Best PC Speakers 2024: From Budget to Audiophile Bliss (2024)

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  • Quick List
  • Best Under $100
  • Best Budget
  • Best Premium
  • Best 2.0 Gaming
  • Best 2.1
  • Best 5.1 Surround
  • Best Soundbar
  • Buying Tips
  • How We Test

Quick List

Best PC Speakers 2024: From Budget to Audiophile Bliss (1)

The list in brief
1. Best Under $100
2. Best Budget
3. Best Premium 2.0
4. Best 2.0 Gaming
5. Best 2.1 Gaming
6. Best 5.1 Surround
7. Best Soundbar
8. Buying Tips
9. How We Test

There are looads of audio options for getting sufficient sound out of your PC. Your built-in speakers might be okay if you’re a laptop user with basic productivity needs (and occasional YouTube excursions). And if you don’t want to disturb those around you, the best gaming headsets and earbuds can deliver everything from the basics to audiophile-grade excellence.

But even with some of the best wireless gaming headsets, it’s tough to beat the freedom, flexibility, and audio fidelity of a good set of dedicated PC speakers.

What makes a set of dedicated desktop speakers the best computer speakers for you depends on your needs, how much you want to spend, and how much available space you have on or around your desk. We’ve tested several current PC speakers, from budget-priced 2.0 options to glorious gaming setups with subwoofers and surround sound — and everything in between.

We’ve gathered the best computer speakers we’ve tested below, with options starting at under $60. If you aren’t quite sure what kind of computer speaker setup is best for you, check the section on what to consider below our best PC speaker picks.

Quick List

Best Under $100

1. Creative T100

Best PC Speakers Under $100Slim, glossy speakers that get loud without compromising audio quality, have multiple connectivity options, and come with a wireless remote.

Read more below

Best Budget

2. Creative Pebble Pro

Best Budget SpeakersCompact, pebble-shaped speakers that can be powered by a standard USB port and sound very good for their budget-friendly price point of $60.

Read more below

Best Premium 2.0

3. AudioEngine A2+

Best Premium 2.0 SpeakersSolid, well-built speakers with a classic, premium look and excellent audio quality.

Read more below

Best Gaming 2.0

4. Edifier G2000

Best Gaming 2.0 SpeakersCompact, affordable speakers tuned for gaming, with multiple connectivity options and RGB for extra flare.

Read more below

Best Gaming 2.1

5. Razer Nommo V2

Best Gaming 2.1 SpeakersA powerful 2.1 system with impressive directional audio and virtual surround sound: arguably the best option for a single-player gaming PC setup.

Read more below

5.1 Surround

6. SteelSeries Arena 9

Best 5.1 Surround SpeakersAn impressively loud, gamer-oriented 5.1 surround system with wireless rear satellites and attractive lighting.

Read more below

Show More ⬇️

Best Soundbar

7. Creative Sound Blaster Katana SE

Best SoundbarA powerful but compact gamer-oriented soundbar with pretty RGB lighting, designed for just about any gaming setup.

Read more below

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The Best PC Speakers Under $100

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1. Creative T100

The Best PC Speakers Under $100

Specifications

Speaker Type: 2.0

Frequency Response: 50 - 20,000 Hz

Power Rating: 40W (80W peak)

Dimensions: 8.2 x 3.6 x 5.1 inches / 208.28 x 91.44 x 129.54mm x2

Inputs: 3.5mm analog, TOSLINK Optical, Bluetooth 5.0

Reasons to buy

+

Excellent sound for the money

+

Versatile connectivity

+

Included remote

Reasons to avoid

-

Boring, glossy plastic design

-

No USB output

If you don't mind boxy black plastic designs and you don't want a subwoofer or 5.1 surround sound, Creative's T100 speakers are arguably the best value in PC audio — often selling for around $80. The pair of computer speakers stands just over 8 inches tall and delivers sound quality and volume output that rivals or bests some speakers that cost more than twice as much. Plus, the T100s come with a remote and ample connectivity options, features that most pricier options lack.

In our testing, the T100 speakers registered an impressive 82.5 dBA at 50% volume, and at 90.4 dBA cranked all the way up, they were among the loudest pair of 2.0 desktop speakers we tested. The Bose Companion 2 got somewhat louder at 91.6dBA, but those speakers have fewer features and cost nearly twice as much, at $149.

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For those who want to do more than just play audio from their computer speakers via a standard 3.5mm audio cable, the T100 speakers include Bluetooth 5.0, a USB port for directly plugging a drive to play MP3 and FLAC files, and even an optical connection. Controls on the top of one of the speakers lets you change inputs, adjust volume, and power the speakers on or off, while a wireless remote lets you do all that, plus switch between EQ presets, adjust bass and treble, and more.

Aside from their uninspired glossy black-plastic shells, the only real downside of Creative's T100 speakers is that they can't connect over USB. Also, there's no option for adding a subwoofer. But if you're shopping in this price range you probably aren't seriously considering a 2.1 system with extra low-end thump. Sure, you can buy speakers that look and sound better than Creative's T100, but you might have to spend more than twice as much for substantially better options.

Best Budget Speakers

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2. Creative Pebble Pro

Best Budget Speakers

Specifications

Speaker Type: 2.0

Frequency Response: 80 - 20,000 Hz

Power Rating: 10W RMS (20W Peak), optional 30W RMS (60W Peak)

Dimensions: 4.8 x 4.8 x 4.6 inches / 123 x 123 x 118mm x2

Inputs: 3.5mm analog, USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3

Reasons to buy

+

Very budget-friendly

+

Small/compact

+

Attractive minimalist design

+

Powered by USB port

Reasons to avoid

-

Designed to sit on a desk and nowhere else

-

No subwoofer/subwoofer port

The Creative Pebble Pro is the most premium product in the Pebble desktop speaker lineup — but at $60, it still retails for $20 less than the T100’s average sale price. There’s a lot to love about the Pebble lineup in general, starting with its compact and stylish round “pebble” shape, with drivers that are angled upward 45 degrees so the sound hits your ears when they’re placed on a desktop.

The Pebble Pro improves upon the original Pebbles with a higher power output and larger, re-engineered 2.25-inch drivers. It doesn’t have a subwoofer, but its low end gets a boost with Creative’s “BassFlex” technology; it also features the brand’s “Clear Audio” processing technology, which enhances vocals over ambient sound effects in movies, shows, and games. Finally, the Pebble Pro features RGB lighting around the base of each speaker — it’s semi-customizable; you can pick from three basic effects and multiple colors.

Like the original Pebble, the Pebble Pro can be powered by a standard USB port on a laptop — so this is a great set of speakers for those who want a less complicated setup. Unlike the original Pebble, the Pebble Pro has a USB-C PD port that, when plugged into a 30W USB-PD power brick, kicks the Pebble Pro’s power output up to 30W RMS (60W peak). These speakers sound pretty good at their regular power level, but they sound even better (and louder) with the power boost. Plus, as of this writing, if you buy the Pebble Pro on Creative’s website, you’ll get a 30W PD adapter free of charge.

The Pebble Pro boasts impressive audio for its size and price point — though it does lack the lows you’ll get with a subwoofer (or even some larger 2.0 systems). It also gets pretty loud: it registered 69.4dbA at 50% volume in our testing, and 88.2dBA at 100% volume (and distortion was minimal until around 78% volume). The Pebble Pro also offers 3.5mm analog, USB-C, and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and also has 3.5mm headset and microphone jacks.

The main downside to the Pebble Pro might be, coincidentally, its price — Creative’s Pebble V3 has the same drivers (though the Pebble Pro’s are “re-engineered”), Clear Dialog audio processing, and connectivity options as the Pebble Pro, and retails for just $40 (though we recently saw it on sale for $35). Plus, the Pebble V3 comes in the more standard color options of black or white, though it doesn’t have the Pebble Pro’s optional power boost or RGB lighting.

Read: Creative Pebble Pro Review

Best Premium 2.0 Speakers

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3. AudioEngine A2+

Best Premium 2.0 Speakers

Specifications

Speaker Type: 2.0

Frequency Response: 65 - 22,000 Hz

Power Rating: 30W (60W peak)

Dimensions: 6.25 x 4.2 x 5.6 inches / 158.75 x 106.68 x 142.24mm x2

Inputs: 3.5mm analog, micro USB, RCA, Bluetooth 5.0 (aptX)

Reasons to buy

+

Great sound

+

Excellent build quality

+

Loads of inputs and outputs

+

Aptx Bluetooth

Reasons to avoid

-

Expensive

-

Speaker stands needed for ideal audio experience

-

Exposed drivers aren’t ideal for everyone

At $269, Audiengine’s A2+ speakers are expensive – especially for a 2.0 setup. But they’re also an investment in excellent audio, and one that I’ve personally experienced. I bought the A2 (non-Bluetooth) version of these speakers in 2012, and they still look and sound as good as new. The A2+ model we tested for this page takes the premium build and good looks of the A2 and adds Bluetooth 5.0, with aptX for improved latency (important when watching movies and, perhaps, when gaming competitively).

The A2+ speakers come in an extremely solid-feeling glossy speaker shell, in white, black or red. Ports include pretty much everything you could ask for. You get micro USB for connecting using the speakers’ internal dac or 3.5mm for analog connections. There is a volume knob, a button for Bluetooth pairing and four RCA jacks, two in and two out. The former can be used for adding a subwoofer down the line should you want more bass. But in 10 years using the older A2 model at my treadmill desk, I’ve never felt a real need to add extra thump. If these speakers are your primary sound boxes, though, you may feel differently.

In our testing, the Audioengine A2+ didn’t get as loud as some speakers that cost quite a bit less. And that’s not surprising given they are only rated to output 60W of peak power in total. But they still managed to deliver 85.6 dBA at max volume in our testing, and 78.2 dBA at 50% volume. That’s a lot of sound unless you’re trying to fill a very large room with booming audio, in which case you should consider something larger (Audioengine has you covered there with its A5+ speakers).

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There are two main downsides to Audioengine’s A2+: The exposed speakers aren’t ideal for homes with small children and/or curious pets, who could ruin your audio day with an errant smack or poke. Also, as the design of these speakers is a traditional straight rectangular cabinet, the speakers fire in a straight line, meaning your ears will miss the sweet spot of audio delivery if they’re sitting several inches below your ears on the desk in front of you. This can be fixed by picking up a pair of $20-$30 angled speaker stands or foam wedges, but for this price I would like to see these included in the box as most desktop setups basically necessitate their use to truly appreciate the sound these speakers are capable of.

Best 2.0 Gaming Speakers

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4. Edifier G2000

Best Gaming 2.0 Speakers

Specifications

Speaker Type: 2.0

Frequency Response: 98 - 22,000 Hz

Power Rating: 16W (32W peak)

Dimensions: 5.12 x 4.13 x 4.2 inches / 384.05 x 104.9 x 50.8mm x2

Inputs: 3.5mm analog, USB-A, Bluetooth 5.1

Reasons to buy

+

Solid sound, with subwoofer option

+

RGB lighting

+

USB, Bluetooth, analog connectivity

+

Aux port for subwoofer

Reasons to avoid

-

Annoying startup sound (that can be turned off)

-

Side controls could be more intuitive

-

Outer shell shows off smudges

Any set of speakers can deliver the blasts, booms or pickaxe bloops of your favorite PC game. But if you’re after a compact and relatively affordable set of speakers that will make your games sound good (while delivering some gamer style in the process), Edifier’s G2000 speakers are a great choice. The pair of speakers won’t take up much space on your desk, and they deliver a surprising amount of sound – with an emphasis on the low end. Don’t expect room-shaking rumble here, but with a subwoofer port at the back of one of the speakers, these small speakers can grow with your gaming needs.

Edifier’s G2000 speakers also offer up a plethora of connectivity options. Around the back there’s USB connectivity, 3.5mm analog, and Bluetooth 5.2 is an option if you want to go wireless. For those who crave a little light show to go along with their games, the speakers also offer up some RGB, with light emanating from slits on either side and a panel at the back (to reflect off of your wall). Just note that the lights are controlled via buttons on the side of one of the speakers, with 12 available settings. So don’t expect the kind of flexibility you might get from software controls.

Note that these aren’t the best option for listening to music, as each speaker consists of one 2.75-inch driver that has to do double-duty, handling the highs and lows. But if you don’t mind their bias toward the bass end of the spectrum, they’re OK for most audio tasks other than gaming. Just know that the G2000s are tuned and designed for those who prioritize gaming. If that sounds like you and you don’t want to spend more than around $110, these speakers are a great option. And if you don’t like basic black (and gray), there are pink, red, and white color options available for $5-$10 more.

Best 2.1 Gaming Speakers

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5. Razer Nommo V2

Best Gaming 2.1 Speakers

Specifications

Speaker Type: 2.1

Frequency Response: 40 - 20,000 Hz

Power Rating: not disclosed

Dimensions: 5.1 x 7.2 x 7.1 inches (speaker) 10.4 x 11.8 x 10.4 inches (subwoofer)

Inputs: Bluetooth connection, USB Type C to USB Type A

Reasons to buy

+

Powerful

+

Impressive directional audio

+

Virtual surround

Reasons to avoid

-

Wireless Control Pod

The Razer Nommo V2 is a wired 2.1 gaming speaker setup with powerful, booming bass and impressive directional sound — perfect for a single-player PC gaming setup. The Nommo V2 is the more affordable version of Razer's Nommo V2 Pro. While the Nommo V2 Pro comes with a wireless subwoofer and Razer's wireless, customizable, multi-function control pod, the Nommo V2 has a wired subwoofer and on-speaker volume controls — and costs $150 less, with an MSRP of $300. This is definitely worth it: while a wireless subwoofer can make your setup look a little less cluttered, it's not like there are rear speakers in this setup — so the two satellites are likely to be near enough to the subwoofer that the cables won't be too much of an inconvenience. Also, we didn't love Razer's wireless control pod, which relies heavily on Razer Synapse 3 (and is also available as a separate purchase, for $50).

The Nommo V2 has the same dual satellites as the Nommo V2 Pro, plus a large, cube-shaped wired subwoofer. The satellites have a smooth semi-matte finish that's somewhat prone to fingerprints, and feature Razer's logo subtly embossed on their outer sides. The speakers sit on non-adjustable desktop stands at a 20 degree angle — the perfect angle, apparently, to deliver sound directly to your ears when they're placed on a desk. (The stands are not removable — these speakers are designed to be put on your desk and that's it.) They're a little deep for desktop speakers (about 7 inches / 178mm), but are otherwise pretty sleek and attractive. The back of each satellite has a translucent white orb through which the speakers' rear-projection RGB shines.

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The Nommo V2 has two 3.2-inch full-range drivers in its satellites, plus a 5.5-inch bass driver in its down-firing subwoofer. It features a frequency response range of 40 - 20,000 Hz and has a max SPL of 98dB. Like Nommo V2 Pro, the Nommo V2's audio is powerful if a little bass-heavy and does extremely well with directional audio and virtual surround sound, which makes it perfect for single-player gaming PC setups (though it has Bluetooth 5.3 in addition to USB-C wired connectivity). While it's not the best multi-tasker — we wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for something that can double as a home entertainment system — you'd be hard-pressed to find a better setup for surround-sound PC gaming.

Best 5.1 Surround Speakers

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6. SteelSeries Arena 9

Best 5.1 Surround Speakers

Specifications

Speaker Type: 5.1

Frequency Response: 35 - 20,000 Hz

Power Rating: 280W Peak

Dimensions: 7.72 x 4.13 x 4.97 inches / 196.1 x 104.9 x 126.2mm x2 (front) 6.49 x 4.19 x 4.41 inches / 164.8 x 106.4 x 112mm x2 (rear) 3.93 x 3.85 x 9.6 inches / 99.8 x 97.8 x 243.8mm x1 (center) 12.8 x 9.25 x 9.17 inches / 325 x 235 x 233mm x1 (subwoofer)

Inputs: 3.5mm analog, USB-C, optical-in, optical passthrough, Bluetooth 4.2

Reasons to buy

+

Very powerful

+

Fantastic audio

+

True surround

Reasons to avoid

-

Expensive

-

Takes up a lot of space

SteelSeries says its Arena 9 is the first 5.1 surround system for gaming, which we suppose is technically true, because while there are other 5.1 surround systems for PCs, they’re not billed as being gamer-oriented. The Arena 9 comes with five satellites — a center channel that sits under your monitor, two left/right front channels, and two left/right rear channels — as well as a 6.5-inch down-firing subwoofer. The rear satellites are wireless (they connect to each other and are powered separately, but connect to the system wirelessly), which makes for an easier setup than trying to run speaker cables under carpeting.

The Arena 9 comes with a handy control pod, which features an informative OLED display and touch-sensitive buttons. You can control most of the Arena 9’s features, including audio settings such as EQ and 5.1 upmix, lighting settings such as color mode and brightness, and system settings such as Bluetooth and rear speaker pairing, with this control pod, which is weighted so it will stay on your desk. For further customization, the Arena 9 also works with SteelSeries’ GG software, which includes the company’s Sonar audio app with parametric EQ.

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There’s nothing quite like true surround sound in movies and games that support it, and the Arena 9 does an excellent job of delivering immersive, directional audio that will make certain games come alive. (For audio sources that don’t support surround, the Arena 9 offers 5.1 upmixing, which converts stereo sound into multi-channel audio.) But even stereo sources sound great on the Arena 9, with clear, solid mids and nicely-rendered lows (thanks to the hefty subwoofer).

The biggest downside to the Arena 9 is definitely its high price point of $550 — especially when you can find budget-priced home theater surround systems for under $400. But the Arena 9 really is designed for PC gamers with its USB connectivity — other similarly-priced home theater surround systems aren’t designed to work directly with PCs. The Arena 9 also has some nice features that are specifically designed for PC gamers, such as 4-zone immersive lighting and a desktop control pod (versus, say, a remote).

Best Soundbar

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7. Creative Sound Blaster Katana SE

Best Soundbar

Specifications

Speaker Type: Soundbar

Frequency Response: 55 - 20,000 Hz

Power Rating: 90W RMS (180W Peak)

Dimensions: 3.1 x 25.6 x 4.3 inches / 78 x 650 x 109mm x1

Inputs: 3.5mm analog, USB-C, HDMI ARC, optical-in, Bluetooth 5.0

Reasons to buy

+

Sleek compared to speakers

+

Pretty lighting that you can see

+

Lots of connectivity options for both PC and TV

Reasons to avoid

-

Uninspired display

-

No subwoofer

Soundbars are usually thought of as TV/home theater accessories, but they’re a good option if you’re limited on lateral desk space — and there are a few that are designed specifically with PC users in mind. The Sound Blaster Katana SE is Creative’s most recent addition to its gaming-oriented Katana lineup, and it’s particularly suited to a setup with limited space, as it’s the first Katana soundbar without a subwoofer.

The Katana SE is slim enough at just 3.1 inches (78mm) high to fit neatly under your desktop monitor — though it also comes with custom wall-mounting hardware for those who want to mount it under a monitor or TV. It features four drivers — two 4.3-inch (109mm) midrange drivers, and two 2.1-inch (54mm) tweeters — each of which is individually powered by dual DSP-controlled stereo amps. The result is clear, great-sounding audio and a soundbar that gets impressively loud: while the Katana SE managed a maximum of 74.5dBA at 50% volume in our testing, it hit a significantly higher maximum of 92.7dBA at 100% volume.

The Katana SE is packed with features and connectivity for all types of gamers — it features the typical 3.5mm analog and USB-C inputs, as well as optical-in, HDMI ARC, and Bluetooth 5.0. It also has a Dolby Audio decoder (available over HDMI ARC/optical-in), as well as Creative’s Super X-Fi headphone technology for virtual surround sound. Its multiple input ports means you can use it with your PC as well as consoles, TVs, and other devices — making it much more versatile than Razer’s Leviathan V2 and V2 Pro soundbars, which only offer connectivity via USB and Bluetooth.

While the Katana SE sounds very good, even at the low end, it doesn’t quite offer the deep, weighty bass reproduction of a dedicated subwoofer. Creative’s Sound Blaster Katana V2 soundbar retails for just $30 more (though it’s currently on sale for the same $300 price tag as the Katana SE), and comes with a slim, 6.5-inch subwoofer, for those who have some under-desk space.

Also Tested

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We spent some time with JBL's 104-BT recently. Even though this pair of oval-shaped "compact reference monitors with Bluetooth" have been around since 2019, they have a few things going for them, like premium-feeling front-panel controls that let you clearly see which of the ample inputs (Bluetooth, RCA, TRS, Aux) is selected. I just wish the volume knob were about twice the size and offered a little less resistance.

In terms of sound, they are more good than great, especially considering their ample (for PC speakers, at least) size of 9.72 inches tall by 6.02 inches wide and 4.88 inches deep. The speakers get quite loud, but I found listening to them, particularly at more than about 70% of their max volume, a bit tiring. The lower-mids and highs seemed over-emphasized, particularly at high volumes, though there was no discernable distortion, even at 100%.

They are better in terms of looks and build quality (and audio, at lower volumes) than Creative's T100. But those speakers take up a lot less space, and often sell for around $80. JBL's 104-BTs (which come in black or white) are worth considering if you see them on sale for around $100 and have lots of desk space, but when we wrote this they were priced between $130 and $150. At that price, they don't particularly stand out against the crowded competition, except perhaps for their size, which is closer to the reference monitor category than typical desktop speakers.

What to Consider While Shopping for PC Speakers

✳ Stereo, subwoofer, or surround: A basic 2.0 speaker setup has just two speakers (a left channel and a right channel), and won’t take up too much space on (or under) your desk, provided you don’t opt for bulky, powered bookshelf speakers. If you want something with a more powerful bass response, you should look for a 2.1 system, which comes with a separate subwoofer. (You can also purchase a subwoofer separately, so long as it’s compatible with your setup).

If you’re looking to replicate the immersiveness of home theater audio, you’re probably looking for a 5.1 (or higher) surround sound setup. Just know that these speaker sets tend to be expensive, and you may have to do some creative speaker placement and wire routing to keep your PC from looking like some kind of low-budget Spider-Man movie set.

✳ How you’ll connect to your PC: There are a few different ways to connect speakers to your PC. Some speakers, usually higher-end models, connect via USB. This makes them easy to plug into most PCs and laptops, and they use their own built-in DAC/sound card, so you won’t have to worry about the quality of your system’s onboard audio. Not all speakers have this option, however — many are analog-only, which means you’ll need to connect them directly to your motherboard’s analog hookup or your laptop’s headset jack. This shouldn’t be too much of an issue for 2.0 systems, but if you’re looking at 2.1 or 5.1 surround, you’ll want to make sure your PC’s built-in audio can support it (or purchase a separate internal or external sound card).

Bluetooth: Bluetooth speakers are a category all on their own, and they’re not very well-suited to acting as desktop PC speakers (nor are they very economical if you don’t need the portability). Bluetooth isn’t a necessity in PC speakers, but the added versatility can be a bonus — especially if you frequently switch between systems and/or devices.

Where you’ll put them: Many PC speakers are, perhaps not surprisingly, designed to be placed on your desktop — and some are even angled upward for optimal audio delivery to your ears. But if you’re thinking of putting your speakers elsewhere — on the floor, a shelf, or even mounted to the wall — make sure the speakers’ stands allow for varying placement (or are removable).

And note that you may have to buy stands for ideal placement or angling, as many PC speakers don’t come with them. Some models attempt to help angle the sound up toward your ears by building the angle into the design of the housing, but this can lead to complications if, for some reason, you need or want to place the speakers above your desk surface.

✳ Size: As is obvious to anyone who’s ever had more than a passing interest in high-end audio, speakers come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. And outside of hi-fi focused options that require a separate amplifier for power, there are also several powered bookshelf speakers that function much like PC speakers, in the sense that you can just plug them into an outlet and then into your PC (or connect wirelessly over Bluetooth).

But as these bookshelf speakers often stand close to a foot tall and are several inches wide and deep, they don’t make ideal desktop speakers for most people. They also tend to pump out more sound than is comfortable for most people when sitting right in front of you. They can, however, be a good option for impressive PC audio if placed behind out – on, say, a bookshelf.

More traditional desktop speakers can also vary pretty dramatically in size, from tall and thin towers to compact, to compact rounded designs, to boxier and somewhat bulkier options that mimic the shape of larger, traditional bookshelf speakers. Be sure to consider how much space you have on your desk before buying. But know that (often though not always) speakers with larger drivers and more solid cabinets can pump out more and better sound, and are less likely to vibrate or otherwise move around on your desk. In other words, don’t expect to be blown away by tiny, inexpensive speakers (in most cases).

How We Test Speakers

A lot of opinions about sound signature, features, and design come into play when deciding what PC speakers are the best for you. Of course, there are measurable characteristics that can tell you quite a bit about how a set of speakers sound. But without thousands of dollars of equipment and an anechoic chamber, it’s tough to reliably make those kinds of measurements. Plus, regardless of what those results might be, how speakers will sound to you depends greatly on the size and shape of your room, the types of materials on and around your walls, and your own ears and brain.

So without unlimited space and funds for true high-end audiophile-level testing, or the ability to take everyone’s physiology and computing surroundings into account, we’ve attempted to mix some measurable data with lots of experience and our own opinions when testing speakers.

We use a Pyle PSPL25 sound meter at a fixed 1-meter distance to test a speaker’s maximum sound output at 50% and 100% volume, using

a standard test track

. This tells us both how loud a set of speakers can get, and how good or bad things sound when cranked all the way up. Cheaper speakers (and some more expensive options with sub-par power supplies) don’t tend to sound great at max volume. We also use the speakers across a range of common PC tasks: playing games, watching video, and listening to music to get both an anecdotal sense of how the speakers sound in everyday use, as well as how intuitive any hardware or software controls are to navigate.

As with all of the products we benchmark, test, and review, how we test speakers is a fluid process, aimed at delivering useful results and suggestions for our readers. Please feel free to offer up suggestions in the comments below. When we make substantive changes to how we test speakers, we’ll update this portion of the page.

Also tested

Best PC Speakers 2024: From Budget to Audiophile Bliss (46)

We recently tested the Fluance Ai41 Powered 5-inch Stereo Bookshelf Speakers, and found a lot to like, including more and better audio than smaller traditional desktop speakers, attractive looks, and a great remote that lets you adjust bass and treble and dim the status LED.

The Fluance Ai41s aren't cheap at $249, and they take up a lot of desk space than traditional computer speakers. But if you have room for them on your desk and have been disappointed by smaller desktop speakers in the past, they're well worth considering. We haven't officially added them as a pick to this page largely because we haven't tested anything else in this size class to compare them to.

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Best PC Speakers 2024: From Budget to Audiophile Bliss (47)

Matt Safford

After a rough start with the Mattel Aquarius as a child, Matt built his first PC in the late 1990s and ventured into mild PC modding in the early 2000s. He’s spent the last 15 years covering emerging technology for Smithsonian, Popular Science, and Consumer Reports, while testing components and PCs for Computer Shopper, PCMag and Digital Trends.

See more Speakers Best Picks

More about speakers

Fluance Ai41 Powered 5-inch Stereo Bookshelf Speakers Review: Solid sound, good wood looksGet this $10 budget Lenovo speaker setup for your laptop or dorm room

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34 CommentsComment from the forums

  • kiniku

    Love my Logitech G560 speakers.

    Reply

  • Horse Badorties
    If you want something with a more powerful bass response, you should look for a 2.1 system, which comes with a separate subwoofer.

    So why didn't you include any 2.1 systems in this roundup?

    Reply

  • Baywoof

    Interesting you did not include the Bose Companion 2 Series III (2.0 PC speakers). At $149 it's a great choice combining quality of sound and value.

    Reply

  • SkyBill40

    Sarah,

    FYI: Your link to the Steel Series 5.1 setup at Best Buy is going to the 2.1 set and not what you've reviewed.

    Reply

  • rbuffetta

    Logitech z623

    Reply

  • lumineZ

    Sorry but when you are to review speakers and you give a " + RGB " on one of them... Your review went out the window for me... No credibility at all...

    But for my ears in the premium segment with no amp or extra electronics needed:
    KEF LS50 Wireless II
    Dynaudio Focus 10

    Need an amp:
    Piega Coax 411
    Kerr Acoustic K300S MK3
    Magico A1

    Want to keep it simple and you like the sound of a horn loaded tweeter and it is a 2.1 system ready to go.
    Then maybe Klipsch Heritage pro media 2.1 is the one for you. But Klipsch is kinda like Martin&Logan. You either love or hate the sound.

    Reply

  • jefferzbooboo

    lumineZ said:

    Sorry but when you are to review speakers and you give a " + RGB " on one of them... Your review went out the window for me... No credibility at all...

    But for my ears in the premium segment with no amp or extra electronics needed:
    KEF LS50 Wireless II
    Dynaudio Focus 10

    Need an amp:
    Piega Coax 411
    Kerr Acoustic K300S MK3
    Magico A1

    Want to keep it simple and you like the sound of a horn loaded tweeter and it is a 2.1 system ready to go.
    Then maybe Klipsch Heritage pro media 2.1 is the one for you. But Klipsch is kinda like Martin&Logan. You either love or hate the sound.

    Your post went out the window when you brought up a $1600 pair of speakers.

    Reply

  • Ogotai

    ive never had " pc speakers " connected to my comp, its always been 5.1 with a separate receiver. currently its a Yamaha RX-V583 with Polk audio front, center and rears, with an Energy 8" sub. never found pc speakers that appealing, and partly cause i also like having a radio, and a cd player :-)

    Reply

  • Virtual_Singularity

    Sry, not trying to be a buzzkill, don't hate a messenger with an opinion that reflects the sad truth on this given topic. Now then: The TL/DR/DWtR version: every product mentioned in this article is a total waste of $. Don't abuse yourself and deprive yourself of just how sweet music/audio can sound. As for the reply recommending speakers for over 1k$, please know you can get a receiver, amp, & decent pair of floor standing speakers that can, theoretically, make your house shake without distortion & enable you to host a party or other event with sound loud and good enough to have no problem dancing to or otherwise appreciating. If you prefer the sad offerings shown above to reasonable alternatives, well, then I can only remind you that quality audio is just as important as your GPU, monitor or other components. Don't fall victim to marketers targeting gamers/typical computer users.

    Elegance, quality materials like real metal (handcrafted aluminum for some cases), design excellence & utility used to define the enthusiast Desktop Chassis/Computer Case market, when true quality competition was fostered a lil over a mere decade back. Before it all went down the toilet by replacing elegant metal with acrylic and plastic, then glass, along with LEDs; 1st on fans, then cases, then literally every component, (even RAM!), catering to vanity & the hyped up ads disguised as articles on popular tech sites that succeeded in creating the unthinkable... What happened to the consumer audio industry followed a somewhat similar path.

    Btw, the very concept of "2.1" doesn't belong in the world of sound. Music isn't produced in mono. If you're going to use a subwoofer, use 2 even 2 cheap ones is better than a "2.1" setup. In the span of 15-20 years or so, we went from being able to get reasonably priced stereo systems with speakers that were great, taken for granted, to w/e you wish to call this nightmare, where SINGLE speaker, portable, non-stereophonic bluetooth horrors many think acceptable & cool are, in fact, such a gaffe, a rip off, a bad joke easily avoided even via a decent boom box (yes! theyre still around!). Many vintage & even some newer portable boomboxes will at least offer you fm/am & more, stereo, nice, full sound in comparison to the typical overpriced, cheaply made mono bluetooth ear assaulter. Not knocking wireless or bluetooth, btw.

    Very good bookshelf speakers, if pricey, that suit some situations do exist. But they can't hope to compare to quality floor standing speakers. There's lots of DIY kits out there for those willing to assemble & spend more than the "offerings" shown above. Srsly, the site is just doing it's job, but plz know the consumer has far better options open to them for a bit more $, and its worth it rather than settling for marketing gimmickry that deprives one of the sheer joy of good audio.

    What happened to reasonably priced sound systems with two tall, deep speakers with a number of monitors (single speakers) on each, from huge woofers to various midranges to tweeters, that most people today will never experience? For audiophiles/music lovers using decent headphones with a nice dac/amp, etc., any who value music knows they're a must have. They afford us what is perhaps the best way to listen to music the way an artist intended it to be heard. However... you should be able to also blast music or throw a party with sound loud & clear enough for all attending to feel in their bones, at a reasonable price. Edit: mainly since emoji wouldnt work. ;)

    Reply

  • Ogotai

    Virtual_Singularity said:

    Music isn't produced in mono.

    maybe not now, but it was years ago...

    Virtual_Singularity said:

    If you're going to use a subwoofer, then use

    you do realize that sub bass, doesnt need to be in " stereo " right ? it has no direction, and sounds the same no matter where it comes from, the only advantage to haveing 2 subs, is it will be louder and provide more rumble..

    Reply

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