The Best Compact PC Speakers

Sound comes over 3.5mm. Volume sits on the speaker itself, so you don't need to reach for the keyboard. Separate volume buttons give precise control, and it runs on USB power with 3.5mm audio and mic cables.

The brushed finish suits a minimalist desk. Its full-range 2.0 stereo drivers suit a small desk without a subwoofer. It is the only pick here with 6 touch RGB modes extras; the CR3.5 has isolation pads and cables extras instead.

It also offers a low price tier. USB supplies power only; sound arrives over the 3.5mm cable. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the Pebble V3 the next step up.

Its 2.25in drivers angle up at 45 degrees toward the listener, and a gain switch adds volume. Its 2.25-inch drivers are 50% louder than the previous Pebble, and Clear Dialog processing helps speech in calls and films. It also connects over Bluetooth 5.0 or a 3.5mm input, and its drivers angle up 45 degrees toward your ears.

Its 2.25-inch drivers are 50% louder than the previous Pebble, and one USB-C cable carries power and audio. Bluetooth adds some delay, so use a wired input for games. It was priced above the GS520 and below the R980T at the time of writing. There is no published woofer size figure, whereas the Eris 3.5 comes in at 3.5-inch.

Two AUX inputs, 3.5mm and RCA, can stay connected at the same time. Its wooden enclosures reduce resonance, and RCA and 3.5mm cables are included with a universal power supply. It suits music and films on a desk.

It delivers 24W RMS through a front-facing flared bass port, so it can sit close to a wall. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the GS520 at the time of writing. Its price falls between the Pebble V3 and the Eris 3.5, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed woofer size should compare it with the Eris 3.5, which comes in at 3.5-inch.

It suits a small desk, though 3.5-inch woofers limit how low it can reach. Its tuning controls help in untreated rooms. Its 80Hz to 20kHz range covers vocals and most instruments at desk distance.

Its 1-inch silk-dome tweeters smooth out harsh highs. Its compact cabinets fit beside a monitor on a small desk, and the pair includes the cables to connect them. It has balanced TRS, RCA and a front aux input plus a headphone jack.

Its 3.5-inch woven-composite woofers give tighter bass than typical desk speakers of this size. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the GS520 at the time of writing.

Isolation pads and cables come in the box. It comes as a pair with isolation pads and cables, so nothing else is needed to start. The tone knob sits on the front, so voicing changes don't need menus.

Its 3.5-inch woofers and compact cabinets fit a small desk, and the tone knob changes voicing without software. It suits streaming and casual mixing. It is voiced to be accurate rather than flattering, which helps mixes translate.

You get isolation pads and cables extras here, which sets it apart from the GS520 and its 6 touch RGB modes extras. You also get a size aimed at desks and small studios.