Introduction

If you play graphics-oriented games or use multimedia CDs on your computer, good external stereo speakers can greatly enhance your experience.

Step One

Buy inexpensive, magnetically shielded, powered speakers if you want basic speakers for speech and computer sounds.

Step Two

Choose a three-piece system with a ported sub-woofer if you want lots of boom to accompany action games.

Step Three

Buy a two-way, two-piece, powered speaker system in sealed enclosures with no port if you want to use your CD drive as a boom box.

Step Four

Decide where you'll put speakers, especially a sub-woofer, to determine which size speakers to consider.

Step Five

Decide which external controls you want, such as on/off, volume, tone, mute and balance.

Step Six

Bring a favorite CD along when you audition the speakers. Make sure the CD includes a wide range of sounds, from bass to treble.