[merrymaking]

I'm looking to spend around $200 for computer speakers for movies and a little bit of gaming, but mostly lots of music.
 
I was considering a 2.1 like this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042F3K9W/ref=asc_df_B0042F3K9W1725435?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B0042F3K9W
 
Would I need an amp? If so, what kind? Also, what do you think of the Harman Kardon's, or would you suggest something else?

 

[cifani090]

Id look on your local craigslist for some vintage JBL's or Klipsch's and a smaller Marantz 2 series receiver.

 

[trog]

+1 or just a simple T-Amp and a pair of Infinity P162s?
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P162BG/Infinity-Primus-P162-Black-grille.html?tp=34
http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/1007inf/

 

[JRG1990]

You can do better than the soundsticks, the edifier r1900 or r2000 or for a 2.1 the s330 or m3300.

 

[Lenni]

I'd say audition before you buy, if possible. the "soundsticks" I heard at an Apple store sounded really poor to me. ymmv

what you pay for mostly is the jellyfish look. if you value sound over look the "sticks" are likely not for you. 
 
the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 are probably a much better choice.
 
also consider passive speaker+amp route as recommended in the comments above and in this THREAD ; you just need to add the right cables; it's not that complicated.

 

[JRG1990]

The soundsticks sounded awful to me aswell, they just seem to butcher everything thats played on them , the subwoofer is crossed over way to high like about 300hz , gives directional muddy cluttered sounding bass , the satilites only have 1" drivers so you can forget about any midrange, and the highs sounded off aswell a bit scrathey sounding. Even the poor sounding cheaper logitech's z623 are much better than these.
 

 

[Hifianddrumming]

 Thos klipsch ones looked good, TBH, I haven't heard very many computer speakers, but I've been looking at a pair of B&W mm-1s