Computer Speakers Review

When working at a desk with a laptop or desktop, 2.0 computer speakers are a great way to listen to your favorite songs, play games or watch movies and videos. Two stereo speaker systems, also called 2.0 computer speakers, sit on your desk or workstation alongside your monitor or laptop. There are good reasons why a 2.0 system may be better than a 2.1 speaker system that includes a subwoofer.

Unfortunately, if you put a subwoofer behind your monitor or laptop, it will block the sound waves, and the result won't be as powerful. We recommend 2.0 computer speakers with a full-range woofer that covers the entire spectrum of sound from the lows to the mids and highs, sometimes in conjunction with digital technology that augments the deep frequencies to really get the bass pumping. Check out our articles about computer speakers for more information regarding the technical aspects of computer speakers.

Speakers that produce the best sound reproduction output a good balance of sound frequencies that includes the lows, mids and highs. The Sony External PC Speakers and Cyber Acoustics CA-896, which land at number one and two on our list respectively, offer what we feel is the best overall sound experience. The Logitech Compact Speaker System Z320 stereo speaker system, which ranks third on our list; we like that the convenient, portable speaker system uses only one USB cable that connects to your computer to double as both the auxiliary input and power cord.

We used different means of testing each set of computer speakers that we reviewed, including playing a variety of music (classical, rock, hip-hop, rap and heavy metal), movies and TV shows ("The Dark Knight" and "River Monsters" were our top choices), and video games ("Half-Life 2: Episode 2" and "Plants vs. Zombies"). Listening to all this media gave us the best idea of which speakers offer the best sound.

Computer Speakers: What to Look For

It can be difficult to determine what will be a good set of computer speakers, especially those in the 2.0 category. The following is the set of criteria we used to review each speaker system.

Features
Computer speakers are composed of a set of unique features, including frequency response, sensitivity, speaker type, impedance and total output power. In our review, we looked at the overall design aesthetics too. A pair of sharp-looking speakers is nice, but many of the units we reviewed are built at an angle that allows you to point the sound at your ears as opposed to speakers that are vertical and are aimed at the user's chest.

Sound Quality
Obviously, computer speakers need to sound good and should be able to balance the lows, mids and highs. Some speakers may handle more bass frequencies than others do, but overall, they should balance the sound nicely while not washing out the highs and more subtle sound elements.

Connectivity
Most computer speakers connect via an eighth-inch (3.5mm) stereo mini jack, but some also feature USB ports. Speakers with USB ports are easier to hook up to home-entertainment centers or gaming consoles.

Drivers
Drivers produce the sound you hear coming out of a speaker. Computer speakers may include a tweeter (highs), mid-range/woofer (mids), subwoofer (lows), full-range (all-in-one) drivers or some combination of the above. Not all 2.0 speakers, especially ones that are smaller, have every driver available, and that's actually okay, since digital technology allows speakers to emit a full range of sound.

Help and Support
Do all the speakers connect to both Macs and Windows PCs without problems? Yes, though it depends on whether the computer has an eighth-inch (3.5mm) stereo mini jack. In addition, we looked at the tech support options available from the manufacturer, including the length of the warranty and direct contact options such as email, phone or live chat.

Ultimately, 2.0 computer speakers can be a fantastic way to hear great sound from your computer or notebook at a desk or workstation. With the multimedia options available at our desks today, it's worth investing a little in a good set of speakers that will perform well for a variety of media.

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