Active Desktop speakers pick

[nocrapman]

Such a hard category to work through. 

I have 4 amazing full range listening setups in the house ranging from Salk audio to DIYSG Fusions to Magnepan 3.7s. Yes I am spoilt in that sense. So when it comes to picking a replacement for my desktop rig, I am at a loss. 

Requirements:

1.  Active. I dont want another whole setup under the desk. 

2. Monitors. 

3. Size, cant be too big. Cant put a Kii3 here. 

4. High quality and not an eyesore. 

 

Here's my options as far as I can tell:

1. AE-1 - well received and good size and price (1K). 

2. Dynaudio active bookshelves. However they seem to focus on wireless/BT/streaming none of which I need. I have a nice RME dac on the desktop feeding them. 

3. ATC pro 20 ASL - good stuff but hard to find and studio grade finish. (5K)

4. Custom made by someone like Rick Craig of Selah audio or like. 

 

Any input would be appreciated. 

 

[DuckToller]

You may want to look at these from the AE1 designer Phil Jones;
The new Airpulse A300 pro, dual active speaker, either driven wireless or hardwired with balanced input from your RME into each speaker. Although they aren't quite desktop ... ymmv
They are 1$ short of 2k. I have some doubts they are twice as good as the AE1s ..., ;-) .. however .. diminishing returns.
Well ... and then there are Genelecs ....

Cheers, Tom

 

[nocrapman]

Updated list of options:

1. AE-1 - well received and good size and price (1K). 

2. Dynaudio active bookshelves. However they seem to focus on wireless/BT/streaming none of which I need. I have a nice RME dac on the desktop feeding them. 

3. ATC SCM20 ASL Pro Mk2 - good stuff but hard to find and studio grade finish. Also dont go very low(5K).

4. Custom made by someone like Rick Craig of Selah audio or like. 

5. Airpulse series - good look, not sure about amp setup/design. Sub out is a huge plus.

6. Focal shape shape 65 vs shape 50 - good proven monitors. Can dig deep. ($1500 to 1800)

7. Focal Solo 6be - good reviews, well received Be tweeter. (2700)

 

Please feel free to chime in thoughts/ideas.  

[jcbenten]

Neumann and Adam make active monitors that are well received...a bit industrial looking but the development money seems to go into the parts that make the sound.  The Buchardt's that @bobfa just reviewed might not be too large.  

[nocrapman]

Thanks for pointing in the direction of the Buckardts A500. 

Very neat. 

That might be the winner for me, although price wise we are in ATC territory. 

[DuckToller]

It is not directly obvious, but most important advantages of the beautiful Buchard A500 are in connection with the Buchard Audio Hub, which includes a 24/96 DAC and digital Room correction. Your RME would be happily enjoy holidays ...

[nocrapman]

This is for a desktop nearfield setup. I doubt the room correction will do much?

I have a feeling the RME DAC is better. I havent looked at what their DAC is based on. 

The hub is a great idea though for general use. 

[mitchco]

@nocrapman desktop speakers that sit on the desk or desktop speakers that sit on stands behind the desk? Distance between the speakers and your ears sitting at the desk?

 

Indeed this is a tough category as bass response is typically the big issue. 8" woofers will give you the bass, but need to be put on stands behind the desk and far enough back for the woofer and tweeter to properly integrate. Smaller speakers on the desk need to be either at ear height or sitting on the desk angled up towards your ears. But may lack bass response.

 

Digital Room Correction (DRC) can make a big difference in dealing with desktop reflections and toning down the treble as most will sound too bright sitting on the desk. Also, depending on how loud one listens, the DRC can extend the bass response lower at the expense of sound pressure level. I have an upcoming article in the works about this...

 

For desktops, the EVE Audio SC203 and iLoud MTM get some pretty good reviews for actives that sit on the desk that have at least some decent level of bass extension.

 

This is an interesting YouTube channel that does "relative" comparisons by recording the speakers during playback and switching back and forth: https://www.youtube.com/user/skubny/videos

 

Not the end all beat all, but one can hear the differences. Good luck!

 

 

[Urs]

Here comes my proposal:

Genelec The Ones. Either 8341A or 8351B

It has two big advantages: 

• single point source (treble, midrange and bass). This means you can sit very closely to them (starting from ca 0.4m for the 8341 and from ca 0.5m for the 8351B)
• built-in digital room correction, i.e. you will use the Genelec GLM software. Even if the listening distance is short, the room correction has a huge influence. You can easily validate this by bypassing the room correction.

What I would highly recommend in addition:

use the digital input and not the analog. Use the Genelec table stands to move them a bit above the desk. Or use stands and have them placed behind the desk.

 

As an example my setup:
Desktop with JCAT XE USB card > mutec mc3+ usb interface > Wireworld AES/EBU Digital Cable > Genelec 8351B on Genelec table stands (Genelec 8000-325). Behind my desk (front wall) and on one sidewall I use Vicoustic absorbers/diffusors (Vicoustic VicPattern Ult Wavewood White)
Volume-Adjustment: GLM-Kit (this is necessary for the room correction anyway) and Genelec 9310A Volume Controller.

 

Took me a long way to come to this setup, but I am very, very happy with it 🙂

You wrote "... not an eyesore". I think they look pretty, I have the speakers, the stands and the absorbers in white.

[Joerg D]

Hello,

My recommendation for active loudspeakers is Abacus from Germany. The loudspeakers are also produced there. The service and the price is very good. I have owned the Abacus 5 X for 3 years.
 

https://www.abacus-electronics.de

 

Joerg

 

[andrewinukm]

KEF LS50 Wireless II. Slightly smaller than ATC.

Yes it does all those wireless streaming and digital stuff. But that's where the magic is. DSP to for time alignment, bass mgmt, etc etc etc.

 

I don't like LS50 (non wireless)'s sound, but LS50 Wireless v1 won me over. I would likely leave the RME gathering dust and buy the LS50W v2. Based on listening to other speakers that absorbs backward successfully,  LS50W II's meta-material is likely to contribute significant sound improvements.

 

If not, you won't go wrong with the ATC. Definitely a good choice here.

 

[DuckToller]

1 hour ago, Joerg D said:

Hello,

My recommendation for active loudspeakers is Abacus from Germany. The loudspeakers are also produced there. The service and the price is very good. I have owned the Abacus 5 X for 3 years.
 

https://www.abacus-electronics.de

 

Joerg

[Joerg D]

Hallo Duck

 

The C Box 3 was my first abacus. In Ferrari red on my desk. Then came the 5 X. The best belongs earlier. Since the Gauder Vescova had to be influenced.

 

Joerg

 

[DuckToller]

 

2 hours ago, Joerg D said:

Hallo Duck

 

The C Box 3 was my first abacus. In Ferrari red on my desk. Then came the 5 X. The best belongs earlier. Since the Gauder Vescova had to be influenced.

 

Joerg

 

Jörg,
thanks for the picture. Tthe b&w ensemble looks simply splendid! ;-)

In Ferrari red it might have been tempting for a moment, although too much on the long run, imho.
The GAUDER may have a tid bit more WAF ...
Best, Tom
 

[nocrapman]

Thanks for so many new suggestions guys!

It has been a pleasant surprise that my options are not limited.

1. AE-1 - well received and good size and price (1K). 

2. Dynaudio active bookshelves. However they seem to focus on wireless/BT/streaming none of which I need. I have a nice RME dac on the desktop feeding them. 

3. ATC SCM20 ASL Pro Mk2 - good stuff but hard to find and studio grade finish. Also dont go very low(5K).

4. Custom made by someone like Rick Craig of Selah audio or like. 

5. Airpulse series - good look, not sure about amp setup/design. Sub out is a huge plus.

6. Focal shape shape 65 vs shape 50 - good proven monitors. Can dig deep. ($1500 to 1800)

7. Focal Solo 6be - good reviews, well received Be tweeter. (2700)

8. KEF LS50 W - like the look/design and size. Dont like all tech packed in that box. Makes me wonder what part of the money actually is dedicated to the drivers and crossover. 

9. ELAC navis ARB-51: like the look, simplicity. Dont like the boxed look. 

10. Buckardt A500 - what a find: very tempted. Love the aesthetic/design/low end. Dont like price/wait or lack of track record. 

 

Currently debating between the ELAC and KEF and wondering if I should purchase both and audition them side by side and return the on I dont like? Anyone here have experience with both?

 

[DuckToller]

18 minutes ago, nocrapman said:

Thanks for so many new suggestions guys!

It has been a pleasant surprise that my options are not limited.

1. AE-1 - well received and good size and price (1K). 

2. Dynaudio active bookshelves. However they seem to focus on wireless/BT/streaming none of which I need. I have a nice RME dac on the desktop feeding them. 

3. ATC SCM20 ASL Pro Mk2 - good stuff but hard to find and studio grade finish. Also dont go very low(5K).

4. Custom made by someone like Rick Craig of Selah audio or like. 

5. Airpulse series - good look, not sure about amp setup/design. Sub out is a huge plus.

6. Focal shape shape 65 vs shape 50 - good proven monitors. Can dig deep. ($1500 to 1800)

7. Focal Solo 6be - good reviews, well received Be tweeter. (2700)

8. KEF LS50 W - like the look/design and size. Dont like all tech packed in that box. Makes me wonder what part of the money actually is dedicated to the drivers and crossover. 

9. ELAC navis ARB-51: like the look, simplicity. Dont like the boxed look. 

10. Buckardt A500 - what a find: very tempted. Love the aesthetic/design/low end. Dont like price/wait or lack of track record. 

 

Currently debating between the ELAC and KEF and wondering if I should purchase both and audition them side by side and return the on I dont like? Anyone here have experience with both?

 

@nocrapman
Did you actually start the post to enhance your list or to narrow it down to a focus ??? ;-)))

Obviously if you have enough money to spend you have a lot of choices ... do you have a strategy how to find out what suits you best and do you have a time limit for the purchase ?
 

About the ELAC/KEF debate, afaik the ELAC aren't a complete solution like the KEF, which imho is quite a distinguishing factor.

As far as I am familiar with the ELAC Discovery series, I tend to advise you for checking out which non-ELAC hardware does have a good fit with the NAVIS. IIRC you have a RME DAC, which may do perfectly. Only caveat I'd see is the amplifier selection for the actives, the BASH amplififcation I have heard with the ELAC Discovery series wasn't convincing. YMMV.

Now that I have heard the A80 (which replaced the A100 on my desk) for almost two weeks, I need to admit that In haven't had a 2nd thought  to pass the A100 to my son who has fallen in love with their soft&smooth white laqceur finish (and their performance together with one of my subs when having his 17th birthday party end of August!).

While typing I am  listening to the lastest One Mic album from Carmen Gomes Inc. (it's DXD downsampled to the 96/24 of the USB entry of the Airpulse) chez Sound Liaison which is dedicated to Blues heritage and I am very pleased listening to the acoustic bass presented by that little speaker.  These hornloaded AMT drivers are kidnapping me in the nearfield.
Last April Airpulse were stimulating sales with rebates up to 40% for the A100, if you looking for bargaining it may be worth a wait.

Is there a reason why Genelec did not find an entrance to your list ?

Have a nice weekend, Tom
 

[nocrapman]

Thanks for your guidance and thoughts Tom. 

I started the post to generate a list of contenders to look/research/audition.

The Genelac might be a great option if I could get over their looks. I find them fugly to put it simply. I would be staring at them all day on my desk.

You would agree of all people that the aesthetic can enhance one's listening pleasure. 

[mitchco]

@nocrapman I must have missed this, are these to actually sit on your desk or on stands behind our desk? Or put another way, what is the approximate distance between your listening position and where the speakers are intended to be? Desk against a wall or open to a room? Pics?

[nocrapman]

Desktop but away from wall about a foot. 

3 ft from listening position. 3 feet apart. 

Sorry about the clutter

[asdf1000]

On 11/26/2020 at 7:54 AM, mitchco said:

For desktops, the EVE Audio SC203 and iLoud MTM get some pretty good reviews for actives that sit on the desk that have at least some decent level of bass extension.

 

And iLoud MTM's with a sub under the desk and sub DSP crossover would be even better!

 

 

[nocrapman]

3 hours ago, asdf1000 said:

 

And iLoud MTM's with a sub under the desk and sub DSP crossover would be even better!

 

 

How do you mean? it doesnt have a sub out? 

And what do you mean by sub DSP crossover?

[Rexp]

The ATC 20 is too big, they used to make a small scm 16 model if you can find used. 

[nocrapman]

Agree, have ruled out ATC pretty much. 

[bunno77]

You're looking at the wrong Dyns. Look at their pro range like the BM, Lyd, Core

https://www.dynaudio.com/professional-audio

They are all fantastic.

 

Some great mentions above. Adam, Focal and Tannoy Golds I like too

[asdf1000]

6 hours ago, nocrapman said:

How do you mean? it doesnt have a sub out? 

And what do you mean by sub DSP crossover?

 

Doesn't have sub out. But since you can only feed it analogue signal anyway, so you need a DAC, you could have a 4-channel DAC (like Focusrite 4i4) and digital room EQ software to do the DSP crossover. MTM's and sub using up 3 channels on the DAC.

 

Example: Send <80 Hz to the sub under the desk and everything 80 Hz and above to the MTM's.

 

I've just started using Audiolense and amazed at results with 3-way DSP crossover including crossing over to pair of subs (not desktop setup). I followed @mitchco's great Audiolense articles here on the forum.