Best Computer Speakers

Not sure which PC speakers work best with your computer? Here is a list of our favorites, covering every price range.

If you’re using your computer for gaming, movies, or music than a quality speaker system is essential. While desktops may come with some basic speakers and laptops feature chintzy built-ins, neither is going to give you quality sound when you start to crank it up. Below we’ve gathered our list of the best computer speakers at price ranges fitting every budget. These systems should provide a huge upgrade in sound quality over most any stock speakers.

Multiple members of the Digital Trends staff contributed to our list of the best computer speakers.

 

Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 Multimedia Speakers $499.00

Price is no object you say? Well if you don’t shy away from big price tags, this set from Bowers & Wilkins will pack some serious hi-fi sound into pint-sized package that’ll fit nicely on your desktop. As far as specs go, it’s got four 18-Watt class D amplifiers, a two 1-inch tweeters, and each speaker has it’s own 3-inch woofer. Aside from its innards, the system has also got a sleek, well-designed exterior. 

Harmon Kardon Soundsticks III — $135 – $170

If you’re looking for a speaker set that balances sound quality with an eye-catching design, check out this system from Harmon Kardon. The third incarnation in the Soundstick line, this system boasts two satellite speakers—each of which contains four 1-inch full-range transducers—and a 6-inch 20 watt subwoofer. Their performance easily ranks among the best we’ve seen from speakers in this price range. Downsides? Despite being the third generation of the system, it still doesn’t have a remote. 

Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra MX6021 $199.95

If you love floor rumbling bass for your movies and games than give Altec Lansing’s Expressionist Ultra MX6021 computer speakers a long look. They offer the most bass on our list with a 6 ½” front firing, long throw woofer. This system offers 200-watts of power and retains a clean output at any volume. If there is one downside to this system it’s the size, the woofer is pretty large so if you have space concerns then you should probably look elsewhere.

Check out our full Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra MX6021 Review.

Logitech Z523 $99.99

These are the most inexpensive speakers on our list, but don’t let the price tag fool you these offer great sound that should satisfy most non-audiophiles. The 2.1 system offers surprisingly rich bass and performs great with music and games alike. All three speakers are driven by a 40-watt amplifier that fills most medium sized rooms easily with sound. These speakers may not satisfy everyone’s appetite but if you’re on a budget than their outstanding choice.

Check out our full Logitech Z523 Review.

M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 $229.00

The Studiophile AV 40s from M-Audio offer nothing flashy, just outstanding sound and surprising bass for a system lacking a dedicated subwoofer. The monitors feature a combination of 4-inch polypropylene-coated drivers and ¾-inch silk dome tweeters for balanced professional-grade fidelity. An integrated bass boost switch along with MDF wooden cabinets provide the Studiophile AV 40 speakers with plenty of low end power and saves users from trying to find a place to put those large dedicated subwoofers.

Joey Roth Ceramic Speakers $495.00

Industrial designer Joey Roth’s Ceramic Speakers are the most expensive system on our list and won’t suit everyone. For the price they aren’t going to be the best bang for your buck as you can probably get better sound from the Audioengine or M-Audio systems, but the Ceramic Speakers are about making a statement with a unique style that deviates from traditional plastic computer speakers. The speakers are made from simple materials including porcelain, cork, and Baltic birch and the T-Amp is made from stainless steel and cast iron which emphasizes the systems minimalistic and natural qualities.

Check out our full Joey Roth Ceramic Speakers Review.

Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 $149.99

The ProMedia 2.1 system offers no frills just great sound plan and simple. The three piece system offers two 35-watt satellite speakers and a booming 130-watt subwoofer which reaches down to 31 Hz. The two satellites feature Kipsch’s MicroTactrix horn which maximizes clarity in digital sources and the system’s high output digital hybrid amp features a headphone jack and dual stereo analog inputs so you can connect two sources at once.

Audioengine A5 $349.00

The A5s are similar in design to M-Audio’s AV 40s with a slightly larger tweeter and woofer to offer a little more punch. They offer phenomenal sound, two audio inputs, and two integrated charging options. With a 5-inch driver and 50 watts per channel the A5s pump out a lot of sound for their size. At close to $350 MSRP they are a bit pricey but since they’re powered there’s no need for a separate amplifier which depending on your needs can save you money, space and allows you to hook up any audio source.

Creative GigaWorks T40 Series I/II $130.00

If your desktop space is limited then Creative’s GigaWorks T40 series may be worth a look. This system goes up rather than out saving you space but retaining great sound and bass response for their slender size. Each of these computer speakers feature a pair of 2.5-inch full range drivers, a 1-inch tweeter, and bass reflex port on top. The right speaker offers convenient controls on the front for bass, treble and volume along with a 3.5-mm headphone jack. The T40s won’t give you quite the bang for your buck as M-Audio’s M40 system but they’ll fit better beside a monitor on your desktop.

Check out our full Creative GigaWorks T40 Series I Review.

What do you think of our list of the best computer speakers? Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments below.