I test audio gear for a living — here's why you need a pair of desk speakers

(Image credit: Kanto)

Headphones are great. If you're looking for distraction-free listening or you want to keep your embarrassing listening to yourself, they're great. But there's something more comfortable than even the most comfortable headphones, and louder (and safer for your ears) than even the most powerful earbuds.

That would be a pair of the best desk speakers. Powered models, to be clear, so that you don't have to worry about any kind of amplifier or separate device. Let me tell you why you need some — and then the pair that make sure my desk is filled with music.

Obviously, I'm not talking to office-bound headphone heroes here. You're guaranteed to irritate your coworkers if you start playing your favorite mid-aughts pop at full volume from a pair of USB-C connected 70W powered speakers. You guys can go read something else: might I suggest the best wireless headphones instead?

Right, now that they're out of the way, we can focus on those who work at home, or have a fancy private office with a personal water cooler. You go-getter, you.

Better for your ears

I'm a big fan of the best headphones. They let me take my music anywhere I want, no questions asked. But there are some problems, especially when you want to listen to music all day. For one, as comfortable as they may be, they're still a device that sits on your head and over your ears. I always end up with a headphone divet in my head and sweaty ears, no matter the cans I'm using. Tolerable, but irritating.

They're not the best for your hearing health, either. I am a big proponent of proper volume listening, especially when I hear how many people say, "Oh yeah, I just max the volume out and go from there." Your ears are quite useful, so let's try and look after them, yeah?

A pair of desk speakers can address those two issues directly. For one, you don't have to wear anything on your head, avoiding those irritating warm ears and head divet. There's less a feeling of claustrophobia that some can feel when wearing headphones as well, on account of them not sealing you off from the outside world.

They're better for your ears as well. The drivers aren't pointed directly at your ears, and they're much further away. You're able to reach much higher volumes without causing future hearing problems. You'll still annoy anyone you're sharing the space with, but you won't cause damage to your ears.

There are a couple of headphone pros that you'll miss. There's no ANC, obviously, and you're unlikely to get any of those fancy spatial audio modes you sometimes see in the best noise-canceling headphones.

But there's one massive positive that outweighs everything.

Sound benefits

a pair of black wood speakers with a yellow kevlar cone photographed on a wood desk with a computer and blue wall and a plant in shot — (Image credit: Future)

If there's one thing I always miss when I'm listening to headphones, it's the feeling of the sound. Bass that shakes you to your core, bright trebles that drift through the air. The experience is good, but there's always something missing. Desk speakers, however, get you much closer.

Thanks to much larger drivers and physical bass ports, desk speakers create a much bigger sound that you can actually feel beyond the shaking of your skull. Sure, it's not going to hold a candle to some might floorstanders and a subwoofer, but it's more involved than a pair of headphones.

Get a decent pair of desk speakers and you'll enjoy music that is more open, more engaging and more immersive. And that's nothing to say of when you go to play your video games or watch movies. Expect a wider soundstage and greater bass response for big explosions and gunshots. Engines roar, and dialogue is clear. The benefits of a good pair of speakers on your desk are many.

The speakers you should buy

The Kanto ORA4 are the best desk speakers I've tried, and there's a good reason. They've plenty of power to keep their large drivers pumping out music, and yet compact enough to fit comfortably on even more compact desks. They're handsome too, with a clean and simple style. I've been using mine since I finished my testing period, and I can see them sticking around for a long time to come.

You can plug a USB-C cable into the back, coming from any compatible digital source. That could be your laptop, phone or even your tablet. There's an RCA connector on the back as well for other devices, so you could even plug in a turntable if you've got one nearby you want to listen to. You can connect wirelessly with Bluetooth, another bonus. You can even hook up a subwoofer for extra bass.

They're not the cheapest thing in the world, coming in around the same as flagship noise-canceling headphones — $449. Personally, I'd say they're well worth the price — especially if you like to mix music.

More from Tom's Guide

Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.

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