For many of you, a single pair of speakers or headphones is all you probably need for your desktop or laptop system. For others, rocking out, gaming, and listening to movies is a constant battle with Windows over which connected audio device the operating system should use to blast noise.

Your phone has one, your laptop has one, and you've got a smart one in the corner of your room telling you the weather - but what makes a good speaker different from a so-so speaker? Why you might consider upgrading the audio capabilities of your TV or computer, and what should you look for if you do?

When you're listening to music through cheap headphones or speakers, an equaliser will help even out the sound. Most equalizers come with genre presets, but you can manually adjust them too. It helps to know what kind of instrument is affected by each frequency.

Bluetooth technology can be a godsend for those of us trying to minimise the amount of cord clutter in our digital lives. But when your laptop, phone, or other device is hooked up via bluetooth to a wireless speaker or pair of headphones and the audio playback starts to stutter, it can be nothing short of infuriating.

"Okay, Google. Find me the best price for Google Home."

Google Home, the voice-controlled smart speaker/personal assistant/smart hub for your home, usually retails at $199. Right now, you can get it for $134.90 from DWIdigitalcameras.

Your bathroom might have some amazing acoustics, but the singing really should be left to the pros. Perfect for those shower-time jam sessions, the XXL Shower Speaker puts out twice the power of typical bathroom speakers, so you can actually hear your music over the running water.

Contrary to what you might think, your neighbors probably don't appreciate you belting out today's hits while you shower. Instead, you should leave the singing to the professionals and invest in a waterproof speaker to serenade you while you're covered in suds.

Media centre-infused smart speakers and Bluetooth speakers are pretty common these days, but over on Hackaday, user Carlo Maria Curinga made one of the slickest looking little speakers we've seen yet.

Android: If you have multiple Bluetooth speakers in your house, you need to manually switch to different speakers every time you want to play audio somewhere else. Bluetooth Speaker Switch gives you a handy widget to do it instead.

Speakers aren’t known for their durability, but HomeSpot is hoping to change that with their new Rugged Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker. Designed to deflect dust, dirt, and moisture, this speaker can keep up with you wherever you go, and buying one won’t break the bank either.

Ammo containers aren't super common, but you could probably find one at your local surplus store, or on eBay -- and Instructables user r570sv turned this one into a massive Bluetooth speaker with a little DIY spirit and the right parts. Best of all, it's an easy electronics project you can follow too.

Correct speaker placement has become something of a lost art. Lots of people get it all wrong. As any self-respecting audiophile will tell you, it's not how big they are, but where you put them. Here's what you need to know.

Dear Lifehacker, I'm moving into a small apartment and I don't have a lot of space for a big TV or huge living room speakers. I also don't have heaps of extra equipment to hook up. Even so, I want the things I do use to look and sound good when I use them. Do you have any tips to help me make the most of my space without spending a lot of money?

Android/iOS (Beta): You probably use your phone as an alarm clock, and you may even use it to play music isntead of a generic alarm tone, but what if you could use your favourite speakers or home stereo to wake you up instead of your phone's tinny speakers? That's what Sleepcast does.

Speakers aren't particularly expensive these days, but most of them lack much in the way of character. If you don't mind slopping on a bit of elbow grease, Instructables user andy.spikenzielabs shows off how to build a little micro speaker that has a small visualiser built into it.

Video: If you're interested in making a weird, but possibly useful little multipurpose device, Instructables user diyfuntech shows off a way to build a speaker/flashlight inside a Tic Tac box.

Windows/Mac: Airfoil is a killer way to send your computer's audio over to AirPlay devices. Now, it does a heck of a lot more.

Mac: A Mac's startup sound volume is tied to the internal speakers output volume. It's easy enough to mute it completely, but considering that tone is a troubleshooting feature, it's usually best to leave it on. Regardless, if you have speakers plugged in, that tone seems to do whatever it wants. Here's how to fix that.

If you have a great pair of bookshelf speakers or even computer speakers, but wish you could stream music from a phone, a laptop, or another device without rearranging wires, Logitech's Bluetooth Audio Adaptor is for you. It's tiny, affordable, and makes any set of speakers you plug it into Bluetooth and wireless.