Budget

Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on new PC speakers. Value-priced speakers can deliver acceptable sound, but if you want more premium sound with stronger bass and better clarity, you'll need to spend $200 or more.

Size

Bigger speakers tend to sound better, but not everybody has room for larger speakers, particularly if you plan to place your speakers on either side of a monitor or even your laptop.

Subwoofer or no subwoofer?

PC speakers that come with a subwoofer tend to deliver more bass, but you have to have a place to put the subwoofer.

Connectivity

Some of the desktop speakers on this list have analog connectivity, and many offer a digital connection so you can plug them right into a computer with a USB cable. Some speakers offer Bluetooth connectivity, which lets you easily pair them with all your devices, including tablets and smartphones. As you might expect, more robust connectivity options tend to add to the cost, but you can find some moderately priced PC speakers that offer good connectivity features.

Surround sound?

Most of the speakers on this list consist of two separate powered speakers joined together by a speaker cable, with a subwoofer sometimes thrown into the mix. They deliver true stereo sound, but you can also buy PC speakers with multiple speakers for a surround-sound setup. We've focused primarily on stereo PC speaker setups.

Return policy

It's a good idea to buy your speakers at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case they don't live up to your expectations.