How much audio quality can you get for your money?
Finding the best PC speakers can sometimes be a difficult task. Everyone has different needs for their audio, and that means the speaker system that’s best for one person might not be the best for another.
But getting the right sound out of your PC is essential for enjoying the experience of watching movies, playing games and listening to music – not to mention those helpful audio adverts that occasionally run themselves over a website when you open a tab.
So whether you wondering if your current speakers are up to the job, running a system that lacks decent speakers entirely or just in the market for a refresh, we’ve put together this guide to some of the best speaker models around no matter what you’re looking for.
2.0 Speakers
A standard 2.0 speaker setup is the least you should consider for a non-portable system, allowing you to get the full stereo sound experience for things like gaming, music and television. Stereo speakers can also be picked up incredibly cheaply. Indeed, some of these are by far the lowest-priced on the market. But even the cheapest examples will be more powerful than laptops or integrated monitor speakers can muster.
1. Trust MiLa 2.0 (£12.99)
You’ll struggle to find a decent stereo system that costs less than the Trust MiLa, but that means you’re only getting the basics for whatever money you spend. They’re as stripped down as you can reasonably expect: two 5W speakers with on-unit volume controls and a headphone/line-out jack. Everything you could reasonably need, but not a lot more than that.
The black-and-silver styling is generic, but a wide base does at least mean they’re relatively stable, despite being quite light, and that’s not something you can guarantee with cheaper speakers. Like many low-end speakers, they’re completely powered over USB, which makes them ideal for laptop use and keeps a plug socket from being unnecessarily used, but it’s also not much good if you’re looking for something to improve speaker output on your tablet or phone.
Clearly, at this price they’re not going to blow you away with crystal-clear quality or thumping bass range. But if you’re looking for budget speakers, what more can we say? They’re as good a pair as you can find for this sort of money.
2. Trust Tytan (£29.99)
Spend a bit more, however, and you can expect a lot more out of your speaker system. The Trust Tytan 2.0 system is available from £29.99 and delivers a super-powerful 36W in total. The front panel of one speaker houses volume and power controls, headphone and aux-in 3.5mm sockets, and even includes separate bass controls, which are rare in 2.0 systems.
As well as controls, the speaker units house two drivers – a 4” mid-range driver and an extra 1” tweeter to cover a larger range of sound than most speakers. At this size, it’s probably no surprise that the speakers are powered from the mains socket, and their size makes it inevitable that they’re desktop-use only. There’s no real likelihood of portability – they’re a hefty two kilograms (boxed).
Perhaps the most attractive feature is the smart power management, which puts the units into a standby mode when they’re not in use, to prevent hiss and interference bleeding through even when they’re not in use. The price might be more than budget buyers will want to pay, but there’s no doubt that they’re worth the money. And if you’re willing to fork out an extra tenner, you can get a pair with Bluetooth as well. Not bad at all.
3. Microlab Solo 1C (£64.99)
The Microlab Solo 1C speakers are ‘bookshelf speakers’, which means they’re absolutely huge and designed to fill a room, rather than simply project sound at someone sitting in front of their computer. This makes them ideal for home entertainment purposes in particular, and that’s borne out by their 100W output (they each house a 20W 1” tweeter and a 30W 5” woofer) and wood-panel finish. They look like furniture, rather than computer peripherals.
These are also the cheapest speakers to have more advanced input capabilities than you’d get on standard PC speakers. Rather than a 3.5mm jack, you get dual phono inputs on the rear of one speaker, allowing for two inputs, alongside a master power switch and volume control. You can use the bundled IR remote to switch inputs or control volume, treble and bass individually.
Oddly, some of these controls aren’t even available on the speaker itself, but that’s a very small problem with what are otherwise strong performers. They’re clearly a tier above your average stereo system, but if it’s high-end sound you want, then it’s worth being a little cautious: the Microlab Solo 1C is still an unashamedly budget version of what it purports to be.
2.1 Speakers
2.1 speaker systems consist of a separate subwoofer/amplifier and two satellite speakers, which makes them functionally impossible to use in a portable context, and while you can still connect mobile devices to them, that does seem a little bit like putting alloy wheels on a golf cart. However, their room-filling bass makes 2.1 systems ideal for gamers who like atmosphere and HTPC users who might not be sitting inches away from the speakers.
4. Microlab M113 (£24.49)
Trying to buy a cheap 2.1 system can be something of a false economy, since £25 will get you a considerably better 2.0 speaker set than it will satellites and a subwoofer. Still, if you want good bass above all else, it’s possible at this price. The Microlab M113 is an example of how it can be achieved, with a separate subwoofer that features a downward-firing woofer for some deep bass sound.
A 24W output means it’s reasonably powerful even for a cheap example, but you don’t need us to tell you that it’s going to be a basic piece of kit. There’s a single 3.5mm input only, and not even a headphone socket. On older models, you can only control the volume on the subwoofer’s side panel, but more recent incarnations have a separate wired volume control, which you can put in a more convenient place, so if you’re buying one, look out for that. It’ll make things far less irritating.
It does have some good things going for it, of course. It’s nice and compact as far as 2.1 systems go, and it’ll definitely give you better bass sound than any similarly priced 2.0 setup would, even if you sacrifice volume and clarity as a result. As it is, you’re always going to be making a compromise with lower-end speaker systems, and that being the case, you might as well compromise with this one.
5. Hercules XPS 40 (£39.99)
The Hercules XPS 40 features two tall, stylishly sculpted satellite speakers and a compact subwoofer with a total combined output of 64W. Available in black or white, it’s designed to discreetly fit into your home décor, and we think it manages that quite convincingly. Indeed, the slim speakers are particularly good-looking if you hide the cables well.
Feature-wise, it’s definitely a step up from other budget models. The wired remote control is particularly smart, with a volume control dial and, less expected, a secondary 3.5mm aux input. This makes quickly attaching a phone or MP3 player particularly simple, so you can essentially turn the XPS 40 into its own stereo system, and it’s undoubtedly one of the better features we’ve seen at this kind of price. There are no bass/treble controls, which is a shame, but we’re still in the realm of budget systems.
It’s worth being careful before buying one, in fact. Like some other 2.1 systems, this also comes in a 2.0 variety, which means without the subwoofer. Make sure you’re buying the right hardware. If it comes in under £35, you’re almost certainly buying the basic version!
Still, it’s relatively powerful, clearer and cleaner than cheaper speaker systems and considerably better looking too. It doesn’t necessarily blow the competition away in technical terms, but with so many similar options to choose from, the look of it is a good enough decider for us – though that nifty line-in device on the remote certainly doesn’t hurt either.
6. Logitech Z533 (£79.99)
Logitech’s speakers are always reliably good, and they always deliver a good combination of performance and design, which makes them a dependable, if not necessarily a stand-out brand. The Z533 is aimed at those who want to give their desktop system some real clout, with a pair of stereo speakers and subwoofer combining to chuck out no fewer than 120W at its peak.
Connections include both 3.5mm and RCA, so while it isn’t what you’d call highend, it can at least be used with a wide variety of devices, including things like consoles and TVs if that’s what you’re after. The wired control module allows you to adjust both the volume and bass independently, and its strange ‘hockey puck’ design means it sits well on any surface. Again, you get a line-in on the control module, but there’s also a secondary lineout, so it’s convenient to get your headphones plugged in without having to stretch down to wherever the subwoofer is sitting. It also works as a power switch, so it’s easy to activate and deactivate the sound.
Despite the extra features, it’s the audio itself that impresses. The Z533 offers full, rich sound with deep bass that can fill a room. There’s plenty of detail at most volumes, and while the loudest settings cause some distortion, that’s not uncommon at even more expensive prices.
Finally, if you’re not a fan of cabled connections, it’s possible to buy a Logitech Bluetooth adaptor that’ll transform it into a wire-free system. It’s an extra £30 on top if you buy it bundled with the speaker, but you can connect two devices at once over a 50 foot range, so it’s quite good as wireless connections go.
Generally speaking, then, it’s a big thumbs-up for the Z533 2.1 system. We’re not entirely sure the Bluetooth-adapted version is as good value as the basic system – but hey, at least the option’s there.
5.1 Speakers
Getting surround sound on the cheap isn’t particularly easy to do, but if you’re not a snob about audio fidelity, it’s certainly possible with a few different models. Surround systems are mainly useful for home entertainment and hardcore gaming, where all the channels will get used, so don’t go overboard if you’re just looking for speakers to play music on while sitting at your desk!
7. Creative A550 (£59.99)
Probably the cheapest 5.1 system you can buy new, the Creative A550 uses the same subwoofer and satellite speakers as the much smaller Creative A250, only in a 5.1 configuration (five satellites, one subwoofer). Fortunately, where the A250 lets itself down in the 2.1 category by having a higher price than most of its competition, the A550 is definitively one of the cheapest 5.1 systems you can get.
Of course, as with all budget 5.1 systems, it has some things wrong with it – not least the shortness of the bundled satellite cables, which greatly restrict the positioning. It doesn’t help that three of the cables you need to run it are hard-wired into the unit either, which makes trying to move it a cavalcade of untangling. The output is also quite low, at 37W total – five per satellite and a 12W subwoofer.
But 5.1 sound doesn’t normally come this cheap, and that’s enough to forgive a litany of sins in virtually any other regard. We’d recommend it for gamers who want a big experience on a small budget, rather than high-fidelity entertainment – but at this price, you’re unlikely to find too much fault with it.
8. Logitech Z506 (£84.99)
This 5.1 offering from Logitech has at least one thing others at this sort of price don’t, and that’s a dedicated centre speaker. That alone gives it an air of seriousness that other cheap 5.1 units often fail to match. Additionally, the total output is 75W, so clearly it’s aimed at providing some roomfilling, wall-shaking, neighbourenraging sound, and that’s what we like to get from our 5.1 systems.
Each speaker contains two drivers (a woofer and a tweeter), apart from the centre speaker, which contains two equally sized woofers. A dedicated bass controller on the subwoofer allows you to tweak the balance. There are dual 3.5mm inputs for stereo use, three for 5.1 use, and even a headphone socket on one of the speakers.
The only thing that lets this hardware down is that which afflicts most systems at this cost: the cables are too short to be truly convenient. Juggling five speakers is never a fun thing to do, and it’s a shame this otherwise high-end system is let down by an all-too common concern.
But aside from that, we’ve got no complaints. It looks high-end, it sounds high-end, and while the price is high, it isn’t going to obliterate your wallet. No 5.1 system at this price is going to be perfect, but unless you’re an audiophile with ears that would put an owl to shame, there’s no great need to spend any more.