You don’t need incredible, teeth-rattling power for a desktop, even a gaming desktop. But you do need something better than the crappy little five-watt nothings that are included in your monitor.
Right now, Amazon has the bookshelf speakers that I personally use in my own setup on sale. I’m talking about the Edifier R1280T speakers for just $84, which is 30 percent off its $120 retail price.
These speakers have been a staple of PC power users for years, and you’ll see them all over communities like Reddit’s /r/battlestations. They sound great, with crystal-clear mids and a bit of bass power without needing a separate subwoofer. With 42 watts, four-inch primary drivers, and 13mm tweeters, it’s powerful enough to fill an office easily without breaking the bank. And they’re refreshingly simple — you get two analog inputs, a few adjustment dials, and a remote. That’s it. Nothing to mess up. You can read PCWorld’s full review of them here.
I’ve been using the R1280T for years with no issues, and I bought a second set for my brother-in-law. Though I’m no audiophile, I can recommend them heartily to anyone who wants to upgrade their desktop sound setup. If you need Bluetooth, the nearly identical R1280DB model is discounted down to just $100 right now.
Amazon is calling this a “Black Friday Deal,” so I expect it to stay at this price for the next week. That said, it’s always a popular seller, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes out of stock. Get one quick if you’re interested — you don’t want to miss out.
My favorite desktop PC speakers are 30% off right nowAuthor: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.