Desktop speakers... Seems like a minefield?

[HM-2]

I looked at the SoundSticks a couple of years ago but for only a tiny bit more you can do much better.

Started off with AudioEngine A2 active desktop speakers, 3.5mm straight from motherboard. Then moved on to running TOSLINK from MoBo into an AudioEngine D1 DAC/headphone amp, with the speakers fed off that via RCA. Now looking at picking up a set of P4 passive bookshelf speakers and running those off a dedicated amplifier. You can get the A2+, which are the successor to the A2 (now with USB input), for about £180 and they're fantastic for a such a little speaker.

For £400, I'd get an all-in-one active solution like the A5+ and feed them straight off USB from the motherboard.
For £800, I'd probably look at midsize desktop/small bookshelf passives, a decent amp and external DAC.

Edited by HM-2 on Thursday 18th April 15:16

[Schmeeky]

Some Gump said:

Could do worse than some small active monitors pro audio style.
Would certainly be better than most 2.1 computer setups, and a lot less meddling than adding aux out and a small amp.

This is what I was thinking. I've got a pair of Pioneer DM-40 plugged into an Alexa for bedroom tunage, and they are both great sounding and easy to set up and use. Something similar but higher quality would work pretty nicely..

It's a shame Corsair don't make the SP2500 any more. Extremely good sound quality (so much so that I almost stopped using my HiFi), goes very loud with no distortion, and kicks really deep thanks to a very large sub.

[ecotec]

Is anyone using a decent soundbar for PC speakers?

I was looking at the Yamaha offerings and wondering about fixing to the wall to avoid taking desk space, have HDMI+optical in and wireless sub if required.

[cat with a hat]

I just went and had a listen to the kef LSX... I wasn't impressed

... Pretty sure I need something substantial or a sub.

[gregs656]

Some Gump said:

Could do worse than some small active monitors pro audio style.
Would certainly be better than most 2.1 computer setups, and a lot less meddling than adding aux out and a small amp.

The downside with active set ups if that they are less flexible. If you don't get on with them for what ever reason or your requirements change you have to start all over again.

[silentbrown]

In some ways "Desktop" speakers are always going to be bit of a compromise, because you're typically short of space on the desk and ridiculously close to the speakers. Add in multiple monitor setups, and you find your speakers end up behind the monitors, which is far from ideal.

I've had a pair of Edifier Eclipse for several years now, and been very happy with them. (Old model: The replacement is these https://www.edifier.com/gb/en/speakers/e25-hd )

No fancy ADC, just using the analog audio output from a Dell monitor (so USB-C from PC to monitor, analog from there)

I listen a lot with headphones on the PC. Ancient Sennheiser HD590s driven by a Shure MV5 mic.

[kingston12]

cat with a hat said:

B&W MM-1 looks slick, but not very substantial!

The MM-1 is excellent, but the problem is their age. They must be ten years old and that means a single 3.5mm input and USB rather than the array that newer models offer and no subwoofer output. It also means that they are impossible to buy new. I got mine two years ago from John Lewis - half price and the box looked like it had been sitting in the stock room for ages even then.

I have got them paired with a B&W ASW608 subwoofer (dual output from Mac) and it sounds excellent as a system. It should do, though, as it would have cost £800 at full price! I got the speakers for £200 and had the sub spare.

I'd be tempted to pick up another pair as a spare if I ever see them on sale again. I'm sure they'd be bettered by some of the others recommended here, but speakers like the KEF LSX and LS50W take up a lot of desk space and are much more expensive.

Edited by kingston12 on Thursday 18th April 19:16

[ladderino]

Also have the HK Soundsticks - sound fine for desktop speakers are nice and compact, and being clear plastic they also aren't obtrusive.

HK often have them in their outlet store, so worth looking there.

[Narcisus]

cat with a hat said:

I just went and had a listen to the kef LSX... I wasn't impressed

... Pretty sure I need something substantial or a sub.

Sound is so subjective. I suppose it also depends on the size of your room. Mines smaller than a double bed lol ! The LSX do have a connector for a sub but I've in no way felt they needed it and I like decent bass. I've been listening to Vicious Delicious tonight by Infected Mushroom some Prodigy and all have superb bass. One of my benchmark tracks for deep bass is I believe by Christina Perri and the Kefs passed that test with flying colours.

[Narcisus]

kingston12 said:

The MM-1 is excellent, but the problem is their age. They must be ten years old and that means a single 3.5mm input and USB rather than the array that newer models offer and no subwoofer output. It also means that they are impossible to buy new. I got mine two years ago from John Lewis - half price and the box looked like it had been sitting in the stock room for ages even then.

I have got them paired with a B&W ASW608 subwoofer (dual output from Mac) and it sounds excellent as a system. It should do, though, as it would have cost £800 at full price! I got the speakers for £200 and had the sub spare.

I'd be tempted to pick up another pair as a spare if I ever see them on sale again. I'm sure they'd be bettered by some of the others recommended here, but speakers like the KEF LSX and LS50W take up a lot of desk space and are much more expensive.

Edited by kingston12 on Thursday 18th April 19:16

Just a correction here. The LSX are minute.

[mikef]

How old is the desktop? If it’s PCI (not PCI-express) era, I’d suggest an M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 PCI card and M-Audio AV-40 or newer AV-42 active speakers connected by RCA audio cables. I have that on a couple of older PCs (with Midi keyboard attached to the card). I bought the last card off eBay for not a lot

Edited by mikef on Friday 19th April 18:25

[Insanity Magnet]

Schmeeky said:

Some Gump said:

Could do worse than some small active monitors pro audio style.
Would certainly be better than most 2.1 computer setups, and a lot less meddling than adding aux out and a small amp.

This is what I was thinking. I've got a pair of Pioneer DM-40 plugged into an Alexa for bedroom tunage, and they are both great sounding and easy to set up and use. Something similar but higher quality would work pretty nicely..

It's a shame Corsair don't make the SP2500 any more. Extremely good sound quality (so much so that I almost stopped using my HiFi), goes very loud with no distortion, and kicks really deep thanks to a very large sub.

I bought a set of iLoud Micro Monitors a month or so back and they're great for desktop usage. The only change I've made is raising them off of the desk on a pair of (3d printed) stands.

They work fine on Bluetooth but don't always automatically reconnect to my Lenovo P52. I have also connected them to an old Squeezebox (LMS on a Raspberry Pi ) and they sound great. Interestingly the monitors will play both music and Bluetoothed PC-chuntering simultaneously so you don't have to swap inputs.

Probably a good job the larger MTMs hadn't been announced when I was looking at purchasing the Micros...

[kingston12]

Narcisus said:

Just a correction here. The LSX are minute.

The LSX aren’t big as a lot of speakers go, but they are quite big for some people’s desktop. 24x18x16cm is a lot bigger than the MM1 which are 17x10x10. Prior to the MM1 I was using the Ruark MR1, but found them quite big for my desktop.

The LSX would dispense with the need of having a separate sub, though, which I think is essential with the MM1s.

Edited by kingston12 on Friday 19th April 11:28

[Narcisus]

Yes I guess compared to standard type computer desktop speakers they are on the large size.

[Narcisus]

cat with a hat said:

I just went and had a listen to the kef LSX... I wasn't impressed

... Pretty sure I need something substantial or a sub.

Just out of interest C with a H what didn’t you like was it just that you felt the need for more low down grunt ?

Did you audition music you knew and what was the room like ? Had the Kef’s DSP been setup for the room ?

[h0b0]

I have the Bose Cinemate GS Series II 2 Digital Home Theater Speaker Sound System



I know most do not rate Bose but for a desk top set up it works very well.

[Ultraviolet]

I have a pair of these and they are tremendous:

https://hifipig.com/ophidian-audio-minimo-loudspea...

The sound they produce is fantastic.. and I say that as a long time audiophile!

You’d need a decent amp though.. I use a musical fidelity m3si with onboard DAC..

Cheers,

UV

[red997]

I bought a pair of Kef 300's for the same application; superb sound and were on sale at £600

[Renswan]

The ikmultimedia iLoud Micro Monitor is very popular amongst audio pros at the moment ... Less than 300 quid for a pair too!
They really do sound very good ...
Just saw the post a couple up ... seconded!

Edited by Renswan on Thursday 2nd May 17:07

[Murph7355]

ladderino said:

Also have the HK Soundsticks - sound fine for desktop speakers are nice and compact, and being clear plastic they also aren't obtrusive.

HK often have them in their outlet store, so worth looking there.

4th'd