Image: Rob Schultz/IDG
Don’t let your favorite music and movies go to waste as you play them through your laptop’s built-in sound system. Your audio can come out sounding weak and lifeless with even the best laptop speakers. External PC speakers—along with a good set of headphones—are essential for getting the best fidelity from your media files.
Luckily, you don’t need to buy a complete 7.1 surround sound system to make up for it. For less than $100, you can find some affordable speakers that provide quality audio. It’s true that at this price point you will need to make a few compromises, but the best budget computer speakers can still offer a satisfying listening experience while saving you money, and that’s what we call a win-win.
To help you find the best speakers for your needs, we’ve reviewed many of the most commonly available budget models on the market. To test each speaker, we set it up in a typical environment—on a desk in a home office—and play a variety of audio tracks while pushing their sound capabilities to the limit. Check out our best picks below.
We also offer advice on buying speakers after our recommendations to help you make a more informed purchasing decision.
Updated 4/05/23 to include our latest budget speaker review: the Cyber Acoustics CA-2014USB. While it didn’t supplant any of our current top picks, it’s worth checking out if you need an inexpensive set and can’t afford to pay more than $15.
Creative Pebble – Best overall budget speakers
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Excellent audio quality
- Space-saving design
Cons
- No Bluetooth connectivity for mobile devices
We wouldn’t have thought a set of $20 speakers would impress us much, let alone turn out to be our favorites. But Creative Pebble’s simple USB-powered 2.0 system defies all odds, producing richer, more immersive audio than you commonly find in speakers at twice the price—and twice the size. Though we wish these offered Bluetooth connectivity for mobile devices, the Pebble is still a top-notch choice.
Read our full
Creative Pebble review
Edifier R19U 2.0 USB Computer Speakers – Best overall runner-up
Pros
- Rich, balanced sound
- Stylish faux-wood design
- Requires a single USB connection for power and audio output
Cons
- Light on bass and volume output
We love the Edifier R19U. This 2.0 system sports rich mids, crisp highs, and deep, controlled bass. The faux-wood enclosures also give them a slightly vintage vibe that stands out from the matte-plastic pack. And on the practical side of things, its single USB connection for power and audio output helps minimize cable clutter. Its one downside is relatively low volume output. Still, these speakers are a great value at just $30 on Amazon.
Read our full
Edifier R19U 2.0 USB Computer Speakers review
Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 – Best budget 2.1 system
Pros
- Wooden construction enables natural, warm sound
- Small footprint
- Deep, rich bass
Cons
- No extra audio inputs for mobile devices
Though the Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 is marketed for gaming, we like how its wooden construction enables warm, natural sound and beefy bass for all of our media. At just $80 it’s an inexpensive entry point into 2.1 speaker systems, without taking much space at all.
Read our full
Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 review
Monoprice DT-3BT – Best premium Bluetooth option
Pros
- Clean audio
- TRS, RCA, and Bluetooth connectivity
- Capable of very loud volume
- Easy access to aux input and headset output jacks
Cons
- Audio will sound a little hollow to some ears
- Audio distortion at higher volumes
For years, Monoprice has sold affordable, quality tech gear without fanfare or frills. It continues this tradition with its 50-watt DT-3BT desktop speakers, which sport clear audio and support the most common kinds of connections. There’s of course Bluetooth 5.0 for clean, wire-free setups, but TRS and RCA jacks are available, too. Combined with the understated appearance and tidy $100 price tag, they’re an excellent option for speakers with good sound and simple setup straight out of the box.
Logitech Z207 2.0 Stereo Computer Speakers – Best multi-source option
Pros
- Impressive audio quality
- Allows you to switch between three connected devices
- Easy setup and operation
Cons
- Larger than many other desktop speakers
- No audio controls other than volume
A great option if you want to be able to switch among different sources. These speakers support easy switching among three simultaneous connections. At 9.5 x 3.5 x 4.9 inches (HWD), they’re on the larger size, and thus aren’t the most discreet speakers, but they deliver good performance.
Read our full
Logitech Z207 2.0 Stereo Computer Speakers review
Cyber Acoustics CA-2890 Speaker Bar – Best space-saving option
Pros
- Clip mount keeps it off your desk
- Clear, distortion-free audio
- Can get very loud
Cons
- No bass
- Weak stereo audio
This basic speaker bar may be outclassed by other extremely affordable rivals in some ways, but it has feature that keeps it in the running—you can clip it to a monitor. That gets this speaker off your desk, a plus for anyone with limited real estate or a love for minimalism. Add in clear audio reproduction, and lack of distortion at high volume, and those seeking a good compact option can forgive it for its lack of bass and proper stereo output.
Read our full
Cyber Acoustics CA-2890 Speaker Bar review
AmazonBasics USB-Powered Computer Speakers with Dynamic Sound – Best dirt-cheap option
Pros
- Well-rounded sound
- Plug-and-play setup
- Low price
Cons
- Can’t turn off accent lighting
These AmazonBasics USB-powered computer speakers get you well-rounded audio for a rock-bottom price. If your budget is tight, you can’t go wrong with this option.
Read our full
AmazonBasics USB-Powered Computer Speakers with Dynamic Sound review
How to shop for PC speakers
2.0 speakers vs. 2.1 speakers
Sure, a 5.1 (five speakers, one subwoofer) multi-channel speaker system sounds pretty sexy. But even if you were to unearth one for $50 or $60, the quality would almost certainly be just as cheap. That money can buy a much better quality two-speaker system. These basic 2.0 stereo setups, which are comprised of just a left and right speaker with a single driver (the actual loudspeaker) in each, abound in this price range. Occasionally you can also find a decent 2.1 system—a pair of speakers to handle the higher frequencies and separate subwoofer for the bass—for not much more. These take up extra space but often produce more balanced sound. More on that below.
Sound quality: Ask your ears, not the spec sheet
Try not to be seduced by manufacturers’ specs on sound quality. Even if you can parse frequency response numbers, they are often exaggerated. Let your ears be your guide instead. Listen for a good balance between the high (treble), mid, and low (bass) frequencies. Often, speakers will exaggerate one—usually the treble or the bass—at the expense of the others. Good speakers will produce full, detailed audio that sounds as the creator intended it.
Be aware, though, that finding strong bass response in this price range can be challenging. Without a subwoofer, 2.0 systems have trouble reproducing low frequencies. The manufacturers often use technological tweaks to amplify the bass notes, but these can sound boomy, and distort the overall mix. If a deep, controlled bottom end is a priority, a 2.1 system might be a better investment.
AC power vs. USB: The tradeoffs
Both these options are prevalent in the sub-$100 price range. USB-powered speakers reduce cord clutter, as they don’t need a separate power cable. However, they can’t supply as much juice as the AC variety, so they tend to produce lower volume and less bass.
