Turn your sound up to 11 with these fantastic speakers for your Mac
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A great set of speakers can turn your Mac from a squeaking mouse to a roaring lion. While super simple to install, external speakers can make your favorite movies, music, video games, podcasts, and more come to life. But which Mac speakers should you get? I've rounded up some of my favorites, so strap yourself in, hold onto your hats, and ride the waves!
Affordable Bose sound
Bose Companion 2 Series III
Staff Favorite
The Bose Companion 2 Series III gives you the classic, well-balanced sound you would expect from Bose speakers for an affordable price. The low-end tones are warm and consistent and never seem to fight with the high-end sounds. Much like Bose's other computer speakers, the Companion 2 is meant to be simple in every way. Controlled by a single volume knob on the front of the right speaker, it's effortless to set up and start using. Plus, they are quite small and compact, making them perfect for tight spaces.
Stylish and balanced
Bose Companion 20
Bose Companion 20 speakers are simple and stylish. Their sleek metal exteriors — which have no buttons or knobs — give the speakers a sleek aesthetic that will look great beside your Mac. The control pod can be placed closer to you. Even if the speakers are some distance away, you can still start, stop, and adjust them conveniently. The control pod also has an AUX input, allowing you to connect your iPhone, iPad, or any other device to play its audio through the Companion 20.
Highly rated
Audioengine A5+
Audioengine A5+ are small in stature, standing slightly taller than a soft drink can. It has a sleek design with no buttons or knobs on the front; that makes them ideal for tight spaces. On the back, they include standard AUX input and USB, so you can connect your computer the way that works best for you. Plus, they can connect to plain old speaker wires so you can use the Audioengine A5+ to play music from your old stereo if you want.
Decent bass with no sub
M-Audio AV42
The M-Audio AV42 provides fantastic sound quality at a great price. These speakers have two drivers each, a one-inch driver for treble and a four-inch driver for bass. That gives you enough bass to go without a dedicated subwoofer while providing clear and crisp high-end tones. There's also an AUX port on the front, making it convenient to play music right from your iPhone or iPad if you so choose.
Fantastic Bluetooth speakers
Fluance Ai40
If you want the option to go wireless with the sound from your Mac, there is no better bookshelf speaker than the Fluance Ai40. The real beauty of these speakers isn't that they sound amazing out of the box (which they do). It's the ability to customize their sound to your liking that really sets these speakers apart.
Great value
Logitech Speaker System Z313
The Z313 system comes with a powered subwoofer and two satellite speakers to deliver 25 watts of total power. That's enough to fill your room and then some. While the full range sounds excellent at normal volumes, the highest of the high-end does fall a bit flat and can get pretty tinny at very high volumes. However, fiddling with the equalizer sorts this issue out.
Great connectivity
Edifier Luna Eclipse
These large egg-shaped speakers are perfect to use with your Mac with either a wired or wireless connection — thanks to the addition of Bluetooth — and offer some very impressive sound all controllable from the custom remote. The Edifier Luna Eclipse even has a Digital Optical connection so you could use it with your TV or other home entertainment devices if you choose.
Unique design
Harman Kardon Soundsticks III
Don't let the bizarre design of the Harman Kardon Soundsticks III fool you; these speakers put out a lot of great sound. The downward-firing subwoofer provides a wonderfully rich bass while the satellite speakers take care of delivering crisp high-end tones. Rather than any remote control or knob, the satellite speakers feature touch volume and mute controls and can be placed at different angles.
Upgrade your sound
Your Mac is going to sound better and be louder if you connect a dedicated set of speakers to it, rather than relying on the internal speakers. Any of these speakers listed above are going to help you turn your Mac up to 11!
It's hard not to love the Bose Companion 2 Series III because they sound great, look great, super easy to set up, and the price tag makes them pretty affordable. If you don't feel you need a dedicated subwoofer taking up some room by your computer, they're an excellent option for any Mac user.
Even though they look a little weird, the Harman Kardon Soundsticks III are perfect for those that prefer a dedicated subwoofer to ensure that your bass and low-end is rich and warm. The touch controls on the satellite speakers are slightly minimal in function, but the sound quality and the price tag makes them a sweet spot for most people.