The first computers appeared many years ago, back in the 1940's. At that time they were just some big machines that were also unpractical. But in time the technology developed so much, that these days we have advanced computers and laptops, with small dimensions which are capable of very complex operations. The people also wanted to hear what they were doing on a computer, so that's why they made the computer speakers. These are very complex in our days, and you will be able to find all kinds of computer speakers, in different shapes, sizes and prices. There are three kinds of speakers, depending on their number. First there are the stereo speakers (2 simple speakers), then the 2.1 systems (2 speakers and a subwoofer) and also the surround systems. These are made out of a subwoofer, a center channel, and 4 or 6 satellite speakers.

There are also many producers on the market, and some of the big names are : JBL, Harman Kardon, Altec Lansing, Bose,  Creative, Logitech or Boston Acoustics. There are also many sites on the internet where you can buy speakers, and they will also offer you some computer speaker ratings, that are both from professional sites or magazines  and from home users. This way you will be able to find all the information about   a product before buying it, and see if it really worth the money. Now we'll take some examples of computer speakers, from all the categories, and see what the ratings are saying about them.

We will begin with the stereo speakers. A good set of 2.0 speakers are the Audioengine 2 A2. Some people are saying that these speakers are for the "sound snobs", because of their high price of 200 dollars. But for this price they have a pretty good power and sound quality. Others are saying that they bring such a high quality sound, that you will find yourself stopping to listen instead of working. They have a total power of 60 watts RMS which is pretty good for a pair of small computer speakers. Even they don't have a subwoofer, most of the people are saying that they can render a pretty nice and deep bass. Some of the negative parts are the high price, the volume knobs that are placed inconveniently and the lack of a headphones jack. Considering all of these aspects, the rating for these speakers are pretty good. Onecall.com gives them a rating of 4.5 out of 5. Also Abe Electronics and JR.com are giving the same good rating of 4.5 stars. A smaller rating comes from amazon.com, with 3 out of 5.

Another set of expensive, but impressive stereo speakers are the Axiom Audiobyte. The official price is of 350 dollars. Even though this is a premium price, these speakers will give you an unmatched detail and clarity of the sound, like no other stereo computer speakers. They will reveal a hidden side of music, which you were not able to hear with your regular stereo speakers. They come with an amplifier that can give 55 watts of power to each speaker. That means a total power of 110 watts, which is quite impressive f or some stereo speakers. This power can be compared to 2.1 and even 5.1 audio systems. They also have an RCA subwoofer output on the amplifier, so that means you can combine  them with a subwoofer, and have a very powerful 2.1 system. Some users are complaining about a suboptimal bass and also about the big dimensions of the amplifier. This wouldn't be a problem, because you can hide it away, but the problem is because the control knob is placed on this amplifier. So that means you will have to keep it in sight, so you will be able to reach it easily to control the volume. They come in different colors, as well as in wood. Most of the sites give them good ratings,  so that means they are just good for your room, if you don't want to use a surround system.

Now let's take a cheaper product. We will talk about the Logitech Z- 2300 2.1 system. Compared to the other presented so far, the price is much lower, somewhere around 130 dollars. Reviewers are saying that it gives a clear and detailed sound, across all the sound ranges. They also have a nice power (40 watts for the satellites and 120 watts for the subwoofer). So they will be able to deliver a loud sound that will shake your room, with no distortion. Some are saying that it needs a good sound card to deliver the best quality sound, and they are also complaining about the weak midranges. They are good for you if you are interested more into music than into video games.  Beside the two speakers and the subwoofer, the system also has a small controller console which has the volume knob, the bass control and a headphones jack. Most of the sites are giving these speakers some good ratings. Amazon.com gives it 4 out of 5, ebay.com gives also 4. PC Nation gives the best rating of 4.5 and HP also gives them 4 out of 5.

Now let's talk about a surround sound system. We will be choosing the Logitech G51 which has pretty good reviews and ratings. It has a total power of 155 watts RMS, so that makes him powerful enough for gamers and movie fans. They also come at a very attractive price of about 120 dollars. It has a comparable price to a 2.1 or even to some stereo speakers, but let's not forget that this is a surround system, with 4 satellites, a subwoofer and a center channel. Some are saying that the sound quality is not so good at high volumes. Another negative part  is that the speakers have short cables, especially the rear speakers. But after all it is a pretty good system, with a very attractive price for customers, and which is just perfect for playing a game or watching a movie. Amazon.com gives it a rating of 4 stars.

We'll be presenting just one more 5.1 surround system from Logitech, which is the Z - 5500. It also has good ratings from both specialists and home users. The price is somewhere around 275 dollars which is a correct price for the quality offered. Some people are saying that it will make your hair raise, and it will bring some killer treble and midrange.

They were pleased with its quality on both a powerful house track or a soft vocal or jazz song. Others are saying  that it is very good because of the high volumes it can achieve, but the sound is not so balanced, and the bass may take over the mids and highs. But this problem can be adjusted from the EQ settings. It is also very important to have a good sound card, to achieve its maximum performance. Some negative voices are saying that the system may interfere with other devices from your home, but Logitech recommends to plug it into its own circuit. After all it is a nice product, with some good reviews. Amazon.com and ebay.com are giving 4 out of 5 and cameraworld.com and ritzcamera.com are offering 3.5 out of  5.