Speakers have gone through tremendous changes in the recent past. A good-quality sound system will uplift your audio experience in a great way. However, you may be overwhelmed with the available options in the market. In this article, we present you with two of the best speakers for PC.
Overall, the Razer Nommo Chroma is a robust unit with a satisfying bass response. The speakers have good quality, are relatively affordable, and have a striking design with RGB lighting. On the other hand, the Bose Companion 2 is a solid set with a vast sound space and is an ideal option for its price. However, the speakers emphasize low frequencies, and the bass response isn’t tight. Also, there isn’t a bass adjustment to fit different tastes.
Below is a head-to-to head comparison between the Razer Nommo Chroma and the Bose Companion 2.
Sound quality
Razer Nommo Chroma:
The Razer Nommo Chroma is an excellent speaker for gaming but isn’t the most bass-savvy set we’ve tested recently. Although the speakers sound a bit airy at first, you will get accustomed to them quickly. The tiny drivers are powerful enough to fill a small to mid-sized room, and you won’t even need to raise the volume to maximum.
The mid-range output is excellent, making it an ideal option to listen to dialogues or vocals. Unfortunately, the highs are a little bit weak against the mids. As a result, the footsteps and cymbals in games are not prominent. So, the speakers sound amazing when playing casually but may not be the best where even the slightest movement is important in titles like Warzone.
As we mentioned earlier, the bass isn’t heavy. Therefore, some music genres like hip-hop won’t sound as deep as with competitors with subwoofers. Fortunately, you can adjust the bass to your liking with the knob on the right satellite. It can be annoying to tweak the bass if your playlist consists of different genres or playing various games. However, the option will be helpful if you need to add extra oomph.
Although it doesn’t have an equalizer, you can choose between four profiles: default setting, Games, Movies, and Music. The default setting is well balanced, so it is the best for regular use.
Bose Companion 2:
Bose has a long-standing reputation for producing a wide range of high-quality speakers. In particular, the Bose Companion 2 is in the affordable category, but don’t underestimate its power.
The speakers look small but produce satisfying sound quality. They use the TrueSpace Stereo Signal Processing Circuitry, making the unit output dynamic and engaging sound. So, it is perfect for all music genres.
Moreover, the Companion 2 packs a solid punch, giving out a powerful sound without distortion. It can also be loud, like other models in the Bose lineup.
The unit doesn’t come with an external subwoofer, which means that the tiny drivers will handle low, mid, and high frequencies simultaneously. Unfortunately, sometimes the sound is distorted at higher volumes, affecting the bass response.
Design
Razer Nommo Chroma:
The unit is aesthetically pleasing as the drivers are housed in a horizontal tube standing on a pillar with a circular, flat base. This design is unique and different from the traditional cuboid shape.
The speakers may look small, but they are awkwardly huge. They are 9-inches tall and 6-inches in length, so it might be an issue if you have a small desk. However, all the fun is at the stand with the RGB lighting at the bottom of both speakers. You can use the default setting or download an app to control the colors. Note that the colors have a functional purpose besides the aesthetics.
The base of the right speaker has two knobs to adjust the bass and volume as the colors act as visual aids. For example, the light under the right speaker will turn green and rotate around the bass to indicate an increase or decrease in volume. The left speaker reacts the same way with a blue color when turning up or down the brass knob.
Bose Champion 2:
The Companion 2 unit comes as two rectangular boxed-shaped speakers that measure 7.5 by 3.2 by 5.8 inches (19.05 x 8.13 x 14.73 centimeters). Nonetheless, they are pretty lightweight with a combined weight of 3.97 pounds (1.8 Kgs).
Each speaker has a 2.5-inch driver covered with a mesh grill. The right speaker has a volume control, headphone jack, and RCA inputs for the computer and other external media sources.
These speakers don’t have wireless capability, which means they require a wired connection from your computer or another source. There is also a wire between the two speakers and another one to plug into the power supply. This can cause clutter, but they are easy to set up.
Besides the primary input for your computer, it also has a second auxiliary input for external devices. This will come in handy when playing audio from your smartphone, tablet, or other sources. In addition, it has a ported enclosure that provides an extended bass response.
Setup
Razer Nommo Chroma:
The Nommo Chroma is effortless to set up. You will only need to connect to each other, to the computer, and plug into the power source. The cables are strong and long enough to reach where needed.
It doesn’t have many options if you want to connect to a source. However, there is a port for a 3.5mm cable at the back, which you can use with your phone, tablet, or laptop. In addition, it has another input labeled ‘headphone’, but you can only use a USB cable.
The speakers do not offer Bluetooth connectivity, which is a letdown for computer speakers in this day and age.
Bose Companion 2:
First, you need to understand the connectivity system of the speakers to get started. This is an easy process, although it might clutter your desk slightly.
The right speaker has four ports at the back. Connect the left speaker via the top-most port input and the DC power cable in the port below. The two auxiliary input ports connect to your computer and external audio source. Once everything is set up, turn on the speakers with the volume knob.
Gaming experience
Razer Nommo Chroma:
Most people use their headphones when gaming. However, the Nommo Chroma provides a whole different experience with the directional audio. This means you will be able to hear all sounds clearly from explosions, gunshots, and even footsteps.
The speakers are decently loud when the volume is maximum with minimal distortion. There is also an option to adjust the bass if you want to get more treble.
Bose Companion 2:
A high-quality sound system will give you a great gaming experience. The Bose Companion 2 provides crystal clarity enabling you to catch even the slightest sounds when playing a multiplayer game.
What we liked
Razer Nommo Chroma
- Attractive and sleek design with prismatic lights
- Solid sound quality with a bass level knob
- Reasonably priced with great features
Bose Companion 2
- Affordable but high-quality features
- Wide soundstage and excellent balance
- Decent and satisfying bass
What we didn’t like
Razer Nommo Chroma
- Limited bass and does not have dedicated EQ
- No Bluetooth capability leading to wire clutter
Bose companion 2
- The bass isn’t deep
- No remote control or wireless connection
The Verdict:
The Razer Nommo Chroma is an ideal option if you want a more balanced sound rather than bass-heavy speakers. Each satellite speaker has 20mm drivers that provide fantastic clarity even at high volumes. As a result, the unit is an excellent multimedia solution for gaming, music, and movies, although the connectivity is limited to computers and a few external audio sources.
At this price, the Nommo Chroma is a good value for your money and will come in handy even if you have a good gaming headset. Although a few options have better sound quality, they cannot match its design and attractiveness.
On the other hand, the Bose Companion 2 is a solid unit with an outstanding sound system for personal computers. You will get a full and clear sound even at high volumes. However, it would have been nice if it had wireless capability, but this is not a big issue as the speakers sit next to the PC.
More importantly, the speakers are perfect for gaming, movies, video conferencing, online classes, etc. They work fine with smartphones and tablets as well. The unit is straightforward to set up, and the entire process will take you a few minutes.
Generally, the Bose Companion 2 performs better in terms of sound quality, but the Razer Nommo Chroma has better looks.
