I used the powered version of these for years on my desktop along with NHT's 8" sub. I can't recommend these speakers highly enough. They're tiny, have a very clear, neutral sound, and when paired with a sub, can get pretty loud without distortion. But the sub isn't optional--it's mandatory.
PS: Because these are sealed/acoustic suspension speakers (ie, no port), they are relatively immune to interactions with the back wall in nearfield settings (my system is nearfield).