Anyone recommend the best small speakers for cheap

First try to find out if you like metal tweeters or soft domes, as they sound very different. In the metal camp try the B&W 303 as mentioned earlier, and if you can spend a little more the Paradigm Studio 20 can be found for about 500 used. For soft domes, try the Wharfedale 8.1, new price is 200 or even less on ebay. The next step up would be a dynaudio 42 for about 500 or so used. Generally speaking you can't go wrong with any of these speakers, but the two pricier models will get you greater refinement and power handling. All of these have matching center channels availible, if surround sound is your goal.

Westlake Lc4.75 www.westlakeaudio.com

I would second the Axioms. I recently bought the M22's and they are really much more than a surround speaker and could serve as the main pair of speakers if matched with a sub. That's what I'm using them for and I replaced a pair of $2300 speakers (albeit 14 years old). The Axiom's can also be purchased from Canadian dealers, such as the Audioshop (www.audioshop.on.ca). They offer deals including speaker stands and speaker cable. I don't think the 16 inch stands offered by on the Axiom site would be tall enough for my installation. Anyway, the sound of the Axiom's belies the low cost. They are the bargain of bargain speakers. apparently, they manufacture speakers for other companies and they have an economy of scale which allows them to offer their own brand at ridiculously low prices.

Paradigm Mini Monitors...$400 new, and sound damn good. Of course at this price point you won't get everything, and Paradigm's short coming is it's deep bass extension. The bass is good and powerful, but not as deep as a full range speaker.

You didn't mention a price range, so I'll throw out a couple of monitor size speakers that I think are very good, and have also gotten good critical reviews.

1. Sequerra Pyramid MET-7: an exceptionally fine speaker, designed by high-end audio legend Richard Sequerra. The MET-7 images like crazy, has very good frequency extension at both ends, and is sometimes available on the used market for $600-800. For more info about the MET-7, see the Sequerra Web site:
http://www.sequerra.com/electronics/data/index.html

2. Krix Equinox: a dandy little Australian speaker that sells new for $600 (or $300-350 used). I tried several small speakers for my office system, and eventually chose the Equinox. I've been very pleased with them. Not only do they offer very good sound, but their cabinetry (Jarrah wood) is of very high quality for the price range.

And, finally, two models from one of the two truly high-value speaker manufacturers, PSB (Paradigm is the other): the PSB Image 2B ($400 new), and the PSB Stratus Mini ($1050 new).