^^^^Why would you get flamed? I have external speakers (Klipsch Pro Media with a Sub) on my cMP. I also use external speakers with my Sony XBR TV. Again Klipsch Reference with a Sub and a Denon Receiver. IMO, if you want decent sound from many devices, an external speaker source is the only answer. And yes, I luv the Klipsch sound.
Nut, to answer the OPs question, To only listen to web broadcasts (the spoken word) you do not need external speakers. But for High Quality sound, a multi speaker setup with a sub would be a must.
Lou