Soundbar

A soundbar puts the speakers in one enclosure, which suits a desk where two separate speakers would be in the way or where a monitor sits on a shallow surface.

Where it works well: video calls, streaming, general listening and games where you want better sound than a monitor’s built-in speakers without giving up desk space. Many models clip or sit directly under a monitor, and several are USB-powered so there is one fewer plug.

Where separate stereo speakers are better: anything where you want a genuine sense of left and right. A single bar cannot create the width that two speakers placed either side of the screen can, however the marketing describes it.

The connections matter. USB carries audio digitally and takes power from the same cable, which bypasses noisy motherboard audio and keeps the desk tidy. 3.5mm works with anything. Bluetooth lets the same bar serve a phone.

Speakerphone models add a microphone array and are designed for calls rather than music — worth choosing deliberately if meetings are the main use.

See also speakers.