If you want to enjoy an engaging, immersive audio experience at your desk, you're going to need to add a pair of the best PC speakers to your desktop setup.
The sound quality delivered by monitors and laptops tends to be pretty disappointing and PC speakers are the simplest way to upgrade your audio without the need for large amplifiers or lots of connection cables.
Whether you're looking for a compact, cheap way of enhancing your tinny laptop's sonic output or seeking an audiophile experience to do your custom-built gaming rig justice, there are plenty of great PC speakers to choose from.
We've tested a huge number of options and below you'll find our pick of the best PC speakers available at a range of price points. The list includes a few PC soundbars, too, which offer an alternative to traditional satellite speakers. They're not an ideal pairing for laptops, however, and are best suited to life under a monitor.
If you're not too sure what to look for when buying a pair of the best PC speakers, our comprehensive buying guide details all the things you need to consider before parting with your hard-earned cash.
So, if you're ready to take your immersion in games, music and movies up a notch with the best computer speakers on the market, read on.
You can buy a little set of stereo (also known as 2.0) speakers for your PC or Mac for as little as £10, and while they may be an improvement on the tinny sound that emanates from most laptops and tablets, they’re never going to let you sit back and wallow in your favourite tunes. So, even if you're working to a tight budget, we’d generally advise that you budget to spend around £30 on a basic set of speakers that do offer a real upgrade.
It’s hard to quantify something as subjective as audio quality, but the physical build quality of a set of PC speakers can often be a good indication. Cheaper speakers that are housed in a lightweight plastic “cabinet” tend to vibrate as you start to pump up the volume, causing distortion that affects the sound quality. That’s not to say that plastic speakers are all automatically terrible, but it's not until you spend around £100 that you get solid rattle-free build quality that does its bit to reduce distortion and improve clarity.
As you head towards and beyond the £200 mark, you’ll also start to come across PC speaker cabinets made out of wood, with MDF being a popular choice for many manufacturers and audio enthusiasts. You'll also find that speakers may boast more potent amplification (measured in watts), which may provide higher volumes and clearer sound compared to lower-end models.
Above the £300 level, you’re getting into audiophile territory so it’s worth doing a bit of research of your own before buying. Since many speakers at this level are designed for proper hi-fi or music production, you may find that local music and hi-fi shops will allow you to compare multiple models before splashing out. When you're spending this kind of money, it's worth checking which speakers you prefer the sound of.
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One other thing to remember is that most stereo PC speakers are not intended to be portable. They’ll spend most of their time sitting on a desk or shelf at home, so they'll often use a 3.5mm audio cable to connect to your PC. Certain stereo speakers may offer Bluetooth as an extra feature – so you can use them wirelessly with a smartphone or tablet – but you’ll generally get better results with a wired connection.
Speakers with Bluetooth aptX technology avoid most of the sound-quality compromises that can mar the audio quality of lesser Bluetooth speakers. However, some high-end speakers also offer Wi-Fi connectivity, which uses your Wi-Fi network to deliver improved wireless sound quality. This often goes hand in hand with the option of linking multiple speakers together as part of a multiroom speaker system.
Some speakers may also include a USB interface. This can be handy for smaller speakers, as it allows them to draw their power supply from the USB, with no need for any additional power cables. Speakers with a USB input option may also provide a DAC (digital to analogue converter) that’s capable of handling high-res audio files.
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For most people, the decision between 2.0 (stereo) and 2.1 (stereo plus subwoofer) systems will come down to space and neatness. The extra space and cabling required for 2.1 systems, which include two smaller satellite speakers alongside a separate subwoofer, may be enough to put some people off straight away. The benefit of a 2.1 system is that the smaller speakers can handle the less demanding upper frequencies, while the larger subwoofer deals with the rumble and thump of the bass regions.
If you're looking for the loudest, most bombastic sound on a budget – say, for gaming – a 2.1 system is a good shout. Spend similar money on a good 2.0 system, however, and you'll generally get a better quality of sound, with more clarity and detail, and tighter, less exaggerated bass. It’s also worth remembering that some 2.0 speakers include an output connector for a subwoofer, which will allow you to upgrade your speaker system with a standalone subwoofer in the future.
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The most basic PC speaker systems have no controls of their own, and you just have to control the outputs once you've connected them to your computer. However, many systems come with manual controls that let you adjust variants such as volume, bass and treble levels to fine-tune audio output to your preference. You're always better off opting for the models that have manual controls, but this is dependent on personal preference. If the speakers you're considering include these controls, be sure they're easily reachable: on the left or right speaker or satellite, or on a control pod or remote control, rather than on the back of a subwoofer that will reside under your desk, for instance.
Price: £70 | Buy now from Amazon
Creative’s new T60 desktop speakers are among the cheapest PC speakers you can buy that offer truly decent sound quality, instead of producing a noise that’s barely better than your laptop speakers.
Listen to them with your eyes closed and you’d swear you were listening to speakers costing three times as much and with drivers considerably larger than the 2.75in full-range modules that nestle inside each unit. The sheer loudness is impressive: I recorded peak sound levels of 91dB at 1m distance, although some distortion does rear its ugly head when you crank the volume right up.
Sound quality is not the only thing these speakers do well, though. They’re also exceptionally well specified, and even include (unusually for sub-£100 speakers) a built-in DAC. This means you can connect them to a USB sound source, as well as via the more usual 3.5mm AUX and Bluetooth inputs.
And, thanks to that USB socket, you can also use the T60 with Creative’s SmartComms Kit software, which offers automatic noise cancellation and auto-mute when you connect your microphone or headset via the 3.5mm input jacks. All in all, these are superb desktop speakers, and are especially well suited for use as part of a home office communications setup.
Key specs – System Configuration: 2.0; Power Output: 2 x 15W RMS; Supported Codecs: SBC; Connectivity: Bluetooth, AUX-in, USB; Size: 157 x 92 x 199mm; Weight: 1.9kg
Price: £238 | Buy now from Amazon
Edifier may not be the best-known manufacturer of audio equipment but we’ve yet to come across anything carrying its name that hasn’t impressed us. The S351DB system is no different. It’s a conventional 2.1 rig that comes with a monstrous subwoofer and a plethora of connectivity options, including aptX Bluetooth 4.0, 2 x RCA line-in, plus coaxial and optical digital. The sub uses a wired connection to its satellite speakers, which means there’s a fair amount of cable spaghetti but the plus side is you only need one power socket for the whole system.
All three boxes are built from veneered MDF but there are no mesh grilles, making this a system that will appeal to users who want their speaker system to look “high tech” rather than “hi-fi”. Edifier even includes a remote control, although you can turn the system on and off and adjust the volume, treble and bass using controls on the side of the master satellite speaker, which also has a small and rather hard-to-read LED source indicator under the main driver.
The sound quality is excellent, with plenty of detail and a massive amount of bass if you turn the subwoofer up to 11. The S351DB is perhaps more at home with music and video sources than gaming because the system is tuned for warmth and balance rather than staccato detail but that subwoofer certainly gives gaming sound effects some serious impact.
Key specs – System Configuration: 2.1; Power Output: 2 x 40W, 1 x 70W RMS; Supported Codecs: SBC, aptX; Connectivity: RCA Line-In, Coaxial, Optical, Bluetooth; Size: 312 x 265 x 289mm (sub), 156 x 127 x 217mm (satellites); Weight: 18.3kg (12kg x 1, 3.15kg x 2)
Price: £30 | Buy now from Amazon
The V3 are the first speakers in Creative’s affordable Pebble range to feature Bluetooth connectivity and are an excellent choice for those with limited budgets and desk space.
The USB-powered spherical satellites are compact enough to be slotted into just about any desktop setup, while audio quality is good given the low cost of entry. Dialogue is communicated particularly well, but those wanting impactful bass reproduction will be better served by a 2.1 speaker setup like the Pebble Plus.
Simple to use, space-efficient and packing up to 8W RMS of power, the Pebble V3 are a superb value-for-money way of improving your laptop or desktop PC’s audio performance.
Read our full Creative Pebble V3 review for more details
Key specs – Type: 2.0; Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm AUX-in, Bluetooth 5.0; Outputs: None; Dimensions: 123 x 120 x 118mm (each satellite)
Price: £138 (sold singly) | Buy now from Amazon
Adam Audio is known for delivering high-end studio monitors at a similarly high-end price, but the T5V prove that you can have your affordable cake and eat it. They're not the lightest or most stylish speakers around, but they deliver a superb sound for the price.
The bass is rich and, while the treble isn't quite as impressive, it was still pleasant to listen to in our tests. The T5V are loud too, with a volume that will easily fill most medium-sized rooms. That's partly due to a scooped-out waveguide that helps the sound reflected off of the ceilings and walls stay true to what's directly coming out of the speaker. They even sounded great in our echoey living room.
The all-black design might not appeal to those who prefer a wooden effect, but there's no denying the sheer amount of quality you're getting here for under £150. The Adam Audio T5V go toe-to-toe with hi-fi systems that cost two or even three times more. They're a brilliant achievement.
Read our full Adam Audio T5V review for more details
Key specs – Type: 2.0 stereo; Inputs: XLR and RCA; Dimensions: 197 x 297 x 298mm (each satellite)
Price: £349 | Buy now from Amazon
The Ruark MR1 MKII combine phenomenal sound quality with a compact, classy aesthetic that will appeal to those with a sensibility for retro design. There’s great width to their soundstage and this provides ample space for individual instruments to be expertly articulated. Mids and treble are extremely clean and there’s real depth to their bass extension. They pack a powerful punch, too; you’re unlikely to need to push them above 50% volume while at your desk watching a film or listening to a playlist.
Primarily designed for use over Bluetooth, the MR1 MKII feature AUX-in and optical inputs on the rear of their right satellite. These additional connection options are very welcome and mean the MR1 can gamely double-up as TV speakers if you don’t own a soundbar. You can even use them as portable speakers if you’re willing to fork out an additional £69 for Ruark’s battery pack, the BackPack 3.
Controlling the MR1 couldn’t be easier via the included remote, which lets you switch sources, adjust volume and pair the speakers with up to eight different devices. Simple to set up and use, easy on the eye and wonderfully musical, the Ruark MR1 MKII are a superb addition to any desktop setup.
Key specs – Type: 2.0 stereo satellite speakers; Inputs: Bluetooth, AUX-in and Toslink optical; Outputs: Subwoofer out; Dimensions: 130 x 140 x 175mm (each satellite)
Buy now from John Lewis
Price: £30 | Buy now from Argos
If you’re looking for something with a decent amount of oomph and don’t have a lot to spend, the Creative Pebble Plus is an excellent choice. Unlike the Logitech Z200 or the Creative Pebble V3, the Plus has a dedicated subwoofer; this improves the speakers’ frequency response, where it extends down to 50Hz as opposed to 100Hz on the 2.0 system.
The speakers don’t require any additional power, just one of your computer’s USB sockets and a 3.5mm auxiliary port. Angled at 45˚, the system reproduces a pleasant audio experience with impressive bass tones, accurate-sounding mids and a wide soundstage – it’s loud enough to fill a small bedroom.
Key specs – Type: 2.1 stereo; Inputs: 3.5mm input; Outputs: None; Dimensions: 116 x 122 x 115mm (satellites)
Price: £119 | Buy now from Amazon
JBL’s One Series 104 were impressive desktop speakers, but the new model adds Bluetooth to the mix. The result is great-sounding speakers that are perfectly suited to both work and play.
The 60-watt Class D amplifier delivers 30 watts to each speaker, and this pushes the 4.5in woofer and 0.75in tweeter to surprisingly high volumes. Sound quality is good too, with enough bass to give music a decent amount of weight, and a high-end that reveals detail in everything from Zoom calls to delicate classical works.
The killer feature here is that you can listen to all of the three analogue inputs and Bluetooth input simultaneously. That means you can stream music wirelessly while still hearing notifications and receiving voice or video calls from your other devices – and that’s genuinely handy.
No, they’re not as refined as bigger active speakers, but if you’re looking for great sound in a compact, versatile package, they’re hard to beat.
Read our full JBL One Series 104-BT review for more details
Key specs – Type: 2.0; Inputs: 6.35mm balanced, TRS unbalanced, 3.5mm AUX-in, Bluetooth 5.0; Outputs: Headphones; Dimensions: 247 x 153 x 124mm (each satellite)
Price: £35 | Buy now from Amazon
If you want to add decent sound to your PC but money, space and power outlets are all at a premium then Creative’s compact Stage Air soundbar has a lot to recommend it. A slender but solid-feeling black plastic bar with an aluminium mesh grille at the front, the look and feel of the Stage Air belie its budget price.
It’s powered via USB and has a battery inside (with battery life of up to six hours) and it supports Bluetooth playback, so you can use it wire free if you like. If not, it can be hooked up via a 3.5mm audio cable to your laptop or PC and there’s even, rather quaintly, a USB port for MP3 file playback.
Thanks to its two full-range drivers and passive bass radiator, the Stage Air produces a pretty decent sound, especially when you consider the low asking price. There’s also a fair amount of bass and a more expansive soundstage than you’ve any real reason to expect from something only just over 40cm long.
It goes pretty loud, too, although I’d suggest not turning the volume up past 75% when listening to music or video soundtracks because some distortion does creep in at higher levels. Despite this, the Creative Stage Air is an absolute bargain at its list price of £45. If you prefer one rather than two speakers on your desk, it’s a great choice.
Key specs – System Configuration: Soundbar; Power Output: 2 x 5W RMS; Supported Codecs: SBC; Connectivity: AUX-in, Bluetooth; Size: 70 x 410 x 78mm; Weight: 0.91kg
Price: £219 | Buy now from Amazon
With a choice of three gaming-focused sound modes and support for 3D audio in the form of Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and DTS Virtual:X, this versatile soundbar is a great way to enhance your PC audio. It’s extremely compact, slipping under a monitor or TV with minimal fuss, and delivers impressive sound quality across its various modes.
Voice mode helps enhance dialogue in narrative-heavy games, while there are also profiles tailored specifically for RPGs and First-Person Shooters. Although it can’t compete with soundbars packing a separate subwoofer, the built-in subwoofer does a decent job at providing a solid bass thump.
The SoundSlayer can connect to devices via Bluetooth, which is great for when you want to blast out a Spotify playlist from your phone, and works well with next-gen gaming consoles, too. So, if you’ve been lucky enough to bag a PS5 or Xbox Series X you can enjoy the immersive sonic experience it provides on your console in addition to your PC. Everything is easily controlled using the included remote, but you will need HDMI cables to hook the speaker up, as it doesn’t come with any in the box.
Key specs – Type: 2.1 soundbar; Inputs: HDMI, Optical, USB-A (for firmware updates); Outputs: HDMI (ARC); Dimensions: 431 x 52 x 132mm
Price: £100 | Buy now from Amazon
The Creative T100 doesn’t try to do anything too flashy but does the basics extremely well. The setup sounds great whatever you’re listening to and there are a number of different ways in which you can connect to your audio output, with a 3.5mm port, optical-in, USB Type-A and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
You’ll want to connect the speakers via the 3.5mm cable when watching video content to avoid audio lag, but aside from that minor quibble, it’s hard to fault this pair of compact and smartly designed desktop speakers, which can be controlled via an included infrared remote.
Read our full Creative T100 review for more details
Key specs – Type: 2.0 stereo; Inputs: 3.5mm line-in, optical-in, Bluetooth 5.0, USB (FAT32, 32GB maximum); Outputs: N/A; Dimensions: 220 x 90 x 120mm
Price: £500 | Buy now from Razer
This pricey 2.1 speaker system includes two futuristically designed satellites, a beefy downward-firing subwoofer and a control hub that allows you to select from the impressive range of input sources on offer. Bluetooth, optical, analogue and USB can all be connected simultaneously and switched between at the simple press of a button.
You can also select between three audio modes using Razer’s Synapse 3 software: stereo, THX and Dolby Virtual Surround, giving you great flexibility in how you listen to music or enjoy in-game audio. And for lovers of RGB, the satellites provide minimalist lighting via thin LED strips on their bases.
The sheer size of the Nommo Pro makes it a poor choice for those short on desk space but if you have the room to accommodate it, it’s a powerful and versatile system that will enhance your audio experience whether you’re gaming, watching a movie or simply listening to some tunes.
Key specs – Type: 2.1 stereo (plus virtual surround sound); Inputs: 3.5mm, Bluetooth 4,2, optical, USB-B; Outputs: None; Dimensions: Satellites – 27 x 13cm, Subwoofer – 39 x 27cm
Price: £699 | Buy now from Amazon
The S3000 Pro active speakers are exceptional. Housed inside a beautiful wooden enclosure, the pair of 6.5in aluminium mid-to-low-end drivers and 107mm planar tweeters deliver an outstanding 256W of RMS power. These can get incredibly loud and yet it’s not the sheer volume of this system that will blow you away – it’s the quality. The pair delivers an incredible soundstage, an exquisite bassline that extends down to 38Hz and highs that sparkle at the top end.
For connectivity, you’ve got a selection of wired connections and Bluetooth, with some for the Hi-res aptX HD codec. The right and left speaker units are also wirelessly connected but there's no wire between the two so you will need to connect each to its own power socket. You can tailor the sound to your liking using volume, bass and treble knobs located on the rear of the right speaker and there are also four EQ profiles that can be accessed via the included IR remote.
If you like the look of the S3000 Pro but want a more compact and affordable option, Edifier’s S2000 MKIII are well worth checking out.
Key specs – Type: 2.0 stereo; Inputs: USB, RCA, Balanced XLR (3-pin), coaxial, optical, Bluetooth; Outputs: N/A; Dimensions: 356 x 232 x 268mm
Price: £110 | Buy now from Amazon
Bose is possibly one of the most divisive audio brands there is. Some people swear by the quality of its kit and will regale you with tales of the ‘Bose sound’ while others will say it’s a triumph of marketing over sound quality.
Our opinion? Bose kit is good but it’s also rather expensive for what you get. Take the Companion 2 Series III. For £140 you get a plain stereo system with three 3.5mm jacks (two inputs at the back, one output at the front), a volume knob and that’s it. No Bluetooth, no USB, no facility to connect a subwoofer. Of course, this sort of minimalism has its advantages: just plug in, turn it on, and you needn’t worry about having to mess around with any sound modifiers and adjustments or multiple input sources.
There’s also no denying that the Companion 2’s do generate a very agreeable and usefully loud sound. Bose never gives RMS power outputs for its speakers but I measured peaks of 87dB at 1m distance. The soundstage is very wide and detailed and there’s much more bass than you’d expect from a system this small, although not much more than you get from cheaper rival systems like the Creative T60.
As with all Bose products the Companion 2’s are very well made and stylish and, on that front at least, you feel like you are getting your money’s worth. If you can find them at closer to £100 than Bose’s £140 list price, then they’re a safe bet.
Key specs – System Configuration: 2.0; Power Output: not stated; Supported Codecs: N/A; Connectivity: AUX-in x 2; Size: 190 x 80 x 150mm; Weight: 1.8kg
Price: £43 | Buy now from Amazon
Go shopping for a cheap speaker system that packs a solid subwoofer thump and you can do much worse than return home with Logitech’s budget Z333. Despite being ruthlessly built down to a price (the tweeters you see in the picture are fake, there’s no Bluetooth) all parts of the Z333 system feel well made and you do get a handy cabled desktop remote that lets you adjust the volume and plug-in your headphones.
All the technical gubbins are housed in the subwoofer box so you need to connect your source to that rather than to one of the satellite speakers. Usefully, all the cables that Logitech does supply are 1.5m long so you can spread the units out.
Despite the “decorative and non-operational” (to quote Logitech) tweeters, the system produces a nicely balanced and detailed sound that should suit most circumstances. The subwoofer emits a really meaty thump, too, when turned up. The total RMS power output is quoted at 2 x 8W and 1 x 24W with a peak system power of 80W, which means there is more than enough volume to fill your average home office or bedroom.
Even at maximum volume, there’s very little discernible distortion. The sound quality isn't a match for the louder, more composed but much, much more expensive Edifier S351DB system but for £70 you really can’t ask for more.
Key specs – System Configuration: 2.1; Power Output: 40W RMS; Supported Codecs: N/A; Connectivity: Line In, AUX-in; Size: 230 x 232 x 157mm (sub), 192 x 108 x 90mm (satellites); Weight: 3.1kg
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