Whether you have a high-end PC gaming rig, a desktop computer in your home office or a laptop on your dorm room desk, you’ll want to use a pair of the best PC speakers to make the most of your setup. Though desktop speakers may not be quite as immersive-sounding as a pair of noise-canceling headphones, they’re still a great way to improve audio quality when you’re chatting on video calls, streaming movies or catching up on some online lectures. Plus, they allow you to stay aware of your surroundings and hear the doorbell, kids, pets or any other chaos that may be happening in your home.
The majority of folks own laptops these days. And while some laptop speakers can deliver acceptable sound, external speakers provide a major upgrade in quality and volume. It’s also worth noting that while you can pair your laptop with a portable Bluetooth speaker to augment the sound, the speakers on this list are not battery-powered and come in pairs, so they deliver true stereo sound (and you can also buy PC speakers with separate subwoofers and multiple speakers for a surround-sound setup).
Some of the desktop speakers on this list have analog connectivity, and many offer digital connection so you can plug them right into a computer with a USB cable. Some speakers offer Bluetooth connectivity, which lets you easily pair them with all your devices, including tablets and smartphones. As you might expect, more robust connectivity options tend to add to the cost, but you can find some moderately priced PC speakers that offer good connectivity features.
CNET hasn’t fully reviewed many of the computer speakers on this list, but I have listened to all the selected models and included speakers in a variety of styles and price points that deliver great sound on any budget. I’ll update this list of the best computer speakers as new laptop and desktop computer speaker options hit the market.
Amazon
Creative’s Pebble speakers have been around for a while and now come in a V2 version with a USB-C plug (a USB-A adapter is included) that powers the speaker, no extra power adapter required. They’re available for $25, while the earlier V1 version (with USB-A) can be had for around $20. Note that this V2 model does play a little louder and sounds better than the V1.
They don’t deliver huge sound and they’re 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 only $45 (see below).
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Amazon
Edifier makes a ton of PC speakers, and they’re generally very good. We like the R1280DB Bluetooth Bookshelf speaker because it has all the features you want, including an optical input and Bluetooth capabilities in a fairly compact package that delivers very good sound for a decent price.
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Amazon
In terms of sound for the money, it’s hard to beat Creative’s Pebble Plus 2.1, which includes a sub for around $60 and sometimes as low as $40. The 4-inch sub isn’t exactly great looking, but it’s a black box that you can hide in a corner of your desk or underneath it.
This model is also powered by USB (there’s no power adapter), but you do have to connect it to your device with a standard 3.5mm aux-in cable (included). Don’t expect huge volume (it is powered by USB after all), but it delivers better sound than you might think for the money.
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SteelSeries’ line of Arena PC gaming speakers is available in three models, starting with the entry-level Arena 3, which retails for around $130. The speakers may not have premium build quality, but I liked their design and compact size (though not too compact), and I thought they sounded good for a stereo 2.0 system with single drivers. The step-up Arena 7 adds tweeters and a separate sub as well as a lighting element for $100 more, while the line-topping Arena 9 is a full surround system for $550.
The Arena 3 speakers connect to your PC with an analog 3.5mm cable but also feature Bluetooth connectivity for connecting your smartphone or tablet wirelessly. You can tilt the speakers to your liking and easily adjust the volume with a knob on the right speaker. There’s also a companion app for Windows PCs to tweak the sound.
While there’s enough bass to provide decent punch to games, movies and music, don’t expect the bass to go that deep or have a ton of kick to it. If you’re looking for the better deal in terms of price and specs, you’ll want to go with the Arena 7.
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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 light), but it’s attractive and has some nice features. For starters, it’s simple to set up. You can use it in wired mode with an auxiliary 3.5mm 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’s 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 back by tapping on the top of the puck and turning the dial to control volume. It’s also worth noting that the speakers can be stood up vertically or horizontally. It’s a nifty design.
The sound is good at close range but the bass isn’t exactly tight (you can only expect so much for the price). This would work fine as an audio system in a small room, but just doesn’t have the juice to sound good in a larger room (it’s touted as having 80W of power but power ratings don’t mean all that much).
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The most recent addition to the Audioengine family, the A1 speakers sound good for their compact size, particularly in terms of their clarity. Like the more expensive A2 Plus (see below), they’re a little bass shy, but if you’re using these at close range (as one tends to do if you’re looking at a computer screen), the bass will seem ample. You can connect a subwoofer to them, but that would substantially raise the price for the package. In a small room, they could work as your main speaker system, but they just don’t have enough power for a larger room.
The nice thing about them is that they’re nice looking. They’re also simple to set up and wireless, so you can connect your computer — or another device — via Bluetooth. You just have to hit the pair button on the back to engage pairing mode. A set of speaker wires connects the two speakers (the left speaker has the amplifier and all the connectivity options). You can also use the auxiliary-in port to connect your computer with an included cable.
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Audioengine
If you can’t afford Audioengine’s $500 A5 Plus Wireless (see below) — or don’t like its somewhat large footprint — the A2 Plus is a good alternative, albeit one that produces less bass and just isn’t as loud or full sounding. Still, it sounds really good for a mini bookshelf-size speaker and has a glossy piano finish that gives it a premium look.
I reviewed an earlier version of the A2 Plus back in 2013. It now 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 plug into your device’s headphone jack or auxiliary output.
For $269, it delivers excellent sound in a compact, attractively minimalist design, which is why it appears to be so popular at the moment. Some sites have it back-ordered or not available in certain color options (I personally like the white).
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Canadian speaker company Fluance is known for delivering speakers with a lot of bang for your buck and its attractively designed Ai41 powered bookshelf speakers do just that for $250. While they don’t weigh as much or have quite the build quality of Audioengine speakers, they do offer strong sound and good connectivity options, including an optical digital input and Bluetooth options. I tried the white and bamboo version but the speakers are also available in black.
They’re about the same size as Audioengine’s A5 Plus speakers (see below) but cost half the price. I can’t say they sound quite as good as the A5 Plus speakers, but they do sound clear and well-balanced and have just enough bass to make you think they aren’t bass shy (there is a subwoofer connection if you want to add a sub). You can get a little more bass by placing them near a wall.
A remote is included for not only raising and lowering volume but tweaking the treble and bass settings. These will fill a small room with sound. Note that if you want a wired connection to your computer via the headphone port, you’ll need an RCA to 3.5mm cable (less than $10 on Amazon) — it’s not included.
The Ai41 have 5-inch drivers while the step-up Ai61 have 6.5-inch drivers. The Ai61 does offer more little bass and power for $50 more. However, the Ai41 is already fairly large for a set of computer speakers. They could also be connected to your TV via the optical connection.
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Audioengine’s powered A5 speakers have been around for several years and have received some technology upgrades over time. The wired-only version is $399, but if you want to add a Bluetooth option, the price goes up to $499. You can connect to your PC either with a cable or via Bluetooth, but having Bluetooth is nice if you want these speakers to double as standard bookshelf speakers.
As you might expect, they have significantly more bass than Audioengine’s smaller A2 Plus, and they resemble traditional monitor speakers. With a built-in 150W amp, they deliver clean, dynamic sound with lots of volume, and will rock a medium-size room without a problem.
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Harman Kardon’s SoundSticks have been around for 20 years and have always been a favorite of Mac users because, well, they — and their transparent aesthetics — were marketed from the get-go to owners of the early iMacs.
The SoundSticks 4 offers some design changes over earlier iterations, particularly to the subwoofer, which has a cleaner, sleeker look without the plastic funnel inside. The SoundSticks 4 are rated for 140 watts of power — the SoundSticks 3 were rated for 40 watts. Also, Bluetooth connectivity now comes standard (with the SoundSticks 3, there was a step-up model you had to buy to get Bluetooth). The speaker comes in two color options — one with white trim and one with black.
The system is a little more compact than you’d think seeing some of the pictures, and it does deliver strong sound with bass that will rattle a table at higher volumes if you leave the sub on your desk (the sub is actually slightly smaller at 5.25 inches compared to 6 inches for the SoundSticks 3). From what I remember of the SoundSticks 3, this new model does sound fuller.
The only fault I found with it was the lack of a wired digital connection. Like the previous version, there’s an analog cable that you plug into the headphone jack or auxiliary output on your computer or another device. As a result, I tended to just use the Bluetooth, which gives you more flexibility with the placement of the sub (the power cord is a little short). That said, you do have to connect the elegant mini tower satellite speakers to the sub with cables that are color-labeled for easy hookup, so the sub has to stay pretty close to the satellites.
It’s also worth noting that you don’t have to be a Mac user to buy these speakers. They’re compatible with any audio device that has Bluetooth or a 3.5mm audio-out port.
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Razer’s second generation of its Leviathan gaming soundbar, aptly named the Leviathan V2, gets prettier — and at $250 as opposed to $200, pricier. And while it gains Bluetooth wireless support, it loses some other useful connections; say bye-bye to analog and optical, for example. Still, it’s a compact and solid alternative to headphones or a beefier surround setup that might be overkill or require too much space.
You can get the soundbar by itself for $100, but the version with the subwoofer sounds significantly better.
The best laptops in every category
Best PC Speakers for 2023 – CNET
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