Amazon's $25 Speakers Walk Off Your Desk, And It's Hilarious

Amazon Basics Stereo 2.0 desktop speakers deliver surprising volume and bass for $25, but their midrange is weak and they vibrate across your desk. Entertaining, but not recommended.

Ever seen a pair of speakers try to walk off your desk? That's exactly what happens with Amazon's $25 Basics Stereo 2.0 desktop speakers. In a recent review, Andy Edser from PC Gamer discovered that these little guys don't just play music—they go on adventures. Crank up the volume, turn your back, and you'll find them attempting a great escape. It's equal parts endearing and absurd, and honestly, it might be worth the price just for the laughs.

But let's talk about what you actually get for your money. For a mere $25, these miniature conical speakers pack a surprising punch. The 2.4 Watt RMS rating is deceiving; they can fill a medium-sized room with sound. The bass is remarkably hefty for such small drivers, which is likely what causes their wanderlust. You'll definitely want some double-sided sticky tape to keep them in place—unless you enjoy chasing them around the room.

Build quality is decent, too. They're fairly weighty, which gives them a solid feel. Each unit has a subtle blue LED light at the bottom—dim, not eye-searing like most cheap RGB gear. The split cable (USB Type-A and 3.5mm jack) is a reasonable length, and there's an in-line dial for volume control. So far, so good, right?

Unfortunately, the audio performance has a major flaw: the midrange. Highs and lows are covered, but the mids fall off a cliff. Distorted guitars sound hollow and recessed, and the treble can be shrill. For gaming, clarity is decent enough if you keep the volume moderate. But combine the edgy top end with the barren midrange and overblown bass, and you get speakers that sound powerful but cheap.

In the end, the reviewer wouldn't recommend buying them. For roughly the same price, you can get Creative Pebble 2.0 speakers, which are better balanced and won't try to escape. But the Amazon Basics set did provide one thing: pure entertainment. Watching them vibrate across the desk was worth the giggles. So, will you be picking up a pair for the party trick? Or will you stick with something more stationary?