Help a college student out! Component pairing ideas for Acoustic Energy AE500

This Yamaha should fit the bill!

https://www.musicdirect.com/equipment/amplification/integrated-amp/yamaha-a-s501-integrated-amplifier/

I think this NuPrime IDA-8 would be great.  It got very nice reviews when it came out, and he can hook the Node up to the digital input and his TV and PlayStation into its analog and/or optical inputs.  Plus it’s small and puts out 100Wpc that should be plenty for his needs.  Perfect for a college student I’d think, and at $540 it’s at the bottom of your price range.  Best of luck. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226675259736?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=d3786ba2-2223-11f0-8967-316131346664

Assuming your son is not yet an audiophile, then a WiiM Amp Pro is less than $400.  It's a small box that will stream, has extra inputs and a built-in amplifier.  It's a good quality product.

Yamaha R-N800A (Streamer, musiccast, dac, amp combo)

Msrp: $1000, Accessories4less: $700 (refurb'd)

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrn800ablk-rb/yamaha-r-n800a-2-ch-x-100-watts-networking-stereo-receiver-black/1.html

WOW,that’s quite a gift.The AE500’s are VERY good speakers.They are 6 ohm nominal impedance, dropping to just below 4 ohms in the upper treble I believe so they are going to need a half way decent amp..DON’T waste $ on something that can’t handle a steady 4 ohm load..
 They are also very revealing & can scale up quite a way & IMO won’t be the weak link in a system with a $3000.00 amp!
 I would use Google & search for "Arcam Class G Amplifier" & look at something like an "A5","SA-10" or"SA-20".. I would take an Arcam Class G over ANY mainstream,cookie cutter amp from other manufacturers...
 

Someone I know has an Arcam fifty watt integrated amp and a four foot pair of Cardas Iridium speaker cables that were made to go with the Arcam. I believe that person will soon run an ad on that other audio classifieds site for a Quicksilver phono stage. You could contact that person there to see if the Arcam and cables would be available.

Creek integrated, used. 

• Great value/under $700
• great British synergy
• many options in the used market
• small, perfect for the space

Thanks so much for the suggestions. We don’t have to make a decision yet, but I’m printing this thread as a PDF so I can keep track of what you’re saying.

@freediver I have played these speakers on my own system, using my ST35 amp and even with 17 watts it sounds quite nice. But I'm just about 7 feet away and I agree that more power will be best for these.