Speakers for desktop computers

[GA Russell]

I might be in the market soon for new computer speakers. 

Mine are Creative, and I'd like to move up a notch or two.

Any recommendations for a good value?

[felser]

I'm happy with the Bose I have, and they weren't expensive, $100.

https://www.amazon.com/Bose-Companion-III-Multimedia-Speakers/dp/B00CD1PTF0/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=bose+computer+speakers&qid=1584311272&s=electronics&sr=1-3

[medjuck]

2 hours ago, felser said:

I'm happy with the Bose I have, and they weren't expensive, $100.

https://www.amazon.com/Bose-Companion-III-Multimedia-Speakers/dp/B00CD1PTF0/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=bose+computer+speakers&qid=1584311272&s=electronics&sr=1-3

I'm on my second pair.  Can't remember how long I had the first pair before they died.   But I find them surprisingly good for the price.  Got mine at the Apple store both times. 

[felser]

47 minutes ago, medjuck said:

I'm on my second pair.  Can't remember how long I had the first pair before they died.   But I find them surprisingly good for the price.  Got mine at the Apple store both times. 

Got mine from Dell as an optional upgrade when I ordered the desktop PC in 2016.

[BFrank]

6 hours ago, felser said:

I'm happy with the Bose I have, and they weren't expensive, $100.

https://www.amazon.com/Bose-Companion-III-Multimedia-Speakers/dp/B00CD1PTF0/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=bose+computer+speakers&qid=1584311272&s=electronics&sr=1-3

I have similar Bose speakers to these. Probably the same specs but older model. They always sound great!

[GA Russell]

Thanks, guys!  I've put the Bose on my camels list.

[Dave Garrett]

Last time this topic came up I recommended the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 (two-channel plus a subwoofer). I have never heard better sound from any computer speaker in its price range (and they outperform some that are considerably more expensive). I've had them for many years, but in the currently-available version they appear to have made some changes to the design, which most Amazon reviewers seem to think hasn't affected the sound quality. Coincidentally, the technology columnist for our local paper just praised these to the skies in his weekly email column - he just bought a new set after the subwoofer died in the set he'd had for almost twenty years. 

They are more expensive than the Bose set - Amazon is currently selling them for $229, but you can get them directly from Klipsch for $150:

https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-ProMedia-Certified-Computer-Speaker/dp/B000062VUO

https://www.klipsch.com/products/klipsch-promedia-2-1-thx-certified-computer-speaker

With some patience you may be able to get an even better deal. I think I paid around $120 for the ones I have when Best Buy had them on sale.  

Edited March 19, 2020 by Dave Garrett

[GA Russell]

Thanks, Dave.  I've added them to my camels list.

I also added the $70 Edifiers.  Anybody familiar with them?
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R980T-Active-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B01LXDZ8WB/

What about bookshelf speakers?  Would they hook up to a desktop computer?

[Jim Alfredson]

I would get the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors. Huge sound, very small footprint.

[GA Russell]

8 minutes ago, Jim Alfredson said:

I would get the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors. Huge sound, very small footprint.

Thanks, Jim!  I've put them on my camels list.

[felser]

On 3/19/2020 at 0:02 AM, Dave Garrett said:

Last time this topic came up I recommended the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 (two-channel plus a subwoofer). I have never heard better sound from any computer speaker in its price range (and they outperform some that are considerably more expensive). I've had them for many years, but in the currently-available version they appear to have made some changes to the design, which most Amazon reviewers seem to think hasn't affected the sound quality. Coincidentally, the technology columnist for our local paper just praised these to the skies in his weekly email column - he just bought a new set after the subwoofer died in the set he'd had for almost twenty years. 

They are more expensive than the Bose set - Amazon is currently selling them for $229, but you can get them directly from Klipsch for $150:

https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-ProMedia-Certified-Computer-Speaker/dp/B000062VUO

https://www.klipsch.com/products/klipsch-promedia-2-1-thx-certified-computer-speaker

With some patience you may be able to get an even better deal. I think I paid around $120 for the ones I have when Best Buy had them on sale.  

I have used a pair of Klipsch Tangent bookshelf speakers with my stereo for probably 20-25 years.  Love them, and the price was great.

[hopkins]

On 22/03/2020 at 6:46 AM, Jim Alfredson said:

I would get the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors. Huge sound, very small footprint.

Favorably reviewed on this website: http://noaudiophile.com/IK_Multimedia_iLoudMM/

The author provides a lot of technical data (measurements) that may not be your cup of tea. Based on my experience on some other models he reviews, I trust his ears, and he does not mince his words, which is not common with audio reviewers, making for a fun read on occasion. 

Edited March 23, 2020 by hopkins

[sambrasa]

I've been using Genelec speakers for decades. Fantastic monitors and the only one you'll ever ever need in this lifetime. I've got 2 rigs, one has 2x 8020 + subwoofer, another 2 x G One (the smallest and cheapest Genelec monitors).

[Kevin Bresnahan]

My old PC speakers died and I found a pair of Klipsch R-41PM speakers on sale at Best Buy for $249 (normally $399), so I grabbed a pair. They sound very nice and I'm glad I got them. I even like the dynamic bass boost that everyone complains about.

[relyles]

I just got a pair of AudioEngine 2+ speakers. Previously I was using some very inexpensive Sony computer speakers. Probably not a fair comparison, but the improvement is considerable.

[medjuck]

On 6/15/2020 at 1:21 PM, relyles said:

I just got a pair of AudioEngine 2+ speakers. Previously I was using some very inexpensive Sony computer speakers. Probably not a fair comparison, but the improvement is considerable.

How are these holding up a year later? 

[relyles]

Still sounding good.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

On 6/15/2020 at 3:31 PM, bresna said:

My old PC speakers died and I found a pair of Klipsch R-41PM speakers on sale at Best Buy for $249 (normally $399), so I grabbed a pair. They sound very nice and I'm glad I got them. I even like the dynamic bass boost that everyone complains about.

I'm glad I bought these last year. The list price bumped up to $499 and there are not many discounts on them. My $249 purchase looks like a steal.

The Klipsch Pro Media speakers still seem to getting decent reviews. The Klipsch website has them for $129: https://www.klipsch.com/products/klipsch-promedia-2-1-thx-certified-computer-speaker

[tranemonk]

I highly recommend the Kanto family. I have the Kanto Yu2's. My ONLY problem with them is in order for them to get loud it needs to be at max volume. I have tried the Yu4's which are better (Bluetooth and louder) but there's a big price bump between the two models. I've only gotten the active models not the passive although I have heard they sound much better with a subwoofer. I like these so much because of the color options (which is something very different from just the average black desktop speaker). All models are more expensive than standard computer speakers though.

https://www.amazon.com/Kanto-YU2-Powered-Desktop-Speakers/dp/B00GMPDAHM/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3BYX1YF1H8U8C&keywords=kanto%2Byu2&qid=1654430778&sprefix=%2Caps%2C51&sr=8-2&th=1

 

[Kevin Bresnahan]

5 hours ago, tranemonk said:

I highly recommend the Kanto family. I have the Kanto Yu2's. My ONLY problem with them is in order for them to get loud it needs to be at max volume. I have tried the Yu4's which are better (Bluetooth and louder) but there's a big price bump between the two models. I've only gotten the active models not the passive although I have heard they sound much better with a subwoofer. I like these so much because of the color options (which is something very different from just the average black desktop speaker). All models are more expensive than standard computer speakers though.

https://www.amazon.com/Kanto-YU2-Powered-Desktop-Speakers/dp/B00GMPDAHM/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3BYX1YF1H8U8C&keywords=kanto%2Byu2&qid=1654430778&sprefix=%2Caps%2C51&sr=8-2&th=1

 

Have you tried different methods of connection to see if you get more sound out at lower volumes? You can switch between USB and the line out and see if one works better than another.

[tranemonk]

On 6/5/2022 at 1:59 PM, bresna said:

Have you tried different methods of connection to see if you get more sound out at lower volumes? You can switch between USB and the line out and see if one works better than another.

Yes, I have... I'm going to try adding a subwoofer and see if that helps. Thanks though.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

On 6/15/2020 at 3:31 PM, bresna said:

My old PC speakers died and I found a pair of Klipsch R-41PM speakers on sale at Best Buy for $249 (normally $399), so I grabbed a pair. They sound very nice and I'm glad I got them. I even like the dynamic bass boost that everyone complains about.

These are on sale for $349/pair on the Klipsch website right now: https://www.klipsch.com/products/r-40pm-powered-speakers

BTW - one thing I failed to mention about these speakers is that they have multiple switched inputs, including a Moving Magnet Phono input with a ground lug for a turntable. The included remote controls the volume and allows you to change the input source.

You could set these up in a den or small room and they would act as a nice stereo system. You can feed a line-in source (CD player) through the AUX mini-jack or switch the phono input to "LINE". This allows you to have a turntable on the Phono input & a CD player on the AUX input. Plus, you could still hook up your PC via USB and play your music server through it as well - all with two small-ish speakers. Pretty slick.

Oh, and you can link your cell to them with BlueTooth to play music from your favorite app (XM, Apple Music, Pandora, etc.)

Edited June 8, 2023 by bresna

[GA Russell]

All this is great reading!

For Christmas I was given the Yamaha Audio SR-C20A Compact Sound Bar with Built-in Subwoofer and Bluetooth.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DZX69CY/

 

[greggery peccary]

I've been very pleased with a pair of M-Audio speakers that I've had for about ten years. I don't listen to music on my PC a lot so these have held up very well. My specific model has been upgraded to the one I've linked to:

https://inmusicstore.com/m-audio-bx4-black-kevlar-120-watt-multimedia-reference-monitors.html

So many wonderful choices as mentioned above. I did a lot of research. Can't remember exactly why I decided on these...