Edifier's mid-level M3200 speakers work well for casual music and PC gaming. If you're looking for anything special, though, keep moving along. They're capable little workhorses but they won't blow you away with volume levels or sound quality.

Parrot’s DS1120 wireless hi-fi speakers cram an expansive sound-stage into a tiny, stylish package. The Bluetooth configuration might be a headache, but the speakers themselves are quite capable.

Just like JohnBlue’s entry-level JB3 desktop speakers, the JB4 Mk2 speakers provide a beautifully sweet interpretation of music and other audio. Notes from mid-bass all the way to higher registers are reproduced smoothly yet with immense layering of detail. Frankly, there’s not much we don’t like about the JB4 Mk2s.

If you’ve got the money, it’s hard to go past the Audiobytes as a pre-built PC sound system. These speakers blow their mainstream competitors out of the water with clear, analytical sound — even though they are a little bass-shy at higher volumes.

Yamaha’s bookshelf-sized Soavo 2 speakers have a very measured sound. You won’t be floored by the amount of bass produced, but even at high volumes audio remains very composed and distortion-free.

Truth be told, the JB3s sound like a much larger speaker with multiple drivers. Their sound is astonishing and involving, even though the speakers themselves are no taller than a paperback book. If you need small speakers but want big sound (at a decent price) it's hard to find anything better than these.

Even though it’s clearly an exercise in contemporary styling, the PV1 is a great sub for music listeners. It’s not as fantastic if you watch movies, but it still does an exemplary job.

As a PC speaker system for games and movies, the S730 is excellent. Audiophiles will be flustered by the slight lack of mid-range, but unless you're listening intently the speakers will be all but perfect for day-to-day tasks.

The Mako speaker package from Razer surprised us a little, providing excellent if slightly bass-heavy audio and a sleek design. However the price tag is quite high and the remote can be painful to use, both of which may turn off some users.

JBL's ES900 Cinepack offers amazing quality and depth of sound, even if it's at a price not many can afford.

The Audioengine A2 speaker set should be on the short list of anyone who values good musical reproduction over chest-thumping bass.