USB Powered Computer Speakers

By David Urmann

USB speakers are the most popular computer speakers now. They are powered with 5 volts at 200 milliamps given by the USB port. Power runs thru USB cable minus a separate power adaptor.

It can either be a speaker with an audio output jack for sound while another uses the same cable for power and sound. Some models have a headphone socket. Others also connect to CD/cassette player. Some are good for desktops and even MP3 players. It is commonly used in laptops.

USB speakers are full of advantages. First they don't need large AC adapter and outlet. Second they are compact, portable and self-powered. Third, the best models provide pure digital and quality sound. Fourth they even have higher sound volumes and wider frequency response.

It also has its own drawbacks. USB speakers tend to eat up more system resources since it processes audio thru the USB. Plus CD is audio playable only if the CD-Rom supports digital audio playback.

Tritton Sound Bite Portable USB Digital Speaker System is one of the well-known models. It includes 52mm sub woofer with dual 28 mm high end drivers for sound control. It is targeted to Mac users but also works with Windows. It weighs 28g and comes in silver shade. It does not require any sound card.

The Sony VAIO Portable Speaker is super thin. It is Windows Vista and XP compatible. It comes with a stand and is very compact.

The Yamaha USB Stereo Speaker is a little black chunky tower ideal for desktop. It is a one-cable solution for high quality sound.

Genius 313 Web Camera + speakers +hub has a 36mm stereo speaker, a 330 k sensor web cam and a 2 USB hub port in a single tube. Its package also includes application CD, software, drivers, user manual, and a carry bag. It is compatible with Windows Vista.

Crystal USB Desktop Speakers are very attractive, producing crystal clear audio frequencies. It is compatible with USB2.0. Each speaker is rated at 1 watt per channel.

Kensington Pocket Speakers has its own independent volume wheel on top and four blue lights. It is compatible with Windows and Mac. It has a retractable USB cable and compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1. Some reviews say that the lights are slightly distracting.

Altec Lansing XT1 holds two USB sets of cables - a retractable and a standard one. It also includes removable speaker stands and quick guide. The drawback is it does not have a sub woofer.

Logitech V20 Notebook Speaker is another single cable USB speaker featuring a 50mm driver and a 75mm radiator. It has well-placed volume controls, a protective travel case and weighs 1.3 pounds. It is compatible with any Windows 98 SE and above. It has indicating LED blue lights on top of the speaker. However, it may not be Mac compatible and has a weak midrange.

Edirol MA-1EX L/R Channel speakers 1.5 Watts has a large 60mm driver with a headphone jack and S/P DIF optical output. It is easy to use and can work with any Windows or Mac OS based system. For fuller sound, it has a bass enhancer making it a musician's friend.

The Lacie's Dual Firewire Speaker looks like a tubular periscope in its smooth white tubes. It has several external drives with 2 firewire ports. It can also be plugged into an MP3 player thru the 3.5mm line-in port. It is a minimalist speaker with its few cables but there is no visual volume indicator.

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