We also have recommendations for smaller computer-speaker pairs, as well as some larger professional monitors for audio production.
Our pick
Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT
This pair is good for music listening and audio production, and it features Bluetooth support and a helpful variety of inputs. But its bass is less deep than that of the larger pro monitors we like.
The Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT is our favorite pair of computer speakers because it sounds great and should fit well on most desktops, measuring 11 by 7 by 10 inches. The system has two sound modes: The Production mode, as its name suggests, is better for audio production, and the DJ mode is better for movies and bass-heavy music. During our tests, in either mode the reproduction of voices and acoustic instruments sounded clearer through the DM-50D-BT than it did through other systems in this price range.
The DM-50D-BT has three types of analog audio inputs (including balanced connectors) on the back, as well as a volume/power knob and a headphone jack, both of which are located on the front of one of the speakers for easy access. This system has Bluetooth support built in, and its signal-sensing inputs turn it on automatically when they detect an incoming audio signal; thanks to this feature, the DM-50D-BT set works like a smart speaker if you connect an Amazon Echo Dot.
The DM-50D-BT pair is available in a black or white finish. If you don’t need built-in Bluetooth, you can get the Pioneer DJ DM-50D set, which performs just as well and costs a bit less.
Budget pick
Creative Pebble Pro
These two tiny, spherical speakers are a huge upgrade from speakers built into a laptop, but don’t expect the same fullness and dynamic ability as you can get from our pricier picks.
The Creative Pebble Pro pair is perfect for people who don’t want to spend more than $100 and have modest needs in desktop sound. The 2.25-inch speaker drivers won’t exactly rock anyone’s home office, but they do sound fuller and clearer than the other computer speakers we’ve heard in this price range.
The grapefruit-sized speakers will fit on even dorm-room desks. This speaker pair gets its power from the computer through the USB connection, so it doesn’t require AC power. It has a 3.5 mm analog input and Bluetooth, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. A front-mounted volume knob makes that adjustment fast and easy.
The multicolored lighting in the speaker bases adds a fun touch, but a button on the front lets you turn off the lights if you prefer.
Upgrade pick
JBL Professional 305P MkII
This professional studio monitor offers a big, clean sound with useful controls to fine-tune the results, but it’s not as easy to use as our other picks.
For anyone who is serious about audio production but needs to keep their costs down and their setup small, the JBL Professional 305P MkII is a great choice. It’s only a little larger than each Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT speaker, but it sounds clearer than any of the smaller, lower-priced powered speakers we’ve tried. Its bass and treble tuning switches allow you to fine-tune the sound for different types of installations.
The downsides: The 305P MkII costs more, it’s a little too large for many desks, it lacks conveniences such as front-panel controls, Bluetooth, and a headphone jack, and it has quarter-inch and XLR audio jacks instead of RCA jacks, so it’ll probably require adapters for hookup to a computer.
Also great
PreSonus Eris E3.5 BT
This pair puts excellent sound and conveniently placed controls in a smaller package than our top pick, but it doesn’t handle deep bass as well.
If you want computer speakers that are smaller than our top pick, the PreSonus Eris E3.5 BT set is a great choice. After we fine-tuned this pair’s bass and treble controls, the speakers’ sound quality approached that of the Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT set. The difference is that this set’s rear port “chuffs” on loud, deep bass notes, so it isn’t a great choice for hip-hop, EDM, or R&B music.
This pair includes Bluetooth support, and it offers a volume control, a headphone jack, and an auxiliary input jack on the front, plus quarter-inch and RCA analog audio inputs on the back.
Also great
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX
This full-sounding system includes a separate subwoofer to improve bass response in movies and video games—but the connection options are limited, and the sub needs space under or near your desk.
If you watch a lot of movies or play cinematic video games at your desk, you might prefer a computer speaker system that includes a subwoofer to reproduce deep bass notes. Of all the 2.1-channel systems we tested, the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX had the best sound quality, about as full and balanced as that of the Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT but with deeper bass response. Dialogue and acoustic instruments sounded clear and crisp, and the subwoofer effectively filled in the low end.
The speakers have a small footprint and convenient front-panel controls, but connection options are limited, the sub requires real estate near your desk, and there’s no Bluetooth support.
