Do I really need two or three separate boxes for just-OK computer audio?
If you want your sound in stereo, you need a minimum of two speakers. Movies and music designed for stereo–which is almost all of it–sound pretty bad without it. The sub, if you have one, should go on the floor, not on your desktop (if you need an easy way to switch it off, use a powerstrip). Most laptops have crumby speakers, so you’ll either have to go with some outboard speakers or a set of headphones. Those five-speaker setups (usually with a sub as well) setups are for people who want to recreate the whole cinematic experience. You’re obviously not going for that, so you can safely ignore those and go for a pair of speakers or a pair + a sub. Bose makes this nice set for $90. There are probably cheaper options, too (and not everyone likes Bose).
I’ve been using a Tivoli Model One for years as my computer monitor. Good looking, full sound, flat top, mono. The sound really reminds me of an old AM cabinet radio, rich and clear even at low volumes. Most of the music I listen to is old and originally recorded in mono anyway, but I have to say it also sounds for good playing back movies and stereo recordings too. You just lose the spacial stereoliciousness. A little over your price range but it will last for years and can also be a great box for any room in the house, and it is a good value for its sound.
It looks pretty awful, but I like buying computer speakers from goodwill or the salvation army, and then ductaping them together with the power supply. I make a little loop of ductape to use as the handle. They usually sound pretty darn good. Yamaha I think makes pretty decent speakers…other ones I’ve bought haven’t been as good. Usually you could make it out for under $10. Don’t get the ones that need a subwoofer, obviously. Just two stereo speakers. They are going to sound a whole lot better than your laptop, regardless.
I think it would be difficult to satisfactorily mount the Logitech Audio Hub on a wall because it is somewhat unusually shaped. When viewed from the side it has a parallelogram profile so it would lay awkwardly against the wall. You could possibly get away with mounting it so that the speakers fire downward. Depending on the wall you could mount a small shelf (need: 2 shelf brackets, 1 piece of wood for the shelf, and a few screws ) and sit the LAH on that. You might want to put up some more shelves anyway, if you have open wall. It sounds you could use some more space.
