Another option would be some Focal Chorus 705V's bookshelf speakers with the Audioengine N22 amp or a simple T-Amp. Those Focal's sound very very good and far better than the A5's or A2's would ever sound IMO.
Edited by Zombie_X - 7/19/11 at 3:04pm
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Another option would be some Focal Chorus 705V's bookshelf speakers with the Audioengine N22 amp or a simple T-Amp. Those Focal's sound very very good and far better than the A5's or A2's would ever sound IMO.
For desktop I'd always go with active nearfield monitors, it saves needing an amp on your desk, they're meant to be listened to from close range, they do everything just as well at low/high volume, they're not all overly harsh/ruler flat and they often offer built in EQ adjustments for dealing with desktop reflections, taming the bass if you have them against a wall and stuff like that, which is very useful.
I have Focal CMS 50s, and if I wasn't in a bedroom and had neighbours and people beneath me, I'd add the CMS Sub, mainly for EDM and games. If I had a much bigger budget, I'd have gone for the Focal Twin 6 Be's and the Focal Solo Sub 6. I doubt I'd ever want 5.1 for a computer (7.1 is pointless unless you have a big room and a lot of space), but I could always add a Solo 6 Be as a center and some di/bipoles for the rears. I'd probably forgo the center actually since monitors tend to have great imaging and give you that phantom center effect very well.
The trouble is that only your ears can tell you what you like, and your budget dictates what you're able to afford, so throwing suggestions about isn't that much help. See what's available for you to listen to nearby, audition, see what you're able to afford, pick what you like most.
Thanks for all of your inputs.
I went to audition the Audioengine 5's, Bowers and Wilkin MM-1, and Harman Kardon Soundsticks III, and truthfully, I loved the engine 5's the most. I'm not going to get into details why, but they are $325, but I can maybe get them for a little lower than that. They don't require a sub either which is amazing, what a room saver! What do you guys think, worth it?
I also wanted to ask about the Harman Kardon GLA-55. I didn't get a chance to audition them, but any comments?
+1 i heard one of those Chorus offerings and santa maria! Dun think many peeps outside Europe would have heard these though 
For cheapo PC audio and if one really can't have amps/receivers
Edifier 1900T/Microlab Solo 5C/Swan D1010MkII08 or better
Sub with RCA in/out (like Dayton SUB-80)
offers solid performance over low/mid/high and pretty much bang for buck hehe Am not too hot with compromising to cheap/muddy bass with PC Speakers though so i would seriously try decent musical passive/actives and hifi style subs 
I've also heard great things about those active Tannoy offerings. The ellipses look pretty awesome. Problem is, I haven't had a chance to audition them myself. 
For less expensive, I've also heard good things about the Blue Sky offerings. Again, no chance to try them myself, though.