Logitech X-230

The X-230 is a prime example of how far inexpensive computer speakers have come over the past decade. In 1994, $50 would get you small, beige, left/right speakers — most likely battery-powered — that didn’t sound good and couldn’t play very loud. Today, for the same amount of cash you can get the X-230, which includes attractive, two-driver satellites and a 20-watt powered subwoofer. The sound doesn’t compete with some of the better (and more expensive) systems on the market, but for the money we can’t complain. We also like the satellite stands that flip around to allow you to mount the satellites on a wall or other vertical surface. Like most small subwoofers, you don’t get much deep bass, and we heard some boominess in the upper bass; we also thought the X-230 sounded better from a few feet away than up close, making them less than ideal for nearfield listening. But for $50, the X-230 impressed us. We wish we’d had these ten years ago.–Dan Frakes