Why it's best: The Logitech Z-5500 is an excellent5.1 sound system for gamers and music lovers. The system is THX-certified and delivers crisp, clear mids and highs from the satellites and thundering mass from the massive sub. With built-in decoding for 5.1 Dolby Digital/DTS Surround Sound, you'll hear every gunshot and footstep when playing modern games. This system can also be connected to an Xbox 360 or PS3 via the optical input, making it a great alternative to a more expensive home theater system. The Z-5500 does require some setup and wiring, which can be a hassle, but is expected from any surround sound system. The included wireless remote provides added convenience. When you consider its sound quality, features, and price, the Z-5500 shines as the best PC speaker system on the market. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: The Logitech X-540 is a worthy successor to the popular X-530 system. While not THX-certified like the more expensive Z-5500s, this 5.1 surround system still produces excellent sound quality and a great amount of power at decent volumes. Though its remote is not wireless, it offers a generous length of about 5 feet with all the controls you’d need-- volume, power, bass, headphone jack, and matrix mode. They speakers are sturdily designed like the X-530 was but come with a design overhaul that gives the system a sleeker, more attractive look. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: The Logitech Z-2300 is a THX-certified 2.1 system that offers great frequency response and 120 watts of power. The cosmetic updates are great but come also with some under-the-hood updates such as smaller drivers and a video game adapter for connecting these speakers to game consoles. Sound is crisp and clear (especially at mid and high frequencies) with these speakers and the powerful bass complements music while not being overbearing. The bass fares well in gaming as well, producing nice rumbles and shaking the room when set to high. This is arguably the best sounding 2.1 PC speaker systems on the market, but still comes in at a very reasonable price. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: The Logitech Z523 2.1 speaker system is a high quality sound system that offers solid performance at a great price. This attractively designed speaker system has smooth and stylish curves that make it suitable for all sorts of locations in the home and in the office. But the main draw of these speakers is the performance to price ratio of. The Z523s are great for gaming or for listening to music (though audiophiles will undoubtedly want better speakers). Though they are fairly small, these speakers are powerful enough to fill a medium-sized room with sound. This is achieved by an ingenious solution that places a second pair of drivers behind the satellites that project sound out of the back. The sound produced by these rear-facing drivers reaches one’s ear a fraction of a second after sound from the normal front drivers and creates a room filling effect. Overall, these are a great pair of speakers that offer great design and sound quality in a svelte 2.1 speaker form. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: These distinctive looking Altec Lansing speakers offer accurate, crisp sound quality from the 2 full range speakers and powerful bass from the subwoofer at both high and low volumes. A useful secondary AUX jack is available for connecting devices such as MP3 players, though the system doesn’t come bundled with an extra cable. As is the case with many inexpensive speaker systems, once the volume increases beyond a certain point, sound quality begins to degrade. This isn’t an issue for most since you are likely to ever need such high volumes, but it is good to be aware of. This is an all-around well performing 2.1 speaker set that’s a good choice for gamers and music lovers alike. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
