No matter how good your gaming PC is, you’ll be confronted with many ways peripherals can limit your experience. If you don’t get a great gaming monitor, you may not be able to see all the pixels and frames your rig is capable of pushing. And, even if you get a great monitor, odds are good it won’t have a strong set of speakers built in if it has any at all. That’s where these great computer speakers come in.A solid set of desktop speakers, whether they be a stereo pair or a soundbar, will deliver a much better sound experience than almost any built-in sound system you’d find in a monitor. Speakers that include a strong sub-woofer will also let you experience the bass in your games better than even a great gaming headset, because that headset can only hit your ears with the sound and not your whole body.So, don’t settle for the tinny, two-watt speakers your monitor might offer. Check out what your gaming experience could be sound like with a set of proper computer speakers.
TL;DR These are the Best Computer Speakers:
1. Audioengine A2+
Best Computer Speakers
Type: 2.0 Drivers: 2.75 aramid fiber woofers, 3/4 silk dome tweeters Power Output: 60W Frequency range: 64Hz – 22,000Hz Inputs: 3.5mm stereo mini-jack, RCA, USB Outputs: RCA variable line-out Size (Per Speaker): 6 x 4 x 5.25
Keeping your desktop uncluttered is a constant challenge at least for me, anyway and having a pair of large speakers take up a good deal of that space isnt always conducive to a clear workspace. On that note, the Audioengine A2+ speakers are solidly built and compact, while delivering some great, sparkling sound. The sound is excellent, especially for the size of the drivers, but if youre craving a bit more bass, there’s an output to connect to a separate sub. This set of speakers connects with PCs over a USB connection, which includes a built-in DAC. An eighth-inch plug will also let you use your favorite headset with this sound system.2. Creative Pebble V2
Best Ultra Cheap Computer Speakers
Type: 2.0 Drivers: 2″ drivers and passive radiator Power Output: 8W RMS (16W peak) Frequency range: 100Hz – 17,000Hz Inputs: 3.5mm stereo mini-jack, USB-C Size (Per Speaker): 4.8 x 4.5 x 4.5
The fact that you might not want to spend a load of money on a simple pair of speakers doesn’t mean you have to settle for a lackluster set. Creative’s Pebble V2 speakers offer a simple and affordable option that simply look great. This pair of speakers offer up stereo sound and pump out a maximum of 16W when you kick them into high-gain mode. Despite being a single pair of two-inch drivers, they can also muster a frequency response range from 100Hz to 17kHz.The Pebble V2 speakers connect to a wide variety of devices over a standard 3.5mm audio capable, but they’re powered by USB-C. So, you can easily connect them and power them right off of a modern laptop. To get the most sound out of them, you’ll just need to ensure they’re plugged into a USB port or wall charger that can deliver 10W of power.
3. Logitech Z313 Speaker System
Best Budget Computer Speakers
Type: 2.1 Drivers: 2.75 aramid fiber woofers, 3/4 silk dome tweeters Power Output (Speakers): 5W Power Output (Subwoofer): 15W Inputs: 3.5mm Outputs: 3.5mm headphone jack Size (Per Speaker): 5.75″ x 3.5″ x 3.2″ Size (Subwoofer): 9″ x 6″ x 8.66″
If youre looking for a cheap solution that sounds great, the Logitech Z313 is the way to go. The setup and controls are extremely easy to understand. Just plug the eighth-inch cable into the audio-out on your computer and use the hardwired remote to turn it on and control the volume. Theres a headphone jack on the remote as well. There arent any additional features on the Z313, but it does include a subwoofer, which provides a substantial amount of bass. The mid-range is a bit lacking and the highs can sound a bit harsh when you turn the volume up, but this set’s low cost makes it an incredible value.4. Mackie CR3 Multimedia Monitors
Best Stereo Speakers for PCs
Type: 2.0 Drivers: 0.75″ Ferrofluid-cooled silk-dome tweeter, 3″ Polypropylene-coated woofer Power Output: 50W Frequency range: 80Hz – 20,000Hz Inputs: 3.5mm stereo mini-jack, RCA, TRS (Unbalanced) Outputs: 1/8″ headphone jack Size (Per Speaker): 8.2 x 5.5 x 6.2
The CR3 monitors offer especially good sound in the vocal midrange and the high end is nice and open. But as the sound creeps down towards the lower frequency limit of 80Hz, it can get a bit bloated. There are two inputs on the backside both a balanced quarter-inch and an unbalanced RCA and an aux-in and headphone jack on the front. A switch on the back allows the powered speaker to be placed on either the right or left. Unfortunately, you cant add a subwoofer for a lower bass extension though.5. Logitech Z906
Best Surround Sound Speakers for PCs
Type: 5.1 Power Output (Speakers): 67W Power Output (Center Channel): 67W Power Output (Subwoofer): 165W Inputs: 3.5mm, RCA, 2 x Optical, Coaxial Outputs: 3.5mm headphone jack Size (Per Speaker): 11.5″ x 11.1″ x 12.6″ Size (Per Satellites): 6.5″ x 3.9″ x 3.7″ Size (Center Channel): 3.9″ x 6.5″ x 3.7″ Size (Control Console): 11.5″ x 11.1″ Size (Subwoofer): 9″ x 6″ x 8.66″
Subwoofers for PCs are one thing, but 5.1 surround sound systems designed for computers? As crazy as that might sound, they’re real and the Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System is the best one around. This product is basically a home entertainment system in a box as all the speakers come in a set and they’re all factory-tuned to create a dynamic soundstage. All you have to do is arrange the speakers, plug them in, and sit back as your PC games and movies come to life with truly directional audio.6. Sound BlasterX Katana RGB Soundbar
Best Soundbar for PCs
Type: 2.1 Drivers (Speaker): 2 x 34mm Tweeters, 2 x 2.5″ Midbass Drivers Drivers (Subwoofer) 5.25″ Long Throw Driver Inputs: AUX-in, USB FlashDrive, USB Audio, Mic-in, Optical-in, Bluetooth 4.2 Outputs: 3.5mm headphone jack Size (Per Speaker): 2.4″ x 23.6″ x 3.1″ Size (Subwoofer): 5.1″ x 11.8″ x 13.1″
Soundbars arent just for your home entertainment setup, theyre also making their way onto PC gaming desks. Creative calls its Sound BlasterX Katana RGB Soundbar (read our review) the first-ever Under Monitor Audio System, and it proves itself by generating an impressively massive soundstage despite being just two feet wide. Meanwhile, the included subwoofer ensures you wont miss any of the bass or the low notes in your favorite music. Of course, theres RGB, and this soundbar creates a visual feast thanks to its 49 programmable RGB lights. Unfortunately, it cant create a Virtual 7.1 surround soundscape as well as a good gaming headset, but for most multimedia (gaming, music, and movies) there isnt a better soundbar for PCs than this.7. Logitech G560
Best RGB Computer Speakers
Type: 2.1 Frequency range: 40Hz – 18,000Hz Inputs: 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 4.1 Outputs: 3.5mm headphone jack Size (Per Speaker): 5.83″ x 6.53″ x 4.65″ Size (Subwoofer): 15.9″ x 10″ x 8.15″
RGB has made its way into your PC, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and even your mousepad, so it seems natural that they would eventually come to computer speakers. The Logitech G560 (read our review) is arguably the best RGB computer speaker system. You can program it to display the usual slew of lighting patterns or inform you of things such as flashing whenever you take damage in-game or turning red when your PC is redlining. Alternatively, you could use Logitech G560s lights to extend your screen and imitate the most dominant colors appearing on your display. In terms of sound quality, the Logitech G560 is a little bass-heavy, but youll hear clean highs and present mids.8. PreSonus Eris 4.5BT
Best Bluetooth Computer Speakers
Type: 2.0 Drivers: 1-inch silk-dome tweeters, 4.5-inch woven composite woofer Power output: 25W per speaker Inputs: 3.5mm aux, RCA, 2 x balanced 1/4-inch TRS, USB Outputs: 3.5mm headphone jack Size (Per Speaker): 8.3″ x 5.6″ x 6.4″
PreSonus has brought a new generation of great studio speakers that boast Bluetooth support with the Eris 4.5BT. These speakers offer up sizable 4.5-inch woofers to pump out serious sound while 1-inch, silk-dome tweeters handle the crisp, high-end audio. Each speaker in the pair can pump out 25 watts. As studio monitors, you can count on these speakers to deliver accurate sound.You’ll be able to connect a wide variety of sound sources to the Eris 4.5BT. For one, you get the option of a Bluetooth 5.0 connection, letting you easily pair computers, phones, and tablets without any wires to the speakers. You also can connect via a 3.5mm audio cable, RCA cables, or quarter-inch cables. And, if you later want to upgrade your setup, you can pair these speakers with a subwoofer for even more sound.
9. JBL LSR305P MkII Studio Monitors
Best Audio Editing Computer Speakers
Type: 2.0 (sold separately) Drivers: 5 low-frequency driver, 1 high-frequency driver Frequency range: 43Hz – 24,000Hz Inputs: XLR, TRS (Balanced) Size (Per Speaker): 11.7″ x 7.3″ x 9.1″
Studio monitors designed for music and sound mixing can cost thousands of dollars, but a pair of JBL LSR305P MkIIs can do the same job for just $300. Each speaker has its own pair of built-in amps for both the tweeter and the woofer. Since they have five-inch woofers, theyre larger than your typical desktop stereo speakers. These monitors are highly customizable with separate volume dials on each speaker, a per-connection input sensitivity switch, a boundary EQ, and trim on high and low frequencies that can be adjusted independently by ±2 decibel intervals. The only things you wont find here are a headphone jack, an aux-in, or Bluetooth connectivity. Be careful when purchasing though, they’re sold as single speaker units, so you’ll want to pick up two to complete a stereo setup. If the price looks too good to be true, it might be because its for only one speaker.10. Razer Nommo Pro
Best Computer Theater Speakers
Type: 2.1 Drivers: 3 full range drivers, 0.8 silk dome tweeters, down-firing subwoofer Frequency range: 35Hz – 20,000Hz Inputs: 3.5mm stereo jack, Optical, USB, Bluetooth 4.2 Outputs: Headphone line-out
Razer has dabbled in quite a number of product categories, and its dabbling in the computer speaker market has been a success with the Razer Nommo Pro (read our review). This 2.1-channel setup is designed to give you a full sound experience with a combination of 3-inch drivers and 0.8-inch tweeters on each speaker as well as a hefty subwoofer to handle the low end. That combination of speakers and subwoofer delivers a frequency response range from 35Hz up to 20kHz. And, with THX certification and Dolby virtual surround sound, you can really get that theater-like sound.The Razer Nommo Pro also offers a load of flexibility. It supports inputs from many devices over USB, optical, and 3.5mm audio connections. To top it off, it also can connect over Bluetooth 4.2. The connections are managed using a convenient control pod, which also includes an aux and headphone port. And, like any true Razer product, these speakers naturally support Chroma lighting.
What to Look for in a Computer Speaker
Below we explain why desktop speakers offer better sound than your monitor or gaming headset. Weve also broken down a few of the finer points of how speakers actually work and how to set them up.The speaker components that go into gaming laptops, monitors, and headsets are simply going to be smaller than any dedicated speaker. They have to fit into tighter spaces and be unobtrusive too. Those small speaker drivers called tweeters are only able to accurately reproduce higher sound frequencies, which is why they produce a sound that seems like its missing something. As drivers increase in size, they gain the ability to better play lower frequencies while losing the ability to better play higher frequencies.
Putting a larger driver a woofer together with a tweeter in one speaker is called a two-way design, and it’s the most common configuration in computers speakers these days. Thats what were looking at here.
The two-way speaker design does a good job of covering the frequency range of human hearing, generally acknowledged as 20Hz-20kHz, but doesnt get quite down to the very low end. With music, you dont need to worry too much about hitting the 20Hz lower threshold, but if youre watching movies or playing games with a lot of bass, you might want to consider speakers that include a subwoofer, although it will take up extra space under your desk.
Youll also want your speakers to be powered, meaning they have an amplifier built-in (usually found inside one of the speakers) and will need to be plugged in. The audio signal coming from your computer needs to be amplified before it’s sent out through the speaker drivers to your ears.
If youre watching movies or playing games with a lot of bass you might want to consider speakers that include a subwoofer
It’s possible to buy an external amplifier and hook up a pair of passive speakers (these are speakers that do not have an integrated amplifier) though, none of these speakers on the list are passive and they’re becoming increasingly rare but that ends up taking up more space. Some desktop speakers have a switch that allows you to change the channel output of the powered speaker to either left or right. Being able to assign this can help clean up cable clutter on your desk and lets you place the powered speaker closer to the outlet.There are a few more options to keep an eye out for and they can make life a bit easier. Having a headphone jack on the front of the speaker can be very convenient when you want to quickly plug in your headphones and not deal with reassigning outputs in your OS. A front-mounted aux-in is an easy way to attach a music source like your phone. Bluetooth functionality is another way some speakers will allow you to attach additional sources.
Whew! With that crash-course out of the way, I hope youve gotten a better sense of the best computer speakers on the market and youve found the right one for your system
Kevin Lee is IGN’s Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspamMark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
