12 Best Computer Speakers (2025), Tested and Reviewed

Other computer speakers we liked

There are a lot of computer speakers on the market, and many of the ones we tested are perfectly fine, but don’t deserve a top spot for one reason or another.

Photograph: Simon Hill

Most DX10 desktop speakers for £15: They lack bass and general clarity, but these USB-powered speakers are the cheapest I’ve tried. These 10-watt, 2.5-inch, full-range speakers are angled toward your ears and have a simple power and volume dial. It also has a 3.5 mm headphone port. Only available in the UK, they may suffice if you’re on a tight budget.

Edifier G2000 Pro for $180: A refined version of the G2000 above, the Pro upgrades to 64-watts of power, 3-inch full-range drivers, and virtual 7.1 surround sound. Edifier also made these speakers translucent and added funky RGB lighting effects courtesy of LED strips in each speaker. They sound a little better, though still lacking bass, and some people will like the sci-fi light show, but there’s not enough extras to justify the significant bump in price.

Photograph: Simon Hill

Onkyo Creator GX-10DB for $249: Capable of producing warm and rich sound, Onkyo’s speakers are the perfect size for your desktop and come with angular stands (although they are plastic). Connectivity options are solid, with support for USB-C, optical and stereo RCA inputs, and Bluetooth 5.3. These speakers are a bit louder than our top pick, although you’ll need to add a subwoofer if you’re into bass (there is a subwoofer-out port). Sadly, the volume knob on the back of the right speaker is difficult to reach, the layout of the thin remote control is awkward, and the source LED on the front is always on. But the thing I struggled with the most was the automatic power-off (Onkyo says this “feature” is an eco-regulation in Europe) which turns off the speaker if not in use for 15 minutes. If you have more space and want more power, I also tested the Onkyo Creator Series GX-30ARC ($350), which gets much louder sound and adds a nice thump of bass.

Creative Pebble X Plus for $120: If our budget pick isn’t enough for you, Creative’s Pebble X Plus adds a cube-shaped subwoofer under your desk. The larger speakers are also more powerful, with RGB lighting, and the Sub offers punchy bass. They look pretty good for the money. Connectivity is also better than the aforementioned V3, with headphone and microphone ports and Bluetooth 5.3, but all this always comes at a higher cost.

Photograph: Simon Hill

SoundBlade by BlueAnt for $130: If there were an award for the most stylish soundbar, Blunt’s curved SoundBlade would win. The SoundBlade also delivers surprisingly subtle sound and a real punch of bass, courtesy of the built-in subwoofer. It’s supposed to sit under your monitor but not act as a stand or riser (Bluant told me not to put anything on top of it). Connectivity is good with USB-C, 3.5-mm aux, or Bluetooth 5.3, but sound cues are annoying. It sounded good for movies and games, but the slightly muddy mids and restrained highs hindered music. It comes with a handy Wee remote.

Creative Sound Blaster GS5 for $90: While it doesn’t have the power of the OXS Thunder Light above, this soundbar is cheaper and matches it in terms of connectivity, even adding great RGB lighting on the bottom. It also has a remote and good software for making EQ and lighting adjustments. The sound lacks clarity, and bass is limited, but it’s a solid, little soundbar for the money and works well as a desktop device.

logitech z407 for $115: A full 2.1 system at this price is no mean feat. These speakers connect via USB, 3.5-mm aux, or Bluetooth, and have a wireless remote volume dial. The build is cheap, and the sound lacks definition, but there’s a good thump of bass from the subwoofer, and the mids and highs are reasonably crisp, provided you don’t turn the volume up too high. Julian Chokattu, senior reviews editor at WIRED, says he used a variety of the Logitech Z-series for nearly a decade and recently donated them to someone else.

Razer Nomo V2X for $150: The sound quality of Razer’s entry-level speaker is solid for music and good for movies and games (it has THX spatial support), though bass is lacking. These no-frills speakers sound great but lack a subwoofer, RGB lighting, and a remote. They offer USB and Bluetooth connectivity and can be customized in Razer’s Synapse software.

PC Speakers We Don’t Recommend

These are the computer speakers that had major flaws for me.

OXS Thunder Lite for $150: This compact soundbar doesn’t have the bells and whistles of its bigger sibling above, but it’s far more affordable. It can be quite loud, supports virtual surround sound and comes with a small remote. Unfortunately, separation was poor, so it was hard to tell where sounds were coming from in games, and there’s a serious lack of bass for a thunderous soundbar named after it. Connectivity includes USB-C, 3.5-mm aux, optical or HDMI, and it supports Bluetooth 5.0.

Photograph: Simon Hill

Edifier QR65 for $500: Offering a classy look with spectacular lighting effects and seriously big, powerful sound, these speakers are excellent for music, movies or games. They also come with two angled stands to point towards your ears. They have USB, RCA and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and USB ports for charging your gadgets. The controls are good, with a physical button on the right speaker for powering on and cycling through modes. The problem is that they are very large and won’t fit on most desktops, including mine.

Creative Stage V2 for $70: This affordable soundbar offers excellent connectivity with HDMI ARC, Optical, USB, 3.5-mm Aux, and Bluetooth 5.0. But it’s not particularly powerful, can sound sloppy and flat, and has a short cable (not good for a sit-stand desk). The subwoofer delivers some good bass, there’s a remote control, and I like the Clear Dialogue option for turning up the volume, but you can do better.

Photograph: Simon Hill

House of Marley Get Together Duo for $170: With an attractive and eco-friendly blend of bamboo and fabric, House of Marley’s Get Together Duo is affordable. They connect via Bluetooth 5.0, RCA, or 3.5-mm aux. There is no subwoofer, the midrange is dominant, and they lack something in the high end. The battery-powered right speaker can also serve as a portable speaker, and you can use them as bookshelf speakers or pair them with House of Marley’s Stir It Up Turntable ($160) (8/10, Wired Review), but as computer speakers, they’re fine.

SteelSeries Arena 3 for $170: Sporting a nice pear-shaped design with tiltable speakers and subtle branding, SteelSeries’ entry-level Arena 3 can pack a punch. But they lack bass, detail gets lost in the highs, and sound a bit vague to the music. Even for SteelSeries fans, there’s no particular reason to choose these over some of our options above. They do not have lighting, USB or any other additional features.

Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System for $450: This 5.1 system is THX-certified and comes with a massive subwoofer, five speakers, and a central control unit. The design feels old, maybe even a little ugly, and you need to run cables around your room. The surround sound effect is solid, and you can even convert stereo with the 3D mode, but overall, this is a bass-heavy system.

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