Laptop Speakers. A really dumb question...

Faston

I've recently aquired my first laptop and I'm especially thrilled at the streaming music available on Spotify. Also the mobility of iTunes etc.

The sound, of course, is poor but I understand one can buy laptop speakers.

Now, can anyone kindly let me know if these come with their own amplification or is additional equipment needed. Do they just plug into a USB socket?

Also, any recommendations on type and price would be appreciated.

The laptop is an Acer Aspire Model PEW71.

Kind regards.

John_Gray

There are two basic types of external speakers: USB-powered (so limited power output) and mains-powered (which because it's a laptop will work off the single output sound plug, perhaps headphone plug, on your laptop).

How much? How much do you want to pay, and what sound quality would you hope to obtain? You're never going to get the quality from a laptop that you might get from a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system on a PC with a decent sound card or from its motherboard. You'll get endless recommendations; the ones I went with eight months' back were the Logitech V20... (Gosh, they've gone up to nearly £42!)

penrhyn

I have one of these, works nicely with the netbook/ipod.

Small and a surprisingly good sound.http://www.amazon.co.uk/XMI-X-mini-II-Mini-Speaker/dp/B001UEBN42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299082348&sr=8-1

pedrothefish

i got these a month ago and they're fine, but they wont blow your socks off.
they are mains powered and have an AUX in so if you want to play your ipod /mp3 you can.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002FU5RH4/ref=asc_df_B002FU5RH42181300?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&!!!!!googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B002FU5RH4

chateauneufdupape

I bought my teenage daughter the Logitech Z205. They plug straight into a USB port and have a clip so that you can attach them to your laptop. They have massively improved the sound quailty for about £27. Its not as good as a high quality stereo, but was well worth the money to get rid of the tinny noise.

Faston

Very many thanks to all for the great information and suggestions above.