We called in the following models for our most recent round of testing:

Edifier R2000DB: Previous panelists thought that these speakers sounded much better than the Mackie CR4BT or Mackie CR3 and appreciated that they came in some nice finishes. But our panelists for this update found the high end of the frequency range to be a bit unpleasant. We also found that this speaker’s design (which puts the volume and EQ control knobs around back) and size (about twice as big as the CR3) make it a worse option for everyday use at your desk.

Bose Companion 2 Series III: These speakers look like the platonic ideal of computer speakers—they’re small, with a clean design and a front-panel volume control and aux input. Unfortunately, they don’t sound great. The speakers struggle to produce really low frequencies, making bass-heavy songs like Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown” sound less powerful.

Creative Pebble: We were curious as to whether these tiny speakers could produce enough bass to make them worth considering. Short answer: They cannot. The speakers made Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” sound top-heavy and washed out.

Creative Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 and Sound BlasterX Kratos S5: Despite the fact that both of these systems come with subwoofers, we were underwhelmed by their bass capabilities. We also thought the speakers made higher frequencies, particularly female vocals, sound tinny. Unless you are willing to compromise on sound quality to get a system with gaming lights (only on the S5), you’d be better off with the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX.

Edifier R980T: These speakers have a smaller footprint than some other Edifier speakers we tested and are cheaper than the Mackie CR3, but none of our panelists thought they sounded good enough to recommend. Plus, like other Edifier speakers, the volume and EQ adjustment dials are on the back of the speaker, which makes them harder to use as computer speakers. The company compensates for this with the inclusion of a small remote, but we find that tiny remotes are too easy to lose.

Edifier R1700BT: These speakers have similar usability issues as the other Edifier speakers we tested. The volume and EQ adjustment dials are on the side of one of the speakers rather than on the front (which would make them easier to access) or the back (which would make them harder to access). We found that these speakers sounded worse than the Mackie CR4BT, particularly in the middle part of the frequency range.

Harman Kardon Soundsticks III: These speakers have a design that makes them worthy of inclusion in the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, but all of our panelists felt they sounded unbalanced compared with the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1, although it was close. The system places the dial for adjusting the subwoofer level on the subwoofer itself, which means that when you want to turn down the sub, you have to get out of your chair and crawl underneath your desk. You’ll also have to do this if you want to turn off the system (and its very bright lights), because the on/off switch is right next to the aforementioned subwoofer control.

We tested the following models for previous versions of this guide:

The Logitech Z625 model is a THX-certified 2.1 system and delivered more bass than most of the speakers we tested. The top could be a bit strident at times but not enough that it turned us away. If you’re looking for a bass-heavy system that has an optical digital audio connection for under $200, this is definitely worth a listen.

The PreSonus Eris 4.5 system’s low end was a little muddy, and the mids were a bit muted. There are controls on the back to adjust the frequency bands, so you might be able to fine-tune the sound more to your liking. But this set is double the price of the Mackie CR3.

The Samson MediaOne BT3 is one of the few stereo computer speaker systems under $100 that has Bluetooth. Its sound, though, is very muffled, and the mids sound a bit forward, like cupping your hands around your mouth.

The JBL Jembe is another pair of sub-$100 Bluetooth speakers. We liked the sound for the price, as long as the volume wasn’t up too high—otherwise the bass fluttered, and the highs were tizzy. Also, its Bluetooth connection was unreliable.

We brought in the Micca PB42X speakers after reading some favorable reviews. Unfortunately, we found that the bottom end produced extreme port noise. There was also a big midrange peak that added a twang to the sound. Our sample also had the left and right channels reversed.

After having the M-Audio AV40 as a previous top pick, we had high hopes for the company’s AV42 model. We were disappointed. One panelist called the excessive bass “ridiculous,” and another said it “obscures everything else.”

We used the Audioengine A2+ speakers as a comparison standard for our testing. They sound great, but unlike the somewhat similar Audioengine HD3 they’re not really tuned to compensate for their lack of bass.