The best PC speakers between 20 and 300 euros

One of the essential peripherals if we use a computer desktop—or a laptop connected to a monitor—are the speakers. Choosing a suitable model is not easy, especially if you cannot try them one by one to stay with the one that convinces you the most. When making a purchase of this type of device, you should not get carried away by a single opinion. Some speakers may sound good to some people, but might not be right for you depending on the type of music you listen to or your personal preferences.

The keys to a good speaker

On the table, there are many aspects that must be evaluated about speakers. The classics will be the price, power and sound quality. However, if we spin finer, we will also have to analyze fidelity and design. Throughout this article we will show you all the concepts you need to know to understand the specification sheet of a speaker. From there, it will be much easier for you. find your ideal speakers. At the end of the article we will also show you some models that may be good options for you. So let's talk about it.

As with headphones, the technical data of the speakers is important, but not decisive. That is to say, being guided only by the specifications will not ensure you the best choice. Even less if what you look at are only those that affect specific sections such as the maximum sound power.

So, what you should consider when looking for your ideal speakers is that they are balanced in each of the most important sections. That is, unless you want something different, such as a setup in which the bass is the main point. However, we will be guided by the concepts that most users are looking for:

RMS power

La rms power indicates how long you can listen to sound at maximum volume without burning your speakers or breaking your eardrums. But that value is also conditioned by the space you want to cover, by the quality of construction, etc. Therefore, you must take all this into account and, above all, be very clear about where and for what you are going to use them.

All speakers serve the same purpose, reproduce sounds, but not all do it in the same way. A sound system for video games, movies and series is not the same as for editing video and audio. Neither if you are going to use it in a small room or a large room, near or far from them. And, logically, what is the number of speakers that the system has.

That is, you can buy a 2.0 speaker system or go for more complex configurations like the classics and 2.1, 5.1 or 7.1. For entertainment, the latter are very attractive, but if it is to be used with your computer for creative tasks, a good pair of 2.0 speakers will be more than enough and even the best option. Because you avoid configuration problems and knowing how and where to place them so that their performance is optimal.

Then it is evident that they have to offer plenty of power to cover the space where you are going to use it. For a small room, most solutions already offer an average volume that is more than valid for daily use. But if the room is larger, then you will need more powerful speakers and that implies a larger size. If this is not the case, it is likely that they will quickly begin to distort or produce annoying vibrations.

Connectivity

The type of connection is also important. If you are looking for PC speakers you can find both models that connect via 3,5mm Jack and USB. These speakers that go via USB are comfortable, because they do not normally need a power supply -the connector itself already has a minimum of 5V-, but they have a lower volume as a counterpart.

So, unless you are very clear about it and despite the fact that they work relatively well, the ideal is to bet on conventional speakers that go to the analog audio output. You will gain in details as simple as avoiding a possible delay between the actual playback and the moment the sound is played on the speaker.

However, Bluetooth is not a negative either, as long as it is an extra option. The fact of using speakers with this technology can be comfortable, either to use them occasionally with our mobile or at a given moment in which we cannot be connecting cables.

Speaker type: passive or active

Finally, there are two types of passive and active speakers. The former need to receive power from another source in order to sound to the fullest. Meanwhile, the active ones (they are usually the majority of models for computers) already have their own amplifier inside.

Build quality

We said it before, the build quality of the box it's really important. If it is made of poor quality plastic and inadequate weight, it is likely that sound distortion or annoying vibrations will be generated on the surface on which they rest when the volume is raised to high values.

So keep that in mind. And if possible, before buying try to try them. If it's with music that you're used to listening to, even better. Because that way you will know how to identify sounds and be clear about whether or not you like how they sound.

The importance of the sound card

Together with some good or the best speakers you can buy, if you don't have a good sound card it will be like putting the wheels of a Ferrari on a Seat Panda. You are not going to take advantage of them.

The vast majority of current equipment offers a sound card integrated that perfectly complies when it comes to playing audio. Even so, as with sound equipment and power amplifiers, depending on the type of speaker, it will be more or less advisable to use one of these external sound cards that can be purchased.

However, for the average user it will not be necessary. Only if you want to get the most out of the highest level options will they be recommended. Therefore, although there could be some improvement, the change between using computer speakers that are around 50 euros with the equipment's own card or one, for example, external is not something that always compensates. But good speakers will only really shine with a good sound interface.

Can I use my smart speaker as a PC speaker?

Now that smart speakers have become so popular and that proposals such as the Sonos, Amazon Echo or Apple HomePod models offer such sound quality, it is normal to wonder if they could not be used as a PC speaker.

Well, let's go in parts. At first, smart speakers could be used as PC speakers. Of course, each model will allow the connection in one way or another. For example, the Amazon Echo allow you to receive sound via Bluetooth and some models through the line input. The HomePods for their part only through AirPlay.

What does this mean? Well, to listen to music they would be perfectly worth it and they would give the quality that the speaker itself offers, in some cases much better than the speakers you normally use with your PC. The problem is that if it is to listen to music, it is not necessary to connect it, because through services such as Spotify, Apple Music, etc., you could already ask it to play music and avoid charging or consuming resources from your PC when the speaker can individually do it.

However, if it is to reproduce the sound of a movie or video game, a delay may be generated due to the Bluetooth or AirPlay connection that causes the audio and video to go out of sync. And of course, that would affect the user experience significantly. So it's better to use PC speakers for this purpose and leave smart speakers for what they are.