Thanks for the input all..hooking up to the hi-fi is not possible due to pc being in different room. Any way, I have made a purchase!

Active speakers again, but not particularly meant for pc use. They're book-case type with normal 4inch drive units and 3 inch tweeters. Very solid wooden cases and total 30w rms measure (of course).

Quite-to-very pleased with the increase in performance. Music has much more detail and there are no peculiar resonances.

After my spectacular accident with the aluminium foil think I'll steer clear of fitting a sound card lol...but headphones...hmm I've alwawy fancied getting an expensive set of those noise cancelling ...Zennishier (sp?)