I'm looking for loudspeakers for my P.C.. The ones it came with were adequate for the little noises that windows and MSN messenger make, but are simply useless when it comes to listening to music. Am I better off buying some decent active speakers? Or should I go the whole hog, and buy a dedicated amplifier for my PC? Any comments?

To save money (and space!) i've got my pc wired up to my hi-fi amp (cambridge audio A5), via jack to phono through the aux input. It's fine for listening to music from my pc - far better than those crappy speakers i got with the machine. Mine were so useless that i threw them out!

John -

I have a brand new boxed pair of Sony Vaio PCGA-SP1 speakers which I'm about to sell (ebay if necessary). They sound fantastic; I just don't have a need as I've got a surplus integrated amp and a pair of QED Arias which I can use with my PC. Where roughly in the world are you located please?

If you're not interested and/or you've got space for more kit (!), I can recommend scouring the Richer Sounds or Hyperfi adverts for a low-cost integrated amp and wee speakers, which will give you more volume (but cost more...)

L

Interesting Linds. Did you get the Vaio speakers with your PC? I've always been wary of PC speakers, as the sound to me always sound tinny and weak. Were the Vai's good enough for listening to (MP3) music through?

I bought the Vaio speakers direct from Sony. As PC speakers go they're pretty stunning. I'm selling them for a tenner and if you were lucky enough to live near Midlands/M40 southwards way, I'd drop them at yer house.

As I say, they're obviously not as good as £100 integrated + £70 speakers or whatever, but I'm selling them for a tenner...

Ah, that's a shame as I live down in Brighton, but I'll keep an eye on ebay for 'em if you're putting them on soon?

If you're looking for some decent pc speakers. I've got some Harmon Kardon soundsticks and I can honestly say they are very very good for the price. It comes with a seperate sub so bass isn't a problem at all and with 4 seperate tweeters on each speaker the sound is very evenly spread.

John, if you've got money to spend I'd say do away with PC speakers and get a proper pair of hi-fi speakers and an amp.
If you shop around this can be done for under £200 and will be well worth it - especially if you've got stacks of MP3s you're gonna be playing through them...

Yeah I agree with Will, personally I just hooked up an old micro system to the pc which delivers more than adequate sound and certainly trounces any standard pc speakers.