# Laptop Sound Options

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-sound-options/197618>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 25, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-sound-options/197618 "2003-08-25T22:56:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-sound-options/197618/1 "2003-08-25T22:56:16Z")

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I have just moved off to college, and not only does his taste in music suck, I don’t want to constantly have to use his CD player to listen to music.

So, what are some good options for getting good sound off of a laptop for not a lot of cash (under $40), either headphones or speakers?

How much do noise canceling head phones with good fidelity cost?

Thanks, Elliot

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**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-sound-options/197618/2 "2003-08-25T23:05:02Z")

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I’ve seen some noise-cancelling headphones at Wal-Mart for around that price, but I can’t comment on their quality.

When my laptop still had a functioning screen, I got a pair of computer speakers that more than suited my needs for $30. Of course they don’t hold a candle to good, large speakers, but they sound like heaven compared to abysmal laptop speakers.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-sound-options/197618/3 "2003-08-26T03:26:33Z")

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Also consider AC-powered external speakers with a larger third bass speaker. That way your laptop doesn’t have to strain with higher volumes. You can find quite a few types out there under $40.00.

Keep in mind it’s still a laptop. Make sure you have the correct audio drivers for the laptop, as well as the correct CD drivers to ensure quality sound.

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**Author:** ![heresiarch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@heresiarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heresiarch)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-sound-options/197618/4 "2003-08-26T04:06:36Z")

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I have some noise cancelling headphones that were in that price range. They’re OK, but not great.

With noise cancelling switched on, it introduced a kind of low hum or buzz. It’s still worthwhile in a noisy environment, but it’s nowhere near perfect.

And noise cancelling works mainly on lower frequencies and constant sounds, like jet engines or the sound of tires in a moving car. It probably wouldn’t work quite as well at blanking out your roommate’s stereo, if that’s what you had in mind.

You might be better off just getting good headphones with closed earcups to block out more external sound.