Sadly they don't make these anymore, but 9 years ago $399 ex. int'l shipping&taxes is what I paid for a pair of Emotiva Airmotiv 5 powered speakers (I ordered them factory direct). They actually sound loads better to me than the Audioengine A5+ that were available also at the time when I got these.
Sound is subjective but yeah the Emotive speakers are nice. Regardless I'm happy with my A5+
When comparing systems, make sure you are looking at RMS watts - I'd recommend 30W min. Some of the cheaper speaker sets use dubious output power units (eg PMPO - Peak Music Power Output) that make their speakers look louder than they are IRL. These units refer to momentary bursts of power, not continuous - like RMS.
BTW usb2 and usb3 can only supply a maximum of 2.5W and 4.5W - not enough for a decent sound system.
Like a phono input, the USB interface merely supplies a signal to be amplified by an amp. I have a USB DAC that supplies the signal to my 50 RMS (75 peak) powered speakers with their built in amp.
Here the USB merely supplies a signal to the DAC which then converts the signal and sends it to an amplifier - in this case the speakers. The DAC itself does not have an amplifier; thus the need for "powered" speakers.
Point? The signal coming from any USB interface should be plenty for an amplifier to handle. BTW my uses the 2.0 USB interface, though I have it connected to a 3.0 port.
quality of speakers is not good enough. Even 100, tops at 100, sounds more like 50 which with this logitechs is crummy.
Ok, that's good info. I just don't need "young people's" loud, but I suppose some old farts like me like loud too, lol!!
As noted, sound is subjective and really the best way to know if a pair of speakers is for you is by listening to them with your favorite genre - Rock, R&B, Rap, Jazz, Drum and base.
Unfortunately with all the brick and mortar stores closing or stores having limited choice, I say buy from a place with a good return policy so any speakers you try and don't like you can return for a different pair.
Anyway, I could tell you all day and long how great my Audioengine A5+ speakers sound, but until you hear them, you don't know. And when you do hear them you may feel they're garbage.
Anyway, I have an eclectic mix of music but when I buy speakers I buy based on Jazz / jazz vocals and electronica for bass response. That's me.
Good luck.
I get almost all things from Amazon. And check the return on any items especially electronics
It really depends a lot on exactly what you are looking for. Are the $35 speakers I recommended going to sound better than a pair of unamplified speakers plugged into a USB port? YES! Way better! Are the $35 speakers I recommended going to sound as good as $100+ speakers? Absolutely not. But it is a balance of what you want, need, and use vs. how much you want to pay.
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