There are people out there that will tell you the only way to get great sound from your PC is by picking up the best headphones. However, not everyone wants to wear headphones for extended periods. For these people, the best computer speakers are going to be a dream come true. Still, like any PC hardware, finding the best computer speakers for your needs isn’t as straightforward as it perhaps should be. Fortunately, we here at TechRadar have your back – we’ve created this list of the best computer speakers, considering everything from price and aesthetic, to more technical details that will really let rock the house.

You need to think about several important details when buying the best computer speakers. How do they sound? Do they have good stereo or surround sound separation? Do you get a headache after listening to them for just a few minutes? Do they have a balanced sound profile? You need to keep these details in mind when you’re looking at computer speakers. 

You should also consider what you’re going to do with your speakers. Are you going to be playing the best PC games, prioritizing immersion? Are you going to be trying to catch up with the Marvel films in their full Dolby glory? Or are you just going to be jamming out to the new Cardi B album? Whatever you plan to do, you should go out and buy the best computer speakers on the market in 2018.

You’re not in this alone, however. We here on the TechRadar editorial team have created this list of the best computer speakers that we have tested or reviewed over the last year or so. So, sit down, put on some music and enjoy.

Audioengine A2+

Weight: 1.6kg left, 1.4kg right | Size: 6in x 4in x 5.25in | Drivers: 2.75-inch Kevlar woofers, ¾-inch silk dome tweeters | Supported Connectivity: Wireless with Audioengine’s W3 adapter | Audio Inputs: USB, RCA, 3.5mm stereo mini-jack | Outputs: RCA

Even if Audioengine’s A2+ came out four years ago, they’re still one of the best sets of speakers on the market. These aesthetically pleasing speakers are compatible with digital audio from your PCs USB port for uncompressed audio and unparalleled audio fidelity through its built in DAC. This winning combination means these speakers feature the highest sound quality in their class with amazing clarity and thumping bass.

When you realize that these small six-inch speakers don’t come with a sub, you start to learn that they really have a lot of bang for the buck. Be warned though, you might need to invest in a subwoofer for really low bass, or heavy bass sound at higher volumes. Luckily, they do come with an RCA output, so connecting one is a breeze. And, for just a few more dollars, you can pick up a pair of stands for even better audio.

Logitech Z623

Weight: 0.95kg left, 1kg right; 7kg subwoofer | Size: 7.7in x 4.6in x 5.0in speakers; 11.2in x 12in x 10.5in subwoofer | Drivers: 2.5-inch front-firing, sealed drivers, 7-inch bass-reflex subwoofer | Supported Connectivity: none | Audio Inputs: 3.5mm jack, RCA | Outputs: headphone jack

While they may be more expensive than you’d expect to pay for the brand’s speakers, the Logitech Z623 is still very affordable when you consider just how powerful they are. The Z623 may look like your average pair of speakers, but its subwoofer produces a thundering sound that can easily dialed up or down depending on your preference. And, it offers a great soundstage – with great highs and mids – making for a more immersive gaming and movie experience. 

Logitech G560

Weight: 1.79kg left, 1.79kg right, 5.5kg sub | Size (Satellites): 5.8 x 6.5 x 4.6 inches | Size (Sub): 15.9 x 10 x 8.1 inches | Drivers: 6.5-inch subwoofer, 2-inch tweeters | Supported Connectivity: USB, 3.5mm, Bluetooth | Audio Inputs: USB, 3.5mm stereo mini-jack | Outputs: Headphone

Logitech is well known for its gaming peripherals and computer speakers in 2018, but never before has it combined the two so spectacularly. The first Logitech computer speakers designed for gaming, the Logitech G560 are the best computer speakers for gamers, bar none. Not only do they feature luminous RGB lighting, but through Logitech’s software, the multi-colored illumination can adapt to any kind of content you consume – whether you’re playing a game, or listening to music through your phone. 

Vanatoo Transparent Zero

Weight: 2.04kg | Size: 7.5in x 4.75in x 7.75in | Drivers: 1-inch soft dome tweeter, 4-inch aluminum cone woofer, 4-inch long-throw passive radiator | Supported Connectivity: Bluetooth | Audio Inputs: Optical, USB, Analog, Bluetooth | Outputs: : Subwoofer, RJ50

Vanatoo’s Transparent Zero boasts the powerful, beautifully refined sound of a big speaker packed in a mid-size package all thanks to its high-quality drivers. Though it comes in a boxy, plain aesthetic, this pair delivers great clarity with more presence in the lower mid tones  as well as a lot of smooth high-end range so the sound is brighter but not harsh.

They also offer great sound imaging for an immersive experience and an extended base range. Last but not least, they’ve got a great selection of inputs – optical, USB, analog, and Bluetooth, making them extremely versatile. These are not cheap, but if you’ve got the funds, they’re certainly worth the investment.

• This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Audioengine A2+.  

Harman Kardon Soundsticks III

Weight: 2.04kg | Size: 10in x 2x satellites; 10.8in x 9in subwoofer | Drivers: four 1-inch full range transducers | Supported Connectivity: none | Audio Inputs: 3.5mm jack | Outputs: none

If you stare at it long enough, the Soundsticks III might start to look like some kind of glowing alien jellyfish. These translucent babies, designed by Harman, seem more like a set of modern art installation than a functional speaker system until you step back and let it do its thing.  This speakers and bass combo boasts extra bass power thanks to its subwoofer while still producing crisp highs so you’re getting excellent sound at only $170, making it ideal for music fans with a mid-range budget.

Keep in mind its few minor cons however—it doesn’t have a headphone jack, its bass volume control is not accessible, and the LED lights cannot be turned off.

• This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Edifier E25 Luna Eclipse. 

Edifier E25 Luna Eclipse

Weight: 3.6kg | Size: 4.8in x 8.35in x 8.74in | Drivers: ¾-inch silk dome tweeter, 3-inch full-range bass driver | Supported Connectivity: Bluetooth | Audio Inputs: Bluetooth, 3.5mm jack | Outputs: USB port for charging, headphone jack

Sure, it can be a bit bass-heavy, but the Edifier E25 Luna Eclipse is a beautiful Bluetooth speaker setup that produces a surprisingly excellent sound for something that looks like it’s a Sci-Fi prop. The Luna, which comes in red, white and black, offers a powerful but controlled bass, fantastic balance with pronounced mids, and good stereo separation. Using DRP and DSP tech, the pair delivers excellent quality with minimal distortion even when you’re cranking the volume up.

Its other perks include touch sensitive controls and a fancy little remote. Purchase its stands for an even better sound quality and the Jetsons look, if you’re into that.

Logitech MX Sound

Weight: 1.72kg | Size: 6.30in x 6.30in x 3.28in | Drivers: not available | Supported Connectivity: Bluetooth | Audio Inputs: Bluetooth, 3.5mm jack | Outputs: headphone jack

These Logitech speakers are a thing of beauty with their elegantly eccentric circular design and silver accents. And at $99 a pop, they certainly deliver a little more than what you’d look for in speakers. Before we talk about MX Sound’s pros however, let’s discuss its important con – while the brand is proudly advertising an extended bass range, thanks to its unique, rear-facing port tubes, the bass can sometimes overpower the mids and highs, making the audio a bit muddy.

That said, it does deliver an excellent soundstage and powerful audio, which makes it great for gaming. It’s got a few cutting edge aces up its sleeves as well: the dual Bluetooth connectivity so you can connect two devices simultaneously, and the backlit motion sensor controls so a light touch is all it takes to connect a device and adjust the volume.

Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX

Weight: 0.95kg satellite; 5kg subwoofer | Size: 8.5in x 4.2in x 5.67x satellite; 9.5in x 9.8in x 10.2in subwoofer | Drivers: ¾-inch Poly compression tweeter, 6.5-inc side-firing, long-throw fiber composite cone woofer | Supported Connectivity: none | Audio Inputs: MP3 two-channel soundcard miniplug | Outputs: headphone jack

The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speaker system promises enchanced sound for versatile use so that whether you’re watching movies, gaming, or listening to music, you’re in for a great experience. And it does. These THX-certified speakers boast power, a wide frequency range (31 Hz to 20kHz), and a detailed audio quality with punchy bass, maximum clarity, and great balance. It’s powerful enough to replicate that home theater quality. 

That’s a lot punch for $160, even if it means having to tolerate the fact that the sub stops at 31 Hz so there’s no low end rumble.

• This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Logitech Z623 

Dell Wireless 360 Speaker System AE715

Weight: 1.18kg | Size: 7.5in in diameter | Drivers: three 2.25-inch full-range drivers | Supported Connectivity: Bluetooth | Audio Inputs: 3.5mm jack | Outputs: USB port for charging, headphone jack

Dell’s AE715 may not be the most powerful speaker in the market. It produces a decent 360-degree sound that, while is fairly common in portable audio, is a rarity with computer speakers. For it’s low, low price, this Bluetooth speaker is nothing amazing; not a lot of bass and there’s a bit of delay, but the audio quality good enough if your listening standards aren’t quite as demanding. 

However, what you’re getting in exchange are its wireless functionality, the USB charging port so you can charge the device, and the built-in mic so you can use it for conference calls. It’s definitely a great portable, wireless solution.

• This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Jabra SPEAK 510.    

Mackie CR4BT

Weight: 6kg | Size: 11.6in x 9.4in x 17in | Drivers: three 2.25-inch full-range drivers | Supported Connectivity: Bluetooth | Audio Inputs: Bluetooth, RCA, ¼-inch, 1/8-inch | Outputs: headphone jack

Mackie CR4BT promises professional-grade performance, which is a lot more than what its competitors offer. The question is, does it really do that? Well, they sound good for a premium pair of speakers, but there are drawbacks including thinner mid range, and high bass cut off at 70 Hz, which means while there’s good bass presence, you might be missing the really low stuff.

The pros, however, include the acoustic foam pads to isolate the speakers from the surface it’s standing on, and the front auxiliary input. Overall, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill computer speakers. They are useful for multimedia creation and production as well.

• This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Logitech MX Sound.     

http://www.techradar.com/news/best-computer-speakers

Apple has released the newest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 11.3.1. Though not quite iOS 11.4, the update is now available to users through the settings app, and does come with a fix to one of the more notable issues introduced by iOS 11.3 in mid-April, MacRumors reports. 

Screens that were replaced with unofficial parts and became unresponsive in iOS 11.3 should work properly with this update.

Earlier this month, iOS 11.3 seemed to introduce a bug that made some iPhone 8 screens unresponsive to touch if they weren’t official Apple parts. This was in spite of the screen functioning properly before the software update. Some were concerned that Apple was intentionally disabling unofficial repair parts, as users with aftermarket home buttons for the iPhone 6 had experience similar issues. But, the update fixes the issue, seeming to show Apple isn’t trying to block third-party components.

Beyond this fix, iOS 11.3.1 is a minor update, with no exciting new features coming with it for those unaffected by the screen issue. It appears to be mostly focused on security, addressing multiple memory corruption issues and protecting phones from a text message that could spoof the user interface. 

There are still plenty of iOS 11 problems that this latest update won’t fix, but we expect many of the most pressing issues to be resolved by iOS 12. The reveal of iOS 12 is likely to occur during Apple’s WWDC 2018 event in early June.

http://www.techradar.com/news/new-ios-1131-update-fixes-the-unresponsive-iphone-8-screen-issue

The first 8K TV is here. Now available to buy for a bargain €11,990 ($14,732, £10,520, AUS$19,216), Sharp’s Aquos LC-70X500E is the first 8K TV to go on sale in Europe and around the world. 

An 80-inch version, the LC-80XU30, has been on sale in Japan for a few years (we even reviewed it), but this new model’s global availability marks nothing less than the beginning of the 8K era. 

The LC-70X500E was unveiled at the IFA Global Press Conference in Rome, and the venue was purposely picked – it was now or never. IFA 2018 in Berlin in late August is expected see 8K TVs announced by all major TV brands.

But wait. 8K? What about 4K? Isn’t that supposed to be the latest and greatest in TVs? Why are we obsessed with 7,680×4,320 pixel TVs? Do we really need 8K TVs?

Regardless, more 8K TVs are coming in 2018 

8K content may be virtually non-existent, but we’re about to see every major brand launch an 8K TV. 

“Will the other TV brands be able to resist the temptation to offer a premium 8K TV? Of course they won’t,” said Paul Gray, Director Research and Analysis, Technology, Media & Telecom, IHS, speaking to TechRadar at the IFA Global Press Conference. 

CES 2018 saw a bevy of 8K TVs shown-off, including Samsung’s 85-inch Q9S 8K QLED TV, Sony’s 85-inch 8K TV, and LG Display’s 88-inch 8K OLED TV display. All three were prototypes … but not for long. 

But these TVs are a mere appetiser. Next comes wallpaper TVs.

But these TVs are a mere appetiser. Next comes wallpaper TVs. 

“People want larger screens at home,” said Sascha Lange, VP Marketing & Sales at Sharp, who thinks the only limitation on TV sizes is resolution, hence the drive for 8K. “The pixel density of a 64-inch 4K TV is exactly the same as a 32-inch Full HD TV,” he said. “And a 120-inch 8K TV also has exactly the same pixel density as a 32-inch Full HD TV.”

That mighty concept, and others, like Samsung’s The Wall, would allow broadcasters to capture, say, an entire football pitch. You would sit close to your 150-inch 8K wallpaper TV and turn your head to watch the action, just as if you were there. 

“Today even a 70-inch screen doesn’t fill a wall – you could easily get a 120-inch screen on a wall in any home,” says Lange. “People want larger screens and they have the space, and now the technology is here.” 

How big do we want our TVs? 

Sharp can see a clear trend, and it’s for ever-bigger TVs. 

The highest demand for better screens and larger displays comes from China, where the average size of a TV is 54-inches. In the U.S. it’s 50-inches, in Europe it’s 49-inches, and in Japan it’s just 40-inches. 

In fact, 55-59-inch TVs are the biggest-selling size of TV in Europe right now, and it’s a sector that’s grown by almost a quarter over the last year alone. 

IHS Markit predicts that 8K displays will make up only about 1% of the 60-inch and larger display market in 2018, but a whopping 9% by 2020. That’s a massive chunk of the TV market, and it’s easily the most lucrative. 8K is about cash. 

8K is about cash.

OK, so sales of 70-inch and bigger TVs make up only 0.4% of the European TV market, but if you are in the market for one, what would you buy? 

“Sharp’s 8K TV and a 77-inch OLED TV are very similar prices,” says Gray, who’s unsure about this TV’s commercial future as a mainstream product. “People will buy 8K TVs as monitors, as 4K multi-screens, as whiteboards, but as high resolution TVs, probably not – this is a hybrid prosumer product.”

So how big should an 8K TV be? 

“If 40-inch was the starting point for 4K, then 80-inch has to be the starting point for 8K,” says Gray. That suggests the LC-70X500E is on the small side. “But there are other reasons to have a 65-inch 8K screen, such as character readability in China, and the fact that smart TVs are as much about graphics as they are about video.”

The 8K frame rate problem 

Video is consecutive images, or frames, flashed-up on a screen in quick succession. The more you have per second, the smoother the image. It’s expressed as frames per second (fps), though there’s no internationally accepted frame rate so PAL and SECAM (Europe and China) differs from NTSC (North America and Japan). 

Sharp’s 8K TV can show a maximum of 50/60 fps (for PAL/NTSC), but that’s a technology that pretty much maxes-out at 4K. 

“If you double the resolution, then you ought to double the frame rate,” says Gray. “Otherwise all you get is camera blur that’s very accurately recorded!” 

So just as we went from 24/25fps for HD to 50/60 fps in Ultra HD 4k, we should go to 100/120fps for 8K. 

“Broadcasters have absolutely bought into that because motion sharpness is more important than anything else,” says Gray. Put simply, watching video in 8K without 100/120 fps is pointless. 

Put simply, watching video in 8K without 100/120 fps is pointless.

Sadly, there’s no way of getting high frame rates into any kind of TV. Not even the upcoming HDMI 2.1 standard will change that, though it will support 8K resolutions. 

So the LC-70X500E includes eight HDMI ports, four of which need to be used simultaneously to get a 8K signal into it. Sharp’s new 8C-B60A, the world’s first 8K camcorder, can capture 8K content at 60 fps and be hooked-up to the LC-70X500E. 

Sharp also says that still images in 8K can be viewed from a USB thumb drive or HDD. The LC-70X500E will also upscale 4K into 8K. However, if you want to watch live 8K TV broadcasts, you’re going to have to move to Japan and tune in to NHK’s satellite TV broadcasts in 8K resolution. 

8K could rejuvenate 360 and VR 

“The application that is crying out for more resolution is VR headsets because VR will only work when you become completely unaware of the pixel structure,” says Gray. 

He also suggests that high resolutions could be used by broadcasters to offer completely new immersive ways of watching TV by capturing in 8K and zooming-in on specific areas. 

“360 with 4K is an interesting opportunity for short content ‘snacks’, especially for live coverage where you want a sense of presence, such as at the Olympics,” says Gray. “You could scroll around with your remote control, like having a periscope, to look around the stadium.” Those kind of viewing options require 8K capture.

8K TVs might seem pointless to some, but it will help sell bigger TVs, which are becoming more popular, it will introduce 8K as a creative capture format, it will likely rejuvenate VR, and it could completely change how we watch TV. 

“There’s a whole new creative production grammar and language that will need to be used,” says Gray of the 8K era. “The storytelling will be different, with much longer shots, and more time to soak it all in, much like the best VR experiences.”

http://www.techradar.com/news/do-we-really-need-8k-tvs-yet