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By Max Mutter ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Dec 7, 2023
Tired of the shrill speakers that are built into your computer? After thorough research, we bought and tested the 6 best computer speakers available today, all so your Zoom calls and YouTube binges can sound better. Leaning on the experience we've gained from testing more than 200 consumer audio products we meticulously ranked the sound quality of each speaker through side-by-side listening tests. We also assessed how easily each fit into different desk setups and configurations. Whether you want premium sound from beefy speakers or are looking for an economical and space-saving option, we can help upgrade the audio aspect of your computing experience.
Editor's Note: We updated our computer speaker review on December 7, 2023, to share info on an updated model and to include additional product suggestions in our award section.
The Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia checks all the boxes, offering up great sound, pushing out the classic warm and robust bass that Bose is known for, and following it up with remarkable separation and clarity across every sound register. At a height of 7.5 inches and a width of 3 inches, they are also fairly compact. They can be snugly placed below an average elevated desk monitor and look at home at the sides of a laptop. They're definitely not budget-priced, but if you're willing to pay a bit more for superior sound quality, we think they have a reasonable asking price.
We have one small gripe with this model — you must power it with an AC plug source. That wasn't a dealbreaker for us, but we already have quite a few cords in our powerstrip, so this just adds to the jumble. A USB power option would've been appreciated. Also, these aren't speakers for those shopping on a tight budget. If funds are tight, check out the Creative Pebble 2.0 below. However, if you have the room on your power strip and don't mind investing some money to have incredible sound, the Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia is an excellent choice.
The Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia speakers are some of the best sounding that we've tested.
The Creative Pebble 2.0 speakers provide a significant step up in both bass power and clarity when compared to the vast majority of built-in computer speakers, proving that it's possible to improve your computer's audio output on a budget. The convenient USB power source allows you to plug the speakers into a spare port on your computer or monitor instead of using a wall plug or taking up another port on your power strip. Finally, the design projects sound up at a 45˚ angle. As long as you place the speakers closer to you, this generally puts the ideal listening position right at ear level for most desk orientations.
While the Creative Pebble 2.0 sounds quite good, it does not provide that sought-after premium listening experience. The bass is far more powerful than what emanates from most computers, but it still lacks a bit of punch compared to many top-tier speakers. Additionally, some clarity and separation can be lost in complex melodies played at higher registers, a problem not present in many more capable models. While the 45˚ is great for most situations, if you want to place the speakers next to a monitor towards the back of your desk or on an elevated platform, the sound may be aimed over your head. However, if you're just looking for an upgrade in your computer's sound rather than premium quality, the Creative Pebble 2.0 provides all you need in a convenient and budget-friendly package.
The Creative Pebble 2.0 is simple, inexpensive, and sounds quite good.
Many computers, particularly laptops, have speakers that sound so thin and hollow that even a minor upgrade can make a world of difference. This is where the Cyber Acoustics CA-2014 comes in. Admittedly, these speakers aren't going to impress any audiophiles. However, they do offer noticeably more body and clarity than you can get from most laptops and many desktop computers, often upgrading the listening experience from shrill and annoying to perfectly satisfactory — and maybe even enjoyable. These small speakers also easily fit into almost any desk setup and can be powered from any USB port.
While these speakers are often a noticeable improvement compared to your computer's built-in speakers, they still lack a good amount of depth in the bass registers and can sound a bit echoey overall. However, if you don't want to spend much on speakers and just need to make your computer sound a bit less tinny, the Cyber Acoustics CA-2014 can get you all you need at an enticingly low price.
Offering decent sound quality at a very low price, the Cyber Acoustics CA-2014 is a low-commitment option for upgrading your computer's sound.
If you're particular about sound quality, it may be best to pair a set of bookshelf-style speakers with your computer. We think the Mackie Studio Monitor CR4BT is the perfect bookshelf/computer crossover. First off, these speakers sound fantastic. The bass is powerful yet controlled and constrained, and the mid and treble ranges are crystal clear and enjoy great separation, allowing you to appreciate every bit of even the most complex melodies. Secondly, the design of these speakers lends them well to desktop arrangements. The ability to change which speaker is the left and right allows for correct orientation regardless of where your outlet happens to be. Multiple included accessories allow you to connect via your computer's headphone jack, through an RCA output, or via Bluetooth.
The obvious disadvantages of the Mackie Studio Monitor CR4BT are the cost and the size. The premium sound quality does come at a relatively premium price. Each speaker stands nearly 9 inches tall, 6 inches wide, and just over 8 inches deep. That takes up quite a bit of desk space. But if you have the room and want top-tier sound, we highly recommend the Mackie Studio Monitor CR4BT.
The Mackie Studio Monitor CR4BT offers top-tier sound quality.
On-cable volume control makes it hard to hide wires
If you want a slight upgrade from your laptop speakers, the Sanyun SW102 may work well. While these speakers won't blow anyone away, the well-constrained and fairly tight sound is a noticeable upgrade from most laptop speakers. The simple and relatively small USB-powered design makes these speakers easy to integrate into any desk setup, no matter how crowded.
While these speakers produce better sound than most laptops, don't expect robust bass or exceptional clarity. When the speakers are plugged in, each unit has a bright blue light at the base. Sometimes, these lights felt harmless; other times, they felt like an unwanted addition to a day spent staring at a glowing screen with no way to turn them off. Finally, the volume control is embedded in the speaker cable, limiting your options when hiding the cables. However, if you can get past these annoyances, the Sanyun SW102 offers reasonable sound at a very low price.
The Sanyun SW102 is cheap and sounds ok, but we were annoyed by the blue lights.
Logitech now offers this model as the Z207 with Bluetooth capabilities.
The Logitech Multimedia Z200 is an inexpensive pair of computer speakers that offer a good amount of bass power and decent clarity through the mid and treble ranges. This sound profile works well for almost any genre of music or video conferencing.
Like any pair of budget speakers, the Logitech Multimedia Z200 has some weak points, audio-wise. Namely, though the bass is quite powerful, it can often sound muddled and a bit echoey. These speakers are also relatively tall, standing at 9.5 inches. This means that on crowded desks, they can obscure the bottom of some monitors. Still, we think these speakers are a decent choice for budget shoppers.
The Logitech Multimedia Z200 offers decent sound.
Credit: Max Mutter
Why You Should Trust Us
To find the best computer speakers, we researched more than 50 models, then bought the most promising ones on the market. We spent weeks using them on our own desks, setting each up in a variety of configurations. We also spent hours listening to each model, one right after the other, using various genres of music to compare the bass, mid, and treble quality of each, as well as overall clarity and fullness.
Senior Editor Max Mutter has been testing and reviewing consumer audio products for five years, having used more than 200 such products in that time span. He's developed a keen ear that can quickly identify a speaker's audio attributes.
Credit: Max Mutter
Analysis and Test Results
We split the computer speaker test into two categories: sound quality and ease of use. Within both categories, we conducted multiple tests to rank the performance of each product. You can read more about those tests and the standout performers below.
Sound Quality
Sound quality is likely the most important thing to consider when selecting a pair of computer speakers. We assessed each model's performance for video conferencing and listening with different music genres and podcasts. This testing happened side-by-side, where we quickly switched back and forth between models to directly compare their bass, mid, and treble quality and overall clarity.
We love how the Mackie Studio Monitor CR4BT speakers sound.
Credit: Max Mutter
If you're looking for the best possible sound from your computer, the Mackie Studio Monitor CR4BT is a great choice. We found these speakers to be impressively capable throughout all registers, able to get deep and warm or brash and bright as the situation dictates, while remaining incredibly clear no matter what. However, the extra size and price of these speakers may dissuade some.
The Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia leave very little to be desired when it comes to sound quality.
Credit: Max Mutter
For most people seeking great sound, we would suggest the Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia. These speakers provide bass rumble and clarity that are almost as good as those of the Mackie Studio Monitor CR4BT, just in a smaller and slightly less expensive package.
In order to be useful, all that computer speakers need to do is sound better than the tiny speakers that are built-in to most laptops. All the rest of the models we tested can do this, though with slightly less aplomb than the standouts we've listed above. Of these, our favorite would be the Creative Pebble 2.0, which maintained a relatively well-balanced and well-rounded sound in our testing.
Ease of Use
Most computer speakers have very simple interfaces and are designed to plug into your computer's headphone jack. Beyond these basics, computer speakers can offer better user experiences by more easily fitting into the average desktop setup. This can be impacted by the size of/orientation required by the speakers, whether they can be powered via a simple USB port or need their own AC outlet, and how many wires zig-zag over the desk. Small touches like a headphone jack pass-through port are nice as well, but we didn't find them to be hugely impactful in day-to-day use.
The Creative Pebble 2.0 provides a refreshingly simple design.
Credit: Max Mutter
Of all the models we tested, the Creative Pebble 2.0 probably offers the most seamless user experience. These speakers can be powered via any USB outlet, and the speakers are relatively small and don't take up much desktop real estate. The Cyber Acoustics CA-2014 offers a similarly simple design. The Logitech Multimedia Z200 follows this simple design trend, but the speakers themselves are significantly larger.
Headphone pass-through ports, as seen here on the Cyber Acoustics CA-2014, allow you to switch to headphones without unplugging your speakers.
Credit: Max Mutter
The Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia speakers sit one step down from the simplest models. The speakers are just slightly larger than average and require an AC port for power. However, the huge step up in sound quality will likely be well worth the modicum of added logistics for many people.
On-cable volume controls, like on the Sanyun SW102, make it less convenient to hide the cables away.
Credit: Max Mutter
Conclusion
The audio from your computer can be significantly upgraded from even the simplest and most inexpensive computer speakers. If you are in the market, there are plenty of top-ranked Bluetooth speakers to choose from, and we hope our detailed testing results have helped narrow down the perfect pair of speakers to fulfill your needs. If you're looking for the best surge protector for your computer setup, we've tested those as well and chosen our favorites.
