So, you’ve assembled a PC of your choice, with the latest GPU, fastest processor, 4K display, efficient cooling system, you even have the best keyboard and mouse. What’s next? We’ll tell you what’s next. A good speaker. However, it may be that you have spent a majority of your budget on the rest of the components of your PC and you don’t have much left to spend on a good speaker.
So, does this mean that you settle for a cheap, low-quality speaker that sounds terrible and doesn’t last very long? Absolutely not. There are plenty of speakers in 2023 that provides great quality sound while being pocket-friendly. We have written this article after searching through a large variety of such budget speakers which don’t compromise on audio quality.
In a hurry? Here are our top 3 picks when it comes to the best computer speakers under $200 in 2023!
Best Overall
Premium Sound
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Why Do I Need To Buy Speakers?
Are you someone who just doesn’t understand why you need good speakers to be a part of your PC setup? Do you find yourself questioning yourself, “Why do I even need good speakers?”
Well, let us tell you why. If you’re a gamer, a proper speaker setup will provide you with an immersive gaming experience and will also help you perform better. If you’re a student or a business professional, you can have life-like video calls and meetings with the help of these computer speakers.
Listening to music and feeling it is just better and easier with these computer speakers. When you watch movies, you’ll feel like you’re a part of those movies, and you’re right there as the movie is taking place. While you can always use headphones to do all of these activities, there’s something about speakers that just feels more real. Plus, speakers aren’t nearly as harmful to your ears as a pair of headphones playing at high volume.
An additional benefit of buying some computer speakers is that they can add a new design element that compliments the rest of your setup, thereby making it look more well-rounded and complete.
Are These Speakers Just Like Other Affordable Speakers?
Computer speakers in the lower price range tend to have some stereotypes and issues attached to them. There’s a perception that these speakers produce pathetic sound, they lack good bass, and have a very narrow range of frequency. Or sometimes the bass is overdone at the cost of clear treble which makes the audio sound muddy and messed up.
Cheaper speakers often lack the clarity that you get with expensive ones and tend to get distorted at higher volumes. If you were to play them at a high volume for long, they’d end damaged and worse off than before. Due to these reasons, people dislike or shy away from even looking at speakers that aren’t above a couple hundred bucks.
However, you’d be pleasantly surprised to discover that such is not the case with the computer speakers on this list. These speakers are miles ahead of regular old cheap speakers. We’ve carefully selected each speaker on this list to make sure that you bring home a speaker that satisfies your auditory cravings without breaking the bank. Each computer speaker on this list is sure to blow you away with how surprisingly good it is, that too being under $200. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get into it!
The 7 BEST Computer Speakers Under $200 in 2023
1. Razer Nommo Chroma – Best Overall
Kicking off our list, we have the Razer Nommo Chroma. This well made offering from Razer is our pick for the best overall computer speakers that you can buy for under 200 dollars. If you don’t know already, Razer is a technology company that focuses mainly on premium gaming tech and equipment. It goes without saying that these speakers fit the Razer brand, which is known for making high-quality products, pretty well.
This product is a pair of two full-range gaming speakers, with 2.0 sound, meaning that they operate on a stereo setting (left and right audio channels), and do not offer surround sound or an additional subwoofer for bass. However, they do still have rear facing bass ports with a bass knob. A unique feature of these speakers is that they have Automatic Gain Control, which pre-processes the audio to make sure that faint sounds and loud bangs are brought to the same amplification level to ensure a stable audio experience.
The Razer Nommo Chroma has custom 3 inch woven glass fiber drivers.
As you can guess by their name, the Razer Nommo Chroma speakers have Razer Chroma enabled. Razer Chroma is Razer’s ultimate RGB lighting system, which allows for a near-infinite amount of color customization along with being able to respond to in-game developments, adjust and match colors with the game and with other Razer Chroma enabled devices.
Specifications:
- Speaker Type: 2.0 Computer Speakers
- Driver Material and Type: 3” Woven Glass Fiber
- Dimensions: 5.52 x 6.7 x 8.67 inches
- Color: Black
- Connection Input: Wired, 3.5 mm audio jack or USB
- Additional Requirements (if any): 100 MB of free hard disk space
Why is this the best computer speaker under $200?
The Razer Nomma Chroma is a premium product without the premium price tag. Razer has a reputation of providing its customers with the highest grade gaming tech that is built to last and the Razer Nomma Chroma is no different. It is made with customer satisfaction in mind and it shows. The Bass Knobs with Automatic Gain Control give you the ability to control the speakers’ bass output and set it exactly how you want it. Being Razer Chroma enabled, these speakers will fit right in with the rest of your RGB setup.
The custom 3-inch Woven Glass Fiber Drivers keep the sound nice and tight, producing higher frequencies and retaining the fine details of the original sound. The speakers produce supreme sound with decent bass while offering a few cool features and maintaining the strong build quality that Razer is known for.
All of these factors lead us to believe that the Razer Nomma Chroma is the best computer speaker that you can buy for under $200.
2. Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers – Premium Sound
Our second speaker comes from Bose, the name synonymous with outstanding speakers and excellent sound. We have chosen the Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers as our choice for the speakers that offer the best premium sound. The Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers offer high-quality audio performance for systems that come with Mac or a minimum of Windows XP operating systems.
Despite being Bose’s most affordable computer speaker system, these speakers retain the high end feel that the company is popular for. They have a unique sound processing system that ensures that you are able to hear each and every detail of the sound at all volumes, unlike other speakers that might distort sound at higher volumes or lose detail at lower volumes.
Specifications:
- Speaker Type: 2.0 Computer Speakers
- Driver Material and Type: N/A
- Dimensions: 5.9 x 3.1 x 7.5 inches
- Color: Black
- Connection Input: Wired, 3.5 mm audio jack
- Additional Requirements (if any) : N/A
3. Creative GigaWorks T40 Series 2.0 – Budget Pick
Coming in at number 3, we have our best budget computer speakers, which are the Creative GigaWorks T40 Series 2.0. While Creative might not be as widely known as Bose or Razer, it can certainly match the audio quality of other speakers on this list from more popular brands. The T40 series manages to maintain premium sound quality, without forcing you to pay a premium for it.
This 2.0 speaker system has a couple of really cool features. It comes with the BasXPort Technology, which enhances the speakers’ low-frequency response without requiring a whole other unit for the subwoofer. The system also has a unique power saving system that puts the speaker on standby when no audio is detected and automatically wakes it back up as soon as you play some audio.
Specifications:
- Speaker Type: 2.0 Computer Speakers
- Driver, Material and Type: 3 Driver Midrange-Tweeter-Midrange with BasXPort, Dual Woven Glass Fiber Cone
- Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.46 x 12.3 inches
- Color: Black with Yellow-Orange Cones
- Connection Input: Wired, 3.5 mm audio jack
- Additional Requirements (if any) : N/A
4. Razer Leviathan Speaker System with 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound
The next product on our list is the Razer Leviathan Speaker system, which is the first system on this list to feature 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound, a dedicated Subwoofer and Bluetooth connectivity. This is a wireless soundbar-style speaker with an additional subwoofer. The sound offered by this system is unmatchable and truly exceptional. There’s no “muddiness” whatsoever and the bass is a class apart. The speaker is able to manage both high and low volumes without distortion or detail loss.
Specifications:
- Speaker Type: Soundbar Speakers with 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound
- Driver, Material and Type: 4 Finely Tuned Drivers
- Dimensions: 3.1 x 19.7 x 2.9 inches
- Subwoofer Diameter: 5.25 inches
- Color: Black
- Connection Input: Wireless Bluetooth V4 Aptx
- Additional Requirements (if any) : The device you’re intending to use the speaker with must have bluetooth connectivity.
5. Edifier MR4 Powered Studio Monitor Speakers
The Edifier MR4 Powered Studio Monitor Speakers are the fourth entrant on our list. These bookshelf-type speakers are sure to give your ears what they want. The Edifier MR4 speakers are specially designed for artists and designers and will be a helpful addition to your home studio.
This speaker system features multiple inputs, with a ¼ inch balanced TRS input, an unbalanced RCA Input, an unbalanced AUX input along with a front headphone output for added connectivity. The Edifier MR4 is best suited for professionals.
Specifications:
- Speaker Type: Bookshelf Type Speakers
- Driver, Material and Type: 4-inch Composite Woofers and 1-inch silk dome tweeters, MDF Wooden Structure
- Dimensions: Active Speaker: 140 x 228 x 197.5 mm, Passive Speaker: 140 x 228 x 184 mm
- Woofer Unit: 4 inch
- Treble Unit: 1 inch
- Color: Black
- Connection Input: Wired, TRS, RCA, AUX input
- Additional Requirements (if any) : N/A
6. Logitech Z623 400 Watt, 2.1 Home Speaker System
At number 5 on the list, we have the Logitech Z623 400 Watt Home Speaker System with 2.1 sound channels. This system comes with a subwoofer along with two satellite speakers. This is one of the bigger speaker systems on our list and one of the more versatile ones.
Owing to its size, volume and audio clarity, it can be used as a living room speaker alongside being a computer speaker. The system offers 400 Watts of powerful and captivating “true THX sound”.
Specifications:
- Speaker Type: Subwoofer with 2 Satellite Speakers
- Driver, Material and Type: Performance drivers and powerful subwoofer
- Dimensions: (B x L x H) Subwoofer: 10 x 12 x 11 inches, Speakers: 5 x 5 x 8 inches
- Color: Black
- Connection Input: Wired, RCA and 3.5 mm audio jack
- Additional Requirements (if any) : N/A
7. Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX Certified Computer Speaker System
Finishing off our list, we have the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX Certified Computer Speaker System. This THX certified speaker system does not compromise on audio quality, volume, or bass.
While it is small, it still packs quite a punch. Klipsch’s Microtractrix Horn Technology adds to the clarity from ProMedia, by increasing the produced sound and volume. While it is best for computers, it can also be used with your TV, DVD player, gaming consoles and music players.
Specifications:
- Speaker Type: Subwoofer with 2 Satellite Speakers
- Driver, Material and Type: 3’ midrange drivers for satellite speakers and 6.5” side-firing for the subwoofer
- Dimensions: (B x L x H) Subwoofer: 9.5x 9.8 x 10.2 inches, Speakers: 8.5 x 4.2 x 5.67 inches
- Color: Black
- Connection Input: Wired, 3.5 mm input
- Additional Requirements (if any) : N/A
How to Choose the Best Computer Speaker under $200?
After finishing our list, you’re probably stumped by all the wonderful choices you have before you. This abundance of options is sure to lead to some confusion while making the decision to purchase a computer speaker. You can make this decision easily after skimming through our quick buyer’s guide, which will give you the know-how of buying a computer speaker.
As with any purchase, what you buy depends on what you need from the product. For instance, if you’re a professional who needs unenhanced audio, the Edifier MR4 might be the speaker for you, or if you’re someone who needs a versatile soundbar with bluetooth connectivity and surround sound, the Razer Leviathan is probably best for you.
While your purchase will depend on your specific needs, here are a few parameters you have to check before deciding on a speaker:
Connectivity
How does your speaker connect with devices? Usually speakers come with a 3.5 mm audio jack, but more options, such as RCA and TRS are welcome as well. You might want to get a speaker that offers bluetooth connectivity if you plan on using it with a phone other devices.
Dedicated Subwoofer
If bass is important to you, then you absolutely have to get a system with a dedicated subwoofer. The subwoofer will give you the thump you need. While in the market for a system with a dedicated subwoofer, look for speakers that offer 2.1 channel sound or more. This applies to surround sound as well.
Actual Audio Quality
While this is a no-brainer, it can only be tested once the speaker actually arrives. However, it’s still best to go through some reviews to check for audio quality, possible distortion, and how loud the speaker can get.
Speaker Size
You need to choose a computer speaker system that matches your setup. A system that is too big or too small will not only look out of place, but will also not perform adequately.
Control
The speakers you buy should give you the option to control their audio output. As a rough guide, the computer speaker system should give you the options to adjust volume, treble, and bass.
Durability and Build Quality
The speaker you buy has to have nice, sturdy build quality. However, how long your computer speakers last does also depend on how you use them. These speakers can last years if they’re taken care of properly.
Let me give you an example
The Logitech Z63 speakers were launched in 2010 and users still report amazing sound from them.
A quick tip while buying speakers is to get a system that was launched a few years prior to your purchase (as long as you’re not a tech geek who has to have the latest updates or connectivity). This will allow you to read a lot of reviews and see how the speaker holds up in the long run.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, there are plenty of amazing computer speakers available under and around the $200 mark and you don’t have to burn a hole in your wallet to please your ears.
We hope that you are now ready to buy a fantastic computer system that will fit your needs.