Klipsch Promedia 2.1
The best mid range computer speakers

Weight: 2.1 lb (0.95kg) (satellites) 11 lb (5kg) (sub) | Size: 8.5 x 4.2 x 5.67 in (satellites) 9.5 x 9.8 x 10.2 in (sub) | Drivers: 6.5-in subwoofer, .75-in tweeters | Supported Connectivity: 3.5mm

  • +Excellent volume
  • +Powerful subwoofer
  • -No off button



Since their introduction in 2000, the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speakers have become an essential recommendation for any computer user with $150 to spend. They haven't changed much in the last decade, and that's because they haven't needed to. In order to keep up with modern times, Klipsch did release a wireless bluetooth version but the sound remains unchanged.

Equipped with a built-in amplifier, the Promedia 2.1 speakers offer room-filling sound with a commanding low end presence. They are one of the most satisfying speakers to game on and you can thank the massive desk shaking subwoofer for that. Surprisingly, they were still capable of pumping out exceptionally crisp audio at higher volumes.

Klipsch's Promedia 2.1 are comfortably priced between our budget recommendation and our favorite speakers, the Logitech G560. After all this time, the speakers remain a solid option for gamers that want exceptional sound quality without the bells and whistles of a higher end system.


Creative A250
The best budget computer speakers

Weight: 258g (9.1oz) (left satellite) 361g (12.7oz) (right satellite) 1.56kg (3.44lbs) (sub) | Size: 2.83 x 5.79 x 3.11 in (satellites) 7.20 x 8.86 x 7.48 in (sub) | Supported Connectivity: 3.5mm

  • +Affordable
  • +Small footprint
  • -No bass adjustments



When you’re out shopping for cheap PC speakers below $50, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the choices out there. It also doesn’t help much when reliable brands have multiple options in the same price range. The differences between the multiple low-end speakers we tested were minimal, but the Creative A250 2.1 Speakers stood apart from the competition with big sound despite their compact size.

With a total power output of 9 watts, we were blown away to see the speakers pumping out crisper audio than some of their competitors using two to three times the amount of power. While they won’t produce the highest volume of sound, we found little distortion with the volume cranked all the way up. Despite being smaller and lower powered than a few of the other options we tried, such as the Cyber Acoustics CA-3602 or the Logitech Z313, the A250 subwoofer actually provided clearer lows. The only complaint here is a lack of bass control to complement the convenient volume knob located on the right speaker.

Wherever the A250 speakers lacked in volume, they made up for in clarity. This is why we highly recommend these speakers for students on the go. Pictured above with my 13” ultrabook, the speakers are small enough to fit on any cramped desk surface. They’re easily the most portable 2.1 system we tried and perform best in a smaller bedroom or dorm.

Like any other pair of speakers below $50, the Creative A250 2.1 Speakers are easily beat when compared to a mid-range set. If you’re willing to spend a bit more for a quality speaker system, the results when gaming can be very rewarding. But for gamers on a budget, we found these speakers to be the clear winner.

How we test speakers

Since our guide is called the best speakers for PC gaming, we kept the testing process simple and focused on gaming. We tested each set of speakers in-game for several hours through a wide range of games with rich soundtracks and sounds including Skyrim, Dark Souls 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch and Furi. Afterwards, we ran listening tests which included snippets from the film Jurassic World and a variety of albums in lossless FLAC format such as Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories and Psychic from Darkside.

With gaming in mind, one of the most important features to test for was left/right balance. To test this in game we used the CS: GO Audio Test Chamber workshop project by geri43. It’s a simple map that allows you to reproduce all sorts of in-game sounds including ladder movements, sniper scopes, gunfire, footsteps and more. Moving around the map or behind a wall allowed us to manipulate the location of the sounds and test how easily we could identify their direction with the speakers.