Mobile Speakers
Often sold as a clip-on bar, mobile speakers for laptops are convenient to bring with you and easy to connect. Typically offering less than 5 watts per speaker, their small size can mean less responsive sound, but performance varies between models and manufacturers often don't provide exact specs. Plug in the USB cable and you're good to go, with power and sound connected at once. Some may also have auxiliary inputs to connect to mobile devices such as an iPod or smartphone.
The Logitech Z305 is one example of this kind of speaker, with 360-degree sound and healthy bass. Using USB, it requires neither batteries nor a bulky adapter, and it can clip onto your laptop or sit on a desk. If space is at a premium, you may want something like the compact, USB-powered Altec Lansing ORBIT. Its circular design fits where many other speakers cannot, and a built-in stand helps project the sound toward the audience. It only has mono sound but good clarity and power, although bass is a bit lacking.
Powered Desktop Speakers
Powered desktop speaker systems aren't particularly portable, but they aren't hard to set up, either. Often containing two desk units and a separate subwoofer, powered speakers are the workhorse of the laptop audio world. You need to plug them into the wall, but they contain built-in amplifiers and draw higher power accordingly, from 20 to 200 watts total.
The Cyber Acoustics CA 3602 comes in a standard two-speaker, one-subwoofer configuration. Each side channel gets 6 watts and the bass consumes up to 18 watts for 30 watts of total power. Adjustable volume and bass make for comfortable listening, with a 3.5 millimeter line-in and headset-out jacks. Sound reproduction is good and can easily fill a mid-sized room.
With 200 watts of THX-certified sound, the Logitech Z623 packs plenty of sound into an affordable product. Two RCA inputs and two mini line-in jacks make it simple to connect to any kind of sound output. A headphone jack is included for more private listening, and you'll find controls for bass and volume on one of the speakers.
High-End Systems
A full speaker system includes magnetic shielding, variable crossovers and other features targeted at the audiophile market. Some sets include their own amplifiers, while others require a receiver connection, but all have superior sound quality.
Not quite as costly as a full speaker system, the Bose Companion 5 promises stellar quality in a desktop package. These speakers support USB and a mini-jack for connecting to your laptop. Along with volume and bass controls, this unit also includes a mute button on its wired remote, which may be easier to get to than the subwoofer. It also has a six-channel sound decoder inside for higher fidelity playback on movies and games.
Not for beginners, the Polk Audio RM6750 is a solid 5.1-channel system with magnetically shielded satellite speakers -- common to surround-sound systems -- for use next to electronics. It includes powerful controls such as low pass filter depth and phase selector, and the subwoofer cranks out 100 watts. Extra satellites will turn this set into a 6.1, 7.1 or even 8.1 system. These speakers need a separate amplifier to ensure the best sound experience, and connect with bare wires.
Making a Decision
Once you know the kind of speaker you want, it's time to factor in your budget. As of March 2012, mobile speakers cost about $20 to $60, while powered desktop speakers fall between $60 and $150. High-end speakers start around $150 and go to upwards of $400.
A final concern is size. As with laptops themselves, there's a tradeoff between speaker performance and portability. "Bigger and heavier speakers almost always sound better than small, lightweight ones," says Steve Guttenberg of CNET, but high-end systems aren't designed for toting around with your laptop. Some music lovers decide on mobile speakers for on-the-run listening and keep a larger, better-quality set at home
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