help help help
i would like some decent speakers for school, currently i have two male-male audio cables plugged into a knockoff ihome alarm clock which is fine but now it's starting to hiss and distort everything i play. time for a replacement
i don't feel like spending more than 200 dollars
i will buy the first thing that resembles a serious and sensible recommendation
thanks

buy some old bookshelf speakers from a flea market or whatever and a cheap arnp

I will post in here later today DON'T WORRY !!

wow i feel like i should do the same, but i am willing to spend no more then like 30 bucks

oh well

I am in a similar boat although I want a quality set and sikk bazz

buy some cheap logitech ones with a subwoofer from Amazon or somewhere similar

logitech can GO DIE

cirus never made good on his promise

RIP common decency

oh yeah poo poo, stupid moving garbage

post t-soon

DAC: FiiO E10 ($69)
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10-USB-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B005VO7LG6

I assume that you are just using your computer's built-in sound card.  A DAC bypasses that by plugging into a USB port and converting it from digital to analog (Digital-to-Analog Converter, get it???).  The computer is okay at doing this in the sense that it outputs sound, but a standalone DAC is much, much, much better at turning those bits into sound waves.  If you are just using your computer's sound card then the performance of any speakers you get will be severely limited.

Speakers: Swan M10 2.1 Active Loudspeakers ($119 + ~$13 shipping)
http://www.theaudioinsider.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=swan+m10&imageField.x=0&imageField.y=0&search_in_description=1

Note that these speakers come in BLACK or WHITE!!!  These speakers rival and outperform speakers that are $20 to $30 more.  The sound is clear, bass is good, etc. etc. I'm not going into details but just trust me that these are very good speakers.

If you get this setup, DO NOT USE the headphone jack on the FiiO E10.  The Swans are active speakers (meaning they are powered) and the headphone jack amplifies the signal which is totally unnecessary on powered speakers.  Instead use the line out jack in the back.  Also, the Swans come with a 3.5 mm headphone to RCA cable so you should be set unless you need longer than 3 feet for some reason.

I realize this is like $202 but whatever close enough.

If you have a sound card already then get these, idk what cables they come with and am not going to bother finding out because I am pretty sure you don't have a sound card:
http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-Premium-Powered-Desktop-Speaker/dp/B000VKEFMS

Wow I need to get a DAC
Only $69

If you have good speakers or headphones it's a good investment and easier than getting a good sound card.

If you want something on the go this is a good, cheap amp for MP3 players and the like:
http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E6-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B005HJWWW8/ref=zg_bs_13880161_1

I think Cirus is a FIIO FANBOY!!!

FiiO pretty much has the budget-end amp/DAC market under control.

I'm no audiophile but maybe one day I'll want to improve my beastie boys listening experience and I will buy this stuff