Budget 2.0 Set Up for PC

[FreshnessFactor]

My current speakers, that I've been using for quite some time now, a cheap 2.1 Altec Lensing set up, has finally died on me. I've been trying to find replacements without spending too much, as I'll be back in school in fall.
At first I had planned on picking up the Dayton B652+Lepai 2020 Amp combo, but I've heard Dayton switched manufactures and the new B652 are no where near as good as the originals. Micca were the next closest recommendation but I've had trouble finding a pair at a decent price in Canada.

Less than a month ago, I had picked up the M-Audio AV 30, which to me, sounded great, but I had found them getting extremely hot which is apparently a widespread problem and they basically destroy themselves, so I returned those.

I'm now looking at either the Cambridge Audio S20 Bookshelf Speakers($129 on clearance+amp?) or the KRK RP-5 G2 Monitors($179.99). Anyone have any experience with these? I want them for my PC, which I use for music, games and movies. Would the Lepai 2020 be good enough for the S20? Anything special I would need for either of these?

I'm only using onboard audio on my Asus Sabertooth, but plan to upgrade to something a little better down the road.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

For Budget monitors I personally never was a big fan of KRK as they are always over the top bass heavy
For 2.0 monitors these are not bad: Amazon.com: Samson MediaOne 5A Precision-tuned Powered Studio Monitors, 5 Woofer: Musical Instruments

I own these and they are amazing - Amazon.com: JBL LSR2325P Two-Way 5" Bi-Amplified Studio Monitor: Musical Instruments
I think I payed $375 for the pair

For passive speakers+amp you could wait a bit for for a deal on these : Pioneer SP-BS22-LR - they are very often sold for 99/pair
Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers | Amazon price tracker / tracking, Amazon price history charts, Amazon price watches, Amazon price drop alerts | camelcamelcamel.com

I don't know much about chinese brands amps. I know this emotiva is power underrated and will deliver all it's spec'd for and more
mini-X a-100 | 50W x 2 | Emotiva Audio | High-end audio components for audiophiles and videophiles, spanning 2-channel music systems, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 home theaters. Products include multichannel amplifiers, stereo amplifiers, and monoblock amp

I would also not recommend investing any money into pc based pci card sound cards. Get something external to isolate from pc noise or just get speakers with built-in dac like Behringer MS40
Amazon.com: Behringer Speaker MS40 Digital 40-Watt Stereo Near Field Monitors: Musical Instruments

 

[Cos]

Airmotiv 4 Powered Studio Monitor (pair) | Emotiva Audio | High-end audio components for audiophiles and videophiles, spanning 2-channel music systems, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 home theaters. Products include multichannel amplifiers, stereo amplifiers,

I picked these up for my computer when I was at their Roadshow in Naperville IL. These are great little speakers.

If you looking for an uber PCI-Express sound card, this one does an excellent job of isolating PC Noise

ASUS Xonar Essence STX PCI Express Sound Card XONARESSENCESTX

http://www.stereophile.com/content/asus-xonar-essence-ststx-soundcards-page-3

 

[GranteedEV]

I would recommend any decent t-amp. For a computer, you're sitting two feet away so you don't need a lot of watts, just a low noise floor and flat response from your amp. I've been using a 15w (probably more like 5w) Dayton DTA-1 amp and a 50wpc SMSL (probably more like 20w) SA-50 and they both had enough power to drive 86db speakers nearfield. Being PWM amps, they run cool... i too was unhappy with the hot amp on the back of those M-Audios.

What to do for speakers? Perhaps these:

HVL-1 Two-Way Loudspeaker | Wave Crest Audio

 

[jcunwired]

I wish I needed new speakers, I'm anxious to listen to the HVL-1.

 

[GranteedEV]

I wish I needed new speakers, I'm anxious to listen to the HVL-1.

You... do....

(though you should IMO spend another 80 bucks at get the little EMP E41 bookshelves!)

 

[jcunwired]

You... do....

(though you should IMO spend another 80 bucks at get the little EMP E41 bookshelves!)

I already own the E41-B as my desktop speakers, paired with SVS SB-1000 subwoofer. They aren't going to be replaced by anything, as I doubt anything under $500 can touch them.