It is more convenient and often cheaper to get a monitor that has speakers integrated into the frame. Not only will it save you the effort of having to plug in external speakers or a headset, but it also saves space on your desk. It makes sense that a lot of people opt for monitors with speakers for their audio device and if you feel the same way then you’ll want the best monitor with speakers you can get.
That said, the main downside of monitor speakers is their quality. What they gain in convenience and ease of use, they lose in function. Most of the time they are simply added to an otherwise excellent monitor as an afterthought and it often shows in their performance. Read on below to make sure you get something pleasing to the ear as well as the eye. If monitors with speakers aren’t your thing, click here for more monitor reviews.
Favorite Monitors With Speakers Comparison
Why Get a Monitor With Speakers?
Getting a monitor with speakers is a no-brainer if you are operating your machine in a location that is very enclosed or you spend a lot of your time traveling. Not having to lug around a bunch of extra cables and wires everywhere you go just so you can hear things that are on-screen is very convenient and makes for much simpler traveling.
No matter what your situation is, the reason you are looking for a monitor with speakers all points back to one simple reason; having speakers built into your monitor is extremely convenient. You may even find this feature in the best monitor under 200 USD.
Best Monitor With Speakers Reviews
Editor's Rating: 4.5/5
Product Features
The VH240a is meant to be seen and as part of that, it comes with a viewing angle that is very wide so that you can see what is on screen from any angle or position.
The screen has been coated with special protecting material to make sure that no matter the light situation in the room with the monitor there shouldn’t be any distracting or obscuring reflections getting in your way.
The frame of the VH240a is very thin, which makes it a good choice for a multi-display setup or an attractive solo monitor if you prefer one over many.
To further aid in your efforts to view this monitor, the stand is also capable of adjusting the height so that the screen can be repositioned to match your seating position.
On top of the very thin frame, this monitor is also compatible with VESA mounting which should further add to its eligibility and compatibility for and with multi-display setups.
HP VH240a | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 23.8 inches |
Display Panel | LED, In-Plane Switching (IPS) |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
Response Time | 5 ms |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | No |
Features | VESA Compatible, Adjustable Height, Thin Frame, Anti-glare, Wide Viewing Angle |
Ports / Connectivity | HDCP, HDMI, VGA |
The VH240a is an attempt from HP to develop a monitor with speakers. It has a screen size of 23.8 inches and is backlit using LED technology with an IPS panel type. If you are after an hp monitor with speakers then this monitor fits that description, but you should know if you are considering this monitor that the quality of the speakers is very low.
It has dual 2-watt speakers integrated into the frame and they are of extremely poor quality. They exhibit many of the usual problems that monitor speakers have, namely the extremely poor volume and tinny quality of the sounds they produce. You might have some success with this monitor in a very quiet environment, but if that isn’t the kind of place you often find yourself using speakers, you should consider another option.
The monitor itself is quite good if you disregard the speakers it uses. It has decent specs for several purposes and can even support gaming if you so choose. It isn't going to be as good as using a dedicated gaming monitor, but it should be fine for use with a console or casual gaming on PC.
Pros
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Conclusion:
Editor's Rating: 4.2/5
Product Features
The G247HYL comes with an X-shaped stand that is very supportive and resistant to tipping which should help to ensure your monitor remains exactly where you want it with no risk of damage.
If you prefer to mount your monitors on the wall you will be happy to find out that this monitor is compliant with VESA mounting and should be very easy to mount on your wall.
The Acer eColor Management system is available with this monitor so you can alter the visual attributes in detail and ensure you get the perfect settings for you.
You can also use the Acer Adaptive Contrast Management to really make the darks and lights of this monitor pop or dull the difference a little, whatever suits your needs best.
This monitor is ENERGY STAR certified which means it is energy efficient and should save you some money when powering it for long periods over any non-certified competitors.
Acer G247HYL | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 23.8 inches |
Display Panel | LCD, In-Plane Switching (IPS) |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hertz |
Response Time | 4 ms |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | No |
Features | Stable Stand, VESA Compatible, Acer eColor Management, Acer Adaptive Contrast Management, ENERGY STAR certified |
Ports / Connectivity | VGA, HDMI, DVI |
If you are in need of an HDMI monitor with speakers then Acer’s G247HYL can suit that need. It is an LCD monitor, 23.8 inches in size, and it uses an IPS panel. It has the specifications to support console gaming very well. Most consoles operate at 60 frames per second which means the monitor’s 60 Hz refresh rate is perfectly suited to that purpose. That combined with its 4 millisecond response time makes it an excellent choice if you need a monitor with built in speakers and hdmi for your portable console setup.
Unfortunately, this monitor’s speakers are an excellent example of the poor quality you can expect from most monitor speakers. They are only suitable for use in a very quiet setting, and even then they can be difficult to hear. I tend to work in silence and even then I could hear that the monitor was playing sound, but I could only discern every third word unless I stopped everything else I was doing and focused solely on listening to this monitor.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Editor's Rating: 4.3/5
Product Features
This monitor comes with an especially thin bezel so that you aren’t distracted from what is on screen by thick black bars around your vision.
Have no fear, you can absolutely use VESA mounts with this monitor, no problem.
The stand is capable of tilting this monitor up and down so that you can see it, no matter your elevation.
There is a low blue mode to reduce blue light on the display and help to protect your eyes during extended use.
The screen is protected by anti-glare coating so you can let as much natural light into your office as you like without having to worry about being distracted by reflections.
Viotek GN24CB | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 24 inches |
Display Panel | LED, Vertical Alignment (VA) |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
Response Time | 4 ms |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | FreeSync |
Features | Anti-glare, Low Blue Mode, Tiltable, VESA Compatible, Thin Bezel |
Ports / Connectivity | HDMI, DisplayPort |
The GN24CB from Viotek is a decent gaming monitor that should please most gamers. It has a refresh rate of 144 Hz which is an ideal refresh rate for gaming and the response time isn’t terrible at 4 milliseconds. It also supports FreeSync, which is always nice on a gaming monitor.
The speakers it uses are a little better than the previous options, though still nothing special. They are 3-watt speakers and they suffer from the same problems as the 2-watt speakers, just with less severity. If you don’t have any trouble using 2-watt speakers then these should work even better.
Of all the monitors on this list, this is the best one for gaming. I recommend it above all others due to the high specs which support a visual clarity and responsiveness that is unmatched by any of these other options. It could've easily made our best vertical monitor lineup.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Editor's Rating: 4.6/5
Product Features
You can view this monitor from almost every angle with little difficulty or lowering in quality.
The speakers in this monitor have been professionally tuned by MaxxAudio, award winning sound engineers.
This monitor is wall mountable and can be used with VESA mounts.
Flicker-free technology has been implemented to assist you in working harder for longer periods without experiencing fatigue.
A fast-charging USB port has been included on the bottom of the monitor so you can charge your phone quickly while on your computer.
Dell S Series S3219D | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 32 inches |
Display Panel | LED, Vertical Alignment (VA) |
Max. Resolution | 2560 x 1440 (1440p) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hertz |
Response Time | 5 ms |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | FreeSync |
Features | Viewing Angle, Professionally Tuned Speakers, VESA Compatible, Flicker-Free, Fast-charge USB Port |
Ports / Connectivity | DisplayPort, HDMI |
The S3219D from Dell’s S series of monitors is a massive screen that is 32 inches in size. If you need a large monitor with speakers then you will probably like this. It also has the added benefit of having the best speakers on this list.
This monitor comes with dual 5-watt speakers that have been professionally tuned by award winning sound engineers, MaxxAudio. They sound delightful after using many of these other monitor options and while they don’t compare to using a headset or another external audio option, they certainly get the job done.
I especially appreciated the clarity of the sound you get from these speakers. I didn’t have to use them at full volume and I could understand what was being said even when focusing on other tasks. This monitor is a multitasker’s dream especially if they are looking for a dell monitor with speakers.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Editor's Rating: 4.4/5
Product Features
The 323E7QDAB can be tilted up and down to get the perfect viewing angle no matter your elevation.
It implements flicker-free technology to reduce eye fatigue and strain.
It is compatible with VESA mounting which should aid in wall mounting or multi-monitor stand setups.
The viewing angles of this monitor are especially wide so you can see it clearly from anywhere.
It implements Smart Image Lite to help ensure that its visual quality is crystal clear and as high quality as possible.
Philips 323E7QDAB | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 32 inches |
Display Panel | LCD, In-Plane Switching (IPS) |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hertz |
Response Time | 5 ms |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | No |
Features | Tiltable, Flicker-Free, VESA Compatible, Wide Viewing Angle, Smart Image Lite |
Ports / Connectivity | HDMI, DVI-D, VGA |
Philips Computer Monitors have designed the 323E7QDAB to be a very versatile machine. It can support any task you might want to perform on your computer including gaming. It is more useful for console gaming than PC gaming, but it can support both just fine and it even has decent image quality to go with it.
The speakers are another good choice. They aren’t quite up to the standard of the previous Dell monitor, but they are pretty close. This monitor also uses 5-watt speakers and they have a decent volume without getting significantly worse in quality. If you prefer not to use Dell monitors then this is a good alternative that should perform in a relatively similar capacity.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Editor's Rating: 4.6/5
Product Features
The GW2780 has an extra thin bezel so as not to interfere or distract when used together in a multi-display setup.
It is VESA mount compatible which should also lend further support to its use in a multi-monitor setup.
It implements eye care technology to protect your eyes and reduce strain or fatigue during extended sessions.
It has a wide viewing angle to further reduce strain and increase clarity even when viewing from odd angles.
It has an integrated solution for managing cables on the back of the stand to help keep your workstation neat and assist when you just don’t know where to start with managing all of your cables.
BenQ GW2780 | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 27 inches |
Display Panel | LED, In-Plane Switching (IPS) |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hertz |
Response Time | 5 ms |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | No |
Features | Thin Bezel, Eye Care Technology, VESA Compatible, Wide Viewing Angle, Cable Management Solution |
Ports / Connectivity | DisplayPort, VGA, HDMI |
BenQ’s GW2780 is a decent monitor. It is relatively large at 27 inches and it has the specs to support many different uses just fine. It implements many quality of life features and has integrated eye protection technology so you don’t have to worry about eye fatigue except for when you are using this monitor for extremely long periods.
Unfortunately, the speakers are very low quality. They used 2-watt speakers which really detract from the overall quality of this monitor, which is a shame.
I like this monitor and I think it is a good pick for most casual computer users, but if you are choosing your monitor based on its speakers then you should look elsewhere.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Editor's Rating: 4.1/5
Product Features
There should be no issues with implementing this monitor in your existing setup with a VESA mount, it is fully compatible.
The bezel of this monitor is thin so as to not distract from the on-screen graphics.
It implements Acer’s proprietary VisionCare technology to help protect your eyes during long gaming or work sessions.
It has an Audio Out port if you prefer not to use its integrated speakers.
It is ENERGY STAR certified and has extremely high energy efficiency.
Acer G276HL Kbmidx | Header |
|---|---|
Screen Size | 27 inches |
Display Panel | LCD, Vertical Alignment (VA) |
Max. Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
Refresh Rate | 75 Hz |
Response Time | 4 ms |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Speakers | Yes |
G-Sync / FreeSync | No |
Features | VESA Compatible, Thin Bezel, Acer VisionCare Technology, Audio Out, ENERGY STAR Certified |
Ports / Connectivity | VGA, DVI, HDMI |
Acer’s G276HL Kbmidx is very energy efficient and has better specs than a lot of the other options on this list. It has a 75 Hz refresh rate and a 4 millisecond response time so console gaming will look great and if you are a PC gamer you can get a little boost in visual quality that console gamers wouldn’t be able to benefit from
.
That said, these speakers suffer from the same problems as all of the other 2-watt options. I do not recommend using a monitor that has 2-watt speakers if you don’t have any other options for your sound.
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Conclusion:
Features to Look For in the Monitors With Built in Speakers?
Finding a computer monitor with speakers that are even usable can be a difficult task. Most monitors with built in speakers use speakers that are of such low quality as to be not worth using at all because you encounter problems like not being able to hear clearly even at max volume or the sound itself being loud enough but so tinny that you can’t understand it.
What I often use as a good indicator of the quality of monitor speakers is the wattage that powers them. If you see monitor speakers that are only 2 watts (W), they are almost certainly terrible. 5W speakers are probably usable, and anything over that usually results in much higher quality sound than you would usually expect from a monitor’s speakers.
What NOT to expect from These Monitors
You should manage your expectations before looking to purchase a monitor with built in speakers. No monitors with speakers are going to sound as good as a headset or a more specialized external sound option, not even the better monitor speakers you find will be able to compete.
You also have to understand going into the search that you are going to see a lot of monitors that claim to have excellent speakers, but in almost every case they will be wrong. Be sure to carefully check reviews specifically regarding the speakers and don't rely on what the seller or manufacturer has to say about them.
In most cases, you will have to do this anyway because most marketers don't want to draw too much attention to the speakers because they know they are low-quality. They usually won't make much of a fuss about the speakers except to tell you that it has them. Sometimes, they don't even do that much.
Benefits of Integrated Speakers
There are several upsides to having a computer monitor with built in speakers, not the least of which is how much it can help you with organization. If you don't have external speakers then that is at least 2 fewer cables you have to manage and 2 fewer objects on your desk that can get in your way while you're working or gaming.
Another pleasing aspect of computer monitors with built in speakers is that it increases the overall portability of your setup. If you have a monitor with speakers built into its frame then it is very likely that you only have to move the monitor, tower, keyboard, and mouse which is very handy if you need to take your setup with you on the go.
Lastly, having monitor speakers is more aesthetically pleasing than a lot of the big, bulky speakers you will find for external speakers. Even the smaller ones seem unnecessary when looking at your setup. My computer is set up on a small desk which means I find the speakers getting in my way more often than not which can be especially annoying considering I rarely use anything other than my headset when I need to hear something. If you feel the same way then a monitor with speakers might be the right choice for you.
Overall Quality of Sound
As I mentioned earlier, the quality of speakers that come integrated into the frames of monitors are usually very poor and even the best monitor with speakers isn’t going to astound you. That said, with some searching and a lot of reading, you can find some hidden gems with speakers that are usable at the very least.
What you are looking for is a monitor that has the specs you need for whatever your setup is intended for, but also has speakers of a sufficient quality. The more attention that has been paid to the speakers in the construction process, the less time was spent on the graphical prowess of the monitor.
This means you are really looking for the bare minimum of what you find acceptable in speakers and hoping the monitor is still able to provide the quality you are looking for.
Are There Gaming Monitors With Speakers?
There are gaming monitors with integrated speakers. A gaming monitor with speakers is ideal if you are purchasing the monitor to work with a console because console gaming does not require the extravagant specifications that PC gaming does which means it will be easier to find something with the specs you need and a higher quality of speaker.
If you are purchasing a monitor for PC gaming then things are likely to get pretty expensive unless you are willing to make some sacrifices on performance in other areas to get a higher sound quality.
Overall Performance vs Price Point
Ultimately, the main purpose of a monitor is to provide stunning visuals and serve as your eyes into the world of the internet and electronic space. If you place the burden of also being your ears on that monitor, then it is going to come with an understandable increase in price.
That said, most speakers are added on as an afterthought, which means if you don’t care about quality and just want whatever you can get the increase in price shouldn’t be very much at all and will likely end up being very affordable. The best monitor with built in speakers will take into consideration all of the points addressed above.
