Speakers and audio

Buying guide

The number describes the configuration: 2.0 means two speakers, 2.1 means two plus a separate subwoofer – the bass is noticeably better, but it needs floor space. Power in watts tells you about loudness, not quality; desktop speakers rarely need a big number. On connection: a 3.5 mm jack works everywhere, USB uses its own sound card and reduces noise, and Bluetooth is convenient but adds a little latency. If desk space is tight, measure the depth of the cabinet before the height. A Bluetooth transmitter adds a wireless connection to old speakers or a TV.