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WHY USB SPEAKERS? COMPACT - PORTABLE - SELF POWERED
Some are BETTER than others: These featured sound pretty good!

The best Universal Serial Bus audio based speaker systems can provide quality, pure digital sound - and be powered with a single USB cable. Eliminate a tangle of wires, potential battery issues, and power strip clogging transformers if you so desire. Compact and small travel speakers slip into a laptop carry-case with room to spare, providing great sound, higher volume levels and a wider frequency response that a notebook or computer's built-in speakers can't even begin to match.

LAPTOP TRAVEL SPEAKERS: BIG SOUND THAT'S MOBILE & LIGHTWEIGHT

Small doesn't have to mean wimpy. The Tritton Sound Bite Portable USB Digital Speaker System is the size of a Burger King Whopper - and kicks out impressive sound. It's 52mm 'Sub-Woofer' is larger than drivers in the majority of portable speakers - and you can hear the difference. Dual 28mm high-end drivers let you adjust sound angle, and fold down for safe travel. Its USB 1.1 cable stores neatly in the base. SMART DESIGN from Tritton!

Another single-cable solution that sounds REALLY GOOD: Logitech V20 Notebook Speakers features a 50mm Active driver - and a 75mm Passive Radiator cone to enhance low-end response. Although Logitech offers a more compact V10 Series, their sound quality doesn't match the V20.

Likewise, the smarter choice of siblings in Altec Lansing's product line is in a Dual Active Driver Speaker (with Microphone, Aux input jack for iPod, and Subwoofer output jack too!) is the Altec Lansing 2-Piece Portable X-T2 Speakers . Supporting two power options, it outputs 1.5 watts of sound output over USB - but also includes an AC adapter for 4 watt output when wall-power is available. Sounds better than it's kid-brother, the slightly cheaper XT1.

Yamaha's highly-regarded upscale Yamaha NX-U10SL USB Powered Stereo Speaker (Silver) uses special power-boost circuitry to claim more watts of sound over a 5 volt USB port. It can ALSO run off batteries - or AC power for 10 watts of volume. An 3.5mm audio-in jack for any MP3, iPod or audio source makes these HIGHLY VERSATILE SPEAKERS for any use, any where. Yamaha is known for high-quality drivers for response down past 80hz. Its slimline design in Silver or Black makes this easily fit into a laptop carry case pocket.

Another super-thin, slip it in your laptop pocket speaker is the Sony VAIO Portable Speaker featuring USB power.

From Roland's Edirol division known for it's Pro Audio Studio equipment - Here's an exceptional pair of separate stereo Edirol MA-1EX L/R Channel speakers 1.5 Watts which have IMPRESSIVELY LARGE 60mm DRIVERS in a ported bass-reflex enclosure to improve its low-frequency range. Thump! at your Desktop or To-Go. Also features a headphone jack and S/P DIF optical output.

SPEAKERS FOR THE ROAD-LESS DESKTOP... GOT POWER?

Tho not in the truly portable category - for those who spend most of your life at your desk, the Logitech AudioHub Notebook Speakers which does require AC Power, is the loudest speaker of the bunch - and can clean up and consolidate your desktop considerably. Logitech's AC-powered 2.1 speakers feature a 75mm woofer and dual 50mm drivers that can be extended to wider laptops. External volume control with mute switch, 3-port USB 2.0 hub, and a special riser bracket to mount a webcam. Nice, multi-function combo unit with 15 watts RMS of very highly-rated audio quality and clarity - Low end frequency response goes down well below 40hz for good bass.

FOR MUSICIANS PODCASTERS: USB & ANALOG INPUTS

Alesis offers an interesting 10 watt AC powered set: Alesis M1Active 320 USB Studio Monitor Pair (also rebranded as the ION Desk Rockers) with 3" Woofers & 1" High-End drivers - featuring multiple USB 2.0, 1/8", 1/4" and RCA stereo inputs for instruments, microphones, MP3, whatever - which feeds back into your computer for CD high-quality digital recording. 10 watts of high-end, mini-studio digital audio under $100.

THE BASIC-BLACK BOX

A little black tower needing only USB power -Yamaha USB Stereo Speaker is a bit too chunky to throw in a laptop bag. But for the desktop, its an elegant one-cable solution for compact, high-quality enhanced stereo sound.

A UNIQUE TWIST

In the interesting - but unfortunately NOT truly great sounding category, we have the Genius 313 Web Camera + Speakers + Hub rolls pivoting front or side firing 36mm stereo speakers, a 330k sensor webcam and two UBS 2.0 hub ports into a single, if a bit chunky, portable tube. Consolidate your travel needs into a tidy package with a minimum of cables - to use at home or take on the road. [Note, this is NOT a good choice for Apple Macintosh users, the webcam isn't UVC compliant, the camera drivers don't work on OS X Leopard 10.5 quite right. ] But for others, Genius may have the right solution. A lot of mobile features, rolled into one!