This $35 Accessory Is Still My Favorite Desktop Audio Upgrade

Don’t want to spend big on powered computer speakers? Get a miniature soundbar.

Published July 12, 2024

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When it comes to upgrading your desktop audio situation, you’ve got options. You can buy computer speakers for anywhere between $100 to $500. You can use a wireless speaker like a HomePod or Sonos Era 100 (although that can get quite messy). You can even buy a little amp and use bookshelf speakers.

I’d argue that, for most people working from home, the best option is to simply get a computer soundbar. It’s a small soundbar that rests under your monitor and sounds much better than most laptops’ built-in speakers. Also, it’s incredibly affordable.

I bought one — the Dell Stereo SoundBar — a few years ago when I started working from home. And, even though I have computer speakers that I use from time to time, I find that I still go back to using my little computer soundbar.

The computer soundbar has a couple of things going for it.

Most computer soundbars are wildly affordable

Computer soundbars are generally inexpensive. I bought mine for just $35, which is more affordable than pretty much anything else you can get to upgrade your desktop’s audio.

Even though they aren’t hyped as much as other desktop audio components, there’s quite a variety of computer soundbars to choose from these days. The vast majority of them are well under $100. (The more expensive models add premium features like RGB lighting and built-in Bluetooth, which you don’t really need.)

When picking a computer soundbar, you need to make sure that it will work well with your existing monitor. So, I’d start by looking up your monitor to see if any computer soundbars were designed for it. For example, the Dell soundbar that I bought was made specifically to be attached to my Dell monitor.

It sounds good — just don’t expect to be blown away

I won’t wax lyrical about my miniature soundbar’s incredible sound. It’s good, but not amazing — a definite step down from the wide soundstage (or even) that two powered speakers, positioned on either side of your monitor, are able to deliver.

But at just $35, I don’t really expect too much out of my computer soundbar — it’s a tiny speaker, after all. All I need it to do is sound decent for video calls, YouTube videos and playing Spotify for the times when I don’t feel like wearing headphones. And it does that just fine.

Note: If your monitor has built-in speakers, a computer soundbar can help improve the sound, but it’s probably not going to make a huge difference. If your monitor doesn’t have built-in speakers, a computer soundbar will be a big upgrade, allowing you to close your laptop and not sound muffled.

It takes up no space on your desk — no clutter

Aside from the improved sound, maybe the best thing about most computer soundbars is that they don’t take up any real estate on your desk. Basically, they don’t add any unnecessary clutter.

My little computer soundbar clips to my monitor stand and is elevated off the ground. I could place something underneath it if I wanted to. Honestly, sometimes I forget that the little speaker is even there.

Meanwhile, powered computer speakers need to be positioned on your desk on either side of your monitor, which takes up space and can cause clutter.