Dorm rooms and campus apartments will have lots of people in and out, roommates, their friends, maintenance people. In that use case, something small and not too flashy. Maybe something used. Whatever it is will be moved and moved again, so nothing precious, it will get knocked around. Even if in a personal apartment, he will be in a peripatetic phase of life and the same requirements will apply. Inexpensive actives with a bluetooth streamer-DAC and maybe an input in the back--Wiim Pro Plus--would be an option. A bluetooth wireless Sonos active. He'll have plenty of time to buy something bigger and better later on when he's spending his own money.