Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Speakers Under $100
We weighed four speakers on peak power and form, and the GS3 costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
Under $100, you pick between a soundbar, a stereo pair or a 2.1 set with a subwoofer. Every pick cost $100 or less when we checked, ordered by listed peak power.
We ranked these speakers on form, peak power and inputs using manufacturer specifications; we did not test these speakers ourselves, and where a maker leaves out peak power, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Creative Sound Blaster GS3 Soundbar
The cheapest way into this group, below the Pebble Pro.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Our take Check price for Creative Sound Blaster GS3 Soundbar (opens in a new tab)
Stereo Pair Form
Creative Pebble Pro USB-C Desktop Speakers
A stereo pair form.
Best for: Buyers who want a stereo pair form.
Our take Check price for Creative Pebble Pro USB-C Desktop Speakers (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Logitech Z313 2.1 Speaker System with Subwoofer
25W RMS total output.
Best for: Buyers who want 25W RMS total output.
Our take Check price for Logitech Z313 2.1 Speaker System with Subwoofer (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Razer Leviathan V2 X PC Soundbar
The top of this price range, adding two drivers with two passive radiators.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for Razer Leviathan V2 X PC Soundbar (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cheapest way into this group, below the Pebble Pro. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build. | Check price for Creative Sound Blaster GS3 Soundbar (opens in a new tab) |
| A stereo pair form. | Buyers who want a stereo pair form. | Check price for Creative Pebble Pro USB-C Desktop Speakers (opens in a new tab) |
| 25W RMS total output. | Buyers who want 25W RMS total output. | Check price for Logitech Z313 2.1 Speaker System with Subwoofer (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding two drivers with two passive radiators. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for Razer Leviathan V2 X PC Soundbar (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 4
Creative Sound Blaster GS3 Soundbar on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Creative's Sound Blaster GS3 takes USB-C, AUX and Bluetooth 5.4, and has a headphone output.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no subwoofer, so deep bass comes only from the main drivers.
Why we like it
It has 24W peak. Its racetrack drivers and port tube reach 24W peak, and SuperWide processing widens the stereo image. RGB presets include a peak meter that follows the audio.
Its RGB presets include a peak meter that follows the sound, and SuperWide processing widens the stereo image. Headphone output extras is unique to it among these picks, while the Leviathan V2 X uses 14 Chroma RGB zones extras. It also comes with three inputs in a compact bar.
Bluetooth adds some delay, so use a wired input for games. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Pebble Pro was the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Form: Desktop soundbar
- Peak power: 24W
- Inputs: USB-C, AUX, Bluetooth 5.4
- Subwoofer: None
- Extras: Headphone output
Pros
- Headphone output
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Three inputs in a compact bar
- Highest peak power of the picks (24W)
Cons
- No subwoofer, so deep bass comes only from the main drivers
Stereo Pair Form2 of 4
Creative Pebble Pro USB-C Desktop Speakers on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Creative's Pebble Pro keeps the Pebble shape and adds BassFlex tuning, Bluetooth 5.3 and RGB lighting.
Best for
- Buyers who want a stereo pair form.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when no subwoofer, so deep bass comes only from the main driver is a problem.
Why we like it
Creative offers up to 10W RMS and 20W peak when powered from a suitable USB-C source. Built-in amps with audio processing drive noticeably more output than earlier Pebbles, and RGB lighting has three effects. It runs from USB-C.
BassFlex tuning extends the low end, and the drivers angle 45 degrees toward you. One USB cable carries power and audio. Bluetooth adds some delay, so use a wired input for games.
It makes the most sense for buyers who want a stereo pair form, since it offers a stereo pair form. Its price falls between the GS3 and the Z313, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Form: Stereo pair
- Peak power: 20W
- Inputs: USB (power and audio), Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm
- Subwoofer: None, BassFlex tuning
- Extras: RGB lighting, 3 effects
Pros
- Up to 10W RMS and 20W peak with a suitable USB-C power source
- BassFlex tuning for extended bass
- RGB lighting with three effects
- A stereo pair form
Cons
- No subwoofer, so deep bass comes only from the main drivers
- Costs more than the GS3 at the time of writing
Also Consider3 of 4
Logitech Z313 2.1 Speaker System with Subwoofer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Logitech's Z313 is a simple 2.1 set: two satellites, a compact subwoofer and a control pod on the cable.
Best for
- Buyers who want 25W RMS total output.
Skip if
- Pass if a published peak power matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
Logitech offers 25W RMS in total. It outputs 25W RMS, and a wired control pod handles volume and power. The wired control pod keeps volume and power within reach on the desk.
You get a compact subwoofer here, which sets it apart from the Leviathan V2 X and its a two passive radiators subwoofer. It is the only pick here with wired control pod extras; the GS3 has headphone output extras instead. It was priced above the Pebble Pro and below the Leviathan V2 X at the time of writing. There is no published peak power figure, whereas the GS3 offers 24W.
Key dimensions & specs
- Form: 2.1 with subwoofer
- Inputs: 3.5mm
- Subwoofer: Compact subwoofer
- Extras: Wired control pod
Pros
- 25W RMS total output
- Control pod on the cable
- Compact subwoofer
- Wired control pod extras, the only one here
Cons
- No published peak power
- Costs more than the GS3 at the time of writing
Premium Pick4 of 4
Razer Leviathan V2 X PC Soundbar on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Razer's Leviathan V2 X runs power and sound over one USB-C cable, with two drivers and two passive radiators.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- Its peak power is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
It is small enough to sit under a monitor. Two full-range drivers and two passive radiators fit in the most compact bar in Razer's Leviathan V2 range. It pairs over low-latency Bluetooth 5.0, and Razer's software controls lighting and audio switching.
No other pick in this guide offers a two passive radiators subwoofer; compare the Z313, which has a compact subwoofer. You get 14 Chroma RGB zones extras here, which sets it apart from the Z313 and its wired control pod extras. It also offers a 90dB maximum volume.
Bluetooth adds some delay, so use a wired input for games. It was the highest-priced of the 4 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Z313 and the rest. The maker doesn't give its peak power; if that figure matters, the GS3 offers 24W.
Key dimensions & specs
- Form: Desktop soundbar
- Inputs: USB-C (power and audio), Bluetooth 5.0
- Subwoofer: Two passive radiators
- Extras: 14 Chroma RGB zones
Pros
- Two drivers with two passive radiators
- Power and audio over one USB-C cable
- 90dB maximum volume
- 14 Chroma RGB zones extras, the only one here
Cons
- No published peak power
- Costs more than the GS3 at the time of writing
How We Chose These Gaming Speakers Under $100
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We set side by side four speakers on form, peak power, inputs and subwoofer, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 4, from the GS3 to the Leviathan V2 X, state form, inputs and subwoofer.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Z313 and the Leviathan V2 X give no peak power.
- Price range
- From the GS3 to the Leviathan V2 X, all sat in the $50 to $100 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in Gaming Speakers Under $100
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Peak power
Here peak power runs from 20W on the Pebble Pro to 24W on the GS3. Start with the GS3 if peak power decides it. No figure for the Z313 and the Leviathan V2 X.
Extras that separate them
The Pebble Pro: BassFlex tuning for extended bass. The Z313: a control pod on the cable. The Leviathan V2 X: power and audio over one USB-C cable.
Budget
All 4 sat in one tier when we checked, from the GS3 at the low end to the Leviathan V2 X at the top, so decide on features first.
Start from what matters most
Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build: the GS3. Buyers who want a stereo pair form: the Pebble Pro. Spending more for the fullest feature set: the Leviathan V2 X.
Soundbar or stereo pair
A soundbar sits under a monitor and saves desk width. A stereo pair spreads the sound wider and usually fills a room better at the same price.
How to Choose Gaming Speakers Under $100
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build | GS3 | The cheapest way into this group, below the Pebble Pro |
| Buyers who want a stereo pair form | Pebble Pro | A stereo pair form |
| Buyers who want 25W RMS total output | Z313 | 25W RMS total output |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | Leviathan V2 X | The top of this price range, adding two drivers with two passive radiators |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The GS3 leads on peak power at 24W, ahead of the Pebble Pro at 20W. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Speaker | Form | Peak power | Inputs | Subwoofer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS3 | Desktop soundbar | 24W | USB-C, AUX, Bluetooth 5.4 | None |
| Pebble Pro | Stereo pair | 20W | USB (power and audio), Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm | None, BassFlex tuning |
| Z313 | 2.1 with subwoofer | Not listed | 3.5mm | Compact subwoofer |
| Leviathan V2 X | Desktop soundbar | Not listed | USB-C (power and audio), Bluetooth 5.0 | Two passive radiators |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GS3 ahead of the Pebble Pro on peak power?
The GS3 leads at 24W, with the Pebble Pro at 20W. The Z313 and the Leviathan V2 X don't state a figure, so they sit outside this comparison.
Why is the Pebble Pro our Stereo Pair Form pick?
It earns the label for a stereo pair form. It suits anyone who wants a stereo pair form.
What extras do the GS3 and the Pebble Pro include?
The GS3: a headphone output. The Pebble Pro: up to 10W RMS and 20W peak with a suitable USB-C power source. The Z313: 25W RMS total output.
Who should choose the GS3?
The GS3 carries our Lowest Price Here label for the cheapest way into this group, below the Pebble Pro. It ranks first of 4 here.
Should I pick the GS3 or the Leviathan V2 X?
The GS3 suits buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build; the Leviathan V2 X suits spending more for the fullest feature set.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the GS3, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the Pebble Pro. Look at the Pebble Pro for a stereo pair form, the Z313 for 25W RMS total output and the Leviathan V2 X for the top of this price range, adding two drivers with two passive radiators if those matter more to you.
Place the speakers at ear height and angle them toward you.