Summary
If you use your computer as your primary source of entertainment, you’ve probably experienced problems with sound and volume.
This is because standard computer speakers are not very loud and using earphones or headphones to listen to music or watch movies takes away that home theater experience that you are looking for.
But have you tried desktop speakers? Desktop speakers can help you get the most out of your PC. They bring out the intricacies in your music as well as the stirring resonance of movie and game sound effects.
The best thing is that they are reasonably priced and have a simple design and connectivity. The Bose Companion 2, the Logitech z623 and the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 are three of the more popular desktop speakers that can give a new voice to your computer.
In this guide we compare the three to help you decide which one you should buy.
~~~ Check Price: Bose Companion 2 (Series III) ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Logitech z623 ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Klipsch Promedia 2.1 ~~~
Bose Companion 2 Overview
Bose Companion 2 Series III features two sleek and compact speakers that are small in size to save on desk space. These speakers have ported cabinet design and a versatile pod that can be easily controlled.
They employ TrueSpace surround digital processing circuitry which aids in the production of deep lows and resonant highs, thus maximizing audio performance.
If you need to listen privately, one of the speakers features a volume control and a headphone port on the front.
Bose Companion 2 doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity but there’s also an aux port for plugging in an additional device.
Logitech z623 Overview
Logitech z623 is a three-piece computer audio system that comprises two satellite speakers and a robust subwoofer.
It is THX certified and it has 400 watts peak power, 200 watts RMS power and the subwoofer has 130 watts. The sound from this system is definitely loud enough to fill large entertainment spaces.
The z623 works with any device and it has three separate inputs including 3.5 mm jack input and RCA input so you can connect up to three devices at the same time.
One of the satellite speakers has a spare 3.5mm jack, a headphone jack, power button, volume and bass knobs.
The z623 doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity but there’s an updated version with built-in Bluetooth receiver.
Klipsch Promedia 2.1 Overview
Klipsch Promedia 2.1 comprises two dual horn-loaded satellite speakers and a powerful subwoofer. This speaker setup has a compact and simplistic design added with a touch of elegance which makes it very easy and convenient for you to set up on your desk.
It comes with a control pod that makes controlling the speakers very easy and you can detach from the set if you need a replacement.
The bass you get from the subwoofer is deep and precise, and it’s quite responsive. The system has a superb set of speakers that offer crisp and clear high tones without crossover of frequencies. The mid-range is very clean and crisp.
The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 also doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity but there’s an updated version with built-in Bluetooth receiver.
Comparison of Bose Companion 2 vs. Logitech z623 vs. Klipsch Promedia 2.1
Design
The Bose Companion 2 is a 2.0 set while the Logitech z623 and the Klipsch ProMedia 2.2 are 2.1 systems.
The three speakers have a compact design, but since the Bose Companion 2 is a 2.0 speaker set, it doesn’t come with a subwoofer. As a result, it takes up less space than the Logitech z623 and the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 and is more suitable for small spaces.
On the other hand, both the z623 and the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 come with a hefty subwoofer and two satellite speakers that are also fairly large, at least compared to the Bose Companion 2.
The Klipsch has a very beautiful appearance with the front of the speakers being flat black with a slightly golden cone.
Out of the three speakers, the z623 takes up more desk space because although it’s speakers are small the subwoofer is quite big.
The design of z623 isn’t as pleasing as the Klipsch but it has a matte black finish and exposed grills that look really nice and the satellites are triangular with rubberized stands for that extra layer of support.
Connectivity and Controls
Bose Companion 2 has dual inputs for connecting to computer and portable audio devices simultaneously.
All the controls and connections on the Bose Companion 2 are on the right satellite. There’s the volume control and headphone jack at the front, and at the back, there’s the DC power in, left speaker connector and two 3.5mm analog inputs.
The Logitech z623 supports RCA input, whereas the Bose Companion 2 and the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 don’t support RCA inputs.
The controls of the Logitech such as the volume, power, bass knob, and input are on the right speaker and there’s an updated version of the z623 that offers an optical input as well.
Unlike the other two, the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 doesn’t have tuning controls but it comes with a control pod that can be detached if you need a different placement.
On the front of the control pod, there’s the volume controls for the satellites and the subwoofer, and on the side, you have two 3.5mm inputs and a headphone jack.
As mentioned earlier, Bose Companion 2 doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity but there’s an updated version of the z623 and the ProMedia that offers Bluetooth connectivity. You can also purchase a Bluetooth adapter separately but you’ll have a mess of wires running to the Bluetooth.
Sound
Since both the Logitech z623 and the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 are 2.1 systems and also THX certified, they have more balanced sound (and much stronger bass) than the Bose Companion 2.
However, Bose Companion 2 has a ported cabinet design that delivers clear, deep low musical tones and special effects for movies and games.
It also has TrueSpace surround digital processing circuitry to produce natural and wide sound. When playing games, listening to music, or watching videos the mid sounds good and dialogue and speech are clear.
It features automatic tonal balance adjustment that automatically adjusts tonal balance for rich, convincing audio performance at practically any listening level.
The only downside is due to the small size of speakers, there’s no emphasis on treble frequency and as a result the overall sound is a bit dark.
On the other hand, z623 and the Promedia have a subwoofer which adds a tight and defined low frequency response and this makes listening to music with these speakers more enjoyable.
The satellite speakers are capable of delivering clean and detailed mid-range and high frequency sound as well.
When it comes to bass performance, the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 has better boom when compared to the other two. Its subwoofer has 6.5” side-firing, for full bandwidth bass response. What’s better is the volume can be controlled from the right to the left speakers via the control pod, so you can dial in the perfect amount of low-end.
The satellites are rectangular in shape with metal legs and they each have two separate 3-inch midrange drivers that deliver solid low-end response, clear midrange and crisp highs. The top tweeters use the company’s proprietary Micro Tractrix horns.
With the Logitech, the sound from the satellites is clear and responsive but the real difference is in the subwoofer performance. The bass isn’t as tight and defined as it is on the Promedia. It hits the low-end but comes off with more rattle than clarity. It will shake your desk but in a mess of bass instead of a tight hit.
The sound quality from the speakers is much better. The mids are recessed but smooth and the highs are very present although they can get a touch loud at times.
When it comes to the frequency range, the z623 goes up to 35Hz which is slightly higher than the Promedia 2.1 which goes up to 31Hz.
Final Thoughts
You’ll have a great time gaming, listening to music and watching movies with any one of these desktop speakers.
But since Logitech z623 and the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 are THX certified and come with a subwoofer, it makes the speakers sound better than the Bose Companion 2.
