Creative Pebble’s simple USB-powered 2.0 system defies all odds. At just $25, it produces richer, more immersive audio than you commonly find in speakers at twice the price — and twice the size.

You can expect there to be two or sometimes three components to your PC speakers. Ideally, you'll want as an immersive sound as you can possibility get, which in a two-piece setup means placing a speaker either side of your PC. If your speakers also come with a woofer, this is best placed on the ground, since the heavier vibrations it produces will likely cause some rattling on your desk.

Slightly angling your speakers towards your ears makes the speakers easier to hear. If you want more of a cinematic kind of sound experience you might like to also move each of your speakers further out from your laptop. This will broaden the sound stage you get from your speaker setup.

Don't lean too heavily on manufacturers' specs when making a decision. Even if you can parse frequency response numbers, they are often exaggerated. Let your ears be your guide instead. Listen for a good balance between the high (treble), mid, and low (bass) frequencies. Often, speakers will exaggerate one — usually the treble or the bass — at the expense of the others. Good speakers will produce full, detailed audio that sounds as the creator intended it.

Be aware, though, that finding strong bass response in this price range can be challenging. Without a subwoofer, 2.0 systems have trouble reproducing low frequencies. The manufacturers often use technological tweaks to amplify the bass notes, but these can sound boomy, and distort the overall mix. If a deep, controlled bottom end is a priority, a 2.1 system might be a better investment.