Logitech LS21 PC speakers

The Logitech LS21 is a stereo PC speaker system with two satellite speakers and a subwoofer. The sound it creates is well suited to small rooms, as mid-bass and treble are prominent. In larger rooms the speakers may sound tinny and hollow, however. When you consider that you can pick these speakers up for a street price of around $30, they become even more attractive.

The Logitech LS21 PC speaker system comprises two single-driver satellite speakers and a subwoofer. The two speakers have around two metres of cable hard-wired in, allowing for a little flexibility with placement around the subwoofer. A wired volume control is connected to the subwoofer — again, by around two metres of cable — and includes a power switch and headphone jack. Every component apart from the subwoofer is finished in the same piano-black coating with silver accents; an almost identical design to the HP w2448hc LCD monitor we coincidentally set them up next to.

The satellites are smaller than most we've seen: 14cm tall and 9cm wide. Since the subwoofer only uses a 4in driver it has a very small enclosure — significantly smaller than some bookshelf speakers we've seen — at a mere 19cm tall and 14cm wide. We weren't expecting much from these PC speakers but we were pleasantly surprised.

In a small room the speakers are in their element. Maximum volume levels are not high, but if you're sitting less than two metres away they will be more than sufficient. Treble levels from the satellite speakers are good, with high notes rich in detail without being harsh or shrill. Mid-bass — solely reproduced by the 4in speaker of the subwoofer — was somewhat bloated and lacking detail, but with the subwoofer tuned to around half the volume of the satellites it provided a pleasant accompanying kick to music. There is no lower bass to be found — there's simply not enough power — but let's be honest, we weren't expecting any from a system costing less than $30 on the street.

As a budget speaker system for listening to music on your PC and gaming, the Logitech LS21 is a great contender in its price bracket.