Computer Speakers

There are a ton of different types of computer speakers out on the market today. There are different brands, wattage, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and ect. So what does all this mean and how do you choose?

There are a lot of different brand of computer speakers that you can choose from. My recommendation is to stick with the name brands which are the well known and trusted brands that you hear about. If you go with an off brand then you may not be satisfied with their service and they may not stand behind their product.

Some comman brands are Logitech, Bose, JBL, Altec Lansing, and Creative Labs. I personally like the Logitech speakers. I have had a couple sets of the 5.1 speakers and absolutely love them. Logitech has great service and a warranty on their speakers.

These are the numbers that tell you how about the speakers. You can tell how many speakers are in the system.

2.0 - two speakers.

2.1 - two speakers and one subwoofer.

5.1 - This is where your true surround sound comes into play. With these systems you get 5 speakers - 2 front, 2 rear, and a center speaker and one subwoofer.

7.1 - Seven speakers and one subwoofer. This is for more of a surround sound experience.

1. First you will need to take into consideration your budget for speakers. Computer speakers ranges from $30 - $300+.

2. Look at your workspace. Do you have room for multiple speakers such as a 5.1 or a 7.1 system? A lot of people go out and buy a great system and then get back to the house or office and then realize that they don't have as much room as they originally thought.

3. When comparing prices and wattage make sure you look at the detailed wattage specs and not just the total wattage specs. Some of the off brands have a total wattage of a specific number that looks comparable to another system that is higher in price. If you take a closer look then the desktop speaker may only put out a very small number like 5 watts and the subwoofer puts out the rest of the wattage. That system is priced lower, looks comparable to a higher item, but the sound isn't anywhere close. So make sure that you compare the detailed specs of each speaker when you are comparing systems and prices.

4. Look at the system requirements for the speakers. If you are looking at getting a 5.1 or 7.1 system then you will need to have a sound card in your computer that will support the suround sound system. If you don't then not all of your speakers will play when you hook them up. This is another common and frustrating mistake that people make. Nothing is worse than getting home or back to the office and being excited about your new speakers, hook them up, and only a few are working because you don't have all the necessary hardware for them.