Now that so many Americans are working from home full-time, a lot of us are spending a ton of time in front of our home computers. And if there’s one thing that’s true about most computers, it’s that they have pretty terrible built-in speakers. Chances are, you’ll max out the volume button on your laptop and still find the sound too soft to hear your boss on a Zoom or Google Meet conference clearly enough. And if it’s that bad for a conference call, can you imagine streaming a movie or listening to music?
Whether you’re binge watching YouTube videos, working on a student project, or getting some actual work done, good computer audio is a key part of a home desktop arrangement. There’s just one problem: You’ve gotta get some external speakers.
That’s because the default speakers that are built into most computer monitors or laptops are pretty crummy. They don’t do any of your favorite songs justice and don’t even think about watching a loud action movie with them. Unfortunately, standalone computer speakers cost money. In some cases, a whole lot of it. The good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to enhance your computer audio.
What should you look for in computer speakers?
The obvious first answer to that question is sound quality. Fortunately, just about any standalone speakers you buy will be better than what’s in a laptop. Some of the options on this list might not be audiophile-friendly considering our budgetary restraints, but that’s fine. Unless you recognize all the different nuances in audio quality, it shouldn’t be a problem with anything on this list.
On a more practical level, size and connectivity might be the most important factors when picking up budget computer speakers. You want something that doesn’t take up the entire desk and doesn’t require some arcane cable you’ve never seen before just to function. Everything on this list should accommodate both of those needs.
How are budget computer speakers different from expensive ones?
Computer speakers that cost hundreds of dollars tend to come with things like subwoofers for extra bass or five speakers that work in tandem to produce a surround sound effect. There are some budget speakers with subwoofers, but full surround sound isn’t going to happen here. In general, sound quality is going to get better the more money you spend. Being frugal doesn’t mean you’ll get something terrible, but it does mean you probably won’t get something fit for a home theater.
Aside from that, another practical drawback of budget speakers is that you may be limited in terms of connectivity options. There are Bluetooth-compatible budget computer speakers, but they’re a little tougher to find than if you were to up the price range a bit. This may not be a huge problem for most people, but if you’re sick of cable clutter, it’s worth considering.