 there was an upgraded model that you had to buy to get Bluetooth). The speaker is available in two colors – one with white trim and one with black.
The system is a bit more compact than you might think when you see some of the pictures, and it delivers loud sound with bass that will make a table shake at higher volumes if you leave the sub on your desk (the sub -marine is actually slightly smaller at 5.25 inches compared to 6 inches for the SoundSticks 3). From what I remember from the SoundSticks 3, this new model looks more complete.
The only flaw I found with this one was the lack of a wired digital connection. Like the previous version, there is an analog cable that you plug into the headphone jack or auxiliary output of your computer or other device. So I tended to only use Bluetooth, which gives you more flexibility with the placement of the sub (the power cord is a bit short). That said, you need to connect the stylish mini-tower satellite speakers to the submarine with color-labeled cables for easy hookup, so the submarine should stay close enough to the satellites.
It should also be noted that you don’t need to be a Mac user to purchase these speakers. They are compatible with any audio device that has Bluetooth or a 3.5mm audio out port. If you can’t wait for the SoundSticks 4, or just don’t want to spend $ 300 on PC speakers, you can buy the SoundSticks 3 for $ 200 or less.
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Audioengine’s amplified A5 speakers have been around for several years and have undergone technological upgrades over time. The wired-only version is $ 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 fine if you want these speakers to double as standard bookshelf speakers.
As you might expect, they have a lot more bass than Audioengine’s smaller A2 Plus, and they look like traditional monitor speakers. With a built-in 150W amp, they deliver crisp, dynamic sound with plenty of volume and will rock a mid-sized room with ease.
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