An Easy Upgrade for Your Gaming Audio

At just a little over seven inches tall, these speakers aren’t huge, but they’re slightly larger than you might expect out of computer speakers. The speakers are constructed out of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which keeps them on the lighter side without making them any weaker in terms of build quality.

There is another benefit to using MDF for the cabinet design. While many computer speakers are notorious for rattling, the characteristics of MDF prevent this from happening, as the wood composite is softer than many components. This isn’t just a claim from NZXT, either. While testing the speakers, I never heard a hint of cabinet rattle.

The look of the Relay Speakers leans toward the minimalist for two reasons: the all-black finish and the absolute lack of any front or top-mounted controls. This doesn’t mean there aren’t any controls on the speakers—they’re just all mounted on the back of the speaker, where you won’t see them unless you’re looking for them.

The NZXT Relay Subwoofer looks, as you might imagine, like it was designed as a companion to the Relay Speakers. The rounded corners are the same, as is the general build and overall look of the subwoofer. Like the speakers, the subwoofer has its controls mounted on the rear, meaning you’ll need to turn it around to make any adjustments.

On the box and in its marketing materials, NZXT mentions that it uses “universal” RCA and 3.5mm jacks for maximum compatibility. If you’re looking to plug in your speaker out from your computer’s built-in sound card, this is true, as you can probably use the included 3.5mm cable and call that it. RCA connectivity in computer speakers is less common, but if you’re using an external audio interface, these will be handy.

For true universal connectivity, it would have been nice to see NZXT include a USB option. While desktop computers nearly always have a 3.5mm jack, they’re becoming slightly more rare on laptops. You can always use a dock or dongle, if necessary, but USB would have made the speakers much more compatible.

The controls for the Relay Speakers are located on the back of the left speaker, not to say there is much to control. There is a power button and a volume control above this.

Despite being simpler in general, the Relay Subwoofer actually has more controls. There is an overall subwoofer volume, a crossover frequency control, and a phase control. You’ll also find a power button.

With the controls mounted on the back of both the speakers and subwoofer, you’ll want to treat these as set-and-forget controls. You can always adjust the playback volume from your computer or other device that you’re listening from. This is one area where USB and an app would be useful.

For NZXT’s other Relay series audio devices, the company is updating the NZXT Cam app to work with them. Since the Relay Speakers only connect via 3.5mm or RCA cables, there isn’t a way for them to interact with the software. This isn’t a massive loss for the speakers, but it does seem strange to leave this type of feature out when it’s found in other Relay series products.

While the Relay Speakers and the Relay Subwoofer both feature power switches on the back, you won’t have to worry about them. Both products feature Power on Demand, which places the speakers in a barely on state when no audio is playing. Once they detect audio, they power on.

This does result in a slight lag until you hear sound once the speakers have gone into low-power mode, but the delay is short enough that, in most cases, you won’t miss anything.

The NZXT Relay Speakers feature three-inch glass fiber drivers and 20mm silk dome tweeters. These are powered by a built-in amplifier located in the left speaker that provides 40 watts RMS and 80 watts peak power.

NZXT says that the Relay Speakers are optimized for near-field environments, which means they’re meant to be close to you, like on a desk. As these are largely meant for gaming, this is the sweet spot for positional audio. In my testing, I had them spaced roughly 4.5 feet apart, but they sounded fairly wide.

The low piano notes in Diablo 4’s soundtrack resonate well enough to sound more eerie than usual, especially with added bass from the subwoofer. Even without the subwoofer connected, the soundtrack’s thundering drums sounded powerful considering the relatively small size of the drivers.

The speakers deliver excellent spatial cues in Cyberpunk 2077, helping to make combat more engaging, and even the game’s slower sections benefit from the speakers. In particular, the subwoofer makes the low hum of traffic that constantly fills Night City feel more realistic.