You could spend less, but the Creative Pebble Pro is worth the extra cash if you want premium features combined with clear, detailed audio in a small package. Plus, you get RGB accent lighting. We were smitten with the Creative Pebble from the start, for good reason--the petite speakers sounded great, yet cost only $25 at launch. Since then Creative has released several iterations of the Pebble, one of them being the Pebble Pro, which hit store shelves late last year. Further reading: This review is part of our roundup of budget computer speakers.

You take all this care collecting gigs of your favorite music and movies, and then play it all through your laptop's built-in speakers. Even the best ones can leave your audio sounding thin and lifeless. External PC speakers--along with a good set of headphones--are a must for getting the best fidelity from your media files. A trip online or to your favorite electronics store will reveal a head-spinning variety of options to choose from, with some systems costing as much or more than you paid for your laptop. Luckily, you don't need to take out a personal loan to upgrade your audio.

Amazon Basics Computer Speakers are indeed basic. That hasn't changed from when we initially reviewed them two years ago. From the packaging to the design, this USB-powered budget set has a spartan vibe. You won't find glossy paper finishes or a thick manual full of details here. Instead, a plain brown box will land on your doorstep, with two plain, compact black speakers and a very thin user guide tucked inside.