Non-Audiophile Audiophile question!

I did something that was fun for me and it turned out very nice.  Depending on your room size.  My goal was a under $500 system, all in.  Amplifier, source, speakers, everything under $500.  I wanted an efficient single driver, one for left and one for right.  Used a class d amp with a bluetooth for source and amp.  I used 6" full range from Dayton.  How do you get the lower end frequency?  I made a transmission line speaker with PVC plumbing pipe.  The pipes go up against the wall to the left and right and then turn, go up a bit and are ported behind the listener.  It could be argued, that won't work everything will be out of phase.  It actually makes a smaller room seem larger.  I have also found that orchestral music sounds wonderful.  There is a huge weakness in the system as it does have a sweet spot for listening, that is about 4'x4'.  For someone sitting at a desk, it could work.  Not that it sounds bad, outside of this.  It just sounds really good in the sweet spot.  I also have another system and found that matching efficiencies of the speakers helps keep things in balance.  I have some Altec Lansing A7, 500's that I use Blumenstein's for the rear and center.  I tried some others but you really had to work the balance hard to make them sound correctly.   

@czarivey Interesting question!  I don't think it matters if you're facing speakers in a two-channel system or have them placed directly at your back.  Your ears function as the receiver(s) of sound.  As such, I would think the normal considerations for a two-channel sound system apply (i.e.  room size & acoustics; speaker placement; listening distance from the speakers; sweet spot; etc.).  That being said, if your seated or listening position is off axis (i.e.  not directly in the center of both left & right channel, otherwise known as the sweet spot), you'll probably prefer speakers that have good "off axis response".  If you intend to audition speakers in a good shop(s) before purchasing them, I recommend that you explain what you're after and have the shop(s) set up the room(s), speakers, etc., in as close to your home/office configuration as possible.  I think most omnidirectional speakers might appeal to you but there are others, as well (e.g.  Revel; PSB; Klipsch; etc.).  Your ears will be the best judge.

Good Luck!

Nobody thought of open back headphones?   Listening to speakers in back of you seems, well, backwards. 

You might consider some surface mount speakers, I use Vandersteen VSM-1s mounted on the ceiling for my rear channel in my video system.

Duevel speakers from Germany