Sorry to plug my own design, I normally don't do this, but this would be a perfect application for this speaker.
I originally developed it for my personal use as a no-compromise small reference monitor. I showed it at two audio gatherings and it won best small speaker at both and I started getting requests for the speaker. Once I realized there was quite a bit of demand, more than I could faciliate, I talked to Jim about producing the speaker for me.
There are a couple dozen of these out there now and most of the users I have corresponded with have been using them in applications very similar to what your friend would use them for. The thing that surprises everyone is the robust bass that is coming from such a small speaker. Everyone expects excellent midrange and highs, which it delivers, but not necessarily such satisfying bass reponse. Of course, it has limits - it won't go real deep and it won't play real loud, but for 95% of my listening the Continuums are stellar performers. I still feel these have a midrange quality that I have heard from very few speakers in my life regardless of cost.
Here is a link to a thread on the speaker. If you scroll down you will get the full history of the speaker. And remember, Jim can make them any color your friend wants.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=80566.0Jeff Bagby
I'm helping a friend assemble their first hi-end oriented system and am considering this speaker as her space is relatively small, she's a classical music/adult contemporary fan, will listen mostly at low/moderate levels, and has a smallish budget, but wants high quality sound. Anyone have experience with this speaker yet? Thanks!
-Mike