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With recent discovery of spotify (im a dinosaur) and enforced working from home can I ask the STW crowd for recommendations for external speakers for laptop/ phone as the tinny sound is not rewarding. Something half decent but not a fortune, dont know budget as have not got a scoobie on options. many thanks. S
Speaker or speakers? Do you want stereo?
Bluetooth / wired / something else?
You're gonna have to put something against budget and expectations even if it's vague. A half decent bluetooth speaker might be 40 quid, a Sonos system North of three figures or we could spec you a 7.1 Dolby Atmos AV receiver system if you've got a grand or two burning a hole in your pocket. In MTB terms your question reads "recommend me a bike, must have a wheel at both ends."
If you're prepared to spend money then this:
https://minirigs.co.uk/speakers/bundles/
Works well for watching movies on your laptop / tablet too. I'd get the bundle I linked to, but you could start with just a single minirig.
Also what laptop and what phone?
Plenty of old hifis going cheap. Just plug a cable into the line in socket. Or get a Bluetooth receiver if you want to make it wireless.
Anker soundcore flare 2? You can pair them up and have 1-100
we've a JBL flip 3 in the kitchen, and now for taking out the garden etc, its a remarkably good little thing, portable and rechargeable. love it.
If you're happy for just one speaker JBL clip+ are quite nice. I actually prefer the older version I have as it stays silent when nothing is playing/streaming to it, a newer version I also have, Clip 3, does this annoying repeated 'boop!' when whatever you have played (eg a podcast) has come to an end.
https://www.jbl.com/JBLCLIPPLUSRED-Z.html
https://uk.jbl.com/bluetooth-portables/JBL+CLIP+3.html
Also have a small bose thing too. A gift from work, very very nice, super sound quality...buuut, don't bother listening to stuff with the volume turned low, terrible noise floor, so hisses audibly when there is any pause/quiet bit in the speech or music. I contacted their [terrible] support and the answer was basically, 'yes, it does hiss at low volume, but we hope you keep enjoying our product'. FFS
https://www.bose.co.uk/en_gb/products/speakers/portable_speakers/soundlink-micro.html#v=soundlink_micro_bright_orange
Really happy my Ruark MR1, it also takes am optical in so I can link my cd player to them
So many variables.
Are you after something portable or something to leave on a desk
On a desk some sort of Edifier powered speakers. Loads of options I have 1280 without blue tooth. Stereo for under £100. They do a blue tooth version. They do really expensive ones and cheaper ones
https://www.reviewgeek.com/11115/edifier-r1280t-review-a-simple-excellent-desktop-speaker-upgrade/
Portable loads of articles on the options. Have look at Audio Addon
https://www.whathifi.com/audio-pro/addon-t5/review
Thanks folks. Re budget I was thinking up to couple of hundred maybe and yes stereo and bluetooth so thanks for the recommendations. Dell XPS high spec laptop (dont know model) and android motorola G power phone
The Denon minisystems have always been good for the cash and if you're using a USB keyboard and mouse the shape means that you can use the Hi fi as a handy laptop riser.
The latest versions even include bluetooth as standard.
Richer sounds do good value bundles with decent speakers.
https://www.richersounds.com/denon-dm41-silver-and-monitor-audio-bronze-2-black.html
Not as compact as a simple speaker but my 10 year old version lined into some B&W bookshelf speakers via some decent QED cable has been doing great lockdown service.
I'd probably get a couple of Minirigs at that sort of money.
Super versatile so they are easy to transport outside or take on holiday. Having heard quite a few other portable BT speakers, there is an appreciable difference in terms of sound quality. Not heard the higher end Dali etc though.
If you don't need the flexibility, then a set of active speakers with BT will work very nicely.
Ruark MR1s are great but above that budget.
There are solid alternatives:
Wharfedale DS-2
Acoustic Energy Aego 3 2.1 (has a sub but check reviews, the old ones were highly rated though)
Audioengine A2+
Not sure if they'll work for you, but Sonos are currently on offer. about £40 the One speakers
Rurak MR1s would be great
closer to budget graded. I have no idea why my R1 was graded
£264
Your budget takes you to these from Edifiers with 5 inch drivers
https://worldofturntables.com/edifier-r2000db-active-hi-fi-bluetooth-speakers-review/
Probably the next question is how big. Lots of these options are good for the money and size. It's much easier to make big speakers sound good
I went with some Alesis Elevate 3 MK2 and a Sabaj Da2 USB DAC / Headphone amp, with a 3.5mm to twin phono lead.
If you like music to sound good and have good source material, the DAC does a wonderfull job whilst also being able to drive headphones to decent levels (I use Beyer DT 770's)
The speakers sound awesome up close on a desk and manage to keep hold of the bass when close to a rear wall thanks to front porting.
https://www.reviewgeek.com/11115/edifier-r1280t-review-a-simple-excellent-desktop-speaker-upgrade/
are just like the Microlab ones;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Microlabs-SOLO6c-System-Audio-Speaker/dp/B0047CTA1C
which i bought about 7 years ago. They work really well, there isn't the brillinat clarity, but they can be pretty punchy. They lack BT, but i've got a Google cast on mine which works really well.
Another shout for Minirigs! Love mine!
As it's portable I've just got my Jam heavy Metal plugged in to my laptop. Sounds good, but I can't have it up loud cos it would piss the neighbours off. It goes pretty loud for a little portable.
Normally use it via bluetooth, but battery life not good for all day listening so it's plugged in the mains.
Not sure if they’ll work for you, but Sonos are currently on offer. about £40 the One speakers
Save £40 to bring them down to £159, not on offer at £40 - sadly! Just had a look as I was curious myself.
I've been very pleased with Bose Companion 20s for laptop sound. I play my phone via the headphone socket aux input too. They have been very well received. NOT bluetooth - run a cable from my laptop docking station.
Sadly the Companions have been requisitioned by son1 and won't fit on my minidesk I am typing this from. So I'm currently using a Sennheiser SP10 speakerphone, which is great for speech and of course meetings (no headphone hair for me) but not music, and my trusty Bluetooth Bose SoundLink Mini for the phone sound of Radio 3 and 6 Music. I like the SoundLink, but the microphone does not work with Skype, which is the biggest frustration. I really want one device that sounds great, and runs both software.
Apparently, I've read that Jabra speakerphones are very good with music. I also prefer a cable fore reliability.
https://www.reviewgeek.com/11115/edifier-r1280t-review-a-simple-excellent-desktop-speaker-upgrade/
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Thanks! I never new such a thing existed (I'm such a luddite 😄). That's just the kind of thing I need for my home office. I see from Amazon that they do a version with BT as well now. Ace!
Edit: sorry for the hijack OP 🙂