PC speakers come in all shapes and sizes, but when you're spending as little as possible it's not always easy to get a product that sounds and looks good.
Satechi designs a lot of its products with clean aesthetics in mind — you might even say that their designs are kind of Apple-like. The Dual Sonic Speakers I have here cost less than $30, can easily be used with a laptop or a desktop if space is at a premium, and (most important of all) don't sound terrible.
In fact, they actually sound pretty good.
$27.99
Bottom line: Solid sounding speakers at a very affordable price. If only you could turn off the blue lighting.Pros:
Good sound quality.Excellent build quality and design.Very affordable.Compact size so great for tight office spaces or using with laptopsCons:
USB cable is for power only, separate 3.5mm cable for audio.No headphone outputWhat you'll love about the Satechi Dual Sonic Speakers
It's hard not to be impressed with the design and build quality of these speakers. For something so small, they're surprisingly heavy, which goes hand in hand with the excellent build quality. The top and back are black glossy plastic, the front is an equally black metal grille, topped by a chrome ring. The base is also metal — but this time a matte silver. Underneath is a foam pad that covers the entire base to hold it in place, protect your desk, and prevent rattles if your music gets a little too raucous.
| Category | Spec |
|---|---|
| Power output | 1.5W x2 |
| Speaker unit | 1.5" full range driver |
| Cable between speakers | 34" |
| USB/Audio cable length | 44" |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 3.6" x 2.5" |
The speaker sits up from the base, like a squat metallic mushroom, with a soft blue LED light shining onto the metal base. It's nice to look at but isn't without its problems.
The Dual Sonic Speakers are powered by USB, either hooked up to your PC or by connecting to an external power adapter (not supplied). The audio is delivered through a standard 3.5mm jack plugged into the headphones output on your computer.
Sound quality is very good given the fairly low output. They're not going to power a house party, for example, but overall have good clarity, balanced bass, and a nice rich sound. The speakers also have an inline volume control, so you don't always have to go to the computer to pump it up.
What you'll hate about the Satechi Dual Sonic Speakers
The blue LED lighting is polarizing. On the one hand, it looks really nice and adds a bit of extra style. On the other, you can't turn it off without turning off the speakers. It's also relatively bright, and if you're using these in the dark that blue glow isn't the best for your night vision.
It'd also be nice if you could plug in a pair of headphones. The 3.5mm cable on the speakers will take up the headphone port on your computer, so the option to not have to unplug the speakers to switch to headphones would be welcome.
The bottom line on the Satechi Dual Sonic Speakers
It's easy to be impressed by these speakers, especially at under $30. They'd be better if you could turn off the lighting and you could plug in some headphones, but neither are deal-breaking flaws — especially at this price.
What you get are some great-sounding compact speakers that you can pack away in a laptop bag or use with a desktop if you're short on space. They'll look the part anywhere with anything, and it's very easy to recommend these for anyone on a budget or who purposely wants compact speakers.
