These days, the majority of computers come with cheap desktop speakers, which don’t always live up to the expectations of the consumer. As a result, it is very common to see people who have just purchased a computer to buy better quality desktop speakers.
There are a plethora of brands, sizes and variations of desktop speakers on the market. Your best bet is to stick to name brands that you have heard of or brands who’s product lines get good reviews on sites like Amazon. Some of the prominent high end computer speaker brands include, but are not limited to, Logitech, Creative Labs, and Altec Lansing. My two personal favorites are Logitech and Bose. Logitech has a whole line of speakers that are affordable and high sound quality. Logitech products usually come with a warranty on their products as well. Bose is more expensive, but also offers a great warranty and offers some of the highest sound quality money can buy.
Computer speakers can be distinguished by wattage and piece count. First we’ll talk about wattage. Always be sure to look at the detailed wattage specifications. A watt (W) is a measurement of electrical power; with a higher the wattage, you usually get a louder speaker system. A quality desktop speaker system should have somewhere between 64-120 Watts. Any more power than that and you might disturb the neighbors.
You want to make sure that the wattage in each piece of the system is comparable. Total wattage can be deceiving, because you don’t know how the wattage is being spread out across the pieces. Just because the total wattage of the system may be 64W doesn’t mean its spread out evenly. Also, make sure to take note of the maximum wattage of the speaker system. In general, even though the manufacturers may allow your desktop speakers to go up to a certain volume, its best to stay below max capacity. You risk permanent damage putting your speakers up to maximum volume, such as blowing out the speaker, so to be safe, try not to go higher than 85%.
The piece count of a speaker system is defined by two numbers with a decimal or period in between; 2.0, 2.1,5.1, and 7.1 are some of the most common values you will see on desktop speakers. But what do these numbers mean? A value of 2.0 denotes it is a two-speaker sound system. 2.1 signifies a two speaker system plus a subwoofer. 5.1 is a five piece sound system: two front speakers, two rear a center speaker and one subwoofer. 2.1 speakers tend to get the job done, but a 5.1 speaker system means you love your sound. Anything above 5.1 would be considered a surround sound system and is probably not suitable for a computer layout.
When purchasing desktop speakers, make sure to look at the space you are working with before making a decision. If you don’t have much room, then a 2.0 or 2.1 system is probably more suitable for you. If you have a nice big desk, you may find that it is worth getting a 5.1 speaker system.