Do you ever get the urge to blow the roof off your office with some AC/DC or Metallica? Yeah, me neither. Most offices just don't roll like that.
But if you do like to crank tunes on your PC, Axiom's Audiobyte speaker system is one of the biggest desktop boomers out there. It includes two satellite speakers, a subwoofer, and a 55-watt-per-channel amplifier that connects to a PC, iPod, or any other source via the minijack port.
The satellite speakers put out a clean, neutral sound with plenty of detail and depth in the high and midrange, even at low volumes. And they look pretty sweet too: we opted for the high gloss walnut wood models. They look gorgeous, but might feel a little out of place if your desktop decor is littered with brushed aluminum Apple products. The front-firing subwoofer has three positions, and fills out the system sound nicely, with smooth and hearty bass.
For a desktop system, though, the sub is awfully big and boxy. I even began to wonder what was inside - an ant farm maybe, or some runaway Cabbage Patch dolls? The amp also doubles as a space heater, so you'll probably want to stash it under the desk, and then use your feet on the volume knob.
At $350, and another $180 for the sub, this is one of the priciest desktop systems you'll find. But if you have a home office where you listen to music, play video games, and watch movies, it will certainly breathe new life into the experience.