Yamaha boasts world's most powerful USB speaker, the NX-U10
by Barb Dybwad 
posted Jan 10th 2007 at 2:26AM
Question: what's the most common complaint about USB speakers? Answer: they suck. And why do they suck? They're woefully lacking in power because of the limitations of the USB port, which only outputs 5V/0.5A. Yamaha claims to have gotten around this hurdle by developing its 
Filed under: Portable Audio
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DocMacPS @ Sep 1st 2008 10:03PM
It's been a year since the last posting and this Yamaha NX-U10 is now down to the $100 range and an even better value. It's featured http://www.usb-computer-speakers.com/ because it really is a well engineered and good quality product. Digital audio and powered by _single_ USB cable - or - battery or A/C power for maximum volume - optional 1/8" mini jack for external audio gizmos makes this very versatile for mobile-anything. There's some really lousy USB speakers out there (see eBay) - this ain't one of 'em.
Paul @ Jan 10th 2007 3:24AM
For $200 you have to be kidding.
ED @ Jan 10th 2007 4:07AM
You sure that's not supposed to say "0.605GW x 2"?
Geoff @ Jan 10th 2007 5:15AM
149 pounds = $293 not $193. sorry.
AdvidG @ Jan 10th 2007 7:56AM
$293...?
Great Scott!!!
That's....Um...Heavy.
Rick Lyon @ Jan 10th 2007 9:18AM
$200 for 20watts? HAHAHA
Rick Lyon @ Jan 10th 2007 9:18AM
$200 for 20 watts? HAHAHA Oh wait, $300? HAHAHAHA
eric f. @ Jan 10th 2007 9:46AM
:( I though I had just met the perfect travel speaker for my macbook, but OUCH, that price is steep.
Xenoterranos @ Jan 11th 2007 11:35AM
Just get a really nice pair of cans. And for 300, you can get a REALLY nice pair of cans.
Quality Not Quanity Boys @ Jan 10th 2007 2:56PM
I have personally listened to amplifiers that make this amount of power pushing full range (down to 40 Hz), floor standing speakers that will blow you away. 20 watts is ample when you sit close to the speaker and have efficent drivers. Oh, and the 20 watt amp I was listening to cost $3000.
The power rating is easily understood when you look closely at the music signal. The higher power level is only need for short bursts of complex passages or deep bass tones. If you were to examine a home stereo rated at 100W per channel or higher, you would find that 95% of the listening only requires 10 or less Watts.
I suspect that if you open this box up, you will find some relatively large capacitors (or even a couple of lithium batteries) that provide the power need for these short bursts. They simply re-charge during the less consuming passages.
Nice work Yamaha. These would be perfect for a laptop while traveling. Where do I sign up?
Tim Burnett @ Aug 10th 2007 10:34AM
I got this on Saturday at Fry's for $180. As a mobile professional with a gaming laptop with poor speakers, these are worth it even for the outrageous price. I can now play LOTRO with good sound again! It's hilarious when I get to the hotel room and boot up LOTRO, and have to move quickly to turn down the sound since it is way too loud with a booming bass! I enjoy listening to music from my laptop when going to bed, and these work well for that. The downsides to this product are the price and the size of the speakers; I would have preferred something smaller, but all the other (smaller) speakers looked too cheap. That is why I bought these. I also would have preferred speakers that could be separated and placed on either side of the laptop. The bass is actually pretty good, unlike some other portable speakers I have used previously.
So I cannot recommend these to everyone. You need to be able to afford $180 without regret. You need room in your laptop bag for these. You need to travel a lot, and to locations where you can set this up. But if you meet these needs, it is worth it.