I also have the AV40, but not for any monitoring, just office desktop speakers. I got them on recommendation from my cousin, who at the time was doing a lot of amateur music production. He was using the m-audio bx series monitors, can't remember if it was the 5" or 8", and he found those very functional for what he was doing. Street price for the 8 is well below $400, and if your bro is stuck with 5", the price is somewhere between 250 or 300.

Also, as you shop, if you find something just past the price range, I encourage you to specifically look at the open box / b-stock areas of all the usual sites, sweetwater, b&h, full compass, etc, as monitors in this price range seem to be frequently bought and returned, and the reduced price will not always show up on a simple google shop search

Thanks for chiming in, everyone.

The tip on b-stock sounds good, I'll keep that in mind!
Airmotiv: yeah I was thinking of that too, but we're all in Singapore, so the shipping would kill the value of that, and it probably reach in time for the birthday.
"Active": I'm not sure what the right term is, but definitely "with an amp inside each speaker".

Gonna keep shopping around locally, maybe bring my buddy to test out some of the models listed.

I'd get those JBLs

I'd forgotten about those JBLs. Why? Because they are only available here in India for an absurdly inflated price that throws the incredible value for money accolade down the drain. 

I see you are in Singapore. I have this place on the list for my next visit... Luther Music (Monitors Page), and I got my AV-40s from Sinamex.

NB: if this is too detailed, feel free to bump into own thread, where the topic can slowly die alone.

Quandry: I have a small sum burning a hole in my pocket, maybe 8-900 USD. Main listening is done via computer > ODAC > Asgard2 > HE-560 (sometimes DT880 and DT150, rarely SR225i).

Possible Options:

1) Gungnir w/ usb2 to updgrade source for benefit of many future headphones, including option to try balanced. I don't think balanced will drive me to epic satisfaction, but I figure I gotta try it before I write it off, OR WILL I LOVE IT?

2) HD600 and a Valhalla2 need to try out HD600, never tried, always love beyer sound, but now with age and financial stability, comes the great responsibility of spending ever more money to tinker with sound. Ulterior motive: I have a pair of 2000 ohm dt100 that I really want to drive for realz, and I suspect Valhalla2 is safest affordable route to that end.

3) save for HD800 the only problem is I know if I get the 800, I will immediately want the items in options 1 and 2, so this is a bit premature.

Thoughts?