Amazon Basics USB-Powered Computer Speakers with Dynamic Sound , Single Pair, Silver

Product Information

It features a linear class A/B amplifier and delivers a huge amount of raw power with an incredible 600 watts of peak power. It has been efficiently designed to provide well-balanced clarity across a broad frequency response with great bass mids and highs. The built-in woofer is 10 inches and has a 2-inch aluminum voice coil. It's also coupled with a pure titanium diaphragm compression driver and a 40-degree horizontal waveguide horn that gives it an ultra-wide dispersion. SteelSeries says its Arena 9 is the first 5.1 surround system for gaming, which we suppose is technically true, because while there are other 5.1 surround systems for PCs, they’re not billed as being gamer-oriented. The Arena 9 comes with five satellites — a center channel that sits under your monitor, two left/right front channels, and two left/right rear channels — as well as a 6.5-inch down-firing subwoofer. The rear satellites are wireless (they connect to each other and are powered separately, but connect to the system wirelessly), which makes for an easier setup than trying to run speaker cables under carpeting. If you plan to entertain in the home and need something a bit louder, you might want something a little more high-power with a readily available volume reserve. This will ensure better, high-resolution audio. Bluetooth: Bluetooth speakers are a category all on their own, and they’re not very well-suited to acting as desktop PC speakers (nor are they very economical if you don’t need the portability). Bluetooth isn’t a necessity in PC speakers, but the added versatility can be a bonus — especially if you frequently switch between systems and/or devices. Bass reflex enclosures are sometimes referred to as ported or vented boxes or sometimes even reflex ports. They feature a hole, where a section of tubing or pipe is threaded through to draw in fresh air sort of like a pipe organ. If they are built with accurate volume calculations they can be louder than a sealed enclosure.

This powered speaker set has been constructed with resonance-suppressing braces internally and a rear-firing port for bass clarity and ultra-optimized sound. With a frequency response of 90Hz-20kHz, the low end isn’t as full as it could be. But again, don’t expect too much in this price range.

Tech Specs

They are an eye-catching classic wood-finished set with an active and a passive speaker. The 13mm silk dome tweeters provide natural sounds at studio quality. The bass reflex port enclosure has been carefully calibrated to help to provide optimal sound free of bass distortion. The bass driver is 4 inches and pretty impressive. Why did Arctic choose not to name their square USB speakers Ice Cubes? I’ll never know. Instead, we have the S111 speakers, which are a stylish and compact option for USB-powered audio. They can connect to your computer via either a 3.5mm cable or Bluetooth 4.0 wireless. They can be plugged into your laptop for power but they also have an internal battery that lasts about 12 hours total. How you plan to use your speakers can also help you determine the best option. You probably don't need a mammoth subwoofer if you're listening at work—small speakers with decent clarity might be the wisest choice, particularly if you're just using them to watch YouTube videos or listen to internet radio streams. For home, maybe you want larger or more stylish speakers, and the ability to blast them without distortion (especially if your PC is your main music source). For more, see our guide on how to set up your speakers. Keep in mind that low frequencies are difficult to reproduce in 2.0 systems without a subwoofer. Manufacturers frequently employ technological enhancements to strengthen the bottom notes, although they can sound boomy and muddle the whole mix. A 2.1 system may be a better investment if a rich, balanced low end is required. Wrap Up Small powered speakers are commonly used as an output device for PC systems. The majority of modern speaker systems can be connected to other, if not multiple, sources simultaneously. Some speaker systems connect directly to your television set for improved TV sound. Sometimes they are called "monitor speakers" or "bookshelf speakers." The best bookshelf speakers on the market offer multimedia input/output options.

A lot of opinions about sound signature, features, and design come into play when deciding what PC speakers are the best for you. Of course, there are measurable characteristics that can tell you quite a bit about how a set of speakers sound. But without thousands of dollars of equipment and an anechoic chamber, it’s tough to reliably make those kinds of measurements. Plus, regardless of what those results might be, how speakers will sound to you depends greatly on the size and shape of your room, the types of materials on and around your walls, and your own ears and brain. If you aren’t off-put by the boxy style of these speakers, they are a great companion for laptops and desktops alike. The frequency response is 180Hz-20KHz, which means the low end is a little rounded off. The mids and highs, however, come through clearly.The max volume is impressive, but if you crank it up to the max you will hear a noticeable distortion. Instead, you’ll want to keep it around 80% of the volume. As for the GOgroove GS3’s sound, it is characterized by a clear and present midrange with sharp highs. Low-end frequencies are hard to recreate with small speakers, but these speakers use their rear-firing passive bass ports to round the sound out nicely. The bass ports don’t have powered drivers (hence passive), but their membranes can push sound through your desk, giving a nice but positionally-dependent bass sound. These speakers are 16cm tall and they connect to your laptop or desktop via the USB2.0 cable that comes with them. The problem with onboard laptop speakers is that they are simply too small to put out the volume or frequency response that you need to actually enjoy music and experience movies. A speaker is a form of transducer. Technically speaking, it converts the electromagnetic waves it receives into sound-waves. Speakers are comprised of a stiff cone (driven by a voice coil attached to it), which is sat inside of a magnetic field. When a current is introduced, the coil pushes and pulls the cone in a piston-like fashion and this is what creates the waves.