We’re spending more time at home working (and playing) on our desktops and laptops than ever before, and that means listening to our computer’s built-in speakers — which, likely, aren’t very good. An easy way to change that: buy a nice pair of computer speakers.
A set of computer (or desktop) speakers generally isn’t as expensive or as big as bookshelf speakers; in fact, you can buy a pretty good pair of computer speakers for less than $100. The pair is able to create a wider soundstage with much better stereo sound than your computer’s built-in speakers, and it’s a no-brainer for anybody who cares about audio.
Before buying a set of computer speakers, there are several things you want to consider. You need to figure out how much you want to spend (which could range between $50 —$500) and what kind of system you want; some computer speaker systems, for example, come with a wireless subwoofer, while others don’t. You must also consider how you will connect your computer and speakers: 3.5mm? USB audio jack? Or a wireless connection like Bluetooth?
The last thing to note is that some of the most popular wireless speakers, which don’t support Bluetooth, can’t actually be used as computer speakers. You might be surprised that Sonos speakers can’t really be used as computer speakers (although there is a workaround). You also can’t use two HomePods or two HomePod minis as computer speakers with your Mac, which is a bit odd (and hopefully will change).
How We Tested
We’ve been writing about and reviewing speakers and desktop accessories for near-on a decade. We’ve had hand-on testing with most of the below computer speakers. We’ve also included a few computer speakers made by trusted brands and aim to get hands-on with them in the near future.
To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.
