To get any speaker set worth having, you'll need to spend at least $30. Entry-level 2.1 and 4.1 systems are in this price range , and they deliver good basic PC audio performance.

$50-$100. Your choices open up quite a bit in this price range. You'll find good entry-level choices in all speaker configurations—2.1, 4.1, 5.1, and even 6.1. There are several very solid 2.1 speaker sets available for around $100 that are fine for general Windows audio and listening to music.

$100-$200. As you move up the ladder, you get into stronger offerings in all categories, and the improvements come in the areas of wattage (more powerful amplifiers) and better speaker components. You can also get 5.1 speaker systems in this range that feature a Dolby Digital and DTS decoder, which is a great feature for those who watch DVDs on a PC but don't have DTS decoding support in the DVD player.

$200-$300. Most PC speaker makers have top-shelf offerings in this price range in all configurations.

$300-$400. There are a few sets of 5.1 and 6.1 speakers in this price range. They provide powerful amplification and carry THX certification.

Over $400. Above $400, you'll find quite a number of home-theater-in-a-box offerings, although these are primarily targeted at living room entertainment centers. If your PC is part of your home theater setup, then consider these speakers not so much for your PC but for your whole living room experience. You can also explore using a good entry-level stereo amplifier and a set of bookshelf speakers, although this will push the cost into the $500 to $600 range.