Best Computer Speakers Under $50 – 2023 Review

Austin
| Last Updated: January 14, 2023

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We reviewed and searched hundreds of speakers. Many hours and coffee drinks were used to put together this roundup.

This is a massive post, and we reviewed the best computer speakers across two budget categories to find the best budget PC speakers under $25 and the best computer speakers under $50.

We have broken the speakers under $50 into both 2.0 and 2.1 sub-categories to help with your search.

Any of these computer speakers will be able to be used straight away, no DACs or other amps required to run any of the speakers on this list.

Comparison of the Best Computer Speakers Under $50

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • 5 watts of power
  • On-speaker power and volume controls
  • Very simple to set up
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  • Plug and play design
  • Easy to use volume control scroll wheel
  • Portable and compact design
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  • Can use with multiple devices
  • Easily access power, volume, and bass
  • 10 watts of power
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  • 2.0 speaker system
  • BASXPORT technology built-in
  • Multiple Aux ports
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  • 5W satellite speaker
  • 10W side foring subwoofer
  • Stream from multiple devices
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  • 25 watts of power
  • Sound is very balanced
  • Compact subwoofer for tight spaces
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  • 5.25" ported subwoofer
  • 2" dual drivers
  • Easy to get to 3.5mm aux port
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As a matter of practice, we have only considered the RMS wattage of the speakers. Peak Power represents the instantaneous maximum sound a speaker can produce, whereas the RMS (Root of Mean Square) represents close to the average sound a speaker is able to produce.

In short, the peak power is more of a marketing figure.

Enjoy!

Review of the Best Computer Speakers Under $50

Read on to find out the best affordable speakers we were able to find. The first portion of the review highlights some budget options that come in below $25.

Best Overall:
Logitech Z130

PROS

  • Plug and play
  • 3.5mm headset port
  • Balanced bass and treble
  • Convenient power and volume control

CONS

  • Unnatural sound at high volume

So you are trying to find the best budget PC speakers? A strong competitor in this category is the Logitech Z130. The Z130 is the updated version of the S120 and brings improvements all around.

If you’re looking for the best budget computer speakers, then these are the ones to get. The Logitech Z130 are some of the best budget PC speakers in the market. This pair of great looking speakers is designed aesthetically and come with 5 W of RMS power at 10 W peak rate.

These speakers are not compact though. The dimensions are 5.58" x 3.96" x 4.34" (H x W x D), so they may not be perfect as small speakers for a laptop. However, the design is still great.

For the affordable price, they are some of the best in the category. It uses an AC adapter for power and has a volume control for ease of use. Sound-wise they offer pretty respectable reproduction of sounds, with a balanced bass and treble, just don't turn them up to full volume, as they can sound unnatural.

One more advantage of the Z130 is that it has a 3.5 mm port that serves as an output for headphones whenever you need to be quiet. These are both Windows and Macintosh compatible and can be plugged to any gadget with an auxiliary port.

Runner-up:
GoGroove 2MX

PROS

  • LED lit base
  • Nice design
  • USB powered
  • 3-year warranty
  • Great sound quality

CONS

  • Cables are too short
  • Can’t turn off LED lights

If you want to add some flair to your desk, then these speakers are for you. The GoGroove 2MX has a sleek piano black finish with either a blue, green or red LED lit base. Talk about aesthetics.

With great aesthetics and good sound quality, this speaker is a thing to love. It is USB-powered, making it easier to use with almost any gadget.

You can either plug it into a computer or laptop, or get a power adapter with a USB port, and you are ready to go. Though they look small, these speakers can still get loud, as they are rated at 4.8 W RMS.

It produces good bass through its passive subwoofers at the bottom of each driver. It has 150Hz-20KHz frequency range but can still produce a decent, crisp sound.

The volume control is on the back of one of the speakers. Overall these speakers look great (users say it looks like a flat-headed Darth Vader) and have good sound.

If you are looking for the best budget PC speakers within this price category, we’d say you found yourself a pretty good match.

PROS

  • Plug and play
  • 3.5mm headset port
  • Convenient power and volume control

CONS

  • Cables are short

#1 Best Budget Speakers under $25

Simple, compact, and powerful, these are the three words that best describe the Logitech Z200. Best of all, this still falls under $25, so it is really affordable.

The Z200s differ from the Z130 in that each speaker has two 2.5 drivers to add more bass to your sound. The sound quality is not to an audiophile’s standard, but it still does a great job providing good crisp sound.The Z200 is another set of speakers that are good as a set of small laptop speakers or even for a full-sized PC.
They may look slim but still come with a decent 5 W RMS of power.

One added feature is that it has a tone control that can control the amount of bass the speakers produce. It is great handling the mid-tones and the highs, but not too much for the lows.

There is a control for volume right on the front of the speaker and bass control wheel is a great add-on for ease of use. There is a 3.5 mm port for headphones and another one for an additional source like an MP3 player or a cellphone.

Overall these speakers are packed with features that defy the price. Truly, these are some of the best budget PC speakers you can find in the market - in fact, they might actually be #1, given all the extras

Best Computer Speakers Under $50

We were very strict in our search for the best computer speakers under $50. Anything a penny over $50 was excluded.

Unlike the budget computer speakers above, we evaluated more specifications such as total power, frequency range, and other factors, not just the price.

We also have split the list up - looking at the best computer speakers in both 2.1 and 2.0 configurations. Not everyone has the legroom for a subwoofer (the .1 in the 2.1).

Let’s take a look, shall we?

Best Computer Speakers Under $50 - 2.0 Configuration

 Creative Inspire T10

PROS

  • Good bass
  • Affordable price
  • Compact design

CONS

  • Bass and treble controlled by same knob

So you wanted that deep bass, but you don’t have space for a subwoofer?

Let us present the Creative Inspire T10. This is definitely the speaker to buy for a 2.0 configuration.

The T10 by Creative has almost everything that you could want. The T10 has 10 W RMS total power, 5 W for each of the piano black satellites. These speakers can give you an impressive deep bass. The company uses their "BasXport" technology & is able to produce this impressive bass without the use of a separate subwoofer. If you are a minimalist and want as little as possible lying on your desk, well, your search for that speaker has come to an end.

The frequency range for these speakers is respectable overall for its price at 80Hz-20,000 Hz, and is able to keep distortion to a minimum when the volume is at its peak.

While the speaker itself isn't the most beautiful of our choices, it makes up for it in performance.

Creative's T10 has onboard controls for power, volume, and tone adjustment. One thing we did find odd with the tone adjustment was that the dial controlled both the treble and bass at the same time - separating these would be nice.

These speakers give a bang for every penny you spend on them, and therefore, are one of our top choices in 2.0 configurations.

Best Computer Speakers Under $50 - 2.1 Configuration

Now on to our favorite 2.1 PC speakers under $50.

These speaker sets offer a separate sub woofer to  add to the overall sound experience and, in theory, should offer a fuller sound experience, as each speaker can specialize in the sound it is more suited for.

Let's get to it!

 GoGroove BassPulse 2.1 - PC Speaker

PROS

  • Easy to clean
  • Great design
  • Clear highs and mids

CONS

  • Control knobs are located on the subwoofer

One word for this gorgeous-looking speaker set, GROOOOOVY!

You can even control the bass using the knob found at the bottom of the sub, which is a little odd as a placement. The BassPulse is a 2.1 speaker set made by GoGroove. We featured another set of their speakers in our under $25 category, and this one is an eye catcher on our best computer speakers under $50 - 2.1 configuration.

These speakers are indeed designed uniquely, the satellite stand is made of thin, clear plastic with diagonal-cut patterns to add style to it, with non-slip rubber pads under the base to keep them from falling off your desk when you're cranking the tunes! The subwoofer’s case is designed equally great, as well. Sound quality is amazing.

The highs and the mids are clear and solid, these speakers have a frequency range of 80 Hz-20 KHz and 20 W RMS total power (10 W subs and 5 W each satellite). It would have been better if they had control knobs placed on the satellites, since the sub would most likely be under the desk.

This speaker set may be a gamer’s fave, since it has this pulsating light that coincides with the bass. The LEDs can be switched on or off with one push of a button located on the subwoofer. Again though, still likely an awkward spot.

If the controls are not a deal breaker, there are also a choice of colors. GoGroove has blue, green & red LED variants, and some gamers who want to flash up their builds (Yeah, they’ve thought about it). So enough of the traditional black, dull-looking speakers and get groovy!

PROS

  • Affordable
  • Powerful sound
  • 25W total power

CONS

  • Beeping at low battery even when charging

The list for best computer speakers under $50 is primarily for general users who just want to have good-quality speakers that won’t drill a hole to their pockets. Some of the speaker designs are aesthetic and modern, while others are more traditional.

Everyone wants to get more power and better sound quality for their money, so moving along the list of our best computer speakers under $50, we present the Logitech Z313.

Logitech has been a great name for computer hardware, especially in the field of speakers. The Z313 speakers come with a whopping 25 Watts (15 W for the sub and 5 W per satellite)

The frequency range is wide and goes from 50Hz up to 20kHz, so you can expect crisp, clear sound. The bass is, of course, great, the design is simple, yet sleek. The sub is housed inside a sturdy case with a plastic finish.

What we like best about the Z313 is when you put it on top of your desk, you don’t have to worry the space it takes, since the satellites are quite small.

One other good thing is that it has an in-line control pod for volume and a power switch to turn your speakers on and off. You can also plug in headphones to the auxiliary in port at the bottom of the control pod.

The sound is balanced and you can fill a small room. We also like the contour of the satellites, it does not look like any other box-type satellites on other speaker sets.

If you're willing to put out another $20, you can also get the Logitech Bluetooth adapter - to allow easy connection to laptops or other Bluetooth-enabled devices.

The 3.5mm jack allows it to be connected to either a PC or a Macintosh system, not to mention other platforms/gadgets you may want to use with this speaker. The price is just a secondary thing to consider when picking up this speaker, as the features speak for itself. It is indeed, a great addition to our list of the best computer speakers under $50.

Cyber Acoustics CA-3602 2.1 PC Speaker

PROS

  • Great sound
  • 30W of power
  • Comes with an control pod

CONS

  • Exposed speaker cones

Nice design, powerful, great features while still affordable.

Let’s check out our next speaker - the Cyber Acoustics CA-3602.

This is a 2.1 channel speaker set with 30 W of power (18 W for the sub and 6 W per satellite). It has a frequency response of 50Hz to 20kHz, this also comes with a control pod to control the power, the volume and the bass, as well.

The control pod also has an auxiliary port that allows you to connect a stereo headphone/headset.

The design for the satellite is perfect for a minimalist. It takes a small space on top of your desk, and we like the combination of the silver base with the sleek piano black stand which holds the twin drivers. Again, with this sleek design, these could be used as small speakers for laptop use very easily.

The sub is front-firing with the port on its side.

The speaker is plug and play and can be connected to anything with a 3.5 mm auxiliary-in port. Above all, the best feature is the price. It is unbelievably affordable, which is the main reason why it is on our best computer speakers under $50!

Logitech Z323 2.1 Computer Speaker

PROS

  • Deep bass
  • Sounds fantastic
  • 30 W RMS power

CONS

  • All controls not in same location

This speaker features Logitech's "360-degree sound" which offers a very good sound overall. The Z323 has 30 W of RMS power (18 W for the sub and 6 W each satellite).

The frequency response range is just a bit less than the CA-3602 at 55 Hz–20 kHz. The sound is really immersive and crystal-clear, it can produce great bass with its ported down-firing subs, and can still hit the mids and the highs without any issue.

Although the frequency response is slightly less on paper, most people tend to prefer the Z323 over the Cyber Accoustics.

The Logitech Z323 has a bass controller at the back of the sub, a volume control for the satellite, along with the auxiliary out for an additional device and an auxiliary in for the headset/phone.

Found at the back of the sub is the RCA connector in case you need them and it still has a 3.5 mm jack, so it is universally compatible with any gadget / computer.

As for aesthetics, the design of this speaker is not the typical square but it is not as radical as the GoGroove BassPulse. It is something a minimalist would go for and it is not dull to say the least.

We realize that we are pressing the budget right to the max on this one, so if you're looking to save a little money, go with the Cyber Accoustics.

For a person who’s looking for good-looking, yet functional and feature-rich speakers, here is the overall champ. Truly, the best computer speakers under $50.

Redragon GS520 Anvil RGB Desktop Speakers

PROS

  • Plug and play
  • Very affordable
  • Minimalist design

CONS

  • Tinny highs
  • No 3.5mm port
  • Mid-bass is close to non-existent

Good sound with a price tag that won’t break your budget, that’s the Amazonbasics A100. These speakers have two variants. One is AC-powered (and more expensive), and the other is USB-powered. These speakers are for people who like their desk without clutter and are some of the cheapest speakers on the list.

The A100s from AmazonBasics has a very minimalist design. There is a full metal grill to protect the drivers with a black glass accent out the front on each side. True to their name, they are basic - but that's not a bad thing.

These budget PC speakers have great reviews on Amazon and a massive amount of reviews - more than any other products on Amazon.

As mentioned, they have the AC-powered speakers that produce 5 W RMS power and a USB-powered speaker that comes with 3 W RMS power.

It has a volume control on the front that doubles as a power switch. As a small laptop speaker, it is not all bad when it comes to sound, though we should say you will hardly hear mid-bass with these speakers and the highs are a bit tinny.

We included this in the list since we are searching for speakers with a price range under $25 as best budget PC speakers. These made the list based on the output power and price.

 InSmart P100

PROS

  • Great sound
  • Wood casing
  • Tweeter and woofer

CONS

  • Newer Product
  • On the larger side

On our list of best computer speakers under $50, we have the InSmart P100. Aesthetics meets power, this speaker set has a great wood finish, and comes with a total power of 10 W RMS (5 W/Satellite).

The InSmart P100 is housed in wood, which not only looks great but also helps in the overall sound quality that these speakers produce.

These speakers have a USB 2.0 connector for power and a 3.5 mm jack for the connection. They are remarkably flexible since any cell phone charger can provide power to it or it can just be plugged into a USB port on a laptop or a desktop computer.

It only requires 5V, as well, so it is really small in power consumption. With the 3.5 mm jack, this speaker set is universally compatible with any gadget or computer with an auxiliary port. One other thing these speakers are good at is producing near-true sound quality because of its built-in, noise-canceling IC, which works great whenever watching movies, playing games, or listening to your favorite tunes. It also has a demagnetization ring that filters noise and makes voices clear.

The best part is that it comes with one-year warranty and a 30-day hassle-free return in case you don’t like the speakers. 

 Satechi ST-WDS20

PROS

  • Great sound
  • Affordable price
  • Compact design

CONS

  • Stand can damage desk (sharp edges)

Simple, compact, and can indeed pack a punch! These speakers are designed with style in mind.

Let’s look closer at the ST-WDS20 by Satechi.

The design is straightforward, compact, and certainly lightweight (17.3 ounces only). It can easily be placed anywhere on your desk.This speaker set is very close in comparison to another set on our list - the InSmart P100. However, it comes with a better price, and more style.

If you are not a big fan of white and chrome, there’s always an alternative, which is black and chrome. Both variants are matte finished. This is a perfect match for a minimalist who isn't interested in bulky satellites or for use as small speakers for laptop use.

The volume control is located in-line and not on-board. This speaker is also universally compatible since it uses the same USB and 3.5 mm jacks for the power and the connection. In short, these are plug-and-play, even on a Macintosh platform.

The sound is clear with a frequency range of 90 Hz-20 KHz (can’t expect much for the price). Overall, we’d say this is a great speaker to look for and has earned its place in our list.

Redragon GS520 Anvil RGB Desktop Speakers

PROS

  • Modern minimalistic design
  • Cheaper than most options
  • Accessible volume controls
  • Plug and play device
  • Enhanced and crisp audio

CONS

  • RGB animation speed can’t be adjusted
  • Some users are not impressed
  • Relatively new brand

According to a shopper, the Redragon GS520 Anvil RGB Desktop Speakers is an affordable and easy-to-use way to improve your PC's audio. Plus, it provides an excellent sound quality without fussing with the settings or complicated installation procedures.

Redragon’s GS520 Anvil Speakers are the perfect addition to any PC setup. With their modern and minimalistic design, they can instantly blend in with your workspace or gaming hub. 

The computer speakers’ accessible volume controls make it easy to adjust the sound to your liking. You can quickly change the settings even during an important meeting or game level.

Its enhanced and crisp audio will have you hooked on watching, rendering, and editing multimedia files. This feature would surely benefit video editors, creatives, and live streamers.

The GS520 Anvil RGB Desktop Speakers are a terrific option for anyone who wants a component upgrade on a budget. It comes from a relatively new brand, but they're quickly gaining a reputation for being one of the best options out there in terms of price-to-quality ratio.

Consider the Redragon GS520 Anvil RGB Speakers if you want to improve your audio experience effectively. These speakers deliver cutting-edge and crystal clear sound that is sure to please. However, users say that the RGB effect speed is fixed and can no longer be changed.

 Creative A250 Computer Speaker

PROS

  • Wide frequency range
  • Excellent natural sound

CONS

  • Only has 9 W total for a 2.1 speaker

Next on the list is the Creative A250, for a 2.1 speaker - this has a really small footprint for overall use.

If you are looking for something that can give you deep bass and clear highs when listening to your favorite tunes or watching movies, then you might find the A250 a great match.

It has 9 W total power (5 W sub, 2 W each satellite). Not enough power you say? These can still blast your eardrums in a smaller room. The frequency range is wide, covering 40Hz to 20kHz, allowing it to produce a decent natural sound. Creative Labs has been one of the biggest companies for speaker systems. They have a wide array of speakers to choose from at varying costs and the A250 is just one of the speakers you can brag about on this list.

The Creative A250 can hit the mid-bass and the highs easily. The subs are made out of wood and are covered with black vinyl. The sub is designed with the speakers underneath it, so it is down-firing, but that’s not totally an advantage (except for the times you accidentally kick the sub). Downward firing just protects the driver when it is oriented that way.

The lack of power on these speakers is significantly compensated by the sound it produces. Given the smaller size of the overall speaker set, this would be a very good choice as a laptop speaker.

Not everyone will use this in a huge hall, and it's priced quite fairly, which is one of the reasons why it is on our list.

 Genius SW-G2.1 500 PC Speaker

PROS

  • Wall mountable
  • Choice of colors
  • Lots of inputs and outputs

CONS

  • Unprotected sub driver is made of plastic

If you are a gamer on a budget and would like to get some speakers that have that “player” feeling, then this speaker would be an excellent candidate, as it’s affordable and great looking.

It has on-board bass and volume control and fires up to 15 W of RMS power. This speaker set has a frequency range of 58-20,000 Hz. The SW-G2.1 500 is a speaker that targets the gamers out there. It has a sleek, black design with a Scorpion logo on the subwoofer's driver and the base of the satellites.

Now, this won’t be great if you intend to use it in huge rooms, but this thing can still produce ample sound if placed in a small to medium-sized room. It is great for listening to music or watching videos, this would look nice on your desk. It's only intended really for desks and isn't really portable, since it weighs 3.5 lbs, the sub is housed in wood (for better acoustics though, surely is the main reason for the weight).

The SW-G2.1 500 uses a 3.5mm connector, which makes it universally compatible with most gadgets, computers/laptops, gaming consoles, or any handhelds with an auxiliary port.

Is this a thing to love or what? This speaker goes on our list of the best computer speakers under $50, for its price and features. This is a speaker set worth checking out.

Conclusion

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Austin

When the tech company I worked for restructured and I ended up jobless, I decided to put the wealth of knowledge and management skills to use somewhere new. I’d checked out a few buyer’s guides on the site in the past and reached out to the previous owner. A few months later, here we are. Now, I get to be behind the scenes, helping people find the best tech.