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Get a Vaas portable USB sound bar for $14.98

That's your out-the-door price on this new USB-powered speaker, which clips to the top of your laptop for a nice audio boost.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read
The Vaas sound bar plugs into your laptop's USB port for both audio and power.
The Vaas sound bar plugs into your laptop's USB port for both audio and power. Daily Steals

Not happy with the audio coming from your laptop? No surprise there -- it's fairly miraculous that manufacturers manage to squeeze in speakers at all.

And yet many folks use their laptops as media centers in dens and bedrooms. So how can you get more aural enjoyment from your games, movies, and music?

Simple: add a sound bar. Even an inexpensive one should offer a huge improvement over the tiny, tinny speakers built into your system. If nothing else, it projects the sound forward instead of down, out, or up (depending on where the internal speakers are mounted).

Today only, and while supplies last, Daily Steals has the Vaas VAUSBLS1 portable USB sound bar for $9.99, plus $4.99 for shipping.

The VAUSBLS1 is a 10-watt speaker bar that clips to the top of your laptop LCD. It plugs into a USB port for both power and audio feeds -- meaning you don't have to worry about batteries or external power.

Would this work with a small TV as well? I don't think so; while some models have powered USB ports, none (that I know of) can also route audio through those ports. The VAUSBLS1 has no 3.5mm stereo input, so you can't plug it into, say, a headphone jack.

Still, for laptop users seeking a nice audio upgrade at an even nicer price, this is hard to beat.

Bonus deal: Still think pocket camcorders have a place in the world? I agree, so long as it's a cheap place. Today only, and while supplies last, 1SaleADay has the refurbished Kodak PlaySport Zx5 pocket camcorder for $39.99, plus $4.99 for shipping. This dustproof, waterproof, shockproof camera is great for the beach and other outdoor environments. It captures 1080p video and comes in your choice of black or red.

Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.

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