I am going to college next year, and I'm looking for some nice speakers for my laptop. I will mainly be using the speakers for listening to music and watching movies. As I might watch movies with others on a couch or something, they will not always be listened to from an extremely close range. I mostly listen to classic rock, jam bands, and "chill" music (ie Jack Johnson, James Taylor, and John Mayer), but I also like many other genres like classical, jazz, and some rap. I like accurate, clean sound, but strong bass is also very important to me. It would be nice if the speakers I got could be cranked to a fairly high volume incase I ever need them for entertaining.

I am able to get the Swan M20w  for $150 plus shipping, but I was wondering if there was a way I could get more bang for my buck. I really didn't want to go over $150, so the Swan 20W and shipping is pushing it as is.
 
I've also heard a lot about how the quality of bookshelf speakers will beat any computer speaker set up. Is there a pair of bookshelf speakers and an amp that I could buy and hookup to my computer that would have better sound quality and bass than the M20w?
 
A quick search lead me to this combo:

[size=1.7em] Sony SS-B1000[/size]

Dayton Audio DTA-100a
 
To be honest, I'm not even sure that the amp I found can even power the speakers!
 
Anyway, Thanks for all of the help!
 
~Dan

i suspect the swans may be the better option

After some research I am thinking about getting Pioneer BS-21 speakers and an SMSL SA-S3 TA2021B Mini Digital Amplifier T-Amp. Thoughts? 
 
 

Also, I am considering the Insignia NS B2111 speakers which are just a bit cheeper. Can anyone help me compare the two?

never heard of any of and i suspect no one else has either hence the lack of replies

I would look at active monitors like M-Audio AV-40 although its a little too bright for my liking.
If you could stretch your budget a little, I'd highly recommend Audio Engine A2.

Quote:

pttx said:

I would look at active monitors like M-Audio AV-40 although its a little too bright for my liking.
If you could stretch your budget a little, I'd highly recommend Audio Engine A2.

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If he's gonna get the A2's he might as well get the D1080MKII's, those are much better, I think in some cases they even beat the A5's

Quote:

hxckhaos said:

If he's gonna get the A2's he might as well get the D1080MKII's, those are much better, I think in some cases they even beat the A5's

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Agreed!
 
 
...my usual reply...
 
Audio engine VS Swan: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=20004922#post20004922

See these: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/539099/2-1-advice-not-the-same-ol-thread#post_7269491
 
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/547399/where-do-i-try-out-all-audioengine-a5-s-swan-m200-m-audio-bx5a#post_7390912

 
Anything here: http://www.theaudioinsider.com/index.php?loudspeakers=swan-active-desktop-sound&cPath=21_24
 

My Swan D1080MKII 08 review:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=19882376#post19882376

 
Swan multimedia: http://www.swanspeaker.com/products/products.aspx?cid=5

  
Brian
 
 

What about the Swan D1010MKII 08? Those are more within my price range

 
I am strongly considering active monitors so I can get high quality sound while avoiding bulky or expensive amplifiers. I am thinking about getting one of these following monitors used:
 
-M-Audio Studiophile BX5a
-Alesis M1 Active 520
-Yamaha HS50M
-Audioengine A2B
 
I would appreciate any helpful thoughts or suggestions.
 
Thanks for all of the help so far. I really appreciate it.