Review of the Philips USB Powered Portable Notebook Speakers

A lot of laptops have less than powerful speakers that provide meager sound quality. If you like to listen to music or other audio while using your laptop, you might want to consider some laptop speakers.

I purchased a pair of speakers at OfficeMax for $20 made by Philips(product number spa3250). I have used them now for several weeks, and I think they are good product for the price. Here is why:

They are plug and play and quite simple to set up. Even though Philips would be well served to put at least a LITTLE documentation with this product(there is none), a quick look at the box and the speakers will make it clear how to hook them up.

Inside the box are two speakers that are connected together with a y-shaped cord. This cord plugs into a circular "base". The base has a USB cord that plugs into the computer, supplying the speakers with power.

The base also has another opening for a headphone cord that plugs into the headphone jack. Make sure you push this plug all the way into the base, or else you will only hear sound from the left speaker. Once you have the speakers hooked up, just turn on the power switch on the base.

The sound is quite good for the small size of the speakers, with good audio at higher range sounds. The bass is weak, but that is to be expected in speakers of this price. The speakers can be plenty loud for personal use, but don't plan on DJing your next party using them.

The base also has a back panel that opens to allow three AAA batteries inside. If you want to use the speakers for an MP3 player, or don't have an available USB port on your computer, you can run the speakers on battery power.

You should be advised that none of the cords are very long, as they are designed for use with a laptop, and the speakers cannot be separated. This limits the stereo effect in large areas, and should be taken into consideration if you are trying to provide sound for a big room.

For personal use, however, the speakers perform well and are quite portable. The speakers will actually lock onto either side of the base for compactness when you want to transport them.

I would recommend these Philips USB laptop speakers for personal use with a laptop but not if you are looking for a powerful bass or something to give wide-ranging stereo sound in a cavernous space.