And a lot of entry level monitors are going to sound harsh, that's simply the way it is.

  The reason for the hiss is you are using an unbalanced output from your dac to your speakers. These monitors are meant to be powered through the 1/4 or xlr jack as they are less prone to noise. I would suggest getting a dac preamp that supports balanced outputs such as the focusrite...

You don't need any special amp to power them. They would be just as good.

Thank you all very much for the advices. The trade went through well without a problem, and the buyer now has a feedback to start from. Thanks.

The man has a receiver already. a $200 passive speaker is going to sound better than a $200 active speaker for the most part.

If you want the exact knobs and layout with a custom enclosure, it wouldn't be far out to charge $750. That would require custom fabrication, and a matching custom software. No one's doing that for $75.

If you are simply using the speakers for gaming and movies I would recommend the T40 as it provides a warm, fun sound without breaking the bank. I have them and they are more than enough for simple youtube video, gaming, and movies. If you plan on using the speakers for analytical music...

Paradigm atoms are good, but the ebay listing is overpriced. I would look into purchasing the klipsch b-20 or the psb alpha ps1.

That would require programming the controls so they can match the software. Perhaps someone might do it for $750, but definitely not $75.

Hello,   Sometimes I am approached by strangers who have zero feedback and zero posts trying to buy items I've posted for sale. Is there anything I should be cautious of when I am receiving verified paypal payments with verified addresses?

Great, thanks for the solution!!!

The CD player has standard RCA outputs. The model of the studio monitors are M-audio BX5 D2.

Hello,   I bought individually powered studio monitors for mostly listening to stuff. I do not feel like spending another hundred dollars for a usb interface.   The two types of inputs accepted by the monitors are xlr and trs. I would like to plug in and switch between my macbook and my cd...

  Learning to Photoshop, was very very bored.

Thanks for the speedy reply. How did you get the mold of your ear and how much did it cost in total?