Prior to buying the speakers, try to picture where you are going to place them in the room or outside. Speakers can be put on furniture, on floor stands or hung on wall brackets. Subwoofer usually sound better when put near the right- or left- front speakers or in the corners of the room.

The front three - right, center and left - speakers casually sound better when they are placed with their tweeters lifted to the same height as the listener's ears when he sits down. Anyway, the center speaker is better to be put close the same height as right and left speakers.

Your speakers can be placed in/on an entertainment center or low cabinet or on shelves. Some speakers give a better sound in this arrangement than other ones. The most appropriate sealed speakers are the "Acoustic suspension". As long as they are placed on the front of the cabinet, they are followed by ported speakers. Nevertheless, speakers with rear- mounted ports will not perform best if they are put inside a furniture piece.

Speaking of rear- channel surround speakers, if the front speakers are positioned three or more feet lower than them, they sound better. All in all, Super Audio CD music and high-fidelity DVD-Audio will provide a better sound if the front speakers are put at the same ear level (same height) as the surround speakers.

Almost every  computer has some kind of default speakers, but they are constantly not very good. If you are in search of upgrading, there are a lot of available alternatives.

According to users, M-Audio's Studiophile AV 40 Desktop Speaker System makes most multimedia computer speakers look rather feeble by comparison. Besides their size - it looks like a desktop studio monitor - they sound better, deliver more bass  and provide a louder sound than other computer speakers. The Studiophile AV 40 Desktop Speaker System is perfect if you play computer games, watch DVDs or listen to many CDs.

Although its big size might be an issue for certain buyers, this audio speaker is for those who care more about the quality of the sound than the price or the astonishing size.

Also a great option for movie watching and game playing are the Altec Lansing Expressionist Bass FX3022. Carrying the motto "All the bass in half the space", they have a retro futuristic look resembling the one in the video game "BioShock". The flat- cone design is almost 10 inches tall and has a diameter of about 5 inches at the base.

You will find the volume controls and power on top of the right speaker. The powerful bas is provided by the built- into- the- base subwoofer present at each speaker. The treble is brash and aggressive, though. It also has no remote. The Altec Lansing Expressionist Bass FX3022 is not so great for listening to music, so you might want to search for another type of speakers if you want to enjoy your playlist.

Finally, my last choice for a computer review is the Creative GigaWorks T40 Multimedia Speakers, a set stereo PC speakers that are unusually tall -12.5 inches, almost as high as your PC monitor. The classy mini- tallboy speakers have a high quality dual midrange driver. It also has a provision for optional ¡Pod dock.

The design is tastefully created, although the rounded cabinets made out of black plastic with gray baffles made of metal are not extremely charming. The right speaker can be easily known because of the treble, bass and volume control positioned on it. There is also a "BasXPort" on every speaker's top, which enhances the bass.

What is nice is that the GigaWorks T40 is designed with knobs, instead of up/ down buttons. That means that you can set the exact tonal balance and volume. Therefore, you can fine- tune the sound when changing between DVDs and CDs. Both speakers are canted back to spread the sound up towards the one who is listening.

Although it may seem too tall for some consumers, the speaker is a fine choice for those looking for a good sound. For the price, they possess a high quality. You get an easy access to treble, volume, headphone jack and bass controls. Unfortunately, you have got no option for adding a subwoofer. Also, it is got a rear power switch and the power light is too bright.