Best Monitor With Built-In Speakers

Have you ever imagined the world without sound? I’m pretty sure you’ll not like it as much. Human communication is largely dependent on sound. Think how difficult it would be if we could not talk!

Now bring on the same concept to your computers. What if your computer couldn’t communicate through sounds? How much would you have enjoyed that latest Hollywood flick without hearing the dialogues, how would you have listened to your favorite music? Do you know that the background soundtracks for the games you’re playing are especially composed, and they psychologically trigger your curiosity, build up your attention, and bring about that adrenaline rush?

You’ve probably never thought about assembling your desktop without buying a pair of speakers, did you? This was exactly the thought that the monitor manufacturers have had. When you’re in the market for a desktop, a sound system is a necessity. That necessity has driven the invention of monitors with built-in speakers.

You’ll surely be thinking – aren’t we supposed to buy the two, separately? Yes, that has always been the way but as we were trying to see what might be the advantages of this setup, we’ve found some fantastic stuff. Let’s dig into those.

The Primary Issues

This concept having integrated speakers with monitors had modest beginnings. Top manufacturers didn’t want to experiment with the idea because it was pretty difficult to convince people that it was a worthy integration. And honestly, most people thought the same and ended up buying separate speakers for their systems.

Moreover, the manufacturers faced a particular problem integrating speakers with the display. Attaching large powerful speakers would make the screen size unnaturally large, and didn’t look that good. As a result, smaller 2W speakers were associated which was totally unsatisfactory for a decent audio standard.

But innovation is never stagnant. With the rising popularity of monitors with built-in speakers, top manufacturers soon found ways that helped them build monitors with powerful speakers integrated with them while keeping a check on the size of the display as a whole.

Monitor	Display	Resolution	Panel	Speaker	Ports
ASUS VG248QE	24"	1920x1080	TN	2x2W Stereo RMS	HDMI, DP, Dual-Link DVI-D	Check Price
AOC i2777fq	27"	1920x1080	IPS	2x3W	HDMI, HDMI MHL, DP, VGA	Check Price
Sceptre E225W-1920	22"	1920x1080	TN	2x2W Stereo	HDMI, DVI, VGA	Check Price
ASUS MX34VQ	34"	3440x1440	VA	2x8W Stereo	3 HDMI, DP	Check Price
Acer S241HL	24"	1920x1080	TN	N/A	HDMI, DVI, VGA	Check Price

Best Monitor with Built-In Speakers – Buying Guide

If you have been convinced by these advantages discussed above, and making up your mind about buying one of these monitors you’ll surely be hit with the next question – which is the best computer monitor with built in speakers?

In answering that question, we’ve ended up creating a list. It has five entries ranging across different price ranges. Leaving the entries for later, let us first discuss how the final list was selected.

As the specialty of this breed of monitors is the built in speakers, we took account of the audio experience of these monitors primarily, and moved on to the other equally important features such as the display size, resolution, the type of panel used, the overall look & feel and other regular paradigms used to review any monitor. This was important because along with the audio advantages of these monitors, you need to be careful about not compromising the display faculties, as that would ruin your overall experience.

One thing we had to keep in mind, is that while these monitors have their own set of advantages, you cannot really compare their audio capabilities to a dedicated sound system. Doing that wouldn’t be justified either because no manufacturer will actually produce monitors that focus so much on its sound, that it will have to compromise severely on the display aspects. In trying to keep the balance, they have compromised either on the sound – bringing in monitors with just entry level speakers that aren’t that powerful; or on the affordability trying to confluence a top-notch display with a set of powerful speakers.

1. ASUS VG248QE 24 Inch Gaming Monitor

The Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer will always have its brooding presence in any good list of monitors, and let’s give it to them – they’ve earned this spot for themselves. As far as gamers are concerned, they’ve surely carved out their spot in that market. With sturdy hardware and reasonable pricing, they’re a much-deserved favorite among the gaming community.

Starting with the ASUS VG248QE, you’ve probably already guessed from the title what the monitor is all about. This monitor is manufactured targeting your gaming needs. A full HD resolution of 1920×1080, a 144 Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time – could there be a more inviting specs for gamers who are reading this?

For the audio, the monitor comes with a pair of 2-Watt stereo speakers, which aims for an immersive home entertainment experience. Although it does a decent job when you consider it as usual living room speakers, it is bound to fall short to a critical ear. Asus probably understand this too, and that way we can justify the inclusion of the 3.5mm audio jack with a monitor that comes with in-built speakers. But it’s probably a good thing that the company has made arrangements for upgrading to a dedicated audio.

Other specifications of the monitor include a TN panel, which is obvious keeping in mind the price range and the features specifically integrated for gaming. It also includes 1x display port, 1x HDMI port, and 1x dual-link DVI-D port. The USB ports, however, are missing on this one.

The widescreen monitor comes mounted on a black chassis and a sturdy round base which looks pretty neat. The ergonomic adjustments availability is another plus point of this monitor which can be swiveled 45 degrees both left and right and pivoted 90 degrees for both portrait and landscape. It can also be tilted about 15 degrees forward and 5 degrees backward, so that’s about everything you can ask for in this aspect.

While testing the performance, the VG248QE performed well in both gaming and overall daily usage. The blacks were impressively dark, and the color gradients and saturation levels were good. The 1ms response time surely made its mark on the overall performance. The LED backlight with Asus dynamic contrast technology really helps to contrast the blacks with the colors.

The Nvidia 3D Vision support on this monitor also makes it a worthy presentation on our list. In the absence of the adaptive sync, it gives you that extra edge while gaming. This is futuristic with VR making considerable inroads in the gaming world recently. If you want an Asus monitor with built in speaker, go for it.

2. AOC i2777fq 27 Inch Class IPS LED Monitor

By this time you may start thinking why the list wasn’t called ‘the best monitors from Taiwanese manufacturers’, but surely it is not as it looks like. AOC makes next into this list with their long history in monitor manufacturing. It has been producing quality monitors for more than two decades and they sell extremely well worldwide.

The AOC i2777fq is a slim and stylish Full HD monitor which can be a worthy contender in the bezel-less category. At the $250 price range, the 27-inch monitor with modern IPS panel is a steal deal. It is an aesthetically crafted monitor. Along with thin black frame, it comes with a silver base which looks stunning. The silver black color also extends towards the back of the monitor and completes the premium aluminum feel.The monitor is VESA mount enabled. You can mount the monitor with a 75mm VEA stand. The stand is slightly tilt-able but doesn’t support full range of ergonomics. Multiple monitor setup is still a possibility though.

Connectivity wise, AOC has done a decent job. You get 1x VGA port along with HDMI port and another HDMI with MHL. There is also 1x display port and Audio I/O ports.

The 27 inch Class IPS panel comes with a Full HD resolution of 1920×1080. The 16:9 aspect ratio coupled with AOC’s dynamic contrast ratio of 50,000,000:1 offers rich and clear colors, and photos and multimedia on this panel are pure pleasure. The AH-IPS panel technology takes good care of the viewing angles on this one and you get wide viewing angles without any issue.

Blacks are great on this one and you’ll not notice any backlit bleeding. The response time of 5ms isn’t the best but does a decent job in daily activities or even games. This isn’t really a ‘dedicated’ gaming monitor, but you’ll not notice any ghosting with Need For Speed or Battlefield 3. Additionally, there is also a pixel overdrive function in the OSD menu which can help further.

Out of the box, the AOC i12777fq comes with a pair of 3W speakers. They do a pretty decent job while you watch Youtube videos or movies. While music isn’t that premium a feel with 3W speakers, this can be your video conferencing monitor for office or Skype.

3. Sceptre E225W 22 Inch LED Monitor with Built-in Speakers

Sceptre is a name that is rarely heard when it comes to desktop monitors. Well, they do manufacture all types of displays with LEDs, IPS monitors, and even 4K displays but they aren’t really a well-marketed brand. However, we found some great reviews on Amazon about some of their monitors and decided to include one in this list, owing to its price point. This is one for anyone out there looking for a monitor with a built-in speaker below the $100 range.

There is nothing stunning about this E225W-1920 monitor except the low price. It is decent for overall performance. The built quality is mediocre and the stand is a bit flimsy. Connectivity-wise, you get the HDMI port which is an added advantage. You can use the monitor as a TV. Additionally, you also get the VGA and DVI inputs on this one.

Taking the user’s perspective here, all the reviews that we found had one point in common. Sceptre monitors offer great specs at this price point. To discuss the specifications on this one, we have a 22 inch LED display with a full HD resolution of 1920×1080. Owing to its smaller size, the resolution is bound to look great because of the high PPI it would offer. Moreover, it offers an anti-glare technology that makes it easy to place the monitor anywhere in the room.

The monitor comes with a 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Overall, the image viewing experiences are decent. The colors look sharp and the 5ms response time offers a smooth experience while gaming. Although this isn’t really a gaming monitor, you can opt for it when you’re on a really tight budget.

Coming to the built-in speakers, you get a pair of built-in speakers that are decent for office use. It offers mid-range audio for conference calls or internet workshops. Music experience isn’t that good though.

To conclude, the E225W-1920 monitor isn’t made to work wonders; and you can probably say that from the price point it sells. However, if you are on a tight budget and really want a monitor with built in speakers and HDMI, you can surely opt for this one as it offers a decent experience overall.

4. ASUS MX34VQ Designo Curved 34 Inch Monitor

While the previous ASUS entry on this list VG248QE, was more of a mid-range priced monitor with speakers, the Designo Curved MX34VQ is something for the high-end mindset. Starting from the design, the display features to the audio capability, this monitor falls under the premium category.

With its superb design, this is a kind of monitor you’d like to keep in your drawing room and boast of. It has a 34-inch widescreen with very thin bezels, along with a very pronounced curve that offers a real immersive experience in whatever you do – from your spreadsheets to hardcore gaming.

Coming to the display first, the massive 34-inch screen has a resolution of 3440×1440, typical to what you’ll see in most widescreen monitors. The VA panel used in this monitor can reproduce 16.7 million colors. It has a 178-degree viewing angle, owing to the curve of the screen. Underneath lies a 34 inch VA panel which has a 100Hz refresh rate and 4ms G to G response time. It also has an incredible 3000:1 contrast ratio which is expected from a monitor in this price segment. While gaming, the display looks phenomenal. Adding to that is the AMD’s FreeSync anti-tearing technology that will provide buttery smooth gaming experience even with the highest settings.

When it comes to connectivity tapestryshopping , it offers 1x display port along with 3x HDMI ports. While the multiple HDMI ports is an added advantage because you can use multiple setups with monitor shifting from your regular PC to an Android box, the USB ports would be really great. It also has a 3.5 audio jack for headphones but we’re sure you won’t use them to connect speakers.

ASUS Designo MX34VQ is a monitor in which the inbuilt speaker technology really manifests itself to the highest level. It is a pair of 8W speakers with SonicMaster sound optimization that is co-developed by Harmon Kardon. These speakers are massive. The audio is so rich and powerful that it totally eliminates the need of a dedicated audio system. There are four audio presets – ‘Music Mode’, ‘Movie Mode’,’‘Gaming Mode’ & ‘Music Mode’ that offer incredible audio. ASUS has also included the ‘AudioWizard’ graphic equalizer settings, so if you are a perfectionist when it comes to the audio, you can tweak it to your heart’s content.

The Qi wireless charging pad is surely a one-of-a-kind feature in this monitor. You can just keep your Qi compatible devices on the base stand of the monitor and it will start charging.

The bottom line is that this is a really premium monitor. Owing to its price range, not every user may go for it but if you do, there’s really nothing that can strongly complain of. From day to day task, to office use and even hardcore gaming, this supports everything convincingly.

5. Acer S241HL 24-Inch LED-Lit Monitor

Owing to the massive competition in the monitor market, even larger manufacturers have joined the price wars. As a result, we have great monitors whose prices are slashed significantly. That is the case with Acer S241HL bmid. It is one of the best mid-range 24inch monitors in the market right now, not just for the additional built-in speakers that it comes with, but considering all other features that make this monitor suitable for every Tom Dick and Harry.

The 24 inch TN LED display offers a standard full HD resolution of 1920×1080, something that we’ll always expect from a monitor at this price point. You can complain about the lack of IPS, and you’ll probably be right because the color reproduction in the TN panel is not as great as in an IPS, but this is a cost cutter for the manufacturer who could provide these specs in this price range. While in real life usage, you’ll hardly notice this lack because the monitor offers a crisp display with decent color contrast.

The monitor comes with basic ergonomic features such as tilt, swivel, height adjustment or pivoting. It is also VESA mount compatible so you can mount the monitor, however, considering the bezels this isn’t ideal for a multi-monitor setup.

Coming to connectivity Acer offers 1x VGA, 1x DVI, and 1x HDMI ports. It offers a 60hz refresh rate with a 5ms response time. Coupled with a contrast ratio of 100,000,000:1 it offers a decent display for all round usage. This monitor isn’t made for a dedicated gamer but offers decent speed for smooth gaming experience. Normally you won’t face issues like blurring, ghosting or backlit bleed.

Considering this is an affordable monitor, the built-in speakers aren’t great, but decent enough for regular office work or YouTube.

Summing up, the S241HL isn’t for someone looking for high an end gaming monitors or ultrawide experience, but for an all-around day to day usage, this is the best valued 24-inch monitor.

Conclusion

Monitors with built-in speakers offer their own set of advantages. The price range for this monitor is really varied, so we tried to include monitors from all price segments. For users with very tight budget or users looking for premium monitors, there is something for everyone in this list and we hope that it helps you in selecting the monitor which is best suited for your purpose.