Chances are, your laptop’s internal speaker system is on the lower side of shite. Even laptops with good internal speakers can’t compare with a pair of dedicated external speakers. The Edifier MP300 Plus are some of the better looking portable laptop speakers on the market, and at $99 aren’t too expensive either.
The MP300 have the benefit of incorporating a subwoofer, as well as a 100-240 volt power supply, so there are no international issues with voltage. They’re pretty heavy at 1.5kg, which sort of cramps on that whole international argument, but honestly, did you really expect the trifecta of design, weight and variable voltage? Sometimes we just want too much…