External Laptop Speakers: a beginners search for GOOD speakers.

I'm a beginner in search of GOOD (not excellent-but-expensive) speakers for my laptop. Perhaps some of you experts can share your wisdom. Here's the laptop I have to work with (bear with me, here):
Dell XPSM1530
intel core 2 2.4 Ghz/800Mhz
3Gb shared dual channel DDR2 SDRAMat 667Hz
200Gb 7200rpm STA hard drive
Expresscard Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Sound Card

I want the best sound quality I can get--primarily for listening to music--in a room about 20'x20'. The limiting factor is that I'd be willing to spend MAYBE up to 250 or 300 dollars. Can you recommend anything for that range?

~Smily G.

 

i got 2.1 logitech speakers from tigerdirect for $30.. and they blow away my home theater speakers

 

my personal recommendations:

$40 range - Logitech x240
$100 range - Klipsch Promedia 2.1's
budget-stretch below:

reciever and bookshelf speakers.

Reciever Onkyo tx-sr304 refurbished. $120. It has digital input, a sub pre-out, and enough power for some moderate speakers. It won't blow the doors off your hinges, but at the price point, it is a hell of a deal.

Speakers. Polk R150's. Adequate sound, and another stellar price. Frys had them for $50 for a long time, but they are sold out as of now. Look around for a better price and you may find it. A hint, though: If you are setting these speakers on your desk, flip them upside down. The tweeter being that close to the desk will cause ricocheting of the sound, and it won't be as clear as if the tweeter was on top.

Toss in some speaker cable, and the correct cable to plug your sound card into the reciever, and you're sitting pretty with just over $200 spent. Budget permitting (and this is entirely optional based on application and preferance), you can pick up a subwoofer as well. Partsexpress.com has Dayton Audio subs for very nice prices. Pick up the 10 or 12in model depending on your budget, and you won't be disappointed. (a little over $100 for the 10in model)


As a reference, I run optical out on my G1S to a Harmon Kardon AVR146 ($250), through 16awg wire to Polk Audio RTi4's ($170). I live in a dorm, so I didn't bother with a sub... I'd never get to turn it on without being yelled at. The clarity is quire impressive, though. Much better than a computer-oriented setup, and with the flexability to grow as you want more punch and clarity.