How to Get the Best Audio Out of Your PC

The technology publication notes that desktop and laptop makers tend to spend their budgets on graphics cards and processors rather than high-end audio components, although laptop sound has improved in recent years through collaborations with brands like Bang & Olufsen and Harman Kardon. Newer Apple MacBook speakers also sound better than older models, but the physical constraints of laptop chassis still limit speaker performance.

For external speakers, the guide suggests choosing models with built-in DACs for better decoding, or separately pairing a DAC with the computer. Wireless speakers offer convenience but often deliver thinner sound than wired setups; Wi-Fi speakers generally outperform Bluetooth speakers because of greater bandwidth. Systems with a standalone subwoofer can enhance bass response and are easy to place under a desk or table.

Headphones remain a practical alternative, especially when space is limited. Most laptops and desktops include some form of built-in DAC, but a portable USB DAC — roughly the size of a USB stick — can improve sound quality for wired headphones. For maximum fidelity, users can combine a portable DAC with a separate headphone amplifier and open-back or closed-back studio monitors. Standard gaming headsets work but are not the top choice for high-end audio. Modern wireless headphones, with their own built-in DACs and amps, have become good enough that many listeners may not notice a difference from wired options.

Another option is to connect the computer to an existing home audio system using a 3.5mm-to-RCA cable plugged into the computer's headphone jack and the receiver's aux input. To upgrade sound further, users can connect a standalone DAC via USB and then run the cable from the DAC to the receiver; many DACs include RCA ports directly. Wireless connections are possible through Bluetooth-enabled home sound systems or through wireless USB DACs that transmit from the computer and receive at the stereo.

Finally, software tools can shape audio output. Equalizer apps allow users to adjust frequencies to compensate for room acoustics, such as reducing bass in rooms that already emphasize low end. Loudness apps can push built-in speakers beyond their usual volume limit, but the guide cautions that overuse can cause harsh distortion and eventual speaker damage. AI-driven cleanup tools are useful for restoring old recordings like 1988 cassette tapes but offer little benefit for hi-res or standard digital audio.