Cheap conference speaker for laptop

[Longtime Lurker]

Can anyone recommend a cheap and small conference speaker to plug into my laptop? Doesn't need to support a room full of people most of the time i am on my own or have 1 or 2 people with me, Ideally looking for something cheap as I travel a lot and would be less worried about breaking or losing it.

I was thinking of something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HTH3C8S/?coliid=IS5... but reading the reviews there seems to be some issues with it connecting with windows 10.

Most of the time I would like to use it with Skype and Swyx, It would also be good if I could use it for my mobile as well.

[Scrump]

Do you want Bluetooth or is a wired connection okay?

Either way I use an Anker soundcore2. Long battery life, good bluetooth and ability to connect using a 3.5mm cable.
It seems loud in the house or the garden, not sure how it would fare at a conference.

[Longtime Lurker]

Ideally both, do you use with windows 10?

[Scrump]

I have used with windows 10, but I mainly use it with my phone.
I would have thought any windows 10 issues are more due to the pc rather than the operating system. One of my old laptops on windows 10 has rubbish Bluetooth, whereas my more modern one has no issues.

[Longtime Lurker]

Thanks, i think i will take a chance on the Anker soundcore mini its only £20 if it doesn't work out and i can just use it as a speaker!

[Mr Pointy]

Apologies for barging in but does anyone know if the Polycom Communicator still works with Skype & the like? I have one but there were stories about them stopping working.

[alorotom]

I have a Sennheiser SP20 that’s USB and 3.5mm and it’s outstanding.

I picked it up new for £25 from CEX

It’s built for Skype for business and has a built in battery for when using on 3.5mm with a phone etc...

[parabolica]

My work currently hands out Jabra Speak 510s - does the job well. Offers both usb and b/t connections.

[ZesPak]

parabolica said:

My work currently hands out Jabra Speak 510s - does the job well. Offers both usb and b/t connections.

I've used these at several customers, seems to be a bit of the go-to.
Not that cheap but they seem to do the job very well.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jabra-Conference-Speakerp...

[devnull]

Yep, I have a few of those speak 510s, jabra reps used to give them out like free sweeties.

No retail/ consumer speaker is going to do a good job for voice specific applications. You will benefit from buying something from jabra/Plantronics/sennheiser etc.


Exactly what you need if all you need to do is sit on a conference call and hit mute/unmute a lot.

[BobSaunders]

I have the Jabra 510s at home. Works wonderfully well with Skype and bluetooth to my phone.

Works well with webex and youtube as well.

Never used the battery as it is constantly plugged in via USB.

Well recommended.

[happie33]

plus 1 for this.... use all the time and fantastic speaker with mute button etc ...

alorotom said:

I have a Sennheiser SP20 that’s USB and 3.5mm and it’s outstanding.

I picked it up new for £25 from CEX

It’s built for Skype for business and has a built in battery for when using on 3.5mm with a phone etc...

[Nerdherder]

ZesPak said:

parabolica said:

My work currently hands out Jabra Speak 510s - does the job well. Offers both usb and b/t connections.

I've used these at several customers, seems to be a bit of the go-to.
Not that cheap but they seem to do the job very well.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jabra-Conference-Speakerp...

Great product, would also recommend it.

[mikef]

What I use for conference calls, both excellent:

Wired: Polycom CX100 (especially with Skype)

Wireless: Bose Soundlink II

[TheRainMaker]

happie33 said:

plus 1 for this.... use all the time and fantastic speaker with mute button etc ...

alorotom said:

I have a Sennheiser SP20 that’s USB and 3.5mm and it’s outstanding.

I picked it up new for £25 from CEX

It’s built for Skype for business and has a built in battery for when using on 3.5mm with a phone etc...

We have these in our hire stock, very handy little boxes.

[C&C]

I use separate speaker, and conference mic with a 3.5mm splitter:

X-Mini Speaker

Microphone (ignore negative reviews - people trying to use without the splitter)

The microphone works well, and for a larger room, you can daisy chain more than 1 mic.

I tend to mainly use it with my phone, and it's been really useful at quite a few meetings where a proper conference phone wasn't available.


I've not had experience of other devices suggested above, and bought this setup 6 years ago, so it is likely some of the other suggestions have improved, but it still works ok for me.