Between graphics cards and monitors, it's
fair to say that visuals get the bulk of the attention in the world of PC
upgrades. However, the right multimedia systems can have a huge impact on how
you perceive your PC. If you think it's only capable of tinny music, raspy
dialogue and unconvincing in-game soundscapes, try buying a fresh pair of
speakers. You might be surprised what your computer can do, given the right
hardware. In this guide, we've picked over options at all price points to help
you select the best speakers you can get for the money you want to spend
You're probably familiar with the basic
terminology of computer speakers, but just in case there are any gaps, we'll
quickly go over it one more time before we get to the goods themselves.
The main thing worth explaining is the
numbering. Although it looks like a decimal system, the numbering of speakers
refers to the configuration of unit types. The first digit tells you the number
of satellite speakers, and the second tells you the number of subwoofers. The
most popular systems use either a 2.0 or 2.1 setup, which means two speakers
and a subwoofer (or not), although more advanced surround sound and home
theatre systems might use 5.1 or even 7.1 setups.
2.0 systems tend to be simple, low-power
and easily portable. However, the quality is often poor, maybe not even much
better than a monitor's integrated speakers. 2.1 setups with a subwoofer
enhance the bass, making them perfect all round solutions for PCs that play a
lot of music, do a little gaming and get used for watching movies.
Any more than two satellite speakers and
you enter surround-sound territory. These are enthusiast setups that should be
the preserve of gamers and serious home theatre aficionados, and which see significant
benefits from being paired with a proper sound card. However, you will pay a
premium in both space requirements and cost, so make sure you'll appreciate
having them around before you head off to buy a system.
Also, just to make sure you understand
speaker terminology, subwoofers enhance bass, tweeters enhance treble, and
drivers aren't the software kind, but the cones inside the speakers that
produce audio!
Logitech S120
Details
·
Configuration: 2.0
·
Price: $16
·
Power Output: 2.3w
Logitech excel in making low-cost
peripherals for PCs of any stripe, and its S120 budget speaker system is a good
example of that. Designed for use with laptops, the S120 speakers are as basic
as they come: you get a pair of mains-wired speakers with a 3.5mm audio jack
and combined volume/power control. On the front, there's a power indicator LED
and on one side, a headphone port. And that's your lot.
Logitech
S120
As you might have gathered from the
description, they need a separate mains power supply to function, but the supplied
cable is nice and long, meaning you're unlikely to be restricted in where and
how you position them. If you're using a desk, they'll fit on it.
Although you won't get crystal clear
acoustics and floor-shaking bass out of them, what you will get is sound
superior to any unpowered laptop or monitor speakers. At only 7" high and
less than 3" wide, they're quite small, but this is intentional; they're
designed to be portable. Helpfully, they're also quite hardy. With a pleasingly
solid plastic shell and sturdy metal grille over the speakers, they can take a
fair few knocks and won't fly apart the first time you chuck them in your bag.
There's nothing to stop you using them on a
desktop PC, of course, particularly if you're price-or space-conscious, but the
truth is that you can get substantially better sound at only a slightly higher
cost. If you're after a pair of portable speakers, or something to stick in the
kitchen so you can listen to your MP3 player while cooking, you wouldn't want
to spend any more, but for more concentrated personal use, a little extra cash
will go a long way.
There are some actively negative points
that might persuade you not to buy them: they're incredibly light, which is
good for portability, but bad for not having them clatter across the room every
time there's a gust of wind in their direction. The audio cable that joins the
two speakers is also quite short, making it difficult to position them very far
apart. If you have a particularly wide monitor, prepare to deal with obstructions!
Headphones are also likely to emit a hissing sound, even though the speakers
themselves are fine.
For the price, it's hard to complain too
much. They may lack features, they may lack fidelity, but when you can pick
them up for less than the price of a half-decent burger, they more than justify
themselves.
Basic, but priced so well you won't
be too bothered by that
Creative Inspire T10
Details
·
Configuration: 2.0
·
Price: $49
·
Power Output: 10w
Although it's common for 2.0 speaker
systems to be cheap and low-priced, that doesn't mean they have to be. As
evidence, take Creative's Inspire T10 system. At $49, it's two or even three
times the price of most other 2.0 systems (which are all unashamedly low-end),
but the Creative name has been synonymous with quality computer sound for
decades now. Has that experience translated into a pair of portable speakers
it's worth your while owning?
Creative
Inspire T10
At first glance, there's something impressive
about the look of the units. The glossy black exterior gives them a sleek,
expensive appearance, and the grill-free drivers conveys an unmistakable
impression of raw power. Inside each one, you get a 3" main cone as well
as a separate 1" tweeter for clarity at high-frequencies, and so-called
'BasXPort' technology for deeper, bass sounds, even without a subwoofer.
Unlike cheaper units, you can control the
bass output separately from volume, and the magnetic shielding prevents any
interference from affecting the sound. You also get a headphone socket, which
offers sound as clear as any speaker can. While sized for portability, they're
also quite weighty, meaning that they sit reliably and comfortably without
danger of being knocked over. Even better, you get a separate auxiliary port,
which allows you to plug in an extra device (for example, an MP3 player)
without the need to dismantle the setup.
The T10s are far beyond most 2.0
systems. The problem is that they are only a 2.0 system
Being a 2.0 system, one of the better
points about the Creative Inspire T10 system is that it has excellent mid-range
performance. A lot of emphasis tends to be placed on bass, but in the sort of
situations where you might use portable speakers (for example, communal rooms
and offices) then strong bass isn't necessarily desirable.
It's fair to say that the T10s are far
beyond most 2.0 systems. The problem is that they are only a 2.0 system, and
$49 is expensive for what they are. If you're an audiophile who simply must
have good quality sound, then they'll certainly deliver that. If, however,
you're more pragmatic in your approach to portable audio performance, there's
very not a huge amount that can justify the $24 - $32 extra you'll have to pay
over competing budget 2.0 systems.
Still, if you can afford to buy them, you
won't be disappointed with the output. Choose to make them your main speakers
and you'll find them far better suited (and priced).
Reasonably high quality, but
proportionally priced
