Creative Pebble Pro: Two-minute review

For budget computer speakers, the Creative Pebble Pro punch way above their weight with decent sound and an attractive, petite design. I would even say they belong among the best computer speakers in their price range. You won’t find anything at the Pebble Pro’s price point nearly as good, not to mention most of the alternatives at this price point are other entries in Creative’s Pebble lineup of speakers.

There are some expected compromises, of course, and once you start looking at options above $100 / £100, the competition looks more interesting. The Creative Pebble Pro does come with some features, notably Bluetooth connectivity and RGB lighting, plus they can be powered directly off a computer. But any support for high-res codecs, Dolby or DTS anything, or even EQ controls, are just not here. That said, you would have to look at the best gaming headsets under a hundred bucks to find those kinds of features at the same price point.

While the Creative Pebble Pro isn’t as small as an actual pebble, the speakers are fairly petite, at a little over four and a half inches tall. As the name suggests, they’re spherical, though they have a flat, angled face oriented toward the listener’s ears to compensate for their short stature.

Since they’re so small, there’s only room for one 2.25-inch driver per speaker, so Creative supplements it with a bass port on the back to help fill out the low end. There's also an opaque ring that lines the bottom and lights up when the speakers are turned on.

The right speaker is a little heavier, at the hefty weight of 415 grams (versus 365g for the left) because it’s the one with the power amp inside, as well as controls and ports. The controls consist of a pressable dial, a source button indicated by a Bluetooth symbol, and a button for the RGB lighting. Each control can be used for a variety of functions, so short presses and long presses garner different results. For instance, pressing down on the volume dial mutes the mic input when using the headset port.

Speaking of, the ports are situated in two places near the base of the right speaker. The aforementioned headset input and headphone are on the side, while two USB-C ports and an Aux port are on the back next to the non-detachable cable (which I would consider more of an issue if these speakers weren’t so cheap).

You might be wondering why there are two USB-C ports. Even if you’re not, there’s a reason. One of them functions only for power delivery and doesn’t actually transmit audio. When using this port plugged into a power adapter (not included, though you can use any spare one), the Creative Pebble Pro has a power rating of 15 watts RMS. When just powering the speakers via the other USB-C, which does transmit audio, the speaker system has a more limited power rating of 5 watts RMS.

Frankly, I couldn’t hear much of a difference between using the Creative Pebble Pro in the 5 or 15 watt mode, but it’s really not a big difference in power. Because of that, I typically just powered the speakers directly off a computer.

As far as the sound quality itself, I was impressed considering the price. They didn’t blow me away and they probably won’t blow you away, either, but at seventy bucks, they’re a good and affordable upgrade over laptop speakers.

Having tested these speakers with all sorts of media, I’ve found there to be two takeaways. The first is, of course, that I found them surprisingly decent-sounding with a strong mid-range performance and clear, if slightly dull, high-end. The second is that there’s very little in the way of bass. I almost wish there was a sub-out instead of one of the headphones jacks to bring back some low-end.

You’re not going to feel explosions, whether it’s in films or when playing games due to the limited bass. But, the audio is clear with decent sound imaging, as long as you position the speakers properly. I’m able to easily place where an audio element is in the sound stage, whether it’s a fighter jet flying by or enemy combatants yelling in the distance.

The last thing I’ll mention on the sound front is the fact that the speakers do tend to distort a little bit when turned all the way up on the 15W mode, so these are best used at regular volume levels. If you want really loud speakers for whatever reason, these are not it.

Though I consider the Creative Pebble Pro to be light on features (there are no EQ controls or app), they do at least offer the basics. Bluetooth Connectivity is on hand so that you can either connect your computer wirelessly or switch inputs to stream from your phone. During testing, I had no issues with connectivity or differences in sound quality since the speakers use the newish but not newest Bluetooth 5.3 standard.

The speakers also work with the Smartcomms Kit (requiring an additional download) to automatically mute or unmute your voice as well as introduce background noise cancellation when talking.

Probably the more notable and unique feature here, though, is the inclusion of RGB lighting. Since there’s no app, various presses on the controls are used to turn on and off, as well as cycle through and fine-tune the RGB lighting. The amount of effects and colors are somewhat limited compared to other RGB-enabled devices I’ve tested, but they do offer a nice ambient effect to a computer setup. And, as with everything else with these speakers, the RGB lighting looks good for the price.

Creative Pebble Pro: Specifications

Creative Pebble Pro: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$99
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

While the Creative Pebble Pro is a solid pair of speakers, the one place that they really shine over the competition is in price. In fact, at $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$99, you'll be hard pressed to find a new set of computer speakers for cheaper that aren’t a different model in Creative’s Pebble lineup.

In fact, the only real issue regarding their price is that they don’t come with a power adapter, which goes for an extra $39.99 (about £29.90 / AU$56.51). But before you calculate that into a potential purchase, you really don’t need to buy one for two reasons. First, as mentioned above, these speakers can be powered directly off a computer, though with lower power efficiency. And if you do want them at full power, you can just use any adapter with a USB or USB-C port, such as one of the many you probably have lying around like me from multiple years of smartphone ownership.

Also worth keeping in mind is that the green colorway is only available in the US, while the black and white ones are available everywhere.

Now, the Creative Pebble Pro aren’t the only cheap speakers out there. Edifier has become a recognizable name in the more affordable end of the speaker market and something like the Edifier MR4 are a worthy upgrade. They don’t have RGB lighting, but they sound better. And though their price tag of $129.99 / £109.99 / AU$179.99 (at the time of writing… they look to have gone up in price, possibly due to tariffs) is very good, that’s still double the price of the Creative Pebble Pro.

The Logitech Z407 is also a wonderful option in the more affordable range, with a going rate of $119.99 / £119.99 / AU$249.95. Again, that’s double the Creative Pebble Pro, so Creative wins out on price, but the Z407 does come with a subwoofer and wireless puck for control.

Price: 5 / 5

Creative Pebble Pro: Scorecard

Creative Pebble Pro: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Creative Pebble Pro

• Tested over a week
• Listened to different genres of music, shows and movies, and games
• Tested the RGB lighting and various forms of connectivity

I spent a week testing the Creative Pebble Pro 2.0 Computer Speaker System including using them with all sorts of media, from shows and movies to music and computer games. I played around with the RGB lighting as well as the different inputs.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing audio equipment and have spent even longer using my critical ear as a listener and musician to understand what does and doesn’t sound good.

• First reviewed March 2026

When it comes to budget computer speakers, the Logitech Z407 and Creative Pebble Plus come to mind. They're both affordable and are among the best computer speakers most people should consider their computer setup. However, there are distinct reasons to choose one over the other. And price is a big consideration.

There are better, more expensive, options out there, but the Logitech Z407 punches above its weight. This computer speaker system (both models covered here include a subwoofer) sounds bigger than it is and has a cool couple of useful features. It might not satisfy gamers, but it’s more than enough for most people.

As affordable as the Logitech Z407 is, no computer speaker system offers more value than the Creative Pebble Plus. It’s more stripped down, still has a good amount of power and decent sound — though it’s held back by distorting bass at higher volumes – and is the price of an outing at a fast food chain or a decent mid-tier (but not great) mouse.

We’ll dig into these two products a little more to help you decide if it’s worth spending a little more and getting a little more with the Logitech Z407 or paying the lower price of the Creative Pebble Plus and finding it to be enough for your needs.

Logitech Z407 vs Creative Pebble Plus: Price

Comparing the Logitech Z407 and the Creative Pebble Plus is a matter of comparing two very budget models. If you’re reading this article, then keeping that price down is probably a deciding factor.

Now, the Logitech Z407 is the more expensive model, having launched with a price tag of

$79 / £79 / AU$149, the price it had when we reviewed it in 2021. It’s now actually gone up in price – something very unusual in computer-adjacent tech – to a price of $119.99 / £119.99 / AU$249.95. Now, computer speaker models don’t get refreshed all that often and the Logitech is still a very worthy consideration, especially since it comes with a subwoofer, wireless puck that functions like a remote, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Creative Pebble Plus is much more barebones. There’s no Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Airplay, etc. Still, this model does come with a subwoofer as well. Its original price of $40 / £40 / AU$99.95 has not gone up significantly like the Logitech. Instead, it’s five dollars more expensive in the states and just a little cheaper everywhere else, with a price tag of $44.99 / £38.99 / AU$69.95.

Logitech Z407 vs Creative Pebble Plus: Design

As far as setup goes, both the Logitech Z407 and Creative Pebble Plus are 2.1 systems, meaning that there are two speaker boxes for left and right audio and a subwoofer for the low-end.

Since both are budget units, the satellite speaker boxes and subwoofer are all connected by cables. With the Logitech Z407, both speakers connect to the subwoofer while the left speaker and subwoofer of the Creative Pebble Plus both connect to the right speaker. This, unfortunately, requires a little more creativity for cable management.

Both the Logitech Z407 and Creative Pebble Plus have interesting looking speaker boxes with the former having a rounded almost pill-like shape that’s more for aesthetics than anything else. The Creative Pebble Plus has angled speaker boxes so that the audio is directed more towards the listener’s ears – a small but appreciated choice, especially considering they’re 4.8 inches in height (the Logitech are 7.87 inches tall).

As far as connectivity goes, the Logitech Z407 is the better model as it offers Bluetooth, micro USB, and a 3.5 mm analog input. The Creative Pebble Plus, on the other hand, offers USB and 3.5mm. More importantly, the Creative Pebble Plus does not use a separate power cable, instead drawing power via the USB port, so if you don’t or can’t go the USB route, you’ll have to purchase a separate USB adapter to plug into the wall.

Lastly, as far as onboard controls go, all of the Z407’s are outsources to that wireless puck I previously mentioned, while the Creative Pebble Plus has a volume dial and a toggle for a ‘High Gain’ mode that boosts the volume.

Logitech Z407 vs Creative Pebble Plus: Features

The feature set on both models are a bit limited, but much more so with the Creative Pebble Plus. That’s because the only feature worth mentioning is that ‘High Gain’ toggle, which boosts the volume up to 8 watts RMS.

The Logitech Z407’s feature set includes Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and the wireless puck, which not only adjusts volume, but can be used to adjust the volume of the subwoofer, as well as switch sources, mute and unmute, and skip or rewind tracks. There is a Bluetooth and input source button underneath, but otherwise you can only control it by turning the dial or pressing on it like a giant button, so figuring out how to switch between functionalities does take a bit of learning. That’s probably the most difficult part of using the Z407. Once you get it, however, you’ll find it worth having.

Logitech Z407 vs Creative Pebble Plus: Performance

When it comes to audio quality, the Logitech Z407 is the better sounding model. But, if you look at the price, that should be expected. A little more unexpected as these relatively affordable speakers have a ton of volume on tap for computer speakers and sound pretty good. They lack a bit in detail, but the mids are fairly rich, and there’s plenty of bass, though you might want to turn that down a smidge. It produces a good stereo image.

The Creative Pebble Plus sound good for the price with a decently crisp high-end and balanced mids, though bass can distort rather easily, so that when you turn up too much, the bass and, therefore, the rest of the frequency range start to overload the drivers. But with the right kind of music and volume, they have a respectable sound.

One area that’s worth considering, however, is that since the Creative Pebble Plus are angled up, unlike the Logitech Z407, the sound is angled more properly towards you if you tend to sit up at your desk.

Which budget speaker is right for you?

The better speaker is going to be determined by your needs. While the Logitech Z407 are the objectively better speaker, there are certain people that would prefer the Creative Pebble Plus. If you’re tall and/or tend to look down on your computer monitor, it will direct sound to your ears. Or, if you’re very limited on funds or prefer to save money, the Creative Pebble Plus is less than half the price.

The Logitech Z407 does sound better, includes a convenient interface via the puck, and includes Bluetooth connectivity for when you want to play some music off your phone.

JBL 104-BT: Two-minute review

The JBL 104-BT are great speakers if you get them for the right reason. If you’re looking for the best computer speakers for general use, you’ll be very happy with these, thanks to a warm-leaning yet full frequency range that lends itself well to music listening as well as gaming and streaming (as long as you don’t need any real sub-bass).

They’re not quite as immersive as the best gaming headsets, but they’re more than immersive enough. However, reference monitors they are not.

If you’re trying to put together a home studio, you want monitors that give you an accurate representation of what you’re working on. If you have speakers that have somewhat of a boost in the low-mids as these do, then when you go to listen to your music on other speakers or headphones, you’ll realize that you compensated for that boosted area and have a track that’s lacking in that same frequency range.

Keep that in mind when going through this review as these are very enjoyable to listen to, are relatively affordable, and come with the appropriate amount of features (minus one or two). That’s why you should consider them – not for music production.

JBL 104-BT: Price and availability

•  How much does it cost? $149.00 / £199.99 / AU$289.00 
•  When is it available? Available now 
•  Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK and Australia 

The JBL 104-BT aren’t the cheapest computer speakers out there, but they’re pretty affordable at $149.00 / £199.99 / AU$289.00. Considering the sound quality, that’s pretty good value as well. Of course, for that price, the JBL 104-BT should include a sub out at the very least.

As far as alternatives go, the Edifier MR4 are worth a consideration. They go for slightly less at $129.99 / £109.99 / AU$179.99, and they actually work a bit better for reference speakers, but also miss out on that low-end.

If you’re looking for a pair of computer speakers for reference work, the Vigilant Audio SwitchOne I reviewed back in 2022 are still a fantastic option, since they use passive radiators on the side to fill out that low end. Of course, they retail for a bit more at $249 (£255 / AU$471).

If you want a subwoofer and are willing to spend a bit more, however, the Kanto Ora, with a price tag of $349.99 / AU$699.95 (about £287), are really, really good. They work fairly well as reference speakers as well, though they have a slightly scooped mid-range. 

• Value: 4.5 / 5

JBL 104-BT: Specs

JBL 104-BT: Design

Before we dig in much more about why they’re good for certain things and not for others, let’s discuss the JBL 104-BT’s design. These speakers come in either a matte black or matte white colorway, with the one I received for testing coming in black.

They stand at a little under ten inches tall and six inches wide (they have a depth of almost five inches), which is fairly diminutive for a pair of speakers. Sure, you can find smaller, but they’re probably going to have a thinner or brighter sound.

They both contain a 4.5-inch driver and a 0.75-inch soft dome driver for the highs, though I can only see the larger one through the front grille. Both speaker boxes are ported on the back as well to improve bass response.

Since these are powered speakers, one of them is a little heavier at 4.54 lbs compared to the other’s weight of 3.81 lbs. While they connect to each other with basic red and black speaker wires, the one with the power amp also allows ⅛-inch aux, RCA, and TRS balanced inputs, not to mention Bluetooth connectivity.

While most of the inputs are on the back, the aux input is on the front along with a headphone out and the controls, including a backlit volume knob and an input selector. There’s also an LED indicator when you have something connected via Bluetooth.

Unfortunately, there’s no sub out – a fateful omission as we’ll discuss later. And, though far from a deal breaker, there’s no physical digital connectivity like USB. Considering the digital-to-audio converters, or DACs, that come in computers and laptops vary quite a bit, it would have been a nice inclusion.

JBL 104-BT: Performance

As far as the sound quality goes, it’s worth repeating that these are solid sounding speakers that are pleasing to listen to, but are not appropriate for music production work, podcasters possibly notwithstanding.

Since there’s no subwoofer or sub out, you’re limited on the low end. The JBL 104-BT only goes down to 60Hz (a low note on a standard bass is 41Hz for reference). This means that anything that needs that low end to really come alive – hip hop, EDM, or games and movies with massive amounts of explosions – are going to feel a bit truncated. That doesn’t mean you won’t feel some of the impact of those 808 drums or the rumble of whatever’s happening in the latest Nolan movie. You just won’t feel all of it.

That said, there’s a boost in the low-mids to compensate for that. This boost is probably the biggest deterrent for using these speakers as reference monitors. However, it adds a richness and fullness to any audio that also makes these speakers very pleasing to listen to. There’s also plenty of punch and immediacy to what you’re hearing, so that while you won’t feel your bones shaking from subwoofer-level rumble, there’s still a visceral element to the sound.

The rest of the mids sit nicely in the mix, while the high-end is present in a pleasing way. The high-end isn’t too sharp and it isn’t too muted either.

Where I’m actually most impressed with the JBL 104-BT is its sound imaging, and by extension, the soundstage. The soundstage with speakers are all about placement so you can affect how wide something sounds just by how far apart the speakers are. Still, these speakers did a good job of making you feel that separation of audio elements that are only on the left or right side, not to mention moving around.

However, what really jumped out at me was the center channel. The JBL 104-BT is a stereo speaker system with just two speaker boxes. But, with every stereo speaker system, you really have the left, the right, and the center, even if it’s not represented by its own physical speaker.

Good speakers, along with good speaker placement, are able to make that center audio – usually dialogue or vocals – sound like it’s floating right in front of you instead of sounding like part of it is coming from one speaker and part of it is coming from the other.

With the JBL 104-BT, that center channel felt like it was right in front of me to the point that I kept checking the speakers on the laptop to make sure they weren’t also getting in on the action (they weren’t).

Considering these retail for around $150, what you’re getting is pretty remarkable as long as you use them to elevate your everyday audio experience. If you’re using them for music production, you’ll probably like the way they sound, minus that low-end, but you’re going to have a hard time creating music that sounds good on other systems. If you keep that in mind, these are an easy pair of speakers to recommend.

Should I buy JBL 104-BT Compact Desktop Reference Monitors?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also Consider

How I tested the JBL 104-BT

•  Used regularly for a couple weeks
• Tested with all sorts of games and music
• Tested different forms of connectivity

I used the JBL 104-BT Compact Desktop Reference Monitors regularly for a couple weeks. I used them to listen to all sorts of music as well as play a number of games including Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, Hitman, and Battlefield 2042.

After using these speakers, it’s clear that they are great for general use, but not ideal for reference work, i.e. music production, despite the accessible price tag.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

•  First reviewed July 2024

Our DJI Mic review from its 2022 launch shows that DJI is perfectly capable of expanding beyond drones when it comes to premium tech gadgets, and it looks increasingly likely that a DJI Mic 2 model is going to appear in the coming days.

Reliable DJI tipster Quadro News has been posting multiple leaks about the upcoming wireless microphone, including specs – such as the maximum transmission range of 160 meters (525 feet) or 250 meters (820 feet), depending on the regulations in your part of the world, matching the original device.

While the transmission range may be the same, it looks as though the design is going to be tweaked this time around, with a more polished look for the mics themselves and an improved latch for the case, which will be made of "quality metal".

It would seem as though we're getting a new white option for the DJI Mic 2 as well, meaning you can pick between black and white to best match your aesthetic. The current DJI Mic is only available in the standard black.

Mark your calendars

According to previous leaks, the DJI Mic 2 is set to be announced on January 17, which is this coming Wednesday – coincidentally the same day when we're expecting the Samsung Galaxy S24 to be shown off to the world.

What we don't have yet are any indications on price: the original DJI Mic went on sale for $329 / £289 / AU$509, so we can expect something in the same sort of range for the successor. A new and improved model would be unlikely to be any cheaper.

It does appear from other Quadro News leaks that the battery capacity is going to be upped from 320 mAh to 360 mAh, so we may get a corresponding increase in battery life – which for the current DJI Mic is 5.5 hours between charges, as per the official DJI specs list.

Also of interest: the leaks suggest that the new model will have the ability to record a second, quieter track alongside the main one, which could help to protect against unexpected audio spikes. Once DJI makes the device official, we will of course bring you the news here.

You might also like

• The best DJI drones available right now
• Our comprehensive review of the DJI Mavic 3 Pro
• The best wireless headphones you can buy

Sennheiser Profile: Two-minute review

I honestly wanted to give the Sennheiser Profile that coveted five-star rating. This USB mic may not look like much, with its somber solid black style, but it delivers where it matters most – in build quality and audio capture – while keeping the price reasonably accessible to even hobbyist streamers and podcasters.

So, it’s really unfortunate that, for some reason, Sennheiser’s engineers have made weird design decisions, particularly when it comes to its articulations. These are, to be very fair, minor flaws that users can easily adapt to. But I also think that if you’re paying more than $100 / £100 for a USB mic, it should at least have those basics covered.

Coming in two sets – one with just a desk stand and the other offering a boom arm with a C-clamp – the Sennheiser Profile will set you back a lot more than many of the best USB mics on the shelves, with the latter set costing US customers $200. And, it’s kind of hard to look past its design missteps, no matter how small of a deal they are.

The most glaring issue here is the boom arm. Its hinges are so tight it feels like you’re doing an arm workout just to set it up. Granted, those should loosen up over time, and most people will probably have it in a fixed position anyway, but there’s also the fact that the mic itself mounts awkwardly to it. It's as if it’s a third-party budget boom you found on Amazon, instead of something that’s actually made for the mic. Setup, in other words, is tricky, and you really need to spend some time on it to figure out the least awkward position for the mic to be in.

Now, this mic is less than $130 / £110 if you just get the basic set that comes with a standard desk stand. That means you’re paying about $70 / £70 extra for that boom arm if you’re getting the streaming set. And, though it feels very premium and robust, that price is hardly fair if you consider its flaws.

Go for the basic set, and you run into another hiccup. The yoke the USB mic is attached to doesn’t offer much in terms of articulation. You can tilt it up more or less 15 degrees, and that’s about it. So you have even fewer physical adjustments available if you just get the desk stand.

The good news is that the mic, like the boom arm, is built like a rock – or rather, a premium rock with a soft satin finish. And while the design is nothing to write home about, especially with that solid black (read: boring and overdone) color, it has all the physical controls you’ll ever need: a mic mute button, a mic gain dial, a mix control dial that allows you to balance audio between the mic and your PC, and a headphone volume control.

There are two LED ring indicators on hand, one around the mic gain dial and the other around the mic mute button. The former, the clipping indicator, turns green when you’re recording at an acceptable volume and orange when you’re in danger of clipping, while the latter turns red when the mic is muted.

Clipping is a very important factor to consider when you’re speaking to a mic. Exceed its recording volume range, and your audio will distort and have artifacts. So, most mics’ indicators have three colors to let you know if you’re at an acceptable volume, in danger of clipping, and already clipping. Unfortunately, this one only has two, which means you really can't risk recording at a higher volume because it’ll never tell you when your audio is indeed clipping.

Design blues aside, there are things to love here: the cable management on the boom arm is a nice touch, the USB-C cable included is pretty lengthy, and the C-clamp mounting bracket does a great job of keeping the mic stable and in place.

The Sennheiser Profile also delivers on performance. The audio recordings I’ve made on it are incredible – as good as you can expect from USB mics. The sound is neutral, and even when I get really close, my voice still comes through clear and not overly boomy. And with the mic gain turned all the way, it still produces a clear, full sound without signs of distortion.

This mic will pick up some background noise, like when someone’s typing on a keyboard or talking a few feet away, but not to the point that it’s distracting. Sibilance is very minimal, while plosives are beautifully non-existent.

The one thing I really love about this is that despite its design flaws, the solid metal boom arm does an amazing job of minimizing vibrations. No matter how hard I tap on or shake the desk it’s mounted on or tap on the boom itself, the mic only picks up the tapping audio and never the vibrations themselves. 

Focus on its performance, and the Sennheiser Profile is a pretty darn impressive USB mic. Heck, if you can look past its design flaws, it’s an absolute ace.

Sennheiser Profile: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? From $129 / £108 / AU$239
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

This is one of the most expensive USB mics I’ve tested, setting you back $129 / £108 / AU$239, and that’s just for the basic set, which comes with a desk stand. If you want the boom arm, you’re looking at a $199 / £176 / AU$349 splurge. Is it a little more than most people would want to pay for a USB mic? Maybe, but you’re getting your money’s worth in performance and build.

Still, if you’re looking for a cheap USB mic, you probably should look elsewhere. A good alternative, if you’re on a super tight budget, is the HyperX QuadCast S, which will cost you about half the Sennheiser Profile. If your budget has some flexibility, I highly recommend taking a look at the AKG Ara instead.

• Value: 4 / 5

Sennheiser Profile: Specs

Should you buy the Sennheiser Profile?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Sennheiser Profile: Also consider

How I tested the [Product]

• Tested the USB mic for a few days
• Did several audio recordings with it
• Recorded at different distances and mic settings

To test the Sennheiser Profile, I used it for several days recording my voice at different settings and distances, pushing it to its limits to see how it handled things like plosives, sibilance, background noise, and vibrations.

Since I’m not a streamer or a podcaster, I utilized Windows’ Sound Recorder app to record my voice and listen to playbacks.

I have, however, tested a few USB mics for several months now, and have taken an unofficial crash course on mics so I can better understand the inner workings and give you guys fair reviews of the products that come to my desk.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed May 2023

Computer speakers have been around for almost as long as desktop computers. Over time this piece of sound hardware has evolved from cheap plastic accessories bundled with PCs to sophisticated designs that could easily work with a proper hi-fi audio system.

Listening to music with the best computer speakers can be a rewarding experience – it’s something I do nearly every day – and also one that can be greatly improved with a few basic tweaks. You don’t necessarily need to spend a lot of money to optimize the performance of your computer-based music playback system (yes, that’s what we’re going to call the speakers connected to your computer going forward). But investing in a higher-quality tier, such as one of the best music streaming services, as well as some modest gear upgrades, can yield a big sound quality improvement.

The first step to improving your computer-based music playback system will be to declutter your desk so that there’s nothing getting in the way, either physically or psychologically, between you and your music. Make sure to remove all debris and irrelevant objects — which also includes that stack of unpaid bills. Once that’s done, you can then move on to the following steps.

 1. Use good desktop speakers

There’s a staggering range of computer speakers out there to choose from. Go to Amazon and enter 'computer speakers' in the search bar and you’ll be confronted with a seemingly endless list of options, many of them priced under $20. Some of these speaker pairs come with tiny 'subwoofers', while others have built-in LED lights that blink wildly during playback. 

I’m not here to comment on either of those options, but to instead suggest you buy a basic powered monitor-type speaker pair with solid build quality from an established audio brand, and not necessarily the most expensive models. 

The two computer speaker sets I use (and very much like) are the Audioengine A2+ ($269 / around £215 / AU$400) and JBL 104-BT compact reference monitors ($169 / around £135 / AU$253). Both provide hardwired RCA-type audio inputs along with a Bluetooth wireless connection (aptX Bluetooth on the Audioengine). A key difference between the two, aside from their very different looks, is the presence of a volume control knob on the front of the main JBL speaker (the one containing the system’s built-in stereo amplifier), a feature that enables easy and quick volume adjustments. The JBL also has a mini-jack audio output, giving you the option to switch over to headphones listening if needed.

Another key difference between the Audioengine and JBL speakers is their sound signature. While the Audioengine A2+ has a refined 'hi-fi' presentation, the JBL’s sound is decidedly more neutral – something that’s not surprising considering it comes from the brand’s pro audio division. While I like both sets for different reasons, I tend to prefer the Audioengine A2+ for day-to-day music listening.

 2. Optimize the speaker placement 

Many people simply drop their computer speakers on their desk’s surface, usually on either side of the monitor or laptop screen. And while you’ll still be able to listen to the speakers in that arrangement, there’s much that can be done with positioning to improve their performance with music.

The first thing to do is arrange the speakers so that the center of each is set the same distance both from each other and from your seating position, with your head roughly forming the tip of an equilateral triangle. The next step is to angle the left and right speakers inward a bit so that their front baffles are aimed at your left and right ears, respectively. You can play some stereo music through the speakers at this point to 'tune' positioning: spreading the speakers outward will create a wider soundstage, while moving them more inward will result in a tighter, more focused presentation.

There’s yet another positioning tweak I’d recommend since it can make a big difference both in the perception of high frequency sounds in music and in stereo imaging. Physically angle the left and right speakers so that the center of the tweeter (the smaller driver typically located near the speaker’s top) is pointing directly toward your left and right ears, respectively. 

There are desktop stands you can buy that are designed to elevate speakers in this manner, but you can easily create your own using cheap rubber furniture floor protectors bought at a hardware store. Just make sure that each speaker is equally elevated, and that there’s sufficient support so they don’t tumble over if you accidentally knock into your desk.

3. Use music service desktop apps for streaming 

Music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal can all be accessed via a web browser by signing into your account online. And while that’s an easy way to play the music in your streaming collection, you’ll get better performance from the service’s dedicated desktop app. 

Using Tidal as an example (because that’s the service I mainly use with my computer for music playback), the desktop app gives you an 'Exclusive Mode' setup option where the app takes control of your computer’s audio output settings. The upside here is that it allows for bit-perfect playback of the audio source, which in this case is the Tidal HiFi or HiFi Plus account you’re paying good money for. The desktop app is also required to play high-res audio Master files in the Tidal library, which can’t be properly streamed using a web browser.

4. Use a high-res external DAC/Amp

Now that I’ve mentioned high-res audio, there’s another computer-based music playback system tweak we need to discuss: external digital-to-analog converters (DACs). While you can easily get sound by making a connection between your computer’s analog audio output and the computer speakers’ analog audio input, you’ll get a big boost in sound quality by using an external DAC/Amp.

External DAC/Amps used for computer audio playback are compact devices that plug directly into your PC or Mac’s USB port and have an analog output for connecting to the speakers’ analog stereo input. What the DAC basically does is isolate the flow of audio data from the computer’s digital clock, as well as isolate the analog audio output from electronic noise. For music fans. it's really a no-brainer upgrade.

Most DACs support 24-bit/96kHz or higher high-res audio formats, and some also support the MQA format used by Tidal for high-res delivery – the AudioQuest DragonFly Red shown above, for example. The DragonFly Red costs $229 (around £182 / AU$343) , but you can buy similarly featured DACs like the Helm Audio Bolt for as little as $119 (around £95 / AU$178).

Another bonus to external DAC/Amps? They can also be used to power the best headphones.

Trust GXT 611 Wezz: Two-minute review

Sometimes it's hard to get excited over budget products. Yes, we all want the best computer speakers from the likes of Logitech and Razer, with their crystal-clear sound and sleek, stylish designs. But not all of us can afford to shell out $100+ for a new PC peripheral - and that's where the Trust GXT 611 Wezz comes in.

A set of two stereo speakers from Netherlands-based budget tech brand Trust, the GXT 611 Wezz immediately grab your attention: they don't look like wallet-friendly hardware, due mainly to the bright RGB lighting that shines from behind the twin speaker grilles.

RGB speakers aren't anything new - Razer's Leviathan V2 Pro soundbar has some more understated rainbow lighting - but I have to admit that it works wonders here for making the Trust GXT 611 Wezz look a bit more upmarket. The LEDs are bright and colorful, immediately eye-catching but not so obnoxious that they become distracting.

Despite their bombastic appearance, the GTX 611 Wezz speakers will set you back less than £40 (about AU$80) - making them one of the cheapest sets of PC gaming speakers you can buy without going for something really bargain-basement. Unfortunately, these speakers aren't available in the US, although there are resellers on Amazon who stock Trust products so they could turn up on American shores eventually.

Upon unboxing the Wezz, I was pleased to find that setup is an absolute breeze: just plug in the USB power connector and 3.5mm jack, and you're good to go. No software, no downloads, no hassle.

But how do these wallet-friendly speakers actually perform? Well, you get what you pay for - I've used many different sets of computer speakers over the years, and these are among the weakest. That's not to say they're bad, per se - they just don't provide the fine dynamic sound range found in the strongest offerings from brands such as Logitech and SteelSeries.

The Trust GXT 611 Wezz speakers are, perhaps unsurprisingly, best suited for gaming. In Apex Legends, I found that the audio was mostly crisp and clear - sufficient to pinpoint directional sounds through the stereo output, like far-off gunshots and the footsteps of enemies creeping around nearby.

The lack of subwoofers means that the bass isn't impressive - grenade detonations and crunching melee strikes sounded feeble in comparison to my usual SteelSeries Arena 9 setup - but the mid-range is clear and free of distortion. High-pitched sounds (like the fwip of my favorite throwing knives in Warframe) also come across a little bit tinny.

Outside of gaming, things start to fall apart a bit more. Watching TV is fine - I put on an episode of the excellent Yellowjackets and found that dialogue came through crystal clear - but tense, dramatic moments and blockbuster movies are a wash.

Blade Runner 2049's usually sweeping, incredible audio sounds weak and distant, making my testing process feel like a personal insult to Mark Mangini's work. Video calls, with their typically poor audio, were horrible. Just get one of the best PC gaming headsets instead, please.

Music was similarly lackluster, though not altogether unserviceable. If you're an audiophile paying for high-res audio via a service like Tidal, you'll definitely want to invest in a better speaker setup than this. On the other hand, for my ambient work playlists on Spotify, the GTX 611 Wezz worked well enough that I didn't notice too much of a difference to my usual setup - though again, the lack of bass and lower maximum volume was evident.

Overall, I will admit that this is a higher level of sound quality than I was expecting from a £38 set of gaming speakers, but it's still nothing to write home about. But if you're a casual shopper with a budget of less than fifty pounds, this really isn't a bad call in terms of audio clarity.

When it comes to physical build quality, the Trust GTX 611 Wezz speakers are a mixed bag. The front grilles are metal, which feels durable enough, but the main body of the speaker blocks is made from cheap brushed plastic.

My main concern is the feet, which keep the speakers nice and anchored atop your desk but appear to simply be soft foam pads glued to the underside of each unit - unless you're planning to set these down and literally never move them again, those are going to come off with some wear and tear.

The speakers themselves have no physical controls, but they both connect via non-braided cables to a small round volume dial with a single button. This doubles as both the power button (if you press and hold it) and for switching between the pre-loaded RGB lighting profiles (with short clicks). There's no physical mute button, however, which I found annoying - though this probably won't bother some users.

Rather strangely, the dial feels more robust than the speakers themselves; the base is made from grippy rubber to hold it in place, and the volume dial itself has a satisfyingly smooth rotation to it - I could adjust it easily with a single finger without losing control. On the topic of RGB, the presets are a bit limited, but you can set it to react to your audio with EQ patterns.

Ultimately, if you're strapped for cash but want a decent set of computer speakers for gaming, you could definitely do a lot worse than the Trust GXT 611 Wezz. In a world flooded with cheap knock-offs, consider this an affordable recommendation from me.

Trust GXT 611 Wezz: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? ‎£38.04 / AU$79.28
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the UK, Europe, and Australia

Trust has a reputation at this point for being one of the more reliable budget brands in the PC hardware space - you're not going to get best-in-class performance, but you are going to get great value with some often surprisingly good aesthetics.

The Trust GXT 611 Wezz speakers have some slightly odd pricing, coming in a £38.04 in the UK and AU$79.26 in Australia. You can buy them on Amazon in both regions - sadly, as we mentioned above, this product is not yet available in the United States, though we'll come back and update this article if that changes.

Considering that the current cheapest option on our ranking of the best speakers is the £39 Creative Pebble Plus (most of the speakers on that list start at £100 or more), I'd say that the Wezz pricing is good - though it should be noted that Creative's budget offering does include a separate subwoofer, something that is notably absent here.

•  Value: 4.5 / 5 

Trust GTX 611 Wezz: Specs

Should you buy the Trust GXT 611 Wezz?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Trust GXT 611 Wezz: Also consider

How I tested the Trust GXT 611 Wezz

• I used the Trust GTX 611 Wezz speakers for a week and a half
• Played a variety of games
• Watched TV, movies, and used the speakers for video calls

I replaced my usual SteelSeries Arena 9 computer speaker setup with the Trust GXT 611 Wezz for ten days, and used them for everything I normally would - gaming, streaming TV shows, and the occasional video call. I also took the time to sit down and watch a movie at my PC, which felt a bit odd but was a good demonstration of the Wezz speakers' audio weaknesses.

To gauge the easiness of the setup, I reboxed the Wezz and asked my typically tech-averse partner to use them with his laptop. Although he somehow managed to get one of the cables hopelessly tangled while extracting it from the box, he agreed that the plug-and-play nature of Trust's product is exactly what he would look for in a set of computer speakers.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

AKG Lyra USB Microphone: Two-minute review

The AKG Lyra USB microphone is a phenomenal USB microphone for a variety of uses. Whether you’re podcasting, conducting an interview, or recording music, the Lyra USB captures incredible audio regardless of the situation. If you’re interested in a budget-friendly USB condenser microphone from a company with a reputation for excellence, you can't go wrong with the Lyra USB.

AKG has been building microphones for decades, and its products are highly sought after and very respected in recording studios all over the world. With more users recording at home than ever before, AKG decided to offer their professional expertise to more casual users. 

The AKG Lyra features four microphone polar patterns, zero-latency headphone monitoring, adjustable mic gain, and a mute switch. The four mic capsules, utilizing the circuitry within the Lyra, can capture sound at a bit depth and sample rate of 24 bits and 192 kHz. This is absolutely pristine-quality audio, and way better than what you'd get with something like the Blue Yeti. The frequency response of the Lyra spans 20hz to 20kHz, which is the full spectrum of human hearing. 

Don’t let the technical jargon scare you, though, as the Lyra may sound amazing but it is extremely simple to use right out of the box. The Lyra’s plug-and-play functionality makes it easy to start recording right away since there's no need to download drivers to use the microphone in my tests. I simply connected the USB-A to USC-C cable (included with the mic) to a few of my computers, opened up my audio software and started recording. 

The microphone is immediately recognized in Logic, Garageband, or any standard digital audio workstation (DAW) of your choice. The AKG Lyra even comes with a free copy of Ableton Live 10 Lite if you don’t have any recording software installed.

The microphone sits on a detachable desk stand that is included with the mic, which is simple to use and well-constructed. It provides a tremendous amount of maneuverability, but if you’d rather connect the microphone to a boom arm, you have the option of utilizing the ⅜” inch adapter connection included with the mic. 

While we can highly recommend the AKG Lyra USB microphone, it is important to note the sensitive nature of the Lyra’s condenser microphone properties. It's incredibly sensitive to sound. Typically, condenser microphones are used in conjunction with sound-dampening equipment such as diffusers and soundproof booths, so care must be taken if recording in areas with lots of ambient noise like lawnmowers or traffic.

If you utilize the Lyra in the same way as you utilize a dynamic microphone (like the Shure SM7B), you might pick up a lot of ambient noise in your recordings, so the AKG Lyra USB Microphone may actually be too sensitive for users who are unfamiliar with condenser microphones. However, if you know how (or are willing to learn how) to take advantage of the Lyra’s strengths, this microphone will give you near-professional results at a fantastic price.

AKG Lyra USB Microphone: Price & availability

• How much does it cost?: $149.00 / £149.99 / AU$ 269.00
• When is it out? It is available now through AKG.com and major retailers
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The AKG Lyra USB Microphone has an MSRP of $149 / £149.99 / AU$ 269, but there are often sales that can bring this price even lower. This is a great price for this microphone, especially for the quality. 

The closest competitor to the AKG Lyra would be the exceptional Blue Yeti USB microphone. Both the Lyra and the Yeti feature almost the same button/dial layout, and the Yeti is a good bit cheaper with an MSRP of $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199.95. 

While the Yeti is cheaper, the Lyra features a larger sample rate and bit depth than the Yeti (192 kHz/24 bit as opposed to 48 kHz/16 bit). Having tested both, there isn’t much discernible difference between the two. You’d have to be a serious audiophile to hear the difference. For what it’s worth, the AKG Lyra does seem to perform better when recording instruments, so the higher sample rate seems to make a big difference here.

AKG Lyra USB Microphone: Specs

Should you buy the AKG Lyra USB Microphone?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

AKG Lyra USB Microphone: Also consider

First reviewed March 2023

Blue Sona: Two-minute review

The Blue Sona is a fantastic mic and somewhat of an anomaly in today’s world of USB mics geared towards gamers, streamers, and podcasters. While it can certainly hold its own in the studio, it’s meant for the kind of “creators” mentioned above that take the quality of their recordings seriously. And, to do that, you have to graduate from USB mics, as far as they come, to a more modular setup that includes an audio interface and a microphone that focuses on doing one thing and doing it well. The Blue Sona is that kind of mic.

In fact, the Blue Sona is really meant as an alternative to the very popular Shure SM7B, which sports a similar price and functionality, though the SM7B has been around for decades. While the Blue Sona most likely won’t displace the SM7B, it’s a strong contender that is a fantastic choice for anyone wanting to up their podcasting / streaming game. And, if you want to use it to record some guitar and vocals, it can do that too. It won’t have the versatility of many of the USB mics out there. But, when it comes to microphones, quality and versatility usually have a fragile coexistence and you typically have to choose one or the other (or pay a lot more).

While this seemingly stripped down mic clearly favors quality, there’s plenty going on here. Sure, there’s just the one supercardioid polar pattern and one XLR port, but on the base of the Blue Sona’s body is a magnetized cover that reveals two switches, one to roll off the bass and one to boost presence. There’s also internally an shockmount to keep bumps from picking up too loudly while in use.

Additionally, a dial attaching the mic body to the mount can be tightened to keep the mic from slipping once you’ve oriented it to your liking. Of course, you won’t be able to remove the mic body from the mount but it is threaded on the bottom to use with a mic stand or boom arm.

The Blue Sona is also made to be used and abused. That’s to say that it’s built very well. In fact, when I first started to screw it onto a short mic stand I had, it slipped from my hands onto my laptop, my desk, and then the ground. The only damage was a battlescar on my laptop. The Blue Sona itself was unscathed. That’s because the body and mount are made of a very strong metal. Even the grille is very sturdy. There’s absolutely no flex when pressing on it.

As durable as the Blue Sona is, that doesn’t matter if it doesn’t sound good. Luckily, the Blue Sona does. Its 40-18kHz frequency response may seem a little underwhelming on paper but this mic does a great job picking up audio loudly and clearly. 

Its supercardioid polar pattern picks up my voice without too much alteration (proximity effect notwithstanding) if I move to the side an inch so I don’t have to stay incredibly still when using it. But, if I go way off-axis, it will start to reject my voice as well as other sounds to favor what’s in front of it. This makes this ideal for reproducing single sources like a voice while minimizing background noise. Since it just has the one polar pattern, you won’t be able to use one mic for a group of people so you’ll have to invest in additional units if you’re planning to do a podcast or stream with guests.

On top of sounding good, the Blue Sona also excels in another way. You have to get very loud to distort it. This is great news for those who become animated when speaking as it won’t clip unless you’re screaming into it from less than an inch away. Additionally, it has plenty of gain on tap so that it will easily pick up quieter speakers as well.

Lastly, one of the issues with a lot of USB mics is how easily they pick up vibrations. If you were to use a condenser mic in a studio-type setting, you would most likely have it in a shockmount. But, USB mics are meant for those that don’t have the funds for that kind of setup. So, they’re attached to a proprietary stand that usually sits on a desk. Any time you knock against your desk or even the mic stand, you’ll hear it very clearly. While they can almost all be mounted on a boom arm, this is one area where the Blue Sona trumps them all. Thanks to its internal shockmount, those bumps and vibrations are greatly minimized and that’s without mounting on a boom arm.

Blue Sona: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $349.95 / £299.99 (about AU$510.28)
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK

Spending $349.95 / £299.99 (about AU$510.28) on the Blue Sona may seem steep, especially when compared to the plethora of capable USB mics on the market that mostly max out at the $200 / £200 range. But, that’s actually not a bad price for a solid XLR mic.

While that might sound counterintuitive as USB mics are plug-and-play and an XLR-equipped mic needs an external audio interface, there are a few reasons XLR mics are a better long term option. XLR mics don’t run on software so they will be just as capable 20 years from now as long as the build quality is good. And, since they don’t have an audio interface built into them the way USB mics do, you don’t have to throw the whole thing away if something does malfunction. Also, you can use a mic like the Blue Sona with an audio interface or console that can accept multiple mic inputs. While most people reading this review aren’t going to consider the Blue Sona for the studio, it’s an important consideration if you’re thinking about having multiple mics at the ready for a podcast.

With that in mind, the real competition is not something like the AKG Ara or Blue Yeti as solid as those USB mics are but the Shure SM7B, a legendary mic that has probably popped up in every other Youtube video you’ve ever watched, not to mention was to capture Michael Jackson’s vocals on Thriller. Considering that the SM7B goes for $399.99 / £439 / about AU$581.47. While I’m not able to do a side-by-side comparison of the two mics, the Blue Sona does have a lot of similar qualities as the SM7B with its great sound quality and ability to take loud sources without distorting easily.

Unfortunately for those in Australia, the Blue Sona doesn’t seem to be available at the time of writing.

• Value: 4 / 5

Blue Sona: Specs

Should you buy the Blue Sona?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Blue Sona: Also consider

How we tested

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

Edifier MR4: Two-minute review

Every now and then, a product reminds me that you don’t have to splurge to get something good. The Edifier MR4 studio monitors are a perfect example of that. They cost just a little over $100 / £100, but they don’t sound cheap. On the contrary, they sound very good, though with one or two caveats.

While they won’t top anyone’s choice for the best computer speakers, they’re certainly worthy of making the list. What differentiates them from other inexpensive yet quality-sounding speakers like the Logitech Z407 is their ability to offer a frequency range more suited to creative content as well as media consumption. Anyone looking to do some mixing, whether it’s music or a Youtube video knows that even the best headphones, as good as they are, are no substitute for a good pair of speakers.

One of the reasons the Edifier MR4 is more suited for content creation than other computer speakers is their form factor. These active-powered bookshelf speakers, which are available in black or white, don’t rely on a single woofer per speaker cabinet to create sound. Instead, each unit has a 1-inch silk tweeter, a 4-inch dome woofer, and a bass port in the back to help project a full and accurate sound. Utilizing that form factor is also helpful as many computer speakers in smaller enclosures can end up sounding boxy.

Another reason is the selection of the ports the company decided to include. There’s no Bluetooth, optical, or USB connectivity that you’ll find on other computer speakers. But, it does come with an RCA input, TRS balanced input for use with audio interfaces, and an Aux input located on the front of the right speaker (along with the headphone jack). The speakers also come with an RCA to 3.5mm cable so you don’t have to order one from Amazon to connect to a computer.

There are a small number of controls on the Edifier MR4 all situated on the right speaker. A power and volume dial is the only one on the front, while two EQ dials – one for the low-end and one for the high-end – are situated on the back. They’re a bit awkward to get to for regular adjustment, and considering that they’re fairly subtle even when turned all the way to one direction, you’re better off EQing on your computer.

As the Edifier MR4 studio monitors are fully analog, the feature set is pretty light compared to many other computer monitors. However, they do come with one interesting feature and that’s its dual sound effect modes. There’s a monitor and a music mode on hand, and you switch between the two by pressing the power dial. The LED that indicates that the speakers are on switches between red for monitor and green for music mode. Like the EQ dials, the effect is pretty subtle, but the music mode does seem to boost the mid-highs a little to give the audio a little more presence while the monitor mode gives a more neutral frequency response.

Though the two modes and the EQ dials are maybe too nuanced, the overall sound quality of these speakers more than makes up for that. The highs are clear and crisp without being overbearing or piercing. And, the mids are full without being muddy. While they’re not as neutral as I find on expensive monitors, they’re better than I expected from a pair of monitors at this price.

The low end is where the Edifier MR4’s limitations are most apparent. With its 60Hz frequency range cut-off, you’re just not getting a lot of sub-bass. This means there’s not only minimal rumble when watching movies or playing games, but even music lacks some punch because of that limited bass response. Strangely, the bass response does come back as I turn up the speakers (and these can get loud), but I do have to raise the volume louder than I would like. And though I end up with a more robust bass, it’s still not getting into sub-bass territory. That’s to be expected when you don’t have a subwoofer, but I would have appreciated having a sub out on these speakers.

Being physical speakers, the soundstage here is almost entirely up to placement. But, I get a pretty immersive audio experience having them about three feet apart. The sound imaging is accurate enough for use in gaming, though you won’t find any kind of special positional audio setting available if you rely on that for competitive gaming. While you won’t get a virtual surround sound experience, elements in a game’s environment will accurately move around wherever they’re supposed to be based on your character’s position and point of view.

To sum up, the Edifier MR4 sound very good whether it’s for media consumption or content creation, though you’ll have to account for that somewhat weak low-end.

Edifier MR4: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $129.99 / £109.99 / AU$179.99
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK

Edifier has always punched above its weight with its price-to-performance ratio, and the Edifier MR4 studio monitors are no different. With an asking price of $129.99 / £109.99 / AU$179.99, this set of speakers is very reasonable. 

There are cheaper options like the criminally inexpensive Creative Pebble Plus, but the audio quality on the MR4s are going to trump anything in the sub-$100 range. In fact, it’s a bit closer in quality to the excellent Vigilant Audio SwitchOne, which also allow you to physically switch between two different audio modes (one for mixing and one for general listening) though they’re much pricier at $249 / £255 / AU$471. Of course, the SwitchOne does sound better but it’s almost twice the price. Considering the price, the Edifier MR4 is quite a steal.

•  Price: 5 / 5 

Edifier MR4: Specs

Should you buy the Edifier MR4?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Edifier MR4: Also consider

How I tested the Edifier MR4

• Tested over a week
• Tested with music, computer games, and streaming video
• Listened at various volumes to different mediums and different genres within those mediums

To test the Edifier MR4 studio monitors, I spent a week with them, listening to various genres of music, watching various streaming video, and playing computer games on them. While testing, I used them at different volumes to see how that affected the sound quality.

After extensive testing, it’s clear that these are ideal for a general computer setup as well as for content creators who are on a budget. They won’t stand up to more expensive studio monitors but they’re good enough to get the job done. They’re not ideal for a home theater setup, mainly due to that weak low-end, but they will do the trick if you’re watching something just a few feet away from your computer.

Having spent the last few years reviewing mostly audio equipment has given me enough experience to quickly get a handle on these speakers. But, I have also spent decades as a musician and music fan and am sensitive to the audio quality of whatever I’m using, whether it’s for review or personal use.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

Elgato Wave:3: Two-minute review

USB mics are rarely a thing of beauty, which is why the Elgato Wave:3 already has an edge over the competition without even trying. This stunner has a retro-esque air about it, with its rounded rectangular design suspended on an elegant yoke and alloy grille as if it just popped into existence from the 60s. My review unit is even more unique, as it’s a special edition one from Corsair’s 10th anniversary collection.

But, it takes more than good looks to be one of the best USB mics on the market, and being a top content creation peripherals brand, Elgato of course knows this. So, what you’ve got here is a USB microphone that not only looks good but feels and sounds good as well.

While the competitor mics can sometimes feel flimsy, Corsair’s sister company seems to have spared no expense in producing a top-quality product in the Elgato Wave:3. That yoke, stand and mount are made of solid steel then beautifully painted with matte paint to give in a refined yet still industrial finish. 

The grille itself is made of steel as well, and its multifunctional dial feels robust, which likely means it won’t break or fall off anytime soon despite the number of functions it handles. It’s the dial for changing settings like input gain and crossfade between mic and PC mix. 

Elgato, understanding that a chunk of its users find visual cues helpful, also slaps on light indicators here so you know what setting you’re controlling and what level it’s currently on. And, in the back is a 3.5mm headphone jack for direct monitoring so users can get zero latency. To the uninitiated: many users prefer to hear themselves as they’re talking into the mic. However, with external mics, the audio signal that you’re hearing back will always have some amount of latency that results in you hearing an echo of your voice, which can be confusing. Connecting a pair of headphones directly to the Elgato Wave:3 via this headphone jack takes away that delay, allowing you seamless recording.

I also appreciate the almost 360-degree articulation that the yoke allows, giving the mic a bit more flexibility. However, the stand is also removable so you can attach it to a more ergonomic stand or a shock mount if you want to really minimize vibrations.

You’d be surprised at how good the Elgato Wave:3 is at minimzing or stifling vibrations, like someone tapping on the surface it’s on. It’s also pretty effective at reducing sound pickup from the side and back – something that many mid-range cardioid USB mics often fail at – and rejecting background noise, speaking volumes to the mic’s quality of construction.

More importantly, it boasts impressive performance. After a series of recording tests, I have found that the audio quality is very clear and full, making it one of the best-sounding USB mics I’ve had the pleasure of using. I have noticed a tiny bit of distortion when my voice gets loud, but nothing too obvious that it’s a deal-breaker. Just be sure to temper your voice when you’re recording.

Using the Wave Link software adds more functionality to the Elgato Wave:3. It’s a little finicky, especially in the beginning, and it’s not a recording software. However, exercise a bit of patience, and you’ll be rewarded with access to things like the monitor mix gain, stream mix gain, and effects like reverb and pitch shift. 

Elgato Wave:3: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $149.99 / ‎£129 / AU$269
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

With so many budget and mid-range rivals on the market, it might be hard to justify spending $149.99 / ‎£129.00 / AU$269 on a USB mic that only has one polar pattern. But, listen, that’s Elgato for you. The brand may not be cheap, with one of its latest releases, the Elgato Facecam Pro, costing creators a lot more money than they’d expect to pay. However, the quality speaks for itself. 

That’s what you’re getting from Elgato Wave:3. This is a premium investment with premium-quality build and performance. And, if you plan on taking your TikTok, YouTube, or Twitch content to the next level, it’s worth the splurge.

However, if money is really tight, the JBL Quantum Stream Dual Pattern is almost half the price, and the HyperX SoloCast is even cheaper. Neither can compete with the Wave:3 in audio performance, but they will do until you’re making a mint from your videos. 

•  Value: 4.7 / 5 

Elgato Wave:3: Specs

Should you buy the Elgato Wave:3?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Elgato Wave:3: Also consider

How I tested the Elgato Wave:3

• Tested the Elgato Wave:3 for a couple of days
• Used it for recording and chatting
• I talked, tapped, and made background noises then I listened to recordings

Using the Elgato Wave:3 for a couple of days to talk to people and record myself was the best way to test its audio performance. During recordings, I spoke from the front, as well as from the back, from the sides and from different distances. I also checked how it handled things like vibrations and background noise by tapping on the surface it was on and on its stand and by making noises in the background during recordings.

After, I listened to those recordings, playing close attention to sound quality and any artefacts it might have picked up. I also made sure to test its control, light indicators, and Wave Link software to see how easy it is to use, especially for beginners. 

I’ve been testing devices like computing peripherals for years. Mics are a newer thing for me, having only started testing them last year, my experience with audio devices like gaming headsets, headphones, and speakers made it easy for me to understand USB microphones and what matters most to users during testing.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

The RØDE NT-USB mic changed the game for musicians, podcasters, producers and other audio pros – and incredibly, RØDE has managed to make it even better. The new RØDE NT-USB+ takes everything that’s great about RØDE’s class-leading mics and adds even more audio power. It’s the mic your voice, your studio and your setup have been dreaming of.

The ultimate mic for everything

The RØDE NT-USB+ is a USB condenser mic with incredible processing power, pro-level pre-amps and of course, exceptional sound. It’s the latest innovation from a truly legendary brand: RØDE has been at the forefront of audio technology for more than 40 years, and you’ll see – and hear – the Australian brand’s audio tech in everything from podcasters’ bedrooms to professional sound and video studios.

This particular microphone is the very latest generation of a much-loved mic. The first NT-USB was one of the very first professional recording USB microphones, and the NT-USB Mini raised the bar by introducing onboard digital sound processing. And now the NT-USB+ brings you all that and much more. 

A Revolution in your ears

The RØDE NT-USB+ includes the firm’s world-class Revolution Preamps, and they’re a real game changer. They deliver spectacular sound quality, warmth and clarity, and because they’re both ultra-low noise and ultra-high gain they deliver plenty of output without introducing unwanted noise. By delivering the highest possible gain with the lowest possible noise floor, the NT-USB+’s preamps mean that you don’t need to mess around with microphone boosters, lifters or external processors. Simply plug in your mic and you’re good to go.

That’s not the only audio upgrade you’ll find in the RØDE NT-USB+. You can now record or stream in high resolution audio at 24-bit/48KHz to capture every detail perfectly.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the condenser capsule inside the mic. When it comes to capturing speech, vocals or musical instruments, condensers deliver the warmest, most involving, most incredible sound. And thanks to the improved signal conversion, higher gain and lower noise floor, the condenser in the RØDE NT-USB+ sounds even more spectacular.

Advanced processing on all your devices

In addition to those powerful preamps, the RØDE NT-USB+ also delivers RØDE Aphex Processing. That means you get all the benefits of pro-level digital signal processing features including the legendary Aphex Aural Exciter and the brilliantly named Big Bottom effects. 

With a compressor, a noise gate and a high-pass filter built into the mic, it’s never been quicker or easier to get the perfect sound no matter what you’re recording or livestreaming. And because the RØDECentral app that controls these features is available for mobile devices as well as your PC or Mac, all that power stays with you wherever you and your RØDE may roam.

The mic that works with everything, everywhere

The RØDE NT-USB+ has upgraded the connector to USB-C for more convenient connection and charging, and it’s fully class compliant and iOS compatible so you can use it with your favourite hardware and audio apps via RØDE Connect. You can use it as a free-standing mic, on a boom stand or on a studio arm, and the included pop shield keeps percussive plosives from ruining your recording.

It’s also superb for everyday apps such as voice and video calling, and because it has the same 3.5mm output as its predecessor with zero latency monitoring you can use it to monitor your recording or stream in real time without having to mess around in software. 

The perfect performer for every kind of audio

With its compact design, superb pre-amps and class-leading audio quality, the RØDE NT-USB+ raises the bar for USB microphones. Whether it’s in your studio or on your desk, streaming via your Mac or recording to your iPhone, the NT-USB+ delivers an unrivalled combination of power, performance and portability for producers, podcasters, musicians and anybody else who needs the best possible audio. And it make you sound pretty good in voice and video calls too.

Click here to find out why the RØDE NT-USB+ is the mic you’ve always dreamed of.

Audio brand RØDE has revealed the fifth generation of its flagship condenser microphone, the NT1, which the company claims to be “unclippable”. 

The company points to the mic's new “32-bit float digital output” giving podcasters, vocalists, and content creators enough headroom for an up to 192kHz recording that is free from distortion. RØDE states “users can record anything from a whisper to scream… with no chance of [the] signal clipping.” At most, all you have to do is adjust the audio in a DAW (digital audio workstation) to an optimal level and you’re good to go. Additionally, the NDT1 features the company's new Dual Connect output for both XLR and USB-C connectivity. That way, you can connect the mic to a mixer or some kind of professional audio equipment via XLR or straight to your computer via USB.

A USB microphone with the 32-bit float is a pretty big deal. The dynamic range of most USB mics hover around 16-bits, sometimes 24-bits, limiting the amount of headroom you’re given resulting in scuffed audio. It’s also helpful for those who are starting a new podcast as they’re given a bit of extra leg room to work with as they won’t have to mess with audio gain too much. The main downside of a 32-bit float is that it creates bigger files so keep that in mind with the NT1.

Professional environment

Alongside those two features, the NT1 houses a ton of other audio tools to help users establish a professional recording environment. RØDE really packed this microphone to the brim. 

It comes with the company’s own Revolution Preamp tech which houses a “powerful on-board DSP for advanced APHEX audio processing” allowing users to run plugins. Tools like compressors, noise gates, or a two-step high-pass filter can be added to further enhance a recording. You even connect up to eight separate NT1 mics onto a “single computer for multitrack recording” over USB. This is possible thanks to RØDE’s own ASIO driver.

Other notable features include a HF6 gold-sputtered capsule to deliver “detailed midrange and rich bass” as well as an incredibly low self-noise level of 4 dBA. To put that into perspective, the sound normal human breathing makes is 10 dB, according to the CDC.

The NT1 is currently available for pre-order for $249 and will ship out sometime in March 2023 (the announcement doesn't say exactly when). You have a choice between black or silver in a “rugged aluminium body [with] high-grade finishes” making it resistant to scratches. In addition to the mic, you’ll be getting a shock mount, pop filter, and cables for the XLR and USB ports.

Considering what you’re getting, $250 is honestly a really good price. But if you want to shop around before buying an NT1, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best USB microphones for 2023. You get classics like the Blue Yeti mic. 

Neat Bumblebee II: One-minute review

The Neat Bumblebee II is proof that there are many options our there for those looking to get into streaming. It’s not a budget model but is quite affordable at around $100 / £100. Unfortunately, there’s also enough competition out there, making this solid but flawed USB mic hard to recommend. If I were to recommend it though, it would be strictly for streamers.

It’s not a bad mic. It’s very easy to use and doesn’t come with a steep learning curve that more fully-featured mics have. And, it can sound good as long as you keep the mic volume on low. But, with its one polar pattern and tendency to distort when the mic volume is up, podcasters and musicians should look elsewhere.

While I don’t think the Neat Bumblebee II is going to give the best USB mics a run for their money, it is worth a look for novice streamers, especially when there’s a sale.  

Neat Bumblebee II: Price and availability

• How much does it cost?  $99.99 / £89.99 / about AU$141.04 
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US and the UK

The Neat Bumblebee II, which goes for a reasonable $99.99 / £89.99 / about AU$141.04, is reasonably affordable. While there are more budget options like the JLab Go Talk, which at $49 / £49 (about AU$70) is just half the price, the real alternatives are similarly-priced USB mics such as the JBL Quantum Stream and the AKG Ara. 

Unfortunately, they’re pretty stiff competitors. The JBL mic covers a lot of the same ground performance-wise but adds a polar pattern and has an LED that dims or brightens when you adjust the controls. Meanwhile, the AKG Ara is the better sounding mic of the bunch, even if it’s a bit more traditional in its presentation and controls. On top of that, the Bumblebee II isn’t available in Australia.

That said, it’s still competent enough that if it’s your only option. If there’s a deal to be had, it’s worth it for novice streamers.

• Value: 3.5 / 5

Neat Bumblebee II: Design

• One control dial to rule them all
• Hard to tell setting levels
• Yolk-mounted stand is mountable

Though I don’t find the Neat Bumblebee II to be particularly striking, looks-wise, it’s still somewhat sleek in a utilitarian kind of way. This all-black USB mic has a half grill, half aluminum enclosure with just two controls and a logo forming a column down the middle. It’s held in place by a yolk-mounted stand with a U-shaped plastic base. All together, it’s not going to turn any heads. But, for the price, it comes across as well-built and well thought out.

In particular, I appreciate how Neat managed to pack all the necessary controls into just a physical control dial and a mic mute button. That dial can do quite a lot. By pressing on it, you can switch between headphone volume, mic volume, and chat mix, and then turning the dial lets you adjust to the level that you want. When plugged in, an LED ring surrounding this dial lights up and changes color depending on the setting you’re on. 

The only thing that I wish Neat would improve on here is that there’s no way to know your level just by looking at the mic. The JBL Quantum Stream does something very similar control-wise, but it also has an LED indicator ring that dims or brightens as you adjust the settings. On the Bumblebee II, you’ll have to rely on your software to give you that information.

To maintain its minimal look, the ports are hidden on the bottom of the mic body. While that does keep things a little cleaner, there’s not a lot of clearance if you’re using headphones with a large or stiff input jack. This was also a problem when I reviewed the JBL Quantum Stream. The Neat Bumblebee II does make its ports a little more accessible since the mounting thread is not next to the ports, unlike on the JBL.

In fact, if you want to mount the Neat Bumblebee II, you’ll only remove the base to do so. The yolk-mounted stand is permanently attached to the mic body so you won’t be able to use a shock mount. However, it does come with a mount adapter so you’ll be able to use most boom arms or mic stands with it.

• Design: 4 / 5

Neat Bumblebee II: Performance

• Only has one polar pattern
• Sounds good as long as you keep the mic volume low
• Susceptible to bumps and vibrations

Since the Neat Bumblebee II is a plug-n-play affair, getting started is straightforward. There’s no app for fine-tuning as you might find with some other mics. However, since there’s only one polar pattern, it’s not really necessary. The only difficult part of using this mic is knowing your levels, particularly that chat mix.

In terms of audio quality, the Bumblebee II is a somewhat mixed bag. Yes, it can reach a bit and sample rate of 24 bit/96 kHz, but I find this mic only appropriate for certain situations. The mic has a lot of gain on tap, so I have to turn it down to about 30% to avoid voice distortion. That’s especially true as I get closer to it as it’s very susceptible to proximity effect. Because of that, I wouldn’t recommend using it for recording instruments outside of just sketching some ideas for later use. Since it only has the one polar pattern, it’s not ideal for podcasting, either.

The good news is that I didn’t find it too noisy. While cheaper mics may come with similar features, they can have a high noise floor whereas the Neat Bumblebee II isn’t too bad. There’s no background noise rejection or any processing to minimize background sounds, but the mic itself operates quietly enough that using it is not an issue unless you’re in a noisy environment.

The Neat Bumblebee II unfortunately does too good of a job picking up vibrations and bumps, whether it’s on the desk or the stand. The capsule is supposedly internally shock-mounted while the mic body is yolk-mounted; yet neither does much to minimize those sounds. If you move around a lot while streaming, I would suggest investing in a boom arm to use with it.

• Performance: 3 / 5

Should I buy the Neat Bumblebee II?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

If our Neat Bumblebee II review has you considering other options, here are two more to consider...  

Neat Bumblebee II: Report card

• First reviewed February 2023

How I tested the Neat Bumblebee II

I started my testing of the Neat Bumblebee II by checking out the controls to see how easy or difficult it is to navigate through the different settings. I then recorded myself on each side of the mic from various distances and at various volumes so I could hear what the end product was. Finally, I recorded myself tapping on the desk, mic stand, and mic itself to see how it registered vibrations and bumps against the desk.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

Razer Leviathan V2 Pro: One-minute review

Not that there's a lot riding on the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro. But with blow-you-away computer speakers like the SteelSeries Arena 9, whose true 5.1 system may have changed the way we consume media and play games on our computers, the pressure is certainly on. Especially because Razer is also going for that immersive 5.1 experience — only it’s attempting to do so with just a soundbar and a sub. 

Is it fair to compare it to SteelSeries' 2022 release? Well, yeah. In a lot of ways, Razer is making the argument here that you can experience that same level of immersion without taking up a whole lot of space. With the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro, it's telling gamers that they don't need the hassle of setting up two front and two rear speakers plus a sub to feel like they're in the middle of the action. All they need is this soundbar-and-sub combo, and it's much easier to set up. And to do that, they need a compelling product. 

So, how does the Leviathan V2 Pro fare? Don't get me wrong; I absolutely love the SteelSeries Arena 9. But, for someone who uses a lot of peripherals and doesn’t really have enough space to accommodate them all, I do think that Razer’s offering makes a pretty compelling case.

Razer Leviathan V2 Pro: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? ‎$399.99 / £399.99 (about AU$600)
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and Australia

The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro might not seem like an affordable proposition. Who wants to spend $399.99 / £399.99 (about AU$600) on a computer speaker set? But, for what you’re getting, I’m actually surprised that it doesn’t cost more. After all, the SteelSeries Arena 9 comes with a $549 / €599 / AU$599 price tag. Even Razer’s own Nommo Pro, which is just a 2.1 system, is pricier at $599.99 / £529.99 / AU$999.95.

That’s without factoring in what you’re getting, which is a fairly space-saving audio solution that delivers a great immersive sound and a whole lot of rumble — just the ticket for your gaming and movie watching needs.

• Value: 4 / 5

Razer Leviathan V2 Pro: Design and features

• Soundbar is fairly compact
• Nice, accessible controls and RGB lighting
• Versatile with both USB and Bluetooth

While I prefer the more offbeat designs over traditional ones, I also thought the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro a thing of beauty when I took it out of the box. The grille on the soundbar looks premium, the controls are gloriously accessible and straightforward, and while the subwoofer is on the bigger end, the soundbar itself is fairly compact. Plus, the RGB lighting is a nice little extra.

I also love the fact that there’s a decent amount of clearance underneath, thanks to its longer feet. That space underneath allowed me to slide the soundbar over my monitor’s base, saving me even more desk space. As someone who has way too many devices and peripherals on her desk — and I currently have a pretty spacious desk — having the soundbar fit neatly over my monitor’s base while still sitting in front of the panel is extremely satisfying.

Of course, the sub, being fairly sizable, does take up a bit of space underneath. But, considering it’s out of the way and doesn’t have to be situated directly in front of me, its size is really a non-issue.

Back to the soundbar, there are four buttons on top flanking the power button-cum-volume dial on either side. There’s the EQ preset button, 3D button that lets you change audio modes, input button, and the RGB on/off button.

In front of these are 10 LED indicator lights, five on each side of the infrared camera that sit right in the middle where they’re best positioned to track your head and make sure you’re experiencing consistent audio (more on that later).

These LED indicator lights are pretty good at keeping you apprised of which setting you're adjusting and at what level that setting is. When you’re pressing the EQ preset button, for example, which allows you to cycle through the five EQ presets, each light essentially represents each preset.

You can’t really see the drivers behind the grill on the soundbar, but Razer says that there are five 2-inch full-range drivers in there and (sadly) no tweeters. Meanwhile, the subwoofer has a 5.25-inch downward firing one.

The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro does have software support, offering decent customizability via the Razer Synapse and Razer Chroma apps. The Razer Synapse app is, of course, the most important one here, offering users a 10-band EQ for fine-tuning the audio, choosing between the different audio modes, and quickly making RGB lighting adjustments.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Razer Leviathan V2 Pro: Performance

• Power sub that deliver a lot of rumble
• Very full mid range, high end a little lacking
• Great sound imaging, wide soundstage

There are a couple of things that I do wish the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro would be better at. For example, the absence of tweeters on the soundbar means that the high end is a little lacking. That’s apparent when I’m playing Kena: Bridge of Spirits, which has a lot of sparkly audio effects like the sounds of chimes, for example. The game still sounds  good, but it also sounds a little dull due to the lack of high end.

I have also found it to be very mid-forward, and there are instances where it sounds a little muddy because of it. When I’m watching Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, for example, the mid range sounded nicely full. However, when I put Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the dialogue in the movie sounds a little muddy due to the mids being almost too full.

Those are the “bad” bits, which aren’t really deal-breakers. I have found that I’m not overly bothered by the lack of high end when I’m watching blockbusters. And being mid-forward isn’t necessarily always a bad thing.

Plus, the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro makes up for those with its bass performance, great sound imaging, and wide soundstage. Even on Stereo mode with a flat EQ, the sub at 3 out of 7, and the volume set to 50, I have found that the sound imaging in both the Glass Onion and Wakanda Forever is pretty good and the soundstage is wider than the soundbar (extending to about five to six inches further on each side of it).

Turn that sub up to 5, and the sub delivers a massive uptick in bass and rumble in Glass Onion. That isn’t the case in Wakanda Forever — I’ve found that jumping from 3 to 5 only delivers a slight uptick in sub bass, but I suspect that’s only because there’s already a lot of bass in the movie at 3 so going to 5 doesn’t make a massive difference.

The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro also has a lot of volume on tap — enough, I think, for a small home theater setup. So, use that volume dial with caution.

Two of the four audio modes on hand are excellent. I like Stereo, of course, but the Virtual Speakers mode, which according to Razer beams audio “to seven virtual speakers to deliver a wide soundstage that is always centered around you” and is best for multi-channel sound, is great as well. You’re betting bigger bass, crisp audio, clearer dialogue, and a wide soundstage.

The Virtual Headset mode is impressive in its own right. Described by Razer as audio that “is beamed directly to your ears in an immersive soundstage to deliver an immersive soundscape with pinpoint positional audio traditionally found in headsets,” it‘s a little less detailed. However, it sounds a little wider, the audio extending about eight inches further on each side of the soundbar, and its sound imaging is very accurate.

My head doesn’t have to be completely centered to get the full experience, either. When I sit in front of the soundbar and move from side to side, I always feel like I’m centered in the soundstage, which is pretty impressive.

That’s thanks to its built-in infrared camera that boasts AI tracking, which intelligently detects where you are in relation to the soundbar. It then uses beamforming technology to adjust the audio so that you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action, even if you’re off a little to one side. It does such a good job of it too that I don’t even hear the audio adjusting.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

If our Razer Leviathan V2 Pro review has you considering other options, here are two more computer speakers to consider...  

Razer Leviathan V2 Pro: Report card

• First reviewed January 2023

How I tested the Edifier G2000

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

Edifier G2000: One-minute review

The Edifier G2000 proves one thing, at the very least: that those PC-setup Instagrammers do have taste. Of course, it’s kind of hard to put your faith in folks who make a living promoting products. After all, they’re going to say good things about them since they’re being paid to do so. But, if you aren’t going to take their word for it, at least take Edifier’s. Hasn’t the audio brand already proven its prowess in making affordable yet great-sounding audio devices?

I have tested more than my share of Edifier products over the years, and rarely have they disappointed me. Although I must admit, I was curious about these mini-yet-mighty computer speakers more because of how they looked than their audio performance. Can you blame me? I mean, look at them! Plus, I love that they come in pink – and no, that’s not just because I’m a woman, you gender norm-endorsing philistines.

So, admittedly, I was mildly surprised at the quality of audio that blasts out of these things. Considering their size and price, it’s actually impressive that they're able to deliver a full sound with fairly-balanced mids, a clear high end, and a decent low end. That’s on top of the connectivity options they offer, a sub out port so you can hook them up to a sub for that missing deep rumble, and customizable LED lighting.

They’re not going to rival the likes of the SteelSeries Arena 9 or the upcoming Razer Leviathan V2 Pro, clearly. But, if you want a pair of affordable speakers with a great audio performance and an appealing design, they’re an absolute ace.

Edifier G2000: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? ‎$109.99 / £89.99 / AU$119
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and Australia

One of the cheapest computer speakers I’ve tested, the Edifier G2000 will set you back $109.99 / £89.99 / AU$119. Some might say that they could be a little cheaper, but considering the sound performance, multi-connectivity options, and design, I actually think that’s terrific value. Besides, anything you’ll find under $100 / £100 will likely be a disappointment in sound quality.

Although, to be fair, the Creative Pebble Plus 2.1 has proven to be quite an adversary with its sub-$75 / £75 price tag and a subwoofer included in that price. The Logitech Z407 also offers a bit more value, sitting at the same price point and also coming with a sub. Then again, the Edifier G2000 is superior, design-wise. So, it really boils down to your preference.

• Value: 4 / 5

Edifier G2000: Design

• Compact, hexagonal form factor in different colors
• 12 light effects
• Bass port in the back of each satellite

There are likely a lot of people out there who, just like me, would want the Edifier G2000 solely for their looks. Besides their compact and space-saving form factor of about four inches wide and five inches tall, these computer speakers are hexagonal in shape and tapered towards the back, giving them a unique and attractive look. They also come in several colors, including pink and red.

Adding to their design are three customizable lighting areas on each satellite – two on either side towards the rear and a larger one in the back. By customizable, I just mean you can cycle through 12 lighting effects using the LED light effects switch you’ll find on the side of the right satellite. While you can’t actually personalize them, the lighting on these speakers still adds to your immersion, whether you’re playing a game or watching a movie. That’s especially true if you're an RGB enthusiast.

Speaking of switches, there are two multi-use buttons and a volume lever situated on the side of the right satellite. The top button is both the power button and the input mode switch, while the bottom button functions as both the LED light effect switch and the sound effect modes switch. In the rear of this same satellite you’ll find the ports: there’s a USB port, an aux in, and a sub out port.

Finally, there’s a bass port in the back of each satellite. This bass port is small, naturally, about half an inch in diameter, but it does help boost the bass, which I’ll discuss in detail below.

• Design: 5 / 5

Edifier G2000: Performance

• Full sound for its size
• Fairly-balanced mids, clear high-end
• Sound imaging could be better

The Edifier G2000 PC speakers have a surprisingly full sound for small stereo speakers with 2.75-inch drivers. There’s no sub-bass, of course, but there seems to be a boost in upper low-end, allowing them to sound like there’s more low-end than there actually is. This is most apparent when listening to hip hop or watching a blockbuster where there’s supposed to be some low-end rumble. You do miss that deep low-end, but there’s enough bass to keep the audio sound fuller, thanks in part to the bass port in the back of each satellite.

The mids on the Edifier G2000 are fairly balanced but not rich-sounding. Considering the size of these speakers, that’s probably for the best. Because they’re tiny and don’t have separate tweeters, the mids would likely drown everything else out if they were really mid-heavy. Besides, small speakers don’t typically have a lot of mids, so it’s already mildly impressive that these have enough of it.

Meanwhile, the high-end doesn’t sound veiled or muffled and is clear enough to satisfy most listeners, even if it’s not exactly audiophile-level detail. Considering the price of these speakers, that’s actually pretty good.

Finally, the soundstage. As long as you place the Edifier G2000 so that each speaker is angled towards each ear, the soundstage should feel wide enough. When it comes to actual sound imaging, they’re fine but not super precise. When watching Zack Snyder's Justice League, which obviously has a lot of action, it was hard for me to pinpoint where everything was. Most of the sound seemed to just sit in the middle.

• Performance: 3.8 / 5

Should I buy the Edifier G2000?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

If our Edifier G2000 review has you considering other options, here are two more computer speakers to consider...  

Edifier G2000: Report card

• First reviewed January 2023

How I tested the Edifier G2000

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

JBL Quantum Stream: One-minute review

The JBL Quantum Stream is a strong first effort from a company that may be new to the peripherals game but has been an established name in audio for a long time. In fact, the brand has been doing a great job with its initial batch of computer and gaming peripherals. The JBL Quantum 810, for instance, may not top the list but is a contender for one of the best gaming headsets. Likewise, the Quantum Stream won’t dethrone any of the best USB mics but is a worthy consideration for most people in the market for a USB mic.

If you’re on the prowl for your first one, therefore, you should take a close look at the JBL Quantum Stream. It sounds good, has plenty of features, and, most importantly, is a breeze to set up and use. That ease of use is really what sets it apart from a lot of the competition. Depending on your setup and experience (or lack thereof) though, it might be a better option than much of the competition.

JBL Quantum Stream: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $99.95 / £99.99 / AU$119
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and Australia

The JBL Quantum Stream goes for a very reasonable $99.95 / £99.99 / AU$119. That price tag puts this USB mic squarely in the middle of the pack whether you’re getting it in the US, UK, or Australia. You can find cheaper options such as the JLab Go Talk with its bargain basement price of $49 / £49 (about AU$70) or splurge on a mic like the Razer Seiren Elite which will set you back $200 / £200 (about AU$285). 

But, the Quantum Stream strikes a nice balance between price and functionality, making it an ideal option for those with limited funds on the hunt for a functional, versatile and solid-sounding mic.

• Value: 4.5 / 5

JBL Quantum Stream: Design

• Simple design that hides a lot of functionality
• Ports are awkwardly placed

One of the things that I like most about the JBL Quantum Stream is how streamlined its design is. At first glance, it’s as simple as it gets. It comes in a matte black finish with an aluminum grille covering the mic capsule and a hard, sturdy plastic shell. 

It’s only adorned with a silver JBL logo, an articulated dial on the front, and a mic mute button on top. The stand is also deceptively simple with its hard-plastic stem and aluminum base. 

There’s more going on here, however. There may only be one dial, but it’s a multi-function one that can be used to adjust the headphone volume, mic volume, and switch polar pattern. 

More surprises await underneath as well. An RGB ring fringes the mic’s bottom edge, changing in color and intensity depending on the setting you’re adjusting. For example, when muted, it’s red. When you press on the dial, it turns purple to indicate that you’re adjusting the mic volume. It also gets dimmer or brighter depending on whether you’re turning it up or down.

The USB-C port and headphone jack are also underneath for a more minimalist look. Of course, they’re a bit hard to get to as there are only a couple of inches of clearance between them and the base of the mic. When plugging a pair of headphones in with a thick cord, I am barely able to get it to fit. It gets worse if you’re using a different stand that’s wider at the mount as that will make the USB-C port particularly inaccessible.

As the stand has a built-in ball joint, it can articulate in any direction by about 30 degrees. However, if you prefer to use an external boom arm, you can either unscrew the base (if you want to keep that ball joint, for instance) or remove the whole stand entirely and mount it on an external stand.

• Design: 4 / 5

JBL Quantum Stream: Performance

• Sound quality is good with plenty of low-end
• Controls and app are easy to use

The JBL Quantum Stream delivers where it matters. Thanks to its full 20-20kHz range, my voice comes across clear and full while retaining plenty of low-end. If I get very close to it, the proximity effect is very pronounced. But, that evens out when I back off a few feet.

There’s less proximity effect with the omnidirectional mode but a lot more background noise. This is typical for omnidirectional polar patterns, especially with USB mics so you’ll want to use it in a quieter recording space. Though there’s not much in the way of background noise rejection, the omnidirectional polar pattern at least records evenly on all sides of the mic, making it foolproof for those just starting to stream or record podcasts.

The mic does tend to pick up some vibrations. It registers every tap I make on the table, its stand, or the mic body. The audio it picked up wasn’t that loud, and I’ve certainly heard far worse. However, I would still consider investing in and using a boom arm or shock mount, especially if you have a tendency to get animated while streaming.

Not only are almost all the controls easily accessible via the multi-function dial, but you can finetune all the settings through the JBL QuantumEngine app. And, while it’s only available for PC, it makes adjusting levels and fine-tuning the lighting a breeze (something you can’t do with just the dial). The app also has a 5-band EQ as well as five different presets to choose from so that I can adjust how I sound when using it live.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the JBL Quantum Stream?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

JBL Quantum Stream: Report card

• First reviewed January 2023

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

House of Marley Get Together Duo: One-minute review

The House of Marley Get Together Duo were created by someone either experiencing an identity crisis or someone that was overly ambitious. There has probably never been an audio product that’s left us with more mixed feelings than these speakers. It’s not all bad but it’s not all good either as the Duo exemplify the saying “a jack-of-all-trades is a master of none.”

Of course, if you prefer the original full saying “a jack-of-all-trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one,” you’ll appreciate the versatility of the House of Marley Get Together Duo. After all, they function as computer speakers, bookshelf speakers that can pair via Bluetooth with a certain House of Marley turntable that we didn’t review here, or be used as a portable speaker (though that’s really only true for one of the two units).

While we weren’t necessarily wowed by the House of Marley Get Together Duo, you shouldn’t necessarily write them off. After checking out the rest of this review, you might find that they’re actually perfect for you and the things that bothered us may not be an issue for you.

House of Marley Get Together Duo: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $169.99 / £179.99 / AU$299
• Where is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and Australia

At $169.99 / £179.99 / AU$299, the House of Marley Get Together Duo are not quite in the budget range but certainly affordable. Of course, you must consider what you want to use them for when considering how much value they offer.

If you only plan on using them for your computer and don’t plan on taking advantage of the portable speaker functionality, something like the Logitech Z407 might be a better choice. It will set you back less as it’s only $119.99 (£119.99 / AU$249.95), also comes with Bluetooth functionality, and sounds a little less muddy. There are other speakers as well, such as some of Edifier’s offerings that are much slimmer in features but sound solid and cost less than these House of Marley speakers.

Strangely enough, if you do plan on taking advantage of that portable speaker, then you would end up spending a similar amount for an alternative with the same battery life, such as the JBL Charge 5, which costs $179 (£159 / AU$229). So, for just a little less, the House of Marley Get Together Duo provide an extra speaker and plenty more functionality, though the JBL Charge 5 does have a more balanced sound.

• Value: 4 / 5

House of Marley Get Together Duo: Design

• Striking eco-friendly look and materials
• Controls can be a pain when setting up an analog connection
• Bluetooth has too much latency to use with video or games

With dimensions of 7.9 x 4.1 x 5.1 inches, the House of Marley Get Together Duo are smaller than the average bookshelf speaker but bigger than many computer speakers. So, they don’t take up too much desk space while still providing a little more oomph and low-end (more on that later).

Aesthetically, they have a more organic look than most computer speakers, reflecting their eco-friendly approach. Most of the materials used here are of the sustainable variety. The front and back of the units are covered in bamboo while the top, bottom and sides are covered in a fabric made from recyclable materials. Even the packaging is fully recyclable.

While we’re not quite sure why the sides are covered in fabric instead of bamboo, it does make for a striking wood-on-black colorway (unless you have a cat. The fabric does attract pet hair quite easily). To add to the look, there are silicon buttons (made of upcycled materials) on top of each speaker in white.

Speaking of, the buttons don’t take too much pressure to push and are pretty responsive in use. Both speakers have the same array of buttons: volume up, volume down, Bluetooth, and Power. There are also two LED lights in line with the buttons. 

However, navigating them for certain functionalities can be a pain. For example, if you want to use the speakers in stereo with an RCA connection, you have to turn on the left speaker using a long press of the power button. Then, you have to short-press twice on the same power button to select the RCA input. Only then, can you power up the right speaker? Once that’s on, you have to long-press the Bluetooth button on the left speaker for the two speakers to pair together. 

Quite a pain just to use an analog connection, which we needed to do when using these as computer speakers. Why was that necessary? The House of Marley Get Together Duo has three different types of connectivity: Bluetooth, RCA, and Aux in (3.5mm). Though Bluetooth is the most convenient, it suffers from latency noticeable enough that we couldn’t use it for video, which is strange as it’s supposed to be Bluetooth 5.0.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

House of Marley Get Together Duo: Performance

• Plenty loud
• Somewhat muddy sounding

Unless you’re trying to power a house party, there’s more than enough volume on tap with the House of Marley Get Together Duo. It gets plenty loud. So, whether you’re using it for a computer setup, a small get-together, or even in a listening room paired with the House of Marley’s Stir It Up turntable, you won’t be wanting for volume.

Where you may be a little disappointed is in these speakers’ sound quality. We definitely had higher expectations. It’s hard to say that they just sound bad. But, they have a very colored sound quality that has an outsized low-end (though not a lot of sub-bass extension as there’s no subwoofer). Frequencies sitting between the low and mid-range in particular are very pronounced, almost overwhelming the rest of the frequency range, to the point where we can hear a frequency somewhere in there resonating inside the speaker cabinets. 

The rest of the mid-range is similarly a little too full sounding while the high-end is barely there. We don’t find the high-end to sound veiled or muffled but it is a bit weak. In essence, the sound quality is somewhat muddy and seems to be the kind of frequency range someone who wanted to listen to house music would design (though probably with more high-end).

While we’re not blown away by the Get Together Duo’s sound quality, their ability to function as a portable speaker is a nice addition that somewhat makes up for the lackluster, though not terrible, sound. Yes, you can only use the right speaker as a portable speaker but it offers 20 hours of use before needing to charge which is more than most portable speakers. And, since it is a bit bigger than most portable units, it offers more volume.

• Performance: 3 / 5

Should I buy the House of Marley Get Together Duo?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

House of Marley Get Together Duo: Report card

• First reviewed January 2022

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

HyperX SoloCast: One-minute review

The HyperX SoloCast is the mic we expect to get at its price point. It’s a little light on features, as with most peripherals that save you some money, and its sound pickup isn’t perfect. For example, while HyperX markets it as a cardioid mic – i.e., one that's most sensitive to sound coming from the direction in which it's pointed – it picks up sound from both in front and behind, which could either be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on your recording needs.

However, it delivers where it matters at this price: picking up sound clearly and cleanly. It also offers decent background noise rejection, a compact design that makes it travel-friendly, and an articulating stand that turns 90 degrees to the left and 90 degrees to the right, and flips about 140 degrees back.

The SoloCast has aged well: although it's now more than two years old, it’s still one of the best USB mics to consider if you’re seeking something affordable. 

HyperX SoloCast: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $69.99 / £64.99 / AU$109
• Where can you get it? Available now in the US, UK and Australia

The HyperX SoloCast has a list price of $69.99 / £64.99 / AU$109, putting it somewhere in the low-to-mid-price range. However, because it was released in late 2020 it's possible to pick it up for less – at the time of writing, for example, you can find it for $39.99 in the US and £49 in the UK.

There are other options, however, if you’re looking for something around the same price or even cheaper. The well regarded Samson Meteorite is currently priced as low as $29.99 in the US and AU$50 in Australia (it's a similar price to the SoloCast in the UK), while the Jlab Go Talk, which we're in the process of reviewing, is $39 in the US and £50 in the UK.

• Value: 4 / 5

HyperX SoloCast: Design and features

• Tricky setup
• One-button control
• Articulating stand that turns 90 degrees to the left/right

The HyperX SoloCast is a plug-and-play mic, which means it should be relatively easy for a novice to use. However, our test unit proved to be a little tricky to set up. The first time we plugged it into our laptop and used it with GarageBand, it was clearly picking up audio, but there was no output. We had to close the software and open it back up for the mic to start working. 

While it wasn't clear if the issue was with the mic or the software, we tested other USB mics at the same time with the same software, and we didn’t have that problem. Once we got the SoloCast working, however, we didn’t encounter any further problems.

At 6.85 x 3.82 x 3.07 inches (17.4 x 9.7 x 7.8cm), the HyperX SoloCast is a compact mic, which makes it very travel-friendly. Of course, a design this small also has its downsides, and the physical controls are limited to just one: a tap-to-mute button at the top of the mic. When this is pressed, the light above the HyperX logo on the front of the mic blinks slowly.

The mic comes with an articulating stand, which rotates 90 degrees to the left and right and tilts back about 140 degrees. That should give you enough angles for basic recording, but if you’re looking to mount it higher or in a different orientation, the stand is removable, and the mic itself has two different female threads (3/8-inch and 5/8-inch) so you can mount it on a more versatile stand or boom arm.

While the mic has a USB-C port, the included cable still needs a USB 2.0 port, which might discourage some Ultrabook users.

• Design: 4 / 5

HyperX SoloCast: Performance

• Cardioid mic but bi-directional pick-up
• Clear and clean sound
• Picks up vibrations pretty easily

As with all mics, you'll experience the proximity effect when recording too close to the HyperX SoloCast. However, during testing, we found that a foot is the ideal distance for it to pick up your voice clearly while minimizing the variation. So, you don’t need a lot of space to be using this USB mic.

It's being marketed as a cardioid mic, which means it should pick up sound mostly from the direction in which it's facing. But, for better or worse, our experience with it has been different – it picks up sound both from in front and from behind, making it more bi-directional in practice. The sound it picks up from behind, in fact, is just as loud as the sound it picks up from in front, albeit more muffled.

If you absolutely need a cardioid mic, you might be turned off by that. However, if you’re not very picky, or if you need something for your podcast or your streaming videos in which you’re chatting with another speaker, this might actually be a good thing.

Though it is on the cheaper end, the HyperX SoloCast offers high-res 24-bit recording, and picks up sound clearly and cleanly – especially, as mentioned, from in front. And, that’s really all that matters if you’re looking for something to meet your basic recording needs. What’s more, it also has decent background noise rejection. We had our old, pretty loud AC unit running during testing, and while it did pick up its humming, the sound wasn’t prominent enough to distract you from the important content.

Perhaps the biggest downside here is that it picks up vibrations pretty easily when on its included stand. Even light tapping on the desk it’s on will ruin your otherwise clean audio, so we would mount this on a proper stand for better results.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Should I buy the HyperX SoloCast?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

HyperX SoloCast: Report card

• First reviewed January 2023

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

Vigilant Audio SwitchOne: One-minute review

The Vigilant Audio SwitchOne are a set of active computer speakers that function both as studio monitors and bookshelf speakers. And, though that sounds like a case of identity whiplash, it mostly works. Smaller than many studio monitors and bookshelf speakers, active or passive, these are powerful with a frequency range that will meet most people’s needs. And, though there’s some nuance to that, especially if you’re looking for studio monitors, the price is worth it.

Vigilant Audio may only have these speakers in its lineup (you’ll also see a condenser mic, headphone clip and a hoodie on their site) but it’s already a strong contender for those who are tired of using headphones or PC gaming headsets and are looking for computer speakers to upgrade their sound. As with most things in the real world, the SwitchOne aren’t perfect. So, read on to see if the pros outweigh the cons for you as they do for us.

Vigilant Audio SwitchOne: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $249 (£255 / AU$471) 
• Where is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and Australia

At $249 (£255 / AU$471), the Vigilant Audio SwitchOne is certainly not cheap. Depending on what you’re comparing it to, you can certainly spend much less for decent speakers. The Logitech Z407 speakers, for example, are half the price and come with a subwoofer and a control dial. That said, you’re paying for a more detailed, richer sound with the Vigilant Audio SwitchOne.

A better comparison might be the similarly-priced Fluance Ai41, which provide just as good of a sound quality with a deeper, richer bass. Of course, they’re much bigger and don’t let you change the sound signature with a quick flip of a switch so it’s just a matter of your own priorities to decide which one is better if you’re willing to drop $250 / £250 on a set of speakers.

If you want to talk studio monitors, something that we’ll touch on without going too in depth here, that price tag is actually pretty good. The size of these speakers might make most audio engineers scoff but the price on most decent studio monitors are out of reach for most people working on music at home. In that regard, the Vigilant Audio SwitchOne are a great value, especially since they do well as both general computer speakers and studio monitors.

• Value: 4.5 / 5

Vigilant Audio SwitchOne: Design

• Don’t take up too much space
• Lots of connectivity but no USB

At 7.1 x 4.3 x 7.1 inches, the Vigilant Audio SwitchOne are fairly diminutive when compared to other bookshelf-style speakers. While you’ll find some other computer-specific speakers to be smaller and lighter than the 6.6-lb SwitchOne, they’re small enough to fit into most desk setups.

The design itself is pretty straightforward. As mentioned before, these are the same form factor as other bookshelf speakers coming with ¾-inch silk domed tweeters and four-inch woofers in all-black enclosures. If anything sets it apart visually, it would be the passive radiators that adorn each side of the speaker cabinets to give them a little more low-end oomph and overall volume.

On the front of the left speaker, you’ll find an Aux input (3.5mm) and headphone out as well as a volume wheel. Though minor, we do appreciate the fact that there’s a little click when the volume wheel is perfectly centered, meaning the volume is at 50%. The wheel turns smoothly otherwise.

On the back of the left speaker again, where the built-in amp is, you’ll find all the other inputs. There are TRS Stereo balanced inputs for music production setups, RCA inputs for an analog connection, as well as a Bluetooth pairing button. The on/off switch is back here as well as the Studio to HiFi switch which gives these speakers their name. Essentially, by toggling this switch, or as Vigilant Audio calls it: “The Switch,” you can go between a more consumer-friendly sound (HiFi) and one more suited for music production (Studio).

The only thing that’s really missing to make these the perfect companion to a computer setup is USB connectivity. Though Bluetooth allows you to connect to just about any modern device, whether your smartphone, Mac or PC, Bluetooth still introduces a tiny bit of lag. So, having a physical digital connection is preferred when connecting a computer when you want excellent sound without lag such as playing games and recording music. Luckily, these speakers still sound great with an analog connection.

• Design: 4 / 5

Vigilant Audio SwitchOne: Performance

• Sounds great and has a lot of volume
• Switching sound profiles is subtle

When it comes to any set of speakers, no matter their purpose, the sound quality is top priority. It doesn’t matter what features are available if the speakers don’t sound good. Luckily, the Vigilant Audio SwitchOne deliver impressive results. Not only is there plenty of volume on tap but the audio is clear and present even when turned up. We were hard pressed to distort these with regular use.

The sound quality itself is pleasant with a “Smile” type frequency range when toggled to the “HiFi” setting. This means that the bass is a bit louder and thumps a bit more, though you’re never going to get really low sub-bass with these, and the high end is slightly boosted. When switched to the “Studio” setting, the sound is supposed to flatten for a more neutral frequency response. And, while it’s noticeable, it’s also subtle. 

Our experience when toggling to “Studio” mode is that the speaker seems to boost the high-mids to match that low and high-end, giving what we listen to more presence. Overall, we somewhat prefer the “Studio” setting and even used it for some music production of our own. While it is more even-sounding than the “HiFi” setting, we wouldn’t consider it neutral as that mid-high lift makes it pop a little more. 

Of course, if you’re thinking in terms of studio monitors, that’s not necessarily good but you’ll have to pay much more for accurate monitors. All in all, they do the job pretty well. Just be aware of their overall sound; otherwise, the music you make might end up sounding a bit dull.

Since there is more than one way to connect, we made sure to also test Bluetooth audio. Pairing is easy. All we have to do is hold down the pairing button on the back for a short while and pull up the Bluetooth settings on our device to pair. And, the audio quality is surprisingly unchanged from a regular analog connection. Of course, there’s a little bit of lag so that Bluetooth connectivity is best used for listening to music.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Vigilant Audio SwitchOne?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Vigilant Audio SwitchOne: Report card

• First reviewed November 2022

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

PC sound specialist Creative has taken the wraps off its new Creative Pebble Pro computer speakers – a souped-up version of its popular orb-like stereo Pebble desktop system.

Coming mere months after the brand released the budget, yet impressive, Pebble Plus, the Pebble Pro boast all-new full-range drivers, the latest-gen Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and include a digital, rather than analog amplifier stage with built-in sound processing.

Creative claims the new setup allows for more audio headroom, which makes for louder, clearer sound across all volume ranges, along with up to 3.5 times more bass over Pebble V3.

Along with the audio enhancements, the Pebble Pro also feature a new RGB lighting feature at the bottom of each speaker, offering a wide selection of colors along with three lighting effects (Cycle, Pulsate or Solo). Clearly the company is hoping that these will be an entry in the list of the best computer speakers that will entice gamers, and their irrepressible love for RGB.

As with the Pebble Plus, the Pebble Pro’s feature a slightly slanted speaker design for a more directed soundwave angled towards a seated listener’s ears – they're smaller than most of the best stereo speakers, so this design aims to add expansiveness and height.

Unlike the Pebble Plus, there’s no option for a separate subwoofer, however Creative appears to think you won’t need one thanks to the Pro’s housing design and their BassFlex tuning technology, which they claim can deliver extended low frequency response and pronounced bass, even when the volume is low.

The built-in audio processing meanwhile includes the Creative’s bespoke Clear Dialog feature, which when engaged picks up spoken word content and boosts it over ambient sound effects.

There’s a pretty comprehensive series of connectivity options, with Bluetooth 5.3 support, a 3.5mm aux-in port, headphone and microphone ports, and a USB-C port for audio streaming and power, along with a dedicated volume dial on the front of the right orb that also doubles up a controller for the RGB lighting.

While the speakers can be powered from your computer via the aforementioned USB-C port, to get the full benefit of the Pebble Pro’s you’ll want to connect them up to a 30-watt adaptor, which allows for a beefy 30W RMS and 60W peak output. Sadly, the adaptor isn’t included in the box and is available as optional extra.

The Creative Pebble Pro are priced at $59.99 / £65.99 (about AU$93), and are available now.

Analysis: New Pro version speakers look an all-round steal

We were bowled over by the “criminally cheap” Creative Pebble Plus 2.1 stereo speakers earlier this year, which have raised our expectations for these latest more premium additions to the series.

There’s a slightly larger asking price for these latest dinky desktop speakers, but the new drivers and audio processing should more than justify the extra outlay, and that’s not without factoring in the moody RGB lighting feature.

We’ve reservations about the venerable, noughties-tinged Creative logo being emblazoned on the front of the otherwise tastefully designed balls of sound, and we’re intrigued to hear how low-end thump they can provide without a sub, but we’ve high hopes for the Pebble Pro’s and can’t wait to put them through their paces.

If you're reading this on your laptop (even one of the best laptops) or tablet, take a quick glance at the little grilles either side of your keyboard – or on the edge of the screen, firing outwards from your handheld device. 

Now, gaze upon the powered speaker pair above, designed specifically for your desktop and each one toting dual four-inch woofers, a one-inch silk dome tweeter, a 5.25-inch passive radiator and 50W of class D amplification, which you're able to toe in (or not – hey, it's your system) to find the ideal listening position. Hardly a contest, is it? 

The product is the Monolith MTM 100 and as well as being a powerful 100W proposition, it's a well-connected one too: pair them to your compact smartphone as well as your computer with Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD, or hardwire them with a pair of RCAs for analog listening, 3.5mm aux-in, or Toslink optical and USB-C to connect digitally utilizing the onboard high performance DAC. 

They also come with a wireless remote and have a connection for a subwoofer too – let's face it, not many of even the best Bluetooth speakers have those… 

Opinion: these desktop speakers are not just for work

Having tested some of the best party speakers on the market, the TechRadar team prides itself on knowing the kind of sound quality (and volume) it takes to get a party going in full swing, and this is it – although there's a headphone jack on the front of one speaker if you're a party of one today. 

To quickly explain what powered speakers are: each of the the products in our best stereo speakers guide can be categorised into three different species – active, powered, and passive. Passive speakers are the traditional driver-filled boxes that require an external pre/power amp combo to produce sound – but they don't have to be traditional-looking, as my favorite mildly terrifying Wilson Audio speakers prove. What happens is that once the signal from the amp reaches these boxes, an internal crossover within the speakers senses and sends the appropriate frequencies to each of the drivers (tweeter, midrange driver, woofer, etc.) 

Active speakers have all of that amplification built in – and crucially, they have one amp unit dedicated for each 'way'. So, a two-way speaker with one tweeter and one mid/bass driver unit has two power amplifier modules, one for each driver (or 'way') fed by an 'active' powered crossover.

Then, powered speakers – which is what we have here (although another good example is the Q Acoustics M20 HD). Here, the amplifier is still built in, but it is usually squirrelled away into one of the boxes and powers all of the drivers within the system, which means one speaker is assigned as the 'master' and one is the 'slave'. 

Powered speakers tend to be a cost-effective option, because you don't have to shell out on extra hi-fi separates (in a passive setup) or extra dedicated amp modules (in active speakers). And even though I have yet to hear them, at just $499.99 (around £440 or AU$795, but we're waiting on official pricing), I think these speakers are worth shouting about. 

See, that's $100 cheaper than the Q Acoustics option above, although it should be noted that you are getting 2 x 65W of power there, which I'd argue is a bit much for the average office setup. 

My advice? If you're an avid gamer, musician, content creator, or just someone who loves powerful audio at their desk and wants a range of connectivity options, an alternative to even one of the best PC gaming headsets or best computer speakers could be revelatory – and the Monoprice Monolith MTM 100 is well worth a look. 

Investing in a speaker setup for your PC was absolutely necessary 20 years ago. But a lot has changed over the years as laptops have become the go-to computer of choice, more monitors come with their own built-in speakers, and headsets have become the de facto audio solution for gamers or those who want more than what a pair of laptop speakers can offer.

But, as far as headsets and headphones have come, and as much as they offer, they still have some limitations compared to a proper speaker setup. So, when it comes to getting the best audio experience out of your computer, there’s definitely a case that can be made for computer speakers. That’s especially true if you do more than just check emails and browse social media.

Get better audio

If you do just use your computer mostly for basic tasks and only watch the odd video on YouTube or Facebook, then computer speakers are not going to add much to your experience. And, if you mostly use your computer while sitting on the couch watching TV, then opt for some headphones when you do need to listen to something.

But, if you ever pull up Netflix, HBOMax, or the streaming flavor of the month, you’ll want to get the full experience. There’s little low end with laptop speakers so you won’t feel any rumble when there’s an explosion on screen. And, most laptops don’t have a lot of volume either. So, if you want to feel more immersed or watch something with a friend, then better speakers are a must.

It should go without saying that the same is true for playing music. You won’t be able to hear all the elements as clearly, you’ll miss that low end and, most importantly, you just can’t turn it up.

Of course, if you own a desktop, whether it’s a gaming PC, a Mac Mini, or a Chromebox, the only way you’ll hear anything is with either speaker or headphones.

Headphones versus speakers 

If you want better audio (or audio at all), you have to choose between headphones, headsets (which are headphones with built-in mics), or speakers. And, each type has its advantages. 

Headphones and headsets take up much less space. And, when you’re done you can put them away or place them on a headphone stand or holder. They’re much more private, too. With the exception of certain, typically more expensive, headphones, you can listen to whatever you want without waking housemates or having someone eavesdrop on whatever counts as your current guilty pleasure. 

Headphones and headsets are also a more intimate listening experience just by design. They sit mere inches away from your eardrums with earcups that often encircle your entire ear, feeding audio directly into the ear while blocking out ambient noise.

But, they’re not always ideal. Often, speakers are the way to go. To start, if you want to watch or listen to something with anyone else, you need something that can project. Not only can speakers do that but if you get powerful enough ones, they can turn that iMac into a temporary home theater.

Speaking of, there’s no better way to really feel that low-end rumble, whether from an explosion in a movie or an 808 kick, than with a subwoofer. Even larger bookshelf speakers can give some surprising low-end response.

Lastly, speakers are less fatiguing to use. Instead of wearing something that’s 300 - 400 grams on your head for however long you want to listen and that’s sealed off your ears and is pumping music directly into your head, you can lean back in your chair without anything constraining your ears and listen freely.

Finding the right speakers

Computer speakers come in a number of shapes and sizes. There are smaller ones that can hide among the detritus of your desk and not call attention to themselves. There are large bookshelf speakers, some of which come with or can be expanded to include a subwoofer. And, then there are a few surround sound systems.

When it comes to a stereo system, we recommend splurging a little and getting something like the Fluance Ai41. Of course, they do take up a decent amount of desk space. But, they offer fantastic audio quality and a few different ways to connect to your computer. And, since they’re active speakers, you don’t need to invest in a whole stereo system like you would with the typical bookshelf speakers you would find in the audio department of a big box store.

If you want a simplified form factor, soundbars require the smallest amount of setup and require a little less desk space than stereo speakers since it’s a single unit that can often be tucked in or placed just in front of your monitor (laptop users will probably want to skip this form factor). The Razer Leviathan V2 is a great example. It not only comes with great sound but has the kind of connectivity you need and is relatively compact, especially considering the amount of volume on tap.

And, while there are only a few surround sound computer speaker systems out there, they offer a real surround sound experience that will make you roll your eyes at all the Spatial Audio features that gaming headsets advertise. The SteelSeries Arena 9 5.1 speaker system gives you just that experience. Even the 2.1 mode, where the rear speakers are silenced, sounds superb. Just make sure to have a place for those rear speakers as you’ll need more than just desk space to get them set up.

Fluance Ai41 Speakers: One-minute review

With a good pair of bookshelf speakers like the Fluance Ai41, you can drift away for hours listening to music. And, with all their connectivity, you can also use them to boost the audio of a TV or computer while watching or playing something. However you use them, they shine brightest when they’re up close and personal.

For other applications, they do well enough. If home theater use is your primary purpose, there are other solutions that might fit better. And, if you‘re in the market for one of the best computer speakers out there, the Fluance Ai41 come very close but are still a port away.

That said, the Fluance Ai41 offer a lot of value thanks to their fantastic audio with an extended low end connectivity. So, read on to see if these active bookshelf speakers are right for you.

Fluance Ai41 Speakers: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $249 (£255, AU$471)
• Where is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and Australia

At $249 (£255 / AU$471), the Fluance Ai41 are firmly in the mid-range. These speakers, which have been around since early summer of 2021, provide a lot of value for the price, even if their features consist mostly of their connectivity options and a remote.

To compare, the Audioengine A2+ go for just a little more but with less power and less bass response. Unlike the Fluance Ai41 however, they come with USB and are therefore slightly more convenient with computer setups. 

Of course, you could go cheaper. For instance, the Edifier R1280dB are almost a hundred dollars less and pack quite a sonic punch, especially for the price. However, they don’t have quite as rich of a sound or as deep of a bass response.

• Value: 4 / 5

Fluance Ai41 Speakers: Design

• Lots of connectivity available
• USB-C or even USB connectivity would have been appreciated

Bookshelf speakers tend to all share the same DNA, at least on the surface. The Fluance Ai41 are no different. They keep that same rectangular shape with a two-way speaker design and, size-wise, sit somewhere in the middle, measuring 10.9 x 6.5 x 7.6 inches. 

However, you’ll find that these will dwarf most computer speakers out there. They house a one-inch silk tweeter and a five-inch glass fiber composite driver, which is not out of the ordinary for bookshelf speakers. But, most computer speakers come with much smaller drivers. 

The aforementioned Audioengine A2+ have 2.75-inch drivers, along with 0.75-inch tweeters, for example. Many of them also only house one driver per speaker such as the popular Logitech Z407. And, though the Ai41 will require more deskspace than most speakers designed for computers, they offer a fuller, deeper sound than their rivals. 

Where the Fluance Ai41 stray from the typical bookshelf speaker design is their lack of speaker grills. While we prefer the look of a speaker without the grill, it does expose the drivers to the elements and potential accidents. At least, the Ai41 come in four colorways including black ash (black cabinet with a black front, natural walnut (walnut stained cab with a black front), white walnut (walnut stained cab with a white front), and lucky bamboo (lighter wood stained cabinet with a white front).

The front right speaker houses the power amp that lets you plug into any source without requiring a receiver. It has a volume dial on its lower right corner that can also be used to switch sources with a quick press or power on by holding it down. There are two additional dials on the back to control treble and bass EQ. 

You’ll also find all the connectivity and connectors for speaker wires here as well as the sub out and a Bluetooth reset button. That sub out crosses over at 80Hz so that when you connect the Ai41s to a subwoofer, you won’t be overwhelmed by too much bass. Both speakers are also ported in the back, helping them get that deep low end.

As far as that connectivity goes, there’s optical audio for use with TVs and higher end desktops, RCA input to be used with turntables or with any other device that has an analog out (you just have to use an RCA to 3.5mm cable), and Bluetooth 5.0 that is very easy to pair. In fact, even though Fluance doesn’t advertise any kind of multi-point connectivity, we are able to pair two devices at once and switch sources just by pausing audio on one and playing on the other. We are able to do it with various combinations of sources, including two Bluetooth devices and an analog plus Bluetooth connection.

The only issue with the Fluance Ai41’s connectivity is that there’s no USB or USB-C. We used these speakers with an Alienware laptop for some testing. And, since that laptop doesn’t have an optical out, our only choice was to use an analog connection or Bluetooth. We are able to test with both, with the Bluetooth sounding slightly better than the analog connection – despite a tiny bit of latency.

Lastly, the Fluance Ai41 speakers come with a remote. Powered by two AAA batteries, the remote lets you choose input sources, volume, adjust treble and bass, and even dim the power LED. And, if you use Bluetooth, there are controls to let you forward, rewind, pause, and play your audio.

• Design: 4 / 5

Fluance Ai41 Speakers: Performance

• Sound quality is fun, slightly bright, but with deep bass
• There are some limitations for non-music applications like TV and gaming

The amount of volume on tap on the Fluance Ai41 is more than enough for a personal stereo or computer setup. You most likely won’t be turning these up all the way if you’re a foot or two away from the speakers. But, it doesn’t quite have enough volume when used with a TV for a truly cinematic experience. You’ll be able to hear everything clearly. It just doesn’t turn up enough to blow you away.

There’s a reason for that though. The fact that the Fluance Ai41 are ported speakers means that you sacrifice some volume for better bass response. And, its bass response does extend pretty low for a 2.0 system. It's not quite wall-shaking, but it's impressive nonetheless considering there’s no subwoofer. When watching Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, for example, you can still clearly hear all the sub-bass frequencies when the rings are being shot at someone, or there’s some kind of energy blast.

The mids are generally well-balanced though there’s a high-mid bump that does seem to make these speakers sound like they’re rich but also bright. And, the high end is crisp and detailed without being fatiguing. They sound good with everything. Just expect the vocals to pop a tiny bit more than you might be used to.

The frequency range is slightly different when connected through the RCA output. And, if you’re using these for a computer setup that doesn’t have an optical audio connection, this is how you’ll most likely be connected to the speakers.

The audio is a little hazier and slightly less defined through this analog connection. That high-mid bump seems to sound a little compressed as well. And, while that more analog sound works well for music, we prefer the cleaner, more detailed sound of the digital connections.

Adjusting the treble and bass controls yields surprisingly subtle changes. The Fluance Ai41 still sounds like itself, just a tad brighter or a tad darker, or with just a little more or a little less bass. 

The soundstage is pretty good. We’re able to easily distinguish between different elements and when they moved from left to right or vice versa. That's when positioned close to the speakers such as in a desk setup. When used in gaming, the soundstage is immersive and the sound imaging is fairly accurate. 

However, when using the Fluance Ai41 with a TV and sitting back on a couch over six feet away, the sound imaging is less precise. So, picking out elements and where they’re supposed to be is a little tougher.

As mentioned, using Bluetooth introduces the smallest amount of latency. It’s small enough that we are able to watch some shows on Hulu without being distracted, but it's still noticeable.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Fluance Ai41 Speakers?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Fluance Ai41 Speakers: Report card

• First reviewed September 2022

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

Editor's Note

• Original review date: August 2022
• Still on sale
• Launch price: $549 / €599 / AU$599
• Official price now: $499 / £470 / AU$230

Update: February 2024. While these computer speakers were first released almost two years ago, they remain some of the best computer speakers you can buy in 2024. This is because there are few PC speaker systems that offer discrete 5.1 surround sound - so if you want immersive audio and aren't impressed with virtual surround offered by some soundbars and headsets, this is still a great choice. You can also get full 5.1 surround sound via a USB connection, which can be a lot more convenient that using older audio connections. The price has also dropped since launch, making these much better value (though still pricey for computer speakers).

The SteelSeries Arena 9 speaker system is an anomaly among computer speakers, though it shouldn’t be. While 5.1 (and the more robust 7.1) speaker systems have been standard in home theaters for a long time now, PC gamers have had a very limited selection of options to pick from. Most computer speakers are typically either a 2.0 or 2.1 system, meaning you get just a left and a right speaker, sometimes with a subwoofer thrown in.

Considering all the gaming headsets out there emulating surround sound to varying degrees of success, it’s surprising that the SteelSeries Arena 9 only has a few surround sound capable rivals among all the computer speakers out there. Of course, just having surround sound isn’t enough. That three-dimensional audio has to sound good as does the stereo performance. And, the speaker system’s utility needs to meet gamers’ needs.

So, how well does it do that? The short answer is pretty close to excellent. The long answer is a bit more nuanced. But, it’s still pretty close to excellent.

SteelSeries Arena 9: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $549 (€599, AU$599)
• When is it available? Available August 23rd
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

When comparing the SteelSeries Arena 9’s price of $549 (599€ / AU$599) to other 5.1 systems, remember that most of them are meant for home theaters. Klipsch has more than a few sets for example that cost about half. But, unlike the Arena 9, they’re generally not powered speakers so you’ll also have to invest in a receiver as well, not to mention find a place to put that receiver in your PC desk setup.

And, when considering other computer speaker systems like the Logitech Z906, which goes for $399 (399€, AU$649), the Arena 9 has a leg up just from being a newer release, having launched in August of 2022. Digital audio inputs for the Z906 are limited to optical audio (no USB), a port that you won’t find on a lot of computers, especially gaming laptops. And, you miss out on features like Bluetooth as well.

•  Value: 4 / 5

SteelSeries Arena 9: Design

• Lots of speakers and lots of connectivity on hand
• RGB lighting is bright but limited

For whatever reason, PC speaker brands like to shape their speakers in a somewhat cylindrical, almost alien egg-type shape. And, the SteelSeries Arena 9 speakers, not including the subwoofer, are no different. All the speakers also come in matte-black hard plastic enclosures, traits they share with just about every other computer speaker.

There are a total of 6 speaker cabinets in the Arena 9 setup. A dual-driver center speaker, as well as two tiltable front speakers, form the main part of your audio experience. A downward-firing subwoofer provides that extended low-end. And, two rear speakers, one for the left and one for the right, turn the system into a surround sound experience. The rear left and right speakers are all wall-mountable as well. Since this is a 5.1 system, make sure you have a place to put those rear speakers. Otherwise, you won't be able to take advantage of that surround sound.

The SteelSeries Arena 9 also comes with a control pod that provides almost all of your interactivity with the speaker system. It has two buttons on its circular OLED display to either go back in a menu or accept an entry (or press enter) as well as an enclosure that also functions as a scroll or volume wheel. It’s through this control pod that you can adjust the volume on-the-fly, choose audio inputs as well as pair Bluetooth devices, play around with EQ, and select some RGB lighting effects.

You do have some  EQ on hand through the control pod but you can only cycle through six different presets. You have the usual options like bass boost, bass cut, or a high-mid boost appropriately called “Excite”, among others. You can customize one custom setting where you can adjust a 10-band EQ. For more EQ fine-tuning, you’ll have to go through the SteelSeries GG Engine and its Sonar add-on (discussed below) which we highly recommend.

When it comes to RGB lighting, the Arena 9 is not going to give you the most nuanced light show. There are only 4 lighting zones in total and those are only individually customizable on certain settings. The front left and right speakers each have RGB trim around their base as well as a large single zone on the upper back part of their enclosures. 

And, while they get plenty bright, you can’t do a deep dive as you would with other gaming peripherals. There are just four lighting settings available: Steady, Breathe, Color Shift, and Visualizer. You can pick up to six colors for the first two settings, adjust the speed for Breathe and Color Shift, and adjust the brightness on all of them. You can individualize colors and even effects a little further through the SteelSeries GG Engine. Though the RGB lighting could be a bit more robust, the Visualizer setting which is essentially reactive lighting is pretty cool.

Lastly, connectivity on the Arena 9 is just about everything a gamer needs. Not only is USB connectivity on hand with an included cable, but also optical audio and optical audio passthrough, Bluetooth, and an Aux 3.5mm input if you need to go analog (or plug in a different source). There’s also a headphone jack on the control pod that lets you switch from speakers to headphones. You can use the control pod’s menu to go between the two without having to unplug anything.

• Design: 4.5 / 5 

SteelSeries Arena 9: Performance

• The sound quality is impressively detailed and fun to listen to
• The app is very customizable and powerful once you've updated it

It doesn’t matter what speakers or headsets can do if they don’t sound good. Luckily, the SteelSeries Arena 9 is not only plenty loud but it has a fun and engaging sound quality. It’s not quite audiophile level as there’s a mid-high boost which makes everything sound more exciting but also a little too rich in that frequency range. To be fair though, it’s mostly noticeable with music. Regarding the rest of the frequency range, the bass is powerful. Since the subwoofer has a physical dial on the back, you can adjust the bass response to your heart’s content. The mids are generally well-balanced outside of that mid-high boost mentioned above. And, the highs are nice and crisp.

While listening to music such as the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s new single provided a robust and powerful sound, it wasn’t until loading Kena: Bridge of Spirits that we realized how detailed the sound quality is. The game has a lot of interesting high-end audio information and the speakers let us hear every chime and twinkling sound as clear and detailed as any time we struck down an enemy.

When considering a 5.1 sound system, the sound stage and the resultant sound imaging have to be on point. And, the Arena 9 does a generally fantastic job of immersing us into whatever media we’re consuming or playing. We were able to get full three-dimensional audio in Cyberpunk 2077, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, and Psychonauts 2 to name a few. Elements were easy to pinpoint whether they were NPCs or environmental elements. However, unlike virtual surround sound, you must be aware of your speaker placement. Going back to Kena: Bridge of Spirits, we were moving the camera in circles while standing in one spot. While doing so, the rush of a waterfall would transition from one speaker to another but disappear for brief moments. Once we adjusted the rear speaker placements (they weren’t pointed directly at our ears), we achieved a seamless speaker-to-speaker transition.

However, we did have one issue with the surround sound aspect of the Arena 9s that was easily fixed with a firmware update. The only way we could achieve audio from all the speakers with anything other than games was to use the "upmix" feature. It's a great sounding feature that sends the audio from the front speakers to the rear for an immersive and overwhelming experience. Unfortunately, it's still a stereo image. To fix the issue, we had to delete and reinstall the SteelSeries GG Engine. 

Why mention this? If you already have SteelSeries products, just be aware that you might have to go through a similar process to get the Arena 9s to show up on your app. Otherwise, you won't be able to get certain media in 5.1 surround sound and you won't be able to use some of the features of the SteelSeries GG Engine and the Sonar Add-on without losing that surround sound functionality.

And, the Sonar Add-on is worth the trouble. It offers a parametric EQ, something that you don't generally find in consumer EQ products and apps. If you're not familiar, parametric EQs are very customizable and therefore very powerful for shaping audio to your taste. With the one in Sonar, you can boost or cut frequencies by up to 12 decibels and at whichever frequencies you want. You can also control  how wide or narrow a boost or cut is via a Q control. There is a “Smart Volume” setting which compresses the audio signal so nothing is too loud or quiet, a great feature when using the speakers late at night.

Even without the Sonar add-on, the SteelSeries GG Engine offers plenty of customizability including a 10 band EQ with presets mirroring the ones available through the control pod, the ability to adjust when the RGB lighting and LED on the control pod turn off, toggle the upmix feature, and even adjust the volume of all the individual speakers.

•  Performance: 4.8 / 5

Should I buy the SteelSeries Arena 9?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

SteelSeries Arena 9: Report card

• First reviewed August 2022

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

When you picture your ideal desktop PC setup, you're probably imagining a high-end system with a powerful, high-res monitor to match. But what about your audio experience? If you spend a lot of time in front of your PC, the best computer speakers can be transformative - no more hours spent wearing a heavy headset, but instead rich, immersive, room-filling sound.

The problem is, there are a ton of options out there to choose from, and digging through specs sheets and pushing pretentious price tags aside isn't always fun. That's exactly why we've put this list together of the best computer speakers we've ever tested - whether you're after a bass-bumping budget setup or something you can customize to your heart's content, we've got you covered.

Our experts at TechRadar have gone hands-on with each of the speakers on this list before recommending them, so you can be sure we're giving our honest opinions from real-world findings.

So let's dive into the best computer speakers you can buy on the market today to help elevate your workspace, gaming station, or whatever you're trying to build around you PC.

The quick list

There are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to the best computer speakers for your setup, so we narrowed down your options. We've tested hundreds of PC speakers over the years and handpicked the best of the best 2025 has to offer.

The best computer speakers 2026

The best computer speakers overall

The Logitech Z407 offers great value in an affordable and appealing package. These minimalist, capsule-shaped speakers deliver great sound quality and a decent amount of volume while offering wireless connectivity, two physical input options, and a versatile design.

For your convenience, it comes with a control puck that connects wirelessly so you can change the volume, dial the bass power up/down, play/pause/stop the current content, and move forward or go back from up to 20 meters away. We found this dial a bit confusing to use at first, but it’s a nifty addition that adds convenience to its use.

That subwoofer is surprisingly powerful for its size as well, producing a good amount of rumble for those intense game and movie moments. If you think that computer speakers are becoming obsolete, these will certainly change your mind.

Read our full Logitech Z407 review

Check out our Logitech promo codes to get the best deal on your next purchase.

• ^ Back to the top

The best budget PC speakers

You don’t need to spend a fortune on a good set of computer speakers. For budget-conscious consumers, Creative’s Pebble Plus is more than good enough for the job, whether you’re a hardcore gamer or a film fanatic. This 2.1 speaker system may not be audiophile quality, but it produces great sound for how much it costs. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find better stereo sound at this price range.

Consisting of two far-field drivers angled at a 45-degrees and a down-firing subwoofer, the Pebble Plus delivers good highs, mids, and lows. Not only that, but we found during our tests that it also does a great job of minimizing distortion at loud volumes, which isn’t something you’ll often find on budget speakers.

There are some compromises here, as is expected on inexpensive peripherals, but none of those are too big to put you off. Hands down, these are the best computer speakers for those on a tight budget.

Read our full Creative Pebble Plus review

• ^ Back to the top

The best computer speakers for surround sound

Nothing can replace the experience of real surround sound. Turning on virtual surround sound for a pair of headphones or a set of speakers only approximates that fully immersive experience. And, there aren’t many computer speaker setups that will give you a true 360-degree audio experience.

Well, Steelseries has fixed that with their flagship speaker system, the Arena 9. Comprised of six separate speakers: two front satellites, a center channel speaker, two rear satellites, and a subwoofer, this 5.1 system will transport you, as it did us, into your favorite games and movies instantly.

We find that games especially come alive with the Arena 9s. Audio elements physically circle us when we move our character’s point of view. And, thanks to that subwoofer, we feel the rumble whenever there’s an explosion. Even when listening in stereo, the audio sounds detailed, clear, and engaging.

So, if you’re considering investing in surround sound, it’s hard to do better than the Arena 9 - just make sure you have the desk space for it.

Read our full SteelSeries Arena 9 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best premium with mind-blowing sub

The long-awaited successor to Razer’s best computer speaker system is here, and it’s even better than its predecessor, which we honestly didn’t think was possible. The Razer Nommo V2 Pro is a much improved system inside and out, with a sleeker design that takes up less space, even though it’s not necessarily what you’d call compact, a now-wireless control puck, and better audio overall.

Its audio performance is where this 2.1 system really shines, giving us crisp and detailed highs as well as full and present mids during testing, and a whole lot of punchy bass and deep rumble that practically shook our reviewer’s apartment building. And while its soundstage proved to be reasonably wide and its sound imaging very good, switching to THX Spatial Audio made our gaming experience all the more immersive while keeping things natural-sounding.

You can’t take home this kind of speaker system without a price, however, and in the Razer Nommo V2 Pro’s case, it’s a pretty steep one. But, if you’re a more discerning listener, you’re getting your money’s worth here – that’s especially compared to true audiophile systems that are much more expensive.

Read our full Razer Nommo V2 Pro review

• ^ Back to the top

The best PC speakers for gamers on a budget

The Steelseries Arena 3 are the company’s entry-level speakers. As such, they’re the most stripped down of the company’s product line. And, while you won’t get the rear satellites of the Arena 9 or the subwoofer of the Arena 7, you’re still getting quality sound, an immersive soundstage, and entry into Steelseries’ new audio suite.

Listening to these speakers, we found them to have a solid mid-range and a wide soundstage. Of course, the bass doesn’t go too deep as these are on the smaller side and the high end is slightly veiled.

However, we found that we could play around with the sound quite a bit thanks to the Steelseries’ Sonar Audio Suite. Specifically, there’s a parametric EQ on hand that lets you fine-tune your audio far beyond what most gaming and computer-centric speakers allow. And, if you have a multiple-device setup, know that the Arena 3 comes with two analog inputs and a multi-function button that lets you switch between the two easily.

Read our full SteelSeries Arena 3 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best PC soundbar

The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro is proof that you can get away with a space-saving setup and still have a truly immersive experience. This soundbar-sub combo is a fantastic audio solution if you want a 5.1 speaker system for your desk but don't necessarily have the space to accommodate that kind of setup.

Razer's brilliant plan here isn't just to put five drivers in a single - and relatively compact - soundbar, add a downward-firing sub, and let it all loose. This offering also comes with thoughtful features such as head-tracking AI, different audio modes, and customizable RGB lighting, all of which contribute to your audio immersion. And, it's more affordable than you might think.

Sure, it isn't perfect. During testing, we found that the high end lacking and the mids sometimes sounded a little muddy. However, it makes up for those with a powerful bass that can literally make a small room shake, great sound imaging, and a surprisingly wide soundstage. It's definitely one of our favorite computer speakers in 2024.

Read our full Razer Leviathan V2 Pro review

Get the best deal on Razer products with our Razer coupon codes.

• ^ Back to the top

Great for everyday use and studio work

There are a few things that make the Vigilant Audio SwitchOne special. To start, they’re powerful and room-filling speakers that sound excellent despite the fact that there are just two small-ish bookshelf speakers and no subwoofer. And, yes, they come with impressive even without a sub.

They also come with “The Switch” that switches the SwitchOne from a more HiFi-sounding stereo speaker setup to one with a flatter, more neutral frequency response perfect for doing studio work. We were even able to use these monitors to mix when tested. Of course, we did find the switch in frequency responses to be on the subtle side.

Since they were meant for use with a computer, we did miss having USB connectivity but it has all the other types of connectivity you could need including Bluetooth. All in all, the Vigilant Audio SwitchOne is a fantastic option if you don’t need USB and can afford its slightly higher price tag.

Read our full Vigilant Audio SwitchOne review

• ^ Back to the top

The best budget speakers for content creation

When we first heard the Edifier MR4 studio speakers, we were blown away, especially considering its price tag. At any rate, these are mostly fantastic-sounding speakers that are close enough to neutral that you can use them for content creation, whether that’s fixing audio for a podcast or mixing a song.

Considering the low price, there has to be a catch. And, there are a few. Most importantly, the MR4’s low end was underwhelming whenever we used them at normal listening volumes, only filling in when turned up. Even then, you won’t be getting that sub-bass rumble when watching a movie or playing a game (and there’s no sub out either).

Its multiple analog inputs are great for use with a computer, audio interfaces, and external devices like a phone but there’s no Bluetooth or USB on hand. However, a quick listen to the MR4 studio monitors, not to mention a look at the price tag, will quickly make those concerns a non-factor.

Read our full Edifier MR4 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best Bluetooth computer speakers for music

The Fluance Ai41 comes with one major flaw, specifically that it doesn’t come with USB connectivity. But if you can get around that – after all, you do have Bluetooth, RCA, and optical input options – you’ll have a hard time finding a set of powered bookshelf speakers that sound as good as these.

We were surprised when testing how good they sound. The bass is particularly deep on these ported speakers. Almost to the point where we don’t miss having a subwoofer. And, the high-mids are only slightly boosted for a bright yet still rich audio quality.

While we did find it to take up a little more desk space than we would like, we still heartily recommend them. Of course, if you have an unusually cramped desk or are on a budget, you might have to look elsewhere. But those one-inch silk dome tweeters and five-inch woofers do sound glorious when you turn them up.

Read our full Fluance Ai41 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best computer speakers for small spaces

The Edifier G2000 may be among the tiniest computer speakers you'll ever see, but don't let that small footprint fool you. These popular offerings from Edifier are more potent than they look in terms of audio and punch above their weight in connectivity as well.

They may not look it, but we found the G2000 to deliver full, rich audio with fairly balanced mids and clear high-end. And, while they're not that great in sound imaging, they should deliver a wide soundstage as long as they're placed far enough apart. We also appreciate that you can not just connect to them via USB and 3.5mm, but Bluetooth as well.

Some might argue that these should be cheaper than they cost, but we do think you're getting a great value here. You're getting the perfect compact computer speakers for your small setup without compromising on sound quality, which is pretty great. Throw in the RGB lighting and the unique look, and it's the full package.

Read our full Edifier G2000 review

• ^ Back to the top

How to choose the best computer speakers for you

Choosing the best computer speakers is more complex than choosing the best laptop or desktop. While you can always go with something more expensive and hope that’s an indication of quality, there aren't clear-cut metrics or numbers to go on as there are with a computer.

There are still some objective considerations, however. Some speakers only connect through an analog 3.5mm connection, while others include USB, optical or Bluetooth connectivity. If you’re a stickler for audio fidelity, a digital connection like USB or optical is necessary for an uncompressed signal. If you care more about a minimalist setup, you should prioritize speakers with Bluetooth. Thankfully, Bluetooth has come a long way and plenty of Bluetooth speakers offer incredible sound. However, if your primary concern is budget, you’ll most likely end up with a set of speakers equipped with an analog connection.

You’ll also want to consider how important that low-end is for you. If you want something that can shake the walls whenever there’s an explosion in the game you’re playing or movie you’re watching, you’ll want a system with a subwoofer.

Consider the speakers' size as well, particularly if you have a small space, and other included features such as an included remote or control pod/puck to easily control the speakers.

The most important consideration, the sound quality, is also the most subjective. Do you prefer bass-heavy audio or want something a bit brighter? Everyone gravitates towards a different sound. You’ll have to consider if you want something with a lot of bass, a brighter sound or a more neutral frequency response.

Frequently asked questions on computer speakers

How we tested these computer speakers

When we test a pair of computer speakers, we spend hours listening to various media. We use it for audio to watch blockbuster movies and the latest shows on Netflix, listen to multiple genres of music, and play an assortment of computer games.

During our listening sessions, we focus on how well the low-end, midrange and high-end frequencies are represented and how it all affects the speakers' frequency response. Some speakers might have too much high-end, making for an overly bright and unpleasant listening experience. Sometimes, there’s too much low-end, resulting in muddy-sounding audio.

We spend a lot of time living with the speakers, getting a sense of how they sound, if they're appropriate for certain applications and, subjectively, making a judgment call on the audio quality.

Beyond the sound quality, we take into account the different connectivity options and how that impacts what we hear. We compare the sound quality between the different connections and whether the end result has the same audio quality or not.

We consider the build quality as well. We inspect speakers that we test to see what they’re made of and whether the parts look to be made of tougher or cheaper material.

Any extra features are thoroughly tested. If a speaker system comes with a subwoofer, we see how much control we have over it, how loud it can get in comparison to the speakers and how well it mixes with the speakers. Remotes and control pods, also sometimes referred to as pucks, are tested to make sure they work as advertised. And, if there’s any RGB lighting, we take a look at that as well.

Lastly, we take all of that and weigh it against the asking price to see if it’s offering a good amount of value or whether it’s worth its accompanying price tag.

Today's best computer speaker deals

Razer Leviathan V2: two minute review

The Razer Leviathan V2 brings a much needed refresh to every PC gamer's favorite soundbar with one of the best computer audio experiences you're going to find right now, and it's not even really close. 

And while not exactly cheap, the Leviathan V2 offers an incredible soundscape at a reasonable price point, easily making it one of the best computer speakers you can buy right now. It's not without its faults though, and the loss of 3.5mm and optical input pretty much consigns the Leviathan V2 to your PC for good, though it does have Bluetooth connectivity as well so you still have some flexibility. 

The THX Spatial Audio is a welcome feature, and the bass response from both the subwoofer and the soundbar itself is impressive. This is helped in large part by the longer form factor over its predecessor, which allows the Leviathan V2 to fit in passive radiators to extend its audio range, something you're going to feel when playing the best PC games. 

The addition of customizable 18-zone RGB lighting is also something a lot of gamers are going to like, especially as it is possible to sync the lighting to react to in-game activity and integrate it into your broader RGB gaming space thanks to Razer Synapse.

Considering that there aren't a whole lot of gaming soundbars on the market, the Leviathan V2 is definitely one you should consider if you're looking to give even the best PC gaming headsets a rest and enjoy some room filling audio. It might be pricier than other computer speaker systems, but the Razer Leviathan V2 is unquestionably worth what you're spending on it.

Razer Leviathan V2: price and availability

• How much is it? You can buy it for $249 / £229 / AU$449
• When can you get it? It is available now
• Where is it available? It is available in the US, UK, and Australia at launch 

The Razer Leviathan V2 went on sale on April 21, 2022, and is available in the US, UK, and Australia, as well as other regions globally.

It'll cost you $249 / £229 / AU$449, which is a bit more expensive than the model it is replacing (currently $229 / £174 / AU$379, up from the initial launch price of $199 / £159 / AU$279 we saw during our Razer Leviathan review back in 2014). 

Still, given that its predecessor was released nearly a decade ago, some price inflation is to be expected and there are some noticeable improvements here that justify a price bump.

Razer Leviathan V2: design

• 18-zone RGB lighting
• Swappable angled feet

The Razer Leviathan V2 has gotten some upgrades over its previous iteration. It still sports the same trademark Razer black with green accents look, and the soundbar's onboard controls are fairly subdued.

The build quality is superb, as you'd expect from a Razer product, and even though nearly the entire thing is made of plastic, it doesn't feel cheap in the slightest.

The soundbar is now a little bit deeper than its predecessor, and the biggest design change is the move to a pure cube shape for the subwoofer, rather than the semi-cube of the V1.

The feet of the Leviathan V2 can also be swapped out to angle the sound bar upward rather than straight out at desk level. The front grill of the soundbar is solid plastic with the Razer logo stamped in the middle.

All in all, the soundbar fits comfortably under most monitors and, other than the RGB lighting, is inocuous enough that it can easily blend into your desktop workspace.

The subwoofer, meanwhile, is a very nondescript plastic cube with a down-firing horn to push out the bass. It is also much larger and harder to hide unless you put it under your desk on the floor (if you live in an apartment anywhere other than the ground level, your neighbors are absolutely going to love you if you do that). The subwoofer is wired, unfortunately, so it can't go too far from the soundbar.

Razer Leviathan V2: features

• THX Spatial Audio isn't as good as Dolby Atmos, but it's still good
• Chroma RGB lighting controlled through Razer Synapse app
• No 3.5mm or optical audio input, so strictly a desktop PC soundbar

The Razer Leviathan V2 introduces a couple of new features to the line, while dropping a couple of fan favorites as well.

First, there's the THX Spatial Audio, which goes beyond basic stereo to create a much more surround sound-like experience. It does the job fairly well, but it's not on the same level as the Dolby Atmos you'd get in a home theater soundbar. This isn't all that surprising, considering that the Leviathan V2 is significantly cheaper than the best soundbars out there which leverage Dolby Atmos to its fullest extent.

The other major feature of the Leviathan V2 is the inclusion of 18-zone Chroma RGB lighting, which is controlled through the Razer Synapse. In addition to using Razer Visualizer for some cool music driven settings, you can also have gameplay driven color effects as well. Working the Leviathan V2 into your existing Chroma setup with other devices is also easily controlled through Synapse, so RGB customizers will have a lot more to play with here.

The inclusion of Chroma RGB should also be a pretty clear signal that the Leviathan V2 is definitely a gamer's soundbar, not an audiophile's. While the previous Leviathan model accepted 3.5mm and optical audio inputs, the Leviathan V2 ditches those for a single USB Type-C connection. While you can also connect your phone or other Bluetooth-capable devices to the Leviathan, these are nice-to-haves, but is clearly not the direction that Razer is taking their new soundbar.

A lot of people might be disappointed with these exclusions, but this was always designed to be a PC gamer's soundbar, not a replacement for a home audio setup. Nearly every gamer is going to have a USB Type-C port on their PC, possibly several, so it's understandable that Razer would go this route.

Razer Leviathan V2: performance

• Incredible audio experience
• Bluetooth not great for gaming audio

All of that is fine, but how does the Razer Leviathan V2 actually sound?

Thanks to the array of drivers on both the soundbar and subwoofer, the soundscape produced by the Leviathan V2 is honestly one of the best audio experiences you're going to find anywhere close to this price range. Gaming, blasting music, watching new Netflix movies between gaming sessions, whatever. It's going to sound amazing.

The addition of the two passive radiators on the soundbar definitely improves the low register performance of the Leviathan V2 over its predecessor by digging deep into the 45Hz territory, down from the 180Hz of the Leviathan V1.

The full range drivers and tweeters also easily fill the room, and a switch in the Synapse settings can redirect the sound to the center channel, making sure that you are getting the fullest audio experience when sitting at your desk.

When gaming though, it's best to plug the soundbar into the PC directly, rather than use a Bluetooth connection. The Bluetooth latency is low (60ms), but that's wide enough to lose some synchronicity while gaming, even if it's slight, and that will definitely irk some people for sure.

The THX Spatial Audio does an admirable job at creating a pseudo-surround sound experience, especially when environmental audio cues in gaming are important – like in the middle of a competitive match. And while it isn't quite up to Dolby Atmos standards (not to belabor the point too hard), it doesn't need to be if we're being perfectly honest. At this price, spatial audio is a bonus, and the fact that it's as well executed as it is makes this a clear win for Razer.

Unless you were hoping to hook the Razer Leviathan V2 up to your TV or home audio system, you're not going to find anything to be disappointed with here. And if you're looking for computer audio that isn't going to be clamped to your head for a change, then the Razer Leviathan V2 doesn't just need to be on your shortlist, you should probably just go ahead and buy the damned thing.

Should I buy a Razer Leviathan V2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy if...

Also consider

• First reviewed April 2022

I love spatial audio. I love the sensation of being put right inside a sonic sphere, with action happening all around me, or feeling like I’ve got a seat right inside the middle of an orchestra as the strings swoon overhead and the gong rattles from all angles. So why can I just not get my head around the inclusion of a spatial audio speaker system in the new Apple Studio Display?

It’s a superlative offering from Apple (priced accordingly at $1,599 / £1,499 / AU$2,499), revealed at the company’s March 2022 event alongside the iPhone SE 3, M1 Ultra chipset and a new iPad Air. A 27-inch, 5K display, it’s got lots of cool features that will make Apple die-hards and creatives squeal with joy.

There’s an anti-reflective coating on a screen pushing 14.7 million pixels at 600 nits of brightness. There are a good number of ports, including three USB-C and a Thunderbolt 4 connection. It’s even got the 12MP camera with the person-tracking Center Stage video calling feature built-in, just like the latest iPads. The one spot it’s lacking is with HDR support, but, for the most part, that’s a discussion for another article.

We’re here to talk audio, and what Apple has squeezed in here is inarguably impressive. Some monitors have no built-in speakers at all, instead, letting users supply their own for their desktops, while it’s rare to see anything more than some weak stereo speakers built into the majority of monitors.

Apple has taken a completely different approach. The Studio Display instead sports six speakers, consisting of four force-canceling woofers and two tweeters. Paired with the A13 Bionic chip, as seen in the iPhone 13, it should be able to deliver convincing spatial sound from sources that support the format, such as a Netflix Dolby Atmos stream.

It’s part of a wider push from Apple to bring spatial audio more listeners, with the inclusion of lossless and spatial music being added to the Apple Music streaming service even inspiring me to petition for a new, full-sized Apple HomePod.

But, for my money, as both a fan of Apple products and a lover of immersive sound, I can’t see how this will effectively serve the two sorts of users I can identify it as being aimed at.

Finding an audience

Let’s say you’re an audio engineer working on a project that uses spatial audio – perhaps mixing a spatial audio album, or a Dolby Atmos film. The Studio Display just won’t be able to deliver the same clarity and dynamism that full-sized reference-grade speakers are going to offer. The equipment you will kit your studio out with will be incredibly sensitive and specifically built for the job. 

Take this recent interview with world-renowned producer Trevor Horn, the Buggles star who has worked with everyone from Cher to Belle and Sebastian, and has audio credits on Hollywood blockbusters the size of Pearl Harbour. He’s recently been working on a Dolby Atmos remastering of the first Seal album and, now enamored with the format, is looking into “the process of installing a Dolby Atmos system” which “will incorporate PMC ci Series monitors.” PMC ci Series monitors cost many thousands of pounds depending on the configuration, and while you could argue the Studio Display offers an entry point for those interested in the format by comparison, will be a gulf apart in terms of what the likes of Horn will require for professional work.

If you’re a cinema lover on the other hand, then surely you’re going to want to watch your films with spatial audio soundtracks on the biggest display in your home, presumably a living room TV. Given the asking price of the Studio Display, Apple may even be targeting the sort of people with enough money to have dedicated cinema rooms, to whom a few speakers in a monitor, however good, are sure to underwhelm. 

It’s nice to have the option of spatial audio on your desk for those occasions where you’re watching a film in your office – but unless you’ve got a comfy sofa right up against your display, it’s certainly not going to be your go-to viewing experience, and definitely prices out the wider movie-loving masses. There isn't even HDR format support, so you're severely lacking in what makes up a good part of the accompanying visual joy of the cinematic experience.

It’s interesting, as Apple very rarely deals in overkill. It usually waits until a space in the market has been carved out by a competitor, and then swoops in and does a better job of it. Here for once, Apple is leading the charge, from both a software and services standpoint, and a hardware one in terms of desktop support for spatial audio. And for that, it should be applauded. But I can’t help feeling it has mobilized spatial audio in the wrong part of its arsenal. As I’d mentioned earlier, I’d love to instead see a HomePod 2, or wider support for spatial audio lower down the AirPods range, beyond the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.

For the sake of balance, I’ll point out here that I’m in the minority on the TechRadar team when it comes to the Studio Display. My peers love it – Nick Pino called it the “best workstation for audio lovers” when combined with Apple’s other recently-revealed product, the Mac Studio, thanks to its fancy and surprisingly powerful 3.5mm headphone jack.

I’m all for the expansion of spatial audio. There’s part of me that wants to praise Apple for forwarding the cause of the room-filling sound, as kicked off by the Dolby Atmos audio revolution. It deserves to be experienced by more people – “sound is half the picture”, as George Lucas once famously said, and that’s never been more pertinent than now with spatial audio. But I’m not sure if it’s finding the right audience here. 

Too expensive for the casual viewer, and unlikely to hit the reference standards you'd find with investment into the sort of dedicated speaker setups an audio editor will require for working with spatial audio mixes or soundtracks, I’m not sure the world is ready for a monitor like this – at least not at this price.

• The best monitor: what's the Apple Studio Display up against

Editor's Note

• Original review date: January 2021
• Still on sale
• Launch price: $79 / £79 / AU$149
• Official price now: $119.99 / £119.99 / AU$249.95

Update: February 2024. Three years after our initial review, the Logitech Z407 remains the best computer speakers you can buy - even though they've actually increased in price since we originally reviewed them. How come? For a start, the computer speaker market doesn't move quite as fast as others, so we've not seen any speakers that beat the Logitech Z407 when it comes to quality and affordability. Also, the Logitech Z407 were so good, especially when it came to room-shaking bass, that they remain an excellent set of speakers to hook up to your computer, even after all these years. Logitech used to have a great reputation for making excellent computer speakers, and products like the Z407 are why. They sound great and are built to last.

Two-minute review

The Logitech Z407 is somewhat of a rarity. Even now, if you want an excellent set of computer speakers, chances are you’ll have to spend a little more than $100/£100. Spend less, and you’re likely to end up with ones that sound middling at best.

Once in a while though, we are treated with more than decent computer speakers that not only look great but sound great as well. And, the Logitech Z407 is one such peripheral.

This fairly new release from Logitech has surprised us in many ways, delivering a powerful sound, rumbling bass, several connectivity options, and a nifty wireless dial for only $79 (£79, AU$149). 

For that same price, the older Edifier M3200 is slightly less powerful and doesn’t offer Bluetooth connectivity. Meanwhile, the 2019-released Creative T100 may boast satellites that offer the same level of audio power, but doesn’t have a subwoofer, is slightly bigger, and costs $20/£20 more – which makes the Z407 a better value. 

That value starts in design. At 7.87 x 3.70 x 3.35 inches (satellites) with a 9.45 x 9.21 x 7.09-inch sub, the Logitech Z407 is small enough to fit perfectly on a small desk. The speakers also sport a smart look, with capsule-shaped satellites and a dark gray finish that makes it a classy addition to work and creative setups. And, it has an overall rigid build that should see it last several years.

The Logitech Z407 is also versatile. The removable satellite stands may be attached in two ways so you can either have a horizontal or an upright setup. It also has a wireless control dial with a 20-meter range, and three connectivity options – Bluetooth, micro USB, and the 3.5 mm – which further boosts its versatility.

The wireless dial may be confusing at first, especially because not all media apps offer full support: Spotify does, but Apple TV on Mac doesn’t support the skip or forward functionality while Netflix on Windows won’t even let you rewind with it. On top of that, it may take you a bit to figure out whether you’re controlling the volume or the bass level as you’re essentially using the same physical dial for both.

We’re not saying it’s convoluted, just that it’s not as straightforward as most people (aka those who won’t bother reading the manual) would prefer. However, once you do get used to how the dial works, it’ll feel like an extension of the arm.

Just because there’s wireless connectivity, doesn’t mean you’ll be going cable-free with these speakers. The satellites themselves need to be connected to the sub via RCA cables. However, you still have the option to connect the system to your computer or device via Bluetooth, which means that the clutter can stay behind your desk where it belongs. 

Since the Bluetooth connectivity is pretty darn good and up to par with the 3.5mm option, you can stick with it for convenience and still get excellent, lag-free audio. For slightly higher quality sound, the micro USB connection seems to have a bit more high end and detail.

When it comes to audio quality, the Logitech Z407 gets right what so many cheaper computer speakers fail to do. In fact, for a computer speaker system this compact, it blasts out surprisingly hefty audio in terms of quality and volume.

Its sound may be slightly lacking in detail and its sub can overpower the rest of the frequencies when it’s at a higher volume (though a simple turn of the dial should fix it right up). However, the  Logitech Z407 still sounds impressive. 

Unlike other affordable speakers out there that tend to bump up their bass and high end, which typically make them sound harsh and easily fatiguing, this offering from Logitech is mid-focused, allowing it to produce a richer, warmer sound. The subwoofer has a lot of power for its size, with a down-firing driver that gives it a whole lot of rumble. Trust us: even at a lower bass level, you will hear AND feel this sub.

You'll get decent separation when you’re sitting directly in front of it, which is where you’re meant to experience computer speakers. However, there’s no virtual surround sound feature here so you're really only experiencing 2.1 audio, which means that you’ll hear things from the left, the right, and somewhere in between… but that’s about it. 

As a result, it may not be immersive enough for hardcore gamers. If you’re looking for something that will help you game better, you’re better off with a gaming headset with surround sound features. 

Still, the Logitech Z407 boasts plenty of rumble and produces terrific sound quality that will satisfy most gamers as well as users looking to consume media – whether that’s music or movies. And, its added perk of being versatile will benefit every type of user.

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Two-minute review

The Dell S2721D, along with the rest of the Dell S series monitors, is all about bringing a quality experience without breaking the bank.  At its $319 (£279, AU$429) price point, the entry-level Dell S2721D offers a reasonable package. The 27-inch 1440p screen has a 75Hz refresh-rate which should satisfy any casual gamer. Meanwhile, users more interested in a monitor for video or photo editing will be satisfied with the vivid IPS panel that hits 99% of the sRGB color gamut.

Just be mindful of some caveats – built-in speakers provide limited audio clarity and they don’t get very loud. For a QHD monitor in 2020, not supporting high dynamic range (HDR) is also disappointing, but not terribly surprising in such an affordable display. Anyone willing to overlook those flaws may get a lot of mileage out of the S2721D. 

The monitor itself isn’t bulky by design thanks to its three-sided ultrathin bezel design. Two HDMI 1.4 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, audio line-out, power connector and security lock slot sit underneath the rear. Having some sort of USB connectivity would have gone a long way in terms of versatility. Setting up the stand is fairly easy while positing the monitor along the X, Y and Z axes feels smooth. The ability to turn the S2721D vertically is a plus as well. Be mindful that plugging cables while the stand is attached is slightly difficult. Monitor controls for things like power, settings and volume are located on the bottom right. 

3w speakers placed at the bottom seem like more of an afterthought addition than something fully featured. Volume levels sound somewhat low even at its highest setting. However, in a totally silent room, sound quality is reasonable. Users will probably be better off using headphones or buying speakers. 

The Dell S2721D also has a lot to offer to casual PC gamers. Besides the 75Hz refresh rate, it supports AMD FreeSync. Playing shooters like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare or Doom Eternal look rich and vibrant with colors. Having the high refresh-rate can even potentially provide a slight competitive advantage. There are some pre-set color settings for various gaming genres from first-person-shooters to RTS and even watching movies. 

Editing photos and videos is also a treat on the S2721D, due to the 99 percent sRGB color coverage. Regardless of how the S2721D is positioned, the monitor features anti-glare with 3H hardness, so you don’t have to worry about it getting scratched easily. Whether gaming, editing media or general use, the 27-inch screen is beautiful. Multi-taskers can also utilize Dell’s Display Manager to arrange various screen layouts too. 

The S2721D accomplishes a lot through its approachable price. Individuals looking for a quality 27-inch QHD monitor that’ll relatively fit into any office space are in for a treat. Gaming and media editing performance is a bit more than adequate. Just don’t expect much beyond that. Sub-par speakers, lack of HDR and lack of USB connections keeps the S2721D makes this more of a no-frills package.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Save on high-performance laptops and accessories with our latest Dell coupon codes. Find great deals on tech for work and play.

Two-minute review

The EKSA E900 Pro 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound 2-in-1 Gaming Headset is a high-quality budget headset. It has an ergonomic design and comes with detachable USB and 3.5mm cables, meaning you can plug it in to your Switch, PS4, Xbox One S and X, tablet, smartphone, as well as Mac and, of course, PC.

The E900 Pro looks good in sleek black and red, and clamps nicely to your head. The frame is aluminum, not plastic, so it should stand up to some abuse. It’s sturdy and there’s a good amount of range movement, meaning it should fit you even if you have big hair or an unusually large head.

It’s comfortable to wear, with soft, well-padded leather earpads. These are detachable, so you can replace them if you need to. The earpads fit well over the ear, and should be comfortable for most ear sizes and shapes.

The E900 Pro has physical volume, play/pause and mute controls built into it. It’s not heavy, and isn’t big and bulky, which means it should feel comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

You can detach the mic, which with its noise-canceling tech will make sure your voice is heard by filtering out background noise. It’s omnidirectional, sounds great and is simple to attach; just plug it in to the microphone socket, bend it to the most comfortable angle for you and voila, you’re good to go.

To experience the headphones’ 7.1 surround sound, you need to use the USB cable, which at 1.9m is a decent length. It’s long enough to reach your PC even if it’s on the floor without tethering you like a dog with a cruel owner. It might be a little long, though, for convenient use on the go with your phone.

We tested the E900 Pro on PC, PS4, and tablet, playing games, watching shows and listening to music. The headset remains comfortable and doesn’t get sweaty or uncomfortable after hours of use. It’s also kind to your ears, with a warm bass-rich sound that doesn’t irritate after a while.

Price-wise, the E900 Pro weighs in at value-for-money $49.99 (£39, AU$70) on eksa.net. You can spend $100 on a headset and not get more than you get here. In fact, some budget gaming headsets can be more expensive and offer poorer specs.

The headset comes with red LEDs, which complement the color scheme, but some might prefer RGB. Considering everything you get for the price point, though, this is absolutely forgivable. Bear in mind, the LEDs are only available when connecting via USB.

To use the E900 Pro’s surround sound feature, you’ll need to download EKSA’s Windows-only drivers. It comes with an app that lets you straightforwardly control basic features like panning and volume. Aside from this download, the E900 Pro is simple to use and set up. You can’t fold it to make it easier to travel with, but it does come with a cool leather carry bag.

The E900 Pro is certainly an improvement on the previous E900 model which has the same mic, but doesn’t come with LEDs or virtual surround sound.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

• These are the best gaming headsets of 2020

The Netgear Orbi Voice is either a brilliant idea, or a crazy one. Perhaps it’s both. It’s a satellite add-on to Netgear’s excellent Orbi Wi-Fi mesh networking kit, but not only does it help extend your wireless network around your home, it also has a speaker created by audio experts Harman Kardon built-in, along with Amazon Alexa support.

It’s available as a single a satellite add-on, for existing owners of an Orbi setup, or as a pack that includes the Orbi Voice satellite and Orbi router, which is aimed at people who are looking to jump into the world of mesh Wi-Fi. It’s also angled at Orbi owners who are looking to also buy a smart speaker that offers superior sound to the Amazon Echo and Google Home speakers.

So, it’s a pretty specific market that Netgear is targeting with the Orbi Voice; some may even call it ‘niche’. However, we’ve got to admire Netgear for experimenting with its mesh Wi-Fi products, and to be fair it has packed the Orbi Voice with some impressive tech when it comes to both networking and audio.

Price and availability

The Netgear Orbi Voice is an expensive bit of kit, and much more pricey than the entry-level Amazon Echo and Google Home smart speakers.

The reason for this is twofold. First, the Orbi Voice features the same networking hardware as the satellites of Netgear’s mid-range Orbi RBK44 system, with tri-band AC2200 Wi-Fi, and the ability to add up to 2,000 square feet to your Orbi network.

It’s also got a large and powerful Harman Kardon speaker built-in, with 35W of peak power.

On its own the Netgear Orbi Voice costs $299 / £279.99 / AU$499, putting it in the same price bracket as the Apple HomePod and making it pricer than the Sonos One and Amazon Echo Plus. However, as we said above, those other premium smart speakers don’t have networking kit built in.

It’s important to note that the Netgear Orbi Voice doesn’t work as a standalone smart speaker, nor is it compatible with mesh Wi-Fi products from other brands. This means that if you don’t already have an Orbi setup you’ll need to purchase one, which will add to the cost.

Netgear does sell a pack, labelled RBK50V, which comes with the Orbi Voice and a standard Orbi router (which plugs into your modem and connects wirelessly to the Orbi Voice satellite). This costs $429.99 / £429 / AU$799, making it an expensive proposition, although if you’re thinking of getting the Orbi system and a premium smart speaker, then this is an elegant solution that could save you a bit of money.

Design and setup

Netgear’s existing Orbi products are some of the nicer-designed mesh Wi-Fi devices on the market, and the Orbi Voice continues that trend. It’s slightly smaller and rounder than the Orbi RBK50 satellites, and it’s wrapped in a gray fabric, giving it a similar look and feel to the Google Home range of devices.

It's also an attractive and premium look, which means this isn’t going to be a Wi-Fi device you feel you need to hide away – this is a Wi-Fi mesh satellite that won't look out of place in the home. In fact, it looks so much nicer than the standard Orbi kit that it’s a bit of a shame Netgear doesn’t appear to be redesigning the Orbi router that comes with the Voice in certain packs to match the look.

At the top of the Orbi Voice are four microphones with far-field voice recognition support for Alexa. The top also lights up to show that Alexa is listening to you.

As the Netgear Orbi Voice is a satellite extender, it doesn’t have an Ethernet port for plugging in your modem. However, it does have two Ethernet ports for connecting wired devices to the network, along with a DC power port, a power button and a reset button. There’s also a Sync button for connecting up to the Orbi router, or adding to an existing Orbi setup.

We already had the Orbi RBK50 network set up, so adding the Orbi Voice was a reasonably straightforward experience. All we had to do was place the Orbi Voice in an area where we needed a boost to the Wi-Fi signal, and where we also wanted an Alexa-powered speaker – of course this might narrow your choices a bit when it comes to where to place the unit.

After plugging it in, we loaded up the Orbi smartphone app and selected ‘Add satellite’, and after a few minutes of searching it asked us to press the Sync button. We did, and after a few more moments the app found the Orbi Voice and added it to the system.

The app then asked us to link our Amazon account to the Orbi Voice so that Alexa could work. Here, things got a bit flaky, as the app appeared to be stuck in a loop asking for our language settings and permission to connect Alexa. We restarted the app and tried it again, and after a bit of fiddling about it worked, and Alexa was on the Orbi Voice.

As with other Orbi products, there's little in the way of documentation included with the Orbi Voice – just a slim leaflet explaining how to connect Alexa, and what the LED lights mean when they glow certain colors. It's reasonably useful, but most of the help with setting up the Orbi Voice is accessed through the app, which is all well and good – unless there’s a problem with the app itself.

Still, we were able to get up and running without too much issue. If you're starting from scratch and don’t have an existing Orbi network, then the setup process is slightly more convoluted, as you need to plug the router into your modem first, set that up and then add the Orbi Voice as a satellite; again, this is all done through the app.

Performance

With Netgear’s networking technology inside, the Netgear Orbi Voice does an excellent job of offering fast and reliable Wi-Fi. The combination of the Voice with the router gives you coverage of about 4,500 square feet, and a combined network speed of 3Gbps.

This is probably overkill for all but the largest properties, and it meant the building we tried it in (a UK townhouse over three floors) was completely covered by high-speed 802.11ac Wi-Fi. That’s one of the fastest Wi-Fi technologies available at the moment, although 802.11ax is gaining popularity. Netgear has hinted that it could release 802.11ax Orbi devices in the future, but there are no plans at the moment for an 802.11ax Orbi Voice. That doesn’t make the Orbi Voice quite as future-proof as many would have hoped, but for most people 802.11ac will be absolutely fine for the next few years.

On the top floor of the house, with the Orbi Voice on the bottom floor, we saw link speeds of 325Mbps and a signal power of -59 dBm. When standing next to the Orbi Voice, link speed rose to 780Mbps with a signal power of -30 dBm.

Jargon aside, what you’re getting is a powerful satellite that can boost your Wi-Fi, and with careful placement in your house, you’ll easily get coverage throughout. The Orbi app lets you keep an eye on your network, along with internet speeds, and you can see what devices are connected and easily switch their access to the internet on and off – a useful feature that makes it easy to keep an eye on what gadgets are accessing the internet and when.

The app still isn’t perfect, though. For example, it showed all devices in the building connected to the router, and none to the other Orbi satellites, including the Orbi Voice. Checking online, this seems to be a bug in the app that’s been around for a while now. Hopefully Netgear sorts this out soon – it’s not vitally important, but it makes the app less useful, and considering the price Netgear is asking for its Orbi system, you’d want a flawless app.

While the networking performance of the Orbi Voice is important, so is the audio performance, and the good news here is that the Orbi Voice offers loud and clear sound that far exceeds the rather flat audio quality of the Amazon Echo. When you hover your hand over the top of the Orbi Voice icons appear that enable you to change the volume, mute the microphone and more. It’s a nice touch, and using this we whacked the volume up high while streaming music from Spotify. 

The Orbi Voice manages to get pretty loud without distorting. You can alter the EQ settings using the Orbi app, which we recommend doing, as a bit of tweaking allows you to get a more rounded sound – out of the box it’s a bit bass-heavy.

The EQ settings are divided into various genres such as Classical and Rock, and they do make subtle differences to the audio quality of the Orbi Voice. However, when you apply a new EQ there is a brief pause in the music playback, which is a bit jarring. It also takes a few seconds to register, something we noticed a few times when using the Orbi app to control the Orbi Voice.

You can also tweak the EQ settings yourself, but this is very limited. You only get two sliders: one for bass and one for treble. While this gives you some control over how your music sounds, audiophiles who expect more granular control over audio quality – especially on a device that pitches itself as a premium audio product – may be disappointed.

It’s also worth pointing out that while the Orbi Voice does get nice and loud, if you’ve got audio playing at high volume you may find it struggles to pick up your voice commands, which is understandable but worth bearing in mind.

There’s no Bluetooth built-in, unlike other smart speakers, nor is there an AUX audio-in port. This means you can’t plug in a device and use it as a speaker via either a cable or over Bluetooth, so you’re limited to Spotify, Deezer and other streaming services available via the Alexa service. While most people will be perfectly fine with that, as that’s how they'll be using the Orbi Voice to play music, it’s one less feature that its smart speaker competitors have.

It also means you won’t be able to buy the Orbi Voice and use it as a standalone smart speaker without buying the rest of the Orbi kit – this is first and foremost an add-on to the Orbi networking system.

Verdict

The Netgear Orbi Voice is an odd product, one with a lot of competitors – and none at all. It’s hard to compare it to smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod, because it’s not a standalone product, and it comes with networking hardware those speakers don’t have.

It’s also unique to mesh networking kits, as no other mesh Wi-Fi device (that we know of) doubles as a premium Alexa smart speaker.

That means the Orbi Voice is aimed at a very specific market. If you’ve got a Netgear Orbi setup already, and are looking to expand its range with a new satellite and were thinking of getting a new smart speaker, then the Orbi Voice is almost tailor-made for you.

If you’ve been thinking of upgrading your home Wi-Fi to mesh Wi-Fi, and you also want a smart speaker, then the bundle that comes with an Orbi router and the Orbi Voice is an affordable way to get both. Netgear’s Orbi system is one of the best mesh Wi-Fi kits around, so you’ll be getting excellent mesh Wi-Fi and a very good smart speaker in one.

However, for everyone else, the Orbi Voice will simply be a curio. It’s incompatible with other brands, doesn’t work as a standalone device, and it’s expensive.

Still, we applaud Netgear for doing something different, and if you’ve already invested in the Orbi system this could be an excellent addition.

Images credit: TechRadar

In the before times (pre-Internet), it was common for most people to get up to date with current events upon waking up by listening to a radio broadcast. 

However, there were some caveats to this – aside from your chosen station's political leaning, you couldn't really choose the exact kind of news you wanted to ingest on a daily basis, and you were also at the mercy of the station's schedule and ads. 

Now, your morning news is about to get a heck of a lot more personal, with the announcement that Google-powered smart speakers will use the "artificial intelligence of Google News" to "bring you an audio news playlist assembled in that moment, for you" via Google Assistant.

Google has also released a video alongside the announcement that demonstrates just what it has in mind for the future of audio news delivery. 

The search giant is collaborating with numerous publishers across the globe in the endeavor, including The Associated Press, The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times and The Washington Post, and has built an open specification prototype in an effort to bring more news organizations into the fold. 

Google hopes this will lead to users receiving news that's completely tailored to their interests.

"It starts with a briefing of top stories and updates on topics you care about, and extends into longer-form content that dives deeper into more stories," said Google's official announcement, further stating that "At any point in your day when you want to listen to the latest news—as a morning wake-up, during your commute, or while jogging—the Google Assistant will be ready with new stories and updates to the ones you’ve already heard."

According to the announcement, users will be able to use their voices to skip stories they aren't interested in or repeat ones they want to hear again. At present, Audio News is scheduled to roll out to a limited number of English speaking Google Assistant users in the United States.

• Google Home Hub review

Rarely are we graced with a gaming speaker system that not only has a lot of power and rumble, but also a beautiful, almost audiophile-grade sound. The Razer Nommo Pro has all that, plus an impressive stereo soundstage, a subtle gamer’s look, accessibility, customizability, and a line-up of connectivity options in the mix.

This 2.1 sound system is so impressive — surprisingly good for one that is being sold as a gaming speaker — that we’ve forgotten the fact that it sets you back $499 (£499, AU$849). That’s a high price tag for a set of gaming speakers, yes. But these are also among the best computer speakers on the market.

Design

It starts with its design. Both its two satellites and its subwoofer boast a matte black finish and an overall gamer’s look that’s subtle while still making a statement with RGB lighting that’s not too flashy and not too loud. . They’re also neither overly big nor heavy; in fact, it’s surprisingly light for a non-portable speaker system.

The space gun-looking satellites have 3-inch, Dupont Kevlar-coated paper drivers to produce a smoother sound, and separate silk-dome tweeters for warmer sound with a more detailed high-end. They also have a wider base for stability and ensure sound integrity, lit with RGB lighting that is highly customizable using both software and app. Inside, Razer says that there’s also an enhanced rubber lining around the driver for a deeper mid to low sound range.

The cylindrical sub has the Razer logo embossed at the front and is downward-firing to generate more rumble. It’s also designed with a tunnel in the middle to encourage airflow, which is supposed to reduce distortion. 

There is also an illuminated control pod for power, inputs, and volume. This control unit has a button to select your input, and a dial for volume. 

The only thing to nitpick about the design is that the ports connecting the satellites to the sub are a little tight so make sure to plug in the ports all the way. Otherwise, while the sound might work, the RGB lighting won’t.

Features

The Razer Nommo Pro isn’t packed with all the bells and whistles, but that’s the beauty of it – its best features are in its performance, and the small number of extras it does have address your exact needs.

One of the things we appreciate about this speaker system is that it offers a variety of connectivity options: analog, Bluetooth, USB, and optical, with the latter two yielding the best sound quality.

There’s also the Razer Synapse software. Though you can only use it when connected through USB and with a Windows OS, it does offer a plethora of customizations. With this software, you can control the RGB lighting (a few presets as well as individual controls for color, movement, and speed are on hand), and the sound itself including volume, bass, presets (THX and Dolby for Game, Movie and Music), and EQ. It also allows you to select your input source and enable the virtual surround sound.

Nommo Pro’s best feature is its app, also called NommoPro, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. It doesn’t offer as many controls as the software – the lighting control, for example, is not as specific and detailed, but it does most of the things that the Razer Synapse can do. Plus, it has a very simple UI and it lets you control it when you’re across the room.

Setup

There’s not much to it; the setup is pretty straightforward. It’s a plug and play so besides installing the Synapse software and downloading the app, you just really need to link the satellites with the sub, connect your input, plug it in, and turn it on. 

Keep in mind that the USB and optical connections produce the most detailed sound with the most high end, and you can only control it using the software when connected through USB. If you want better sound quality, go with either of these two. Bluetooth is quieter and has a rolled of high end while the analog is even more muffled and compressed.

With the software/app, we found that selecting a flat EQ produces the best sound, so start with that instead of experimenting with the different presets first.

Performance

The Razer Nommo Pro boasts a lot of volume (small home theater-level, in fact), a subwoofer that has a lot of rumble, a wide soundstage, an excellent EQ, and of course, near audiophile-level sound quality. It’s fast becoming one of the best gaming speaker systems, in our humble opinion. 

Really, the only thing that’s keeping it from being an audiophile quality speaker system is the fact that because of its warm, smooth sound, they’re not the most detailed-sounding speakers. It’s great for gaming, watching movies, and listening to music; however, it’s probably not the best ones to use for editing and producing.

These speakers have a lot of power and can be thundering, but they’re directional so you turn up the volume in one room and won’t have to worry about disturbing others in the next room. 

The sub can also be very loud, and it’s downward facing for more rumble and shake, making it excellent for immersion. At the same time, no matter how loud it gets, it doesn’t seem to overwhelm or drown out the other sounds. The only thing not-so positive thing about it is that it has an average response rate so that that bass is not as punchy and tight as you’d like it to be.

One of the best aspects of the Nommo Pro’s sound performance is its excellent, wide soundstage. While it boasts the Dolby Virtual Surround Sound technology that you can enable through the software, the soundstage is already so good, you won’t need it. The left and right positioning is extremely accurate and the soundstage is also very wide, which is great for gaming immersion.

Case in point: while playing Assassin’s Creed Unity, we really got the sense of where the ambient noise and voices were coming from when running through crowds in the streets. Additionally, with Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice where the main character is off her rocker and hearing voices, we felt like we were in the character’s head with these different voices were coming from different directions.

Lastly, there is the excellent EQ, with smooth highs, warm mids, and a strong low end. It’s not neutral or flat-sounding. The way these speakers were tuned is very pleasing, so that you’re getting a great quality sound alongside the rumble and power.

In case you’re thinking that the $500 price tag is a tad extravagant for a set of computer speakers, hear us out. If you’re looking at audiophile systems, the budget options for a set of great quality bookshelf speakers would start around $200. And you’d still need to buy a subwoofer and a receiver, which will cost you even more.

There is a very small number of cheaper alternatives to the Razer Nommo Pro. For example, the Audioengine A2+, which you can find at $200 and often comes up in audiophile conversations. You won’t need a receiver for these as they have a built-in one. However, you’d still need to invest in a subwoofer of the same caliber, which means you’re not really saving a whole lot of money.

There are also a few computer speakers that are more affordable, but they don’t deliver the same audio quality. If audiophile-grade sound isn’t as important to you, then speaker systems like the Creative Sound BlasterX Kratos S5 are definitely more than good enough and will only set you back around $150.

However, if you’re not on a tight budget, then the Razer Nommo Pro is definitely worth its price and then some. So invest!

Final verdict

We’re so impressed by the Razer Nommo Pro’s performance that we’d be willing to pay $499 (£499, AU$849) – what some would consider a steep price for a set of gaming speakers. Not only does it offer a lot of power, it also produces a sound quality and a soundstage that audiophiles will appreciate. And even if it’s not quite in that level, it’s pretty damn close to it. Then there’s the mobile app , which allows you to customize a number of settings using your mobile device for convenience.

If you’re a serious gamer that takes sound and gaming immersion seriously, this is the 2.1 speaker system you’ve been waiting for. 

Earlier this year, we selected the Logitech MX Sound as one of the best computer speakers for a reason: not only does it deliver powerful audio despite its small body, it also offers wireless connectivity for flexibility.

At $99 (£89, AU$149) a pop, it doesn’t include a sub or any of the extra frills other great speaker systems might have. But with versatile connectivity, a fairly well balanced sound and motion-activated controls, not to mention a beautiful yet simple design, it’s definitely worth the commendation.

Design

It’s hard not to love the Logitech MX Sound’s design. The unique circular shape of their cabinets, each fringed with a silver accent ring and covered with high-end fabric, make them look sleeker and less bulky. At 6.30 x 6.30 inches, it’s also the perfect size for a desktop set-up, and its 3.28-inch thickness only makes it even more ideal.

As it isn’t designed as a gaming speaker system, it makes sense that it doesn’t have those extra gaming frills like customizable LEDs and a separate dial. However, it does boast a nice little treat that is also utilitarian: the backlit touch controls on the right speaker are motion-activated. They automatically light up as soon as they sense movement and turn off after a few seconds of inactivity. These controls are sensitive so that a light touch is all it takes to turn the volume up/down and activate the Bluetooth for pairing.

Lastly, it has an automatic standby mode that’s activated after 20 minutes of inactivity in order to save power.

Features

While simplicity is king with the MX Sound, it does have a few nifty features that we found very useful. 

There are, of course, its motion-activated controls that we discussed in the design section. These three controls—the Bluetooth button and two volume buttons—are located right on the front of the right speaker behind the fabric cover. Since the speakers are so light at 3.90 lbs, they are made to respond to the lightest touch so that you don’t push the speaker out of place every time you adjust or pair a Bluetooth device.

Speaking of Bluetooth, these clever speakers may be paired with up to two devices at once, which eliminates the need to disconnect and reconnect different devices. It might not be much, but it’s a practical little feature for couples as well as single users who often flip-flop from one device to another.

Setup

Like its  minimalist style, the MX Sound’s setup is also simple and very straightforward… so much so you almost wonder if you’re missing something. It’s so simple, in fact, there’s not even a user’s manual included in the box—just a four-step process printed on the inner box flaps.

You just need to connect the power cord to the right speaker, connect the left and right speakers with the speaker cable, choose your output, and plug it in. There are no power buttons or additional steps. Bear in mind that the speakers do need to be three inches away from the computer, as recommended.

There are three inputs—Bluetooth as well as the PC and Aux jacks you’ll find in the back of the right speaker. The headphone jack serves is the only available output.

Performance

Let’s start with the good stuff. One of the things we love about the MX Sound is that it produces a beautifully balanced sound, its mids and highs are particularly great. Even when turned up all the way, the sound comes out loud without getting blown out or distorted. Considering that all that power is coming from a compact body, that’s saying something.

The soundstage is good – not excellent, but there’s a decent separation of left and right, which makes these speakers more than adequate for gaming as well as watching movies on your PC. And the output through the headphone port is controlled well, so personal audio is also balanced and not overwhelming, even at full volume.

Of course, at $100, you can’t expect the best, and these definitely have their share of inadequacies. It doesn’t have a sub and it doesn’t have a lot of low end—despite the rear-facing tubes that’s supposed to extend the bass range. This means that it lacks that punch and rumble you’d expect from actual 2.1-channel speakers. While it works well for gaming and action movies, the pivotal moments and actions scenes won’t have that same impact.

That missing punch is even more obvious when you’re using the PC or auxiliary ports. The volume through these ports tend to be half as loud compared to connecting over Bluetooth. In general, the high end rolls off a little, resulting in a slightly muffled top range.

There’s also that weird compression that happens when you connect your phone via Bluetooth and play music. Somehow, the speakers try to boost the low end to compensate for the fact that it doesn’t have a lot of it in the first place, compressing everything else in the process. The result? It’s as if you’re listening to your favorite tunes while someone’s turning the volume up and down really fast.

This is not an issue when you’re playing music from your computer, so we’re thinking that the speakers are more specifically designed for PCs and laptops. Still, since its Bluetooth connectivity is supposed to give users the flexibility to connect and use it with different devices, it’s definitely an issue.

Final verdict

Despite these flaws, we’re still impressed by the Logitech MX Sound’s performance. Remember, this is not designed as a gaming speaker system and it only costs $100. It might not have a lot of punch and weird compression issues when you’re using your other devices. But as a PC (or laptop) speaker, it’s pretty great, producing well-controlled and well-balanced sound as well as a minimalist design that helps reduce clutter on your desk. 

If you’re used to a speaker system with good bass or a sub, you might find it lacking. But for a small, even portable setup, it’s a nifty set. 

Have you heard it yet? Have you made sense of it yet? Are your ears working properly? How about your brain?

Is it Yanny or Laurel? Don’t know what we’re talking about? Listen to the clip below and see what you hear:

So what name is being said: Yanny, or Laurel? And what do those around you hear?

In what’s quickly becoming 2018’s answer to “The Dress” visual mind melter, the Yanny and Laurel enigma is dividing opinion across the globe, with some people hearing one name, and others certain it’s the alternative.

Sonic confusion

So what’s causing the discrepancy – how can one sound be received differently by people, especially when the same person can hear different names being played back at different times? Well it’s all down to the way different people perceive sound differently, and the way we individually process frequencies. With the audio frequency patterns of both words relatively similar, relatively small differences between people’s hearing can cause confusion.

The sad thing? You’re more likely to hear the name “Laurel” than your are “Yanny” the older you get. That’s because as you age your ability to hear higher frequencies diminish. This is called Presbycusis, and affects most people to some degree as they move through their 30s and into later life.

It’s made quite clear in this second clip, which shifts the pitch of the original audio file up through low frequencies to higher ones, at which point you can pinpoint exactly where the name changes for your ears.

Shifting speakers

And, as we’ve found at TechRadar towers, it can be just as easily affected by the sort of audio hardware you’re playing back on. On an array of speakers from a MacBook Pro’s built in speakers to a pair of Marshall MID ANC headphones to a fancy Devialet Phantom Gold and beyond, different members of the team heard different words through different devices, showing just how varied the audio performance of different gadgetry can be. Bass-ier devices more clearly and regularly produced more “Laurel” than “Yanny”, which lines up with the theories laid out by audio experts.

So, before you get worried that your hearing is degrading, make sure you’ve tried the clip on a range of speakers – it may well prove to be that your device’s engineers have just tuned a bias into them.

• The immersive audio you've never heard that could revolutionize virtual reality

Plantronics has shown off its Atmos gaming headsets for the first time, and we had a chance to have a listen to them for ourselves. 

When the company announced the new line of Xbox One and PC headsets back in June, it proudly advertised that they were the result of an 'exclusive' partnership with Dolby to provide Dolby Atmos to gamers. 

The list of Atmos-enabled games is currently short. On the Xbox the technology will be embraced by Gears of War 4 and Crackdown 3 later this year, while on PC you can currently experience the technology in a number of titles including Star Wars: Battlefront and Overwatch. 

In our demo Atmos continued to be just as impressive as ever. We were treated to a segment of Star Wars: Battlefront which received Atmos support on the PC last year, and we came away thoroughly impressed by the sound of TIE fighters screeching overhead, and the sound of lasers whipping passed us. 

You'll have to wait for our full review to hear our complete thoughts on the headsets, but our initial impressions were positive. 

But before you rush out to buy a pair of Plantronics new headsets, there's something you need to know about how its Atmos integration works.

Atmos for all

When Microsoft announced that it was bringing Atmos support to the Xbox One back at E3, it promised that the hot new audio tech would work with any pair of headphones. 

So what does Plantronics' exclusive Atmos partnership actually mean then?

The crux of the issue is the fact that if you want to use Atmos with your headphones, then you'll need to purchase a license from Dolby which retails for $14.99. Otherwise you'll be stuck with Microsoft's own surround sound technology, 'Windows Sonic.'

What Plantronics has managed to negotiate is to include this license in with its headphones. You'll get a code to activate it in the box, after which point you'll be able to enjoy the new audio tech... with whatever pair of headphones you choose. 

This also means that if you have an existing headset that you like to use, then you'll be able to buy this code separately without having to buy new hardware at all. Sorry Plantronics. 

Still, the headset manufacturer should be applauded for simplifying what Microsoft has turned into a needlessly complicated process with the inclusion of the $14.99 code. 

But if you're not in the market for a new headset, and want to try out Atmos for yourself, then you might want to try purchasing the license as a standalone before shelling out for a whole new headset. 

• These are the best console gaming headsets around. 

Sonos, the makers of the excellent multi-room speakers, is making it easier to keep the music going at home. The latest beta update for Android, Mac, and Windows simplifies music selection and queuing. Sorry iOS users; you'll have to wait for these new features.

The update allows you to start any song from an album, playlist or queue and Sonos will continue playing whatever's next in the track list. No more abrupt stops in your music flow.

The update also tweaks how you select a song to play. Previously you had to tap on a song and then select "Play Now" or "Play Next," but the updated app allows you to simply tap once to play. If you're using the Mac or Windows control apps, you double click to play a track.

To make sure your tunes never stop, Sonos made it much easier to queue up songs. Instead of tapping on the song title to see listening options, there's now a menu button (three dots) that appears to the right of each track. Tapping on the menu button shows options for "Play Now," "Play Next," or "Add to End of Queue." No need to jump back and forth.

The minor interface tweaks continue with options for "Play All" and "Shuffle" being relocated at the top of Albums and Playlists. Want to listen to an entire album? Simply tap "Play All." If you're bored of the playlist order, tap "Shuffle."

Indie grooves

Last but not least, Sonos announced it's adding Bandcamp to the list of supported music services. If you're not familiar, Bandcamp is an awesome marketplace for independent music artists. Musicians set their own prices and can sell merchandise alongside their music. It's a great place to discover music that's not in the Top 40.

Sonos now lets Bandcamp users stream their purchases for convenience, but also supports downloads, even in lossless formats like FLAC.

Bandcamp joins big names like Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play Music, Pandora, Soundcloud, and Tidal on Sonos.

• Which is the best music streaming service for you?

Sony may be known for making sound systems, televisions, PlayStations and disappointing Spider-Man movies, but now the tech juggernaut is joining the likes of Amazon, Apple and Google by diving into artificial intelligence.

Rather than go it on their own, the company is putting down money on AI in a major way. According to Reuters, Sony already has an undisclosed sum of money invested on an American startup by the name of Cogitai.

"From an objective perspective, we are lagging behind," said Chief Executive Hiroaki Kitano of Sony Computer Science Laboratories, adding that the company's experience producing hardware will work to its advantage.

Sony's investment may be revealed sooner than later, with the company hoping to have a product from its partnership with Cogitai ready to see the light of day within a year. Sony's work with AI could also play into its upcoming Xperia Agent - a competitor to the Alexa-powered Amazon Echo.

Developing AI has become a secondary focus for many major tech companies, with bigwigs like Facebook, Apple, and Google all putting their own spin on the concept, from digital assistants to robotic board game masters.

With a lengthy history making smartphones, game consoles, and laptop computers, Sony has a wealth of potential hardware to augment with AI tech. However, some of the conglomerate's goals are more out-there than others, as Kitano also mentioned that robots aren't out of the picture. What could go wrong?

• Sony's audio lineup this year is also high-tech

TechRadar has teamed up with Spaced360 to offer two lucky readers the chance to win a superb Spaced360 wireless Bluetooth speaker.

The Spaced360 is an innovative speaker system that's perfect for those who want to bring music into the centre of their world. Its unique design meant that you have ultra-pure 360 degree sound wherever you are.

Spaced360 connects to Bluetooth and NFC-enabled devices. Simply pair your phone, tablet or computer with the device and you can start listening to music that's complimented by the speaker's pioneering airSOUND technology.

Spaced out

Spaced360's unique airSOUND Technology delivers a crystal-clear, natural, immersive sound throughout the room and easily connects to Bluetooth and NFC-enabled devices, which means no worries with wires. With a class leading battery life you will have music where you want it for up to 14 hours.

In TechRadar's own review of the Spaced360 we called the device "a unique and brilliant addition to the burgeoning Bluetooth speaker market". For more information head to the Spaced360 website.

Click here to enter the competition

Please note that this competition is only open to UK residents over 18 years of age.

Welcome bargain hunters to another selection of the best tech deals the internet has to offer this week.

One discount we think is worth mentioning straight away is the Logitech Z323 2.1 Speaker system for only £32.99.

Designed to be used with a PC or Mac, this system offers two satellite speakers and ported subwoofer for quality sound. You save £27 on the RRP, so a saving of 45%, and it will improve the sound of your music and films for those with poor speaker systems.

We also want to draw your attention to the PlayStation Vita + 3G for your handheld gaming needs. At only £129.85, you save just over £150 on the RRP and get a portable PlayStation in your pocket. If you're tired of gaming on your mobile and want a better gaming experience on the go, this is the deal for you.

If you prefer your gaming to be on your TV at home, then you can still pre-order a PlayStation 4 with a £20 discount from GameStop, coming in at £329.97, one of the cheapest prices we have found online.

Although the console is not guaranteed for release day if you order now, you are still getting it cheaper than those at launch even if you have to wait a little longer to get your next-gen gaming fix.

Storage

• WD Elements 500GB USB 3.0 Hard Drive | Was: £49.99 Now: £39.99 | Amazon

• WD Elements 1TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive | Was: £69.99 Now: £49.98 | Amazon

• iBoutique® 32GB USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Elite Flash Drive - save 78% | Was: £39.99 Now: £8.99 | Amazon

• Kingston Technology 16GB DataTraveler USB Drive | Was: £20.00 Now: £7.18 | Amazon

Audio

• Klipsch Image S4i Rugged In Ear Headphones - Blue | Was: £89.99 Now: £48.99 | Amazon

• Logitech Z323 Speaker System | Was: £59.99 Now: £32.99 | Amazon

• SoundMAGIC E10 Earphones - Silver/Black | Was: £34.99 Now: £29.95 | Amazon

Tablets

• Zoostorm 7-inch Android Tablet PC (A9 Dual Core 1.5 GHz, 1GB RAM, 16GB) | Was: £69.99 Now: £68.76 | Amazon

• Lenovo Ideapad 7 inch tablet - Black | Was: £149.99 Now: £87.92 | Amazon

• Carphone Warehouse Avoca 7 Tablet | Was £99 Now: £49 | Carphone Warehouse

Gaming

• PlayStation 4 Console - save £20 | Now: £329.97 | Gamestop

• Playstation Vita : 3G Model | Was: £279.99 Now: £129.85 | ShopTo.net

• Dead Rising 2 - requires free Steam account | Was: £13.99 Now: £3.49 | Green Man Gaming

Digital Camera

• Canon Powershot SX240 HS Digital Camera | Was: £299.00 Now: £124.97 | Amazon

DVD

• Zavvi 2 Blu-ray for £12 sale!! | Now: £12.00 | Zavvi

• Sumvision Phoenix Premium Divx HDMI DVD player | Was: £26.66 Now: £22.98 | Ebuyer

• Breaking Bad - Season 1-3 [DVD] | Now: £18.56 | Amazon

Miscellaneous

• HDMI King- 2 Meter (6.6 ft) Gold Plated HDMI Cable - save 90%! | Was: £39.99 Now: £3.99 | Amazon

• Zippo Hand Warmer | Was: £20.75 Now: £12.96 | Amazon

• Philips AirFryer Healthier Oil-Free Fryer | Was: £200.00 Now: £89.00 | Amazon

Cases

• OtterBox Defender Series Case for Apple New iPad and iPad 2 | Was: £79.99 Now: £25.75 | Amazon

• OtterBox Defender Series Case for Apple iPad mini - Black | Was: £49.99 Now: £19.79 | Amazon

• GreatShield Legacy Ultra Slim Fit Cover with Kickstand for Galaxy S4 | Was: £24.99 Now: £7.95 | Amazon

• Phone Links: Blue Protection Heavy Duty Armour Impact Hybrid Kickstand Silicone Case Cover For New iPad Mini | Was: £9.99 Now: £5.49 | Amazon

• Proporta iPhone 4 /4S Aluminium Lined Leather Pouch | Was: £29.95 Now: £12.71 | Amazon

• iGadgitz Brown 'Ergo-Portfolio' Genuine Leather Case Cover for Google Nexus 7 | Was: £19.99 Now: £8.98 | Amazon

iOS Apps

• Plane Finder AR | Was: £1.99 Now: £0.99 | iTunes

• Voicemod | Was: £1.49 Now: Free | iTunes

• BBM™ Official | Now: Free | iTunes

Android Apps

• HDR Camera+ | Now: £0.99 | Google Play

• The Walking Dead: Assault | Now: £0.60 | Google Play

Today, we're bringing you the chance to snap up a set of Qsb 30W USB desktop speakers for just £49 instead of £109.99, saving yourself 55%

The Qsb is the ideal Hi-Fi travel/desktop companion, yet it delivers a big, room-filling sound from its beautifully compact piano-black cabinets.

With some brilliant acoustic engineering designed in the UK, the standalone Qsb Hi-Fi System works just from the USB port of your laptop, needing no external power to work.

A gorgeous piece of craftsmanship with metal-mesh grills provides a solid housing for the driver, while the sound from these little cubes (8.5 x 8.5 x 8.5cm) is engineered to enhance bass delivery.

Head over to TechRadar Deals to take advantage of this fantastic offer before it runs out.

About TechRadar deals

TechRadar Deals, powered by TechRadar.com, is a service for TechRadar readers.

This new and exciting service, open to our UK users, is designed to bring you massive discounts on all sorts of products, services and events that are highly relevant to tech and gadget fans.

Here's how it works…

The TechRadar Deals site offers fantastic deals with discounts of 50% or more off exclusive technology-related deals.

Once you're at our deals site you can get in on the deal by simply clicking 'Buy'. After your purchase, your voucher will be emailed to you within minutes or you can log into your account to locate your voucher. Simple and secure.

You can also sign up for our email newsletter and we will then email you regular deals that are at least 50% off goods and services from big name brands.

Visit TechRadarDeals.com to check out today's deal.

Sony sells more iPod docks in the UK than any other brand, and it launched its new XA900 flagship model at CES last month.

However, it isn't until now that anyone has been able to actually have a proper listen and we can report that it's a luscious beast to be sure.

TechRadar was given a demo during a week with Sony in Tokyo, and we can report it may be the best sounding iPod dock ever created.

While the B&W Zeppelin might claim to be the audiophile's dock of choice at the moment, we cannot wait to give this dock a proper test to see exactly how it stacks up in real-world conditions.

It utilizes Sony's brand new magnetic fluid speakers to produce absolutely superb sound. We heard several tracks including the Adele track 'Someone Like You' which Sony actually used to tune and develop the device.

We're not the biggest fans of Adele, but the unique way that this particular song is recorded makes it an excellent demo track.

It's also network compatible and can utilise AirPlay to play wirelessly form an iPhone even when it's not docked, and Bluetooth is included as well.

Highs, lows and midrange were handled with considerable excellence, and so if you're interested in buying one later this year you might want to start saving now.

There is no official Sony RDP-XA900iP price yet, but we understand it will cost somewhere in the region of £499.

Genelec has launched a portable speaker for use with PCs, TVs or music devices that promises to offer the brand's industry-leading sound at an affordable price.

The 600A Tube is a compact rear-ported active speaker, packing 2 x 10W amplifiers, and styled to sit discreetly on a tabletop. Sources are connected via a 3.5mm jack.

"Designed from the ground up as the perfect portable speaker, the 6000A Tube brings a new way to enjoy Genelec's professional sound quality wherever and from whatever device you like," reckons the Finnish brand.

The 600A Tube is a limited edition, with 1,000 of the Harri Koskinen-designed gadgets going on sale in Japan and another 1,000 reserved for the European market, and has a price tag of €450 (£390).

It ships with a credit card-sized remote control - a dedicated black leather carry case is an optional €125 (£110) extra.

As an active speaker, the 600A Tube needs to be plugged in to the mains, but an automatic signal-sensing function switches the speaker to stand-by mode after 10 minutes if no input is detected.

The ears have it

Genelec is a favourite of the pro-audio world – Pixar movies are mixed on its speakers – and it'll be banking on this reputation to woo buyers, because the 600A Tube is only available direct from its online shop.

Unfortunately, the company admits that while it is "easy to appreciate the design and technology of the new Genelec 6000A Tube, you really have to hear it to know the difference."

So you'll have to take a leap of faith.

Bose has unveiled a new set of computer speakers, dubbed the Bose Companion 20, which claim to offer natural sound throughout the room, without the need for a separate subwoofer.

The Companion 20 set brings with it a new driver and an advanced port that reproduces music across the full frequency range, which should deliver than natural sound.

With Bose's proprietary electronics and amplification, Bose reckons you'll enjoy the deep low notes and volume levels of larger systems from the speakers that are around as deep as an iPhone 4 is long.

Like a Bose

The speakers may be small, but Bose's computer speaker product manager Lino Pucci says that this "doesn't compromise the audio quality or power it delivers."

Coming with Bose TrueSpace stereo digital signal processing, the Companion 20 speakers apparently offer a wide and spacious sound even though they're intended to sit either side of a laptop or PC screen.

The speakers also come with a small, circular control pod for easy-access volume and mute control, as well as a headphone jack and an input for portable music devices and smartphones.

Available to buy from today in silver, the Bose Companion 20 UK price is set at around £199.

Most PC speaker purchases are made based on aural rather than aesthetic grounds. At least, this was true back in the days when our PCs were kept out of sight in studies.

However, now that our PCs are almost part of the furniture, and can be found in nearly any room of the house, sometimes a little visual flair is appreciated. As long as it doesn't lead to style covering up for a lack of substance, that is.

The Edifier Aurora is a small and striking looking 2.1 speaker system. Despite its stature, it feels weighty and well built.

The two round satellite speakers look good, but it's the long, tubular subwoofer that draws the eye. It might not be to everyone's taste, but it's a distinctive design that's a far cry from the usual black box looks of the average subwoofer.

Thankfully, the sound quality holds up, with the small speakers handling loud sounds incredibly well without distortion. The 15 watt subwoofer might not be able to produce ground-trembling bass, but it does a good job of bringing depth to the sound, and helps this speaker set avoid sounding either thin or tinny.

The one area where it feels like convenience has taken a back seat to style is control. There are only two buttons located on the right-hand satellite for volume tweaking. There are no controls for bass or even to turn the speakers on and off.

Luckily, the levels are pretty good, but it's frustrating to not have complete control over the sound quality from the speakers.

While the slim design makes these speakers look good alongside a laptop, they need to be plugged in to a power source, so they aren't exactly portable.

The Edifier Aurora connects via a standard headphone jack, though, so it's very versatile, enabling you to use it with most PCs, MP3 players and smartphones. Best of all, it sounds as good as it looks.

Follow TechRadar Reviews on Twitter: http://twitter.com/techradarreview

Altec Lansing has a 70-year history in audio tech, and the expertise it's accrued over that time is evident in the InMotion Air wireless speakers.

The sound quality is great. Altec Lansing hasn't cut any corners with the build quality and components, and sound is as crisp and clear as if the speakers were physically connected to a PC.

It's not just the design that helps the unit reproduce audio so well, but the Bluetooth technology used to connect to the music source. This has enough bandwidth to transmit audio with no noticeable loss of quality.

The Bluetooth allows for a distance of 100 metres between the speakers and the USB dongle, but in our tests the audio started to break up when the speakers were moved into another room.

When the dongle is plugged into a PC, you can easily control the computer's media playback from the buttons on the InMotion AIR or via the included remote control. There's also a 'Launch' button on the remote that launches the default media player on the PC.

Another fantastic feature is the ability to pair a Bluetooth-enabled device with the InMotion AIR. The process is incredibly simple, and it only took a few seconds for our test phone to connect to the InMotion AIR. Once the two were paired, we were able to control playback on the phone from the remote control.

The remote also has an 'ESS' button to activate Altec Lansing's 'Expanded Sound Stage' technology. This is supposed to improve sound quality in large spaces, but when we tried it we didn't notice any major change.

Everything about this speaker works well. It's a bit pricy though, which might make you think twice before taking it outside. However, with the range of the Bluetooth transmitter and seven-hour battery life, the InMotion AIR is wasted next to a PC. It might be expensive, but it's well worth the money.

Follow TechRadar Reviews on Twitter: http://twitter.com/techradarreview

Looking for headphones that you can use to make Skype calls and for gaming?

Windows: The Official Magazine has taken a quick look at five pairs.

Genius HS-04U - £22.70
Web: www.geniusnet.com

This cheap and cheerful headset lights up like a fair ride when it's plugged in, which is an unnecessary distraction. The problems don't end there – we couldn't adjust the volume, resulting in a deafening experience. They don't feel particularly well built, and the sound leaked so much that we wondered if any was actually going into our ears. Avoid.

Verdict: 2/5

Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930 - £136
Web: www.logitech.com

Logitech's über-expensive cans are wireless, so you can be 40 feet from your PC and still hear what's going on. The buttons enable you to skip and pause music, too. For music, they're a little washed-out, but the surround sound set-up makes them ideal for gamers who don't want to clutter their desks.

Verdict: 4/5

Griffin MyPhones - £29.99
Web: www.myphoneskids.com

Not strictly a headset – these don't include a microphone – but they're a set of headphones designed especially for kids, and they automatically limit the volume to 85 decibels, which is slightly louder than an average conversation. The also have interchangeable, customisable inserts, and the sound quality is surprisingly decent.

Verdict: 4/5

AKG Harman GHS 1 - £99.99
Web: www.akg.com

This headset neatly folds up to a compact size, making it perfect for gamers on the go, or people who want to use Skype while on holiday. Despite the fact that they don't completely cover your ears, the sound they produce is surprisingly meaty, with impressive bass. We're not quite so sure about the day-glo orange cable, though…

Verdict: 3/5

Plantronics .Audio 655 DSP - £27.04
Web: www.plantronics.com

Plantronics' headphones look and feel a little plasticky, but they certainly deliver a rich, clear sound, and they're surprisingly cheap, too. The boom microphone does a really good job of picking up your voice, and it automatically mutes when it's moved into the up position. The headset also supports Skype 4.0, for high quality voice calls.

Verdict: 5/5

It's not often a new company comes along to compete in the component business, and one that enters the increasingly niche world of sound cards is even rarer. But that's exactly what Formosa21 is doing with its aim Audio SC8000.

It may seem an odd place to be trying to cut a name for yourself, but Formosa21 has a 17-year history in the OEM audio business, and the component list sounds impressive enough. A 32-bit CMI8787 processor is as good as they come, and the JRC4580 op amps have been seen on the prolific Auzentech's cards in the past.

Consider our interest in the aim SC8000 piqued.

Sound is, by its very nature, a subjective experience. The process of turning electronic pulses into high fidelity renditions of Bach's most subtly nuanced cantos is technically complex. Together, these two facts create the perfect conditions for snake oil salesmen to grow, ready to blind with the science of audio and fleece some cash.

It's why we can love the expensive ASUS Xonar Xense, but be wary of the similarly priced Creative Titanium HD. At a third of the price of either, how does the aim SC8000 compare.

The quarter-inch headphone jack has a separate 70W amplifier chip to the RCA stereo out ports, although confusingly both chips seem to be the same, raising the question: why? Still, plug in a pair of cans and it's a potent experience. There's an enormous amount of power in the mid-to-low range – nice if you're a fan of death metal or rock music.

The somewhat muted treble response is only the beginning of the aim SC8000's problems, though. We can overlook the fact that there's no support for the Dolby standards or in-game effects like EAX in the driver, and no analogue surround out isn't a deal breaker. Stereo speakers are generally better for games, and if we want to go 5.1 we can use a digital connection and decoder.

What makes it absolutely impractical as a PC expansion is the fact there's no mic or line in ports. There's also no header for connecting up jacks on the front of the case.

You can work around this by leaving the on-board sound card enabled and using that for recording, but even if all you want to do is listen to music, we'd recommend the Xonar D2X or any of Auzentech's cards instead. Not only do they have more features, the aim's drivers are just not as mature and we're fairly sure they caused the occasional stutter and distortion in MP3 playback.

This isn't a question of sticking with tried and tested brands, there's just no stand out part of the SC8000 that overcomes its shortcomings.

It's not snake oil. It's just not very good.

We liked

Competition is a good thing, and more sound card manufacturers will bring top end components like some of those found on the aim SC8000 down to affordable levels. We like the raw power of the SC8000, even if lacks finesse in the high frequencies.

We disliked

Oh, where to start... Dodgy drivers that need you to manually select the source quality? No front port header or Blu-ray passthrough? Nope, it's the lack of any kind of inputs which is a real bummer. What, exactly, is the point?

Follow TechRadar Reviews on Twitter:http://twitter.com/techradarreview

Spendor first emerged from the BBC Research culture some forty years ago. It has been through numerous changes since then, but that original culture seems to have largely survived, albeit somewhat modified by marketplace trends, including the current fashion for floorstanders.

This £2,095 per pair A6 is the middle of three floorstanders that make up the company's A-series successors to the S-series.

Very similar in many respects (including dimensions and measured behaviour) to the S6e we reviewed in HFC 257, it's a good size two-way floorstander, dressed in real wood veneer (black ash, cherry, light oak or wenge) and mounted on a blackpainted MDF plinth the same width and depth as the enclosure proper.

Inside, the enclosure is kept as free from damping materials as possible, relying instead on small strategically placed polymer blocks to absorb unwanted energy. The bass/mid driver is reflex-loaded by a large 'linear-flow' port on the rear at floor level and a very clever arrangement, using substantial steel discs, enables the spikes to be firmly fixed close to the edge of the cabinet, ensuring good physical stability.

The main driver here has a fairly large 180mm cast-alloy frame, but a pretty standard 120mm diameter cone; this has a flared profile and is formed from ep38 plastic. The tweeter has a quite large 29mm doped fabric dome with an unusually wide surround.

Signal is applied via a solitary pair of WBT terminals and silver-plated copper cables to a 4kHz crossover with audiophile-grade capacitors. Tapped autochoke inductors allow the compromises involved in using attenuating resistors to be avoided.

No port blocking arrangements are available here, so the A6 should be kept well clear of walls.

Sound quality

The listening panel gave the A6 good marks, praising its overall coherence, fine timing, a high standard of clarity, and a wide dynamic range. Voices were well formed and projected, though they did err a little on the smooth and polite side and had a slight tendency to lose a little texture and grain.

The tonal balance might have been more neutral – the slightly 'pushy' upper mid and reticent treble were both identified, but neither was considered unpleasant and the ears quickly and easily adjusted to this mild degree of 'character'.

While it might certainly have been smoother – slight 'one note' tendencies were apparent at times – the bass gave a good impression of scale and weight and provided a firm foundation with convincing dynamic expression.

Despite slight forward tendencies on some tracks, the stereo image showed good width and was praised for decent depth and the nice sense of space and air that was developed around individual instruments. Hands-on work largely confirmed the panel findings.

The A6 does impose a little of itself on the sound, but its slight vocal forwardness is well balanced by an innately smooth and polite character. The A6 is a worthy successor to the S6e, with which it has much in common.

There are some minor grounds for criticism, but the total package is very well-founded and above all, entertaining.

Follow TechRadar Reviews on Twitter: http://twitter.com/techradarreview