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Decent USB powered mini speakers out there?

M

Mariachi

Member
I had laptop Toshiba Satellite A665D with Harman Kardon speakers that sounded great especially on movies felt like being in movie theater considering their size i think they sound awesome.


image.jpg



I sold the laptop and now need similar speakers for my desktop for 150x150ft room, ideally small like below example, USB powered or not powered at all yet sounding good as my laptops Harman Kardon's, i don't need Bluetooth.

Budget around $30-40

iHM79_0020_b1.jpg.450x400_q85.jpg
 
If its for a desktop, why don't you get a AC powered? Why do you need USB powered?

Harman Kardon speakers you speak of, were they USB powered too? or built into the LT?

USB simply does not have enough power to provide decent sound...

I would atleast get something like a Create Inspire T12 or T20...

But if you really want to go that route Amazon A100 are have pretty good reviews

http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Powered-Computer-Speakers-A100/dp/B00GHY5F3K
 
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DesiPower said:
If its for a desktop, why don't you get a AC powered? Why do you need USB powered?

Harman Kardon speakers you speak of, were they USB powered too? or built into the LT?

USB simply does not have enough power to provide decent sound...
Click to expand...

You can see on the picture they were built in laptop so probably not powered at all and were loud for my small room 100-150sq ft.

They sell replacement speakers for A665D on ebay but this WON'T be harman kardon or same quality for sure.

Perhaps i should find laptop like this take speakers out and replace with crappy ebay speakers then sell it, however this will take way too much effort.

image.jpg





DesiPower said:
I would atleast get something like a Create Inspire T12 or T20...

But if you really want to go that route Amazon A100 are have pretty good reviews

http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Powered-Computer-Speakers-A100/dp/B00GHY5F3K
Click to expand...

I dont have much space on my desk so large speakers is not something i need at this point otherwise i'd buy something with dedicated sub-woofer, however at moment its not what i need. Also i don't have extra space for A/C power at moment.

I guess i give an amazon speakers a shot for now since they got good return policy.
 
Mariachi said:
You can see on the picture they were built in laptop so probably not powered at all and were loud for my small room 100-150sq ft.
Click to expand...
Not powered? You wouldn't have heard any sound at all if they weren't "powered" one way or the other because the audio signal produced by any computer hardware starts out at a very low power level. By itself, without amplification, that signal is just too low to drive any sort of output device - not even earbuds, let alone "speakers".

"Powered speakers" simply have their own amplifier built into their cabinets, and "non-powered" speakers must get a higher level input from some sort of amplifier external to the speakers, connected between them and to the circuitry actually producing the audio signal. In short, your laptop's Harmon-Kardons were being "powered" by an amplifier built into the laptop, which means among other things that that amplifier wasn't limited to the typically low power available through a laptop USB 2.0 port, unlike the sort of speakers you seem intent on replacing the HKs with. External "powered speakers" require "external" power of some sort. In USB speakers, they get their power through the USB connection. And USB 2.0 devices can only, by definition, draw ~ 500 mA (and usually less) which for an audio amplifier, even one driving very small speakers, really isn't much power at all. And non-powered speakers driven only by the amplifier behind the built-in headphone jack of most computers also won't produce much sound to speak of, either...
 
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Kaido said:
You might consider a little Bluetooth speaker. They usually have a minijack input (so you don't have to use Bluetooth) & can be run off USB. Here's a popular one off Amazon for $34:

http://www.amazon.com/DKnight-MagicBox-Bluetooth-Portable-Microphone/dp/B00NXET2MM/
Click to expand...
I'd be happier recommending it if it were still the on sale for the $15 I paid for it a couple of weeks ago, but this Insignia for $20 at Best Buy isn't bad, either. Personally, I wouldn't seriously consider spending more than that on any "cheap" BT speaker (and the "really" decent ones are shockingly expensive, imo), but after trying and returning a few other inexpensive ones (≤ $30 on sale), I was pleasantly surprised by this one's sound quality (keeping in mind that small speakers like these obviously have neither stereo separation nor "bass" to speak of in any realistic sense...)

PS: I just saw this over on Slickdeals. Even at $50, it's more than I'd personally spend on a BT speaker at all (especially one without even aptX), but considering what the "better" versions go for in general, it looks like a good deal: refurbed JBL Charge
 
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Mike64 said:
Not powered? You wouldn't have heard any sound at all if they weren't "powered" one way or the other because the audio signal produced by any computer hardware starts out at a very low power level. By itself, without amplification, that signal is just too low to drive any sort of output device - not even earbuds, let alone "speakers".

"Powered speakers" simply have their own amplifier built into their cabinets, and "non-powered" speakers must get a higher level input from some sort of amplifier external to the speakers, connected between them and to the circuitry actually producing the audio signal. In short, your laptop's Harmon-Kardons were being "powered" by an amplifier built into the laptop, which means among other things that that amplifier wasn't limited to the typically low power available through a laptop USB 2.0 port, unlike the sort of speakers you seem intent on replacing the HKs with. External "powered speakers" require "external" power of some sort. In USB speakers, they get their power through the USB connection. And USB 2.0 devices can only, by definition, draw ~ 500 mA (and usually less) which for an audio amplifier, even one driving very small speakers, really isn't not much power at all. And non-powered speakers driven only by the amplifier behind the built-in headphone jack of most computers also won't produce much sound to speak of, either...
Click to expand...

I guess what OP means is no external AC power source required. Of source they were powered. And a USB speaker will be limited to 5 volt 1 amp power source, but a internal LT speaker can can leverage the 12 volt and much higher amperage...
 
DesiPower said:
I guess what OP means is no external AC power source required. Of source they were powered.
Click to expand...
I'm not being snotty, but to be honest, I'm not at all sure the OP's "technical knowledge" (using the term loosely), actually extends that far...
 
I recently looked at portable speakers for a laptop/tablet scenario, and discovered that for the sound/price/footprint ratio, you can't go wrong with something like a JBL Charge or HP Roar soundbar. Just use the "aux" input and you're golden 🙂
 
I've seen the reviews of beats and pioneer looks and sound is too good I think you can check with those which may fulfil your requirement.
 
Ordered Amazon A100 and they sound pretty good for speakers this size and this price range i will just stick with them, freaking loud too.
 
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