Best Budget PC Speaker Systems

Klipsch ProMedia 2.1, $149.99 (buy it now)

Esteemed home speaker manufacturer Klipsh turned its attention to the world of multimedia and PC sound many years ago with its ProMedia line, and hasn’t varied since. Essentially the same now as it was in the late 1990s, Klipsh’s THX-certified ProMedia 2.1 system features two satellites (each with a three-inch fiber-composite driver and high-frequency horn) and a floor-standing subwoofer cabinet with 6.5-inch driver. The result? A moderately colored, yet beefy sound that accentuates both ends of the audio spectrum and rocks the walls as few computer-oriented systems can do. That computer-using audioholics the world over have the same ProMedia satellites and subwoofer arrangements gracing their setups that they had nearly a decade ago says something about Klipsh’s quality control.

The only mitigating factor: The ProMedia 2.1 exceeds our price ceiling. However, you’ll find plenty of them under $100 in the used market, and that’s precisely what we recommend you do if you have a hankering for stepping up your PC audio big time.