Best computer speakers 2024: Top desktop models tested and rated
The best computer speakers to upgrade your desktop audio performance
1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best value
4. Best for bass
5. Best for gaming
6. Best light-up speakers
7. How to choose
8. How we test
Adding one of the best computer speakers to your desktop is a great way to build a dynamic and entertaining workspace for yourself and the whole family to enjoy.
In much the same way as the best soundbars upgrade the sound quality from a TV's built-in speakers, desktop speakers bring a big boost to any movie and gaming experience with a more powerful and immersive audio experience. All the desktop designs listed here have been tested as they would be used at home and all will outperform the tiny speakers built into a laptop or computer monitor screen. They can also help improve video conversations in desktop workspaces with clearer dialog in video meetings, or simply provide great-sounding audio for listening to your favorite tunes in the background.
In this list, I've assembled the best computer speakers based on their performance in our testing and their suitability for different activities. Read on to see which models make the grade and bring a boost to your desktop setup.
The quick list
Best overall
Best for most people
This simple pair of powered speakers are all most desktop setups need. There's no Bluetooth connectivity or USB port, but you do get nicely balanced Bose sound, a level control and a headphone jack. These are a fuss-free desktop solution that will bring a boost to most computer audio setups.
Read more below
Best value
Best small speakers
These budget Creative speakers prove you don't have to spend big to get great sound in small spaces. The orb design is attractive, and we appreciate the Bluetooth connectivity along with a 3.5mm jack and USB-C port that Creative managed to squeeze in at the price.
Best for bass
Best for bass
Nothing boosts a desktop audio experience like the addition of a subwoofer. Whether you're gaming, watching movies or simply listening to music, the Klipsch delivers a wide and rich soundscape to make the most of the desktop audio experience.
Hi, I'm Lee and I cover all things audio for Tom's Guide, including headphones, wireless speakers, soundbars, and computer audio. I am passionate about sound quality and getting the best sound for all kinds of setups. I've been testing and writing about audio for more years than I care to remember, and I love providing sound advice to help shoppers make informed buying decisions to achieve great sound.
The best computer speakers you can buy right now
Why you can trust Tom's Guide
Best computer speakers
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Although these have been around for over a decade, the Bose Companion 2 Series III continue to be the best desktop speakers for most people. Although connectivity options aren't as wide as what's on offer on newest desktop speakers — there's no Bluetooth or USB connectivity here — the solid build and functionality continues to be a popular with buyers at the $149 asking price.
The 7.5 x 5.9 x 3.1-inch satellites don't take up much space on your desk, but they create a big, full sound. The slightly premium price is worthwhile as it produces more bass than speakers twice the size, and with robust vocals and pleasing treble, it delivers very good sound overall.
The simple and elegant design features a single volume knob on the right speaker, along with a headphone jack so you don't have to disconnect the speakers to listen privately. These speakers don't give you any way to adjust the bass or treble, but with the well-balanced sound, you likely won't miss that feature.
- Read our full Bose Companion 2 Series III review
Best value computer speakers
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Building out your desktop setup can get expensive, especially for those who are working from home regularly. The Creative Pebble V3 proves you don’t have to spend crazy money to snag a pair of serviceable and super-affordable computer speakers. Despite its compact size, the Pebble V3 produces loud and crisp sound, putting what comes out of your laptop speakers to shame. The orb-inspired design is attractive and takes up very little space, plus we appreciate all the hardware (e.g., 2.25-inch driver, passive bass radiator) and inputs (e.g., 3.5 mm port, USB-C) Creative managed to squeeze in.
There isn’t much bass coming out of the driver, which means lows can lack depth on contemporary songs. A headphone output would have also been appreciated to enjoy music privately, but the price point makes the Pebble V3 incredible value.
- Read our full Creative Pebble V3 review
Best computer speakers with a sub (2.1)
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you’re in the market for computer speakers that come bundled with a subwoofer, the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX is quite a bargain. Audio quality is impressive with a wide soundscape that allows you to hear subtle nuances in songs. Vocals, instruments, and sound effects are detailed, which benefits listeners when indulging in movies and video games. Each satellite sits attractively on the side your desktop and laptop as well.
Not having Bluetooth can be a deal-breaker for some. Also, figuring out where to place the large subwoofer may present challenges for those with very little space to work with. However, if you have the extra room to store it, the ProMedia 2.1 will reward you with robust bass.
- Read our full Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX review
Best for gaming
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Logitech G560 are the best computer speakers for serious gamers. The G560 produces robust sound, whether you're playing a game or listening to music, and the subwoofer really adds to the experience. If you like to play loud, this system is a great fit for you. It also features a sophisticated lighting system comprising four distinct zones with bright, colorful LEDs, which are fun but can be distracting. The included software is integral; you use it to configure the lights, activate surround sound and even create profiles for specific games.
One helpful feature of the G560 is its Bluetooth compatibility, which lets you funnel in your own music from a smartphone. This means that you can play pretty much anything on these speakers, and you can hand off control from person to person easily. If you need something powerful for an impromptu dance party, the G560 will work in a pinch, and even provide its own light show to go along with the fun.
- Read our full Logitech G560 review
Best computer speakers for gaming (2.0)
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you're looking to step up from those tinny speakers on your gaming laptop or monitor and you don't feel like wearing one the best gaming headsets all day, the Razer Nommo Chroma speakers are an excellent gaming audio solution that makes just about any media sound great at a reasonable price.
These gaming-minded stereo speakers may have been around for a while, but they deliver rich, and directionally accurate sound for hearing the competition coming. During our testing, they were largely as impressive for entertainment as they were for games, and are a solid set of speakers for all kinds of computer tasks.
As the name suggests, the Razer Nommo Chroma sports a thin LED strip around the base that can glow millions of colors. Using Razer's Synapse 3 software, you can customize the Nommo with an array of lighting options to bring an extra atmospheric element to gaming as well as routine computer tasks.
- Read our full Razer Nommo Chroma review
Best computer speakers: specs compared
Header Cell - Column 0 | Type | Power output (rated) | Controls | Headphone jack | Connectivity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bose Companion 2 Series III | 2.0 (stereo speakers) | Not specified | Volume only | Yes | 2x 3.5mm jack |
Creative Pebble V3 | 2.0 (stereo speakers) | 2x 8W | Volume only | No | 1x 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth, USB-C |
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX | 2.1 (stereo with sub) | 2x 15W | Subwoofer level | Yes | 1x 3.5mm jack |
Logitech G560 | 2.1 (stereo with sub) | 120W total | Volume and subwoofer level, RGB light brightness | Yes | 1x 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth, USB port |
Razer Nommo Chroma | 2.0 (stereo speakers) | Not specified | Volume and bass level | Yes | 1x 3.5mm jack |
How to choose the best computer speakers for you
There are three things to consider when choosing the best PC speakers for your setup: sound quality, extra features and price.
Cheaper, less elaborate systems can sometimes offer decent sound quality, but the sound output is often not particularly well nuanced, and the maximum volume is sometimes not loud enough to fill your listening space or impactful enough for your activity. More elaborate systems tend to offer richer treble, deeper bass and more substantial vocals. A great-sounding pair of speakers should be nicely balanced across the frequency range.
Extra features tend to come standard in more expensive speakers, but even cheaper models can have them. The most common extra feature is discrete bass/treble controls, but you can also have remote controls, wireless functionality and RGB lighting. None of these things is strictly necessary, but some can make your life a lot easier, especially if you're looking to turn your computer into an audio powerhouse.
Although improving the working from home experience may be your main criteria, gamers may also enjoy the extra depth a set of dedicated computer speakers can bring to their favorite titles. Online gaming is one of the most popular forms of entertainment, and you may want a set of dedicated desktop speakers to heighten the environment of a favorite open world title for a more realistic and engaging experience.
How we test the best computer speakers
To an extent, testing to find the best computer speakers isn’t that different to testing one of the best Bluetooth speakers or even a soundbar. We’re looking for high audio quality across a range of uses, from making sure voices are clear in video calls to the speakers’ music, movie and gaming performance. We’ll play a variety of different media, including multiple musical genres, to identify any sonic strengths and weaknesses.
We also examine how easy it is to set up a pair (or multi-speaker set) of computer speakers, but generally you shouldn’t need any special knowledge to get them up and running.
Generally, we try to spend a few days using each speaker set on a desktop/home office setup, to fully replicate the conditions in which you’d use them yourself.
Once our testing is complete, we rate the best computer speakers based on our five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). Products that hit nearly every mark are awarded an Editor's Choice badge.
Contributions from: Michael Gowan, Marshall Honorof, and Michael Andronico
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As a former editor of the U.K.'s Hi-Fi Choice magazine, Lee is passionate about all kinds of audio tech and has been providing sound advice to enable consumers to make informed buying decisions since he joined Which? magazine as a product tester in the 1990s. Lee covers all things audio for Tom's Guide, including headphones, wireless speakers and soundbars and loves to connect and share the mindfulness benefits that listening to music in the very best quality can bring.