I'm not an audiophile by any means, but maybe I'll grow up to be one. That said, I just completed my first 2.1 system that I'm using for my desktop PC setup, and I think it sounds pretty good considering the space I have it in. I'm satisfied, but I don't really have anything but a subjective opinion. No hard data or charts to show the sound, and nothing to really compare to. That being said, if you really want to DIY it may work for you as it's right around your budget. The only thing I wonder about is whether the sound would be big enough for your garage, but that depends on your garage.