external speakers to go with macbook pro laptop

[Sossity]

i would like an external pair, under $60.00, that I can use with my laptop, i play DVDs & also need to use headphones, as i dont want to wake people up in home.

also, my desk space is tight so compact ones would be good, I dont need them to have the biggest sound or subwoofers & all that, just something fairly good. So compact form factor is more important than big sound for me.

something where I can plug headphones into the speakers, & unplug when I want sound out of the speakers.

The laptop's built in speakers are ok, but I dont want to keep plugging & unplugging headphones from the headphone jack & risk wearing it out too soon.

 

[MAGNUStm]

I haven't tried these myself however I've read good things and seem like they'll do exactly what you're looking for.


http://twelvesouth.com/products/bassjump/

 

[quasinormal]

What size MBP do you have? I can't imagine a $60 set of speakers sounding better than a 15" or 17" MBP. Louder maybe.

Audio Technica make some USB headphones, but I wouldn't worry about that jack. My old non unibody MBP used to cop some abuse to the headphone port when I used to have an optical cable plugged in most of the time. I trashed a couple of cables, levering it within the jack and it was always ok.

 

[BuckyN8]

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-MMS321-Channel-Multimedia-Speakers/dp/B000FCN6SG

I have had these speakers for about 3 years now and love them. They match the whole metal theme the MBP gives off. Great sound quality too and within your budget.

 

[Sossity]

What size MBP do you have? I can't imagine a $60 set of speakers sounding better than a 15" or 17" MBP. Louder maybe.

Audio Technica make some USB headphones, but I wouldn't worry about that jack. My old non unibody MBP used to cop some abuse to the headphone port when I used to have an optical cable plugged in most of the time. I trashed a couple of cables, levering it within the jack and it was always ok.

my mac is a 15 inch macbok pro

would usb headphones plugged into my usb hub play the sound through them instead of through the laptop? when I want to listen privately?

 

[quasinormal]

my mac is a 15 inch macbok pro

would usb headphones plugged into my usb hub play the sound through them instead of through the laptop? when I want to listen privately?

You need to open up Sound in System Preferences and choose USB. The USB headphones will take the digital signal from the USB port and convert it to analog with its own DAC (digital to analog converter).

I really wouldn't worry about stressing that headphone port.

If you want cheap sound have a look around locally for an amplifier and bookshelf speakers. Good amplifier brands include NAD, Proton, Rotel, Onkyo, etc etc. See whats available and google it.

 

[MiamiC70]

I picked up B&W MM-1's and they sound and look terrific.