What features should I look for when buying new computer speakers?

Purchasing new computer speakers is not a decision that should be made quickly. When buying new speakers for your computer there are several things to consider before making a choice. Overlooking these factors

Obviously, your individual budget will be a major consideration, however it should not be the only factor in your decision. However, the adage about getting what you pay for is rarely more true than when purchasing electronic equipment, sound devices in particular. If you are buying the speakers for a work computer or a child’s first computer, then there is really not much need for anything besides a low end speaker. If it is for a computer you will be using with any frequency, especially one on which music, videos or games will be played often, however, you should buy a good mid-priced set if you can possibly fit it into your budget.

There is one thing many people forget about when purchasing pc speakers, but it is a concern that can cause a major amount of inconvenience down the road if it isn’t taken into account. That question is “how often do you use headphones or a headset microphone?” If the answer to that is “frequently”, especially if you keep your computer tower on the floor, it will be important to purchase a type of speaker and/or subwoofer that has separate headphone and mic jacks on the front of it. Otherwise, having to disconnect and reconnect the speakers when you need the headset will not only be inconvenient, but can loosen the connections overtime and shorten the life of your sound card and audio equipment.

Another consideration is whether or not you need a set up with a subwoofer. If you use your speakers primarily for music and video, then you probably will need at least a small subwoofer, if not additional speakers for achieving surround sound. On the other hand, if you use your audio set up primarily for gaming, you may not need to spend the extra money on a full set up and a subwoofer may just get into your way. Subwoofers also require an extra electrical outlet, so keep that in mind.