Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I'd say the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 (<$150) or the M-Audios. The Promedias are good value - a sub with plenty of kick and decent sound quality for a low-cost 2.1 system. For a more civilised sound the M-Audios will do great. I've also just got a pair of (<$150) Creative Gigaworks T40 for a corner which are not bad - they're not room-filling but desk-filling, and present a reasonably balanced, civilised sound.
 
I'd say the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 (<$150) or the M-Audios. The Promedias are good value - a sub with plenty of kick and decent sound quality for a low-cost 2.1 system. For a more civilised sound the M-Audios will do great. I've also just got a pair of (<$150) Creative Gigaworks T40 for a corner which are not bad - they're not room-filling but desk-filling, and present a reasonably balanced, civilised sound.

I would LOVE to get the Klipsch, but I'm pretty sure they don't have a power button on the speakers or a remote. Not cool, IMO. I've always heard they sound great and that was my original pick for speakers, but because of that lack of a power button, I'm turned off. I'll probably end up getting the M-Audio's. I'm gonna go look for some sort of table tomorrow, to expand my desk space.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.