Audio setup advice

[dott]

Hi!
I’m planning to update/rebuild my audio setup at my home workplace and need some advice from people that are much smarter than me
I’m sitting in a small room (about 15 sq. meters, if that matters). The main usage of my audio setup is listening to music (lossless from Apple Music) and playing some games.
Currently, I have a Fiio K5 Pro ESS Headphone amp + Audio Technica ATH-M50x and very old speakers Microlab Solo5 with a blown amp.
Since I don’t have much free money, I’ll update step by step.
First - instead of repairing my speakers, I’ll buy an external AMP and convert Solo5 to passive speakers. I think Fosi Audio V3 is good for this.
Second - I’ll replace K5 Pro with Topping DX5 II. Currently, I have some issues switching audio outputs in my PC and Mac. The ability to conveniently and easily switch outputs is a feature I wanted for some time.
Third - I’ll replace my speakers. Solo5 is too big for the shelf above my desk. I want something smaller and better. Currently, I’m thinking about Polk Audio Monitor XT 15. Its size is about perfect. I’ve seen good reviews about it. Also, I’ve read that these speakers are really good at listening at low volumes - exactly what I need. The only problem I see is that I’ll definitely have trouble buying it. Currently, it is out of stock in my country.
Fourth - Headphones. I want comfortable closed-back HP. Currently, I’m looking at Beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO MK II. But I think there have to be some better and/or cheaper options.
Final step (optional) - Sub. I’m not sure about it, but in case I’ll feel I need it, I want to look at options now.

Since I don’t know much about audio, I’d be very grateful for reviews on my plans from more experienced people.

Thanks!

 

[RayDunzl]

Microlab 5:

"Specified with high quality silk dome tweeter speakers, 2-way Bi-amplifier design
and Glass fiber cone and rubber rim, which reduces near perfect sound."

You'll probably need to come up with a crossover if powering that 2-way speaker from a single amplifier channel.

 

[dott]

Microlab 5:

"Specified with high quality silk dome tweeter speakers, 2-way Bi-amplifier design
and Glass fiber cone and rubber rim, which reduces near perfect sound."

You'll probably need to come up with a crossover if powering that 2-way speaker from a single amplifier channel.

Thanks!
I think crossover are already present in there.
Same things are in both of speakers:

https://imgur.com/VyMmpQu

 

[RayDunzl]

Then no problem, and bad data lookup on my part.

Carry on!

 

[DVDdoug]

Currently, I’m thinking about Polk Audio Monitor XT 15. Its size is about perfect. I’ve seen good reviews about it.

Good-useful reviews are hard to find unless they include comparable measurements for the speakers you are considering, (like the reviews here).

If you can find a store where you can listen to and compare speakers that can be useful. It's not "perfect" because acoustics make a difference and our auditory memory isn't perfect so it's hard to compare unless you can quickly A/B. But it can still be useful, and it can be educational if you haven't listened to, and compared, different speakers or heard really good speakers.

Solo5 is too big for the shelf above my desk. I want something smaller and better.

Smaller AND better can be tricky... Size isn't everything but physics do play a role, especially with the bass.

Maybe you can figure out something different... My rear speakers are large "floorstanders" mounted sideways and hanging from the wall behind my couch, tilted-down. ...That's just an example, I'm NOT suggesting you need speakers THAT big for quiet listening. And my setup isn't "ideal". Like most setups, it's a compromise.

Also, I’ve read that these speakers are really good at listening at low volumes - exactly what I need.

I don't know what that means... Speakers are linear unless over-driven. Our perception changes with volume... When you turn down the volume it sounds like the bass was turned-down more (Equal Loudness Curves). It's not the speakers' job to compensate for that because you'd have excess bass at normal volumes. And of course some quiet details fall below audibility when listening quietly.

Headphones. I want comfortable closed-back HP. Currently, I’m looking at Beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO MK II.

Comfort is "personal". They aren't reviewed here but from what I found elsewhere they appear to be a little light on the bass.
Harman Curve
Understanding Headphone Measurements (video).

The ATH M50x was reviewed here and was recommended only with EQ to fix-up the frequency response.

But I think there have to be some better and/or cheaper options.

The good news is, unlike with speakers, with headphones there is almost no correlation between price and sound quality. You can sort the reviews here by price or "recommended" and you can find recommended headphones for a couple-hundred dollars and not-recommend headphones for more than a thousand.

The AKG K371 is a "famous bargain" at about $150 USD. But it has a reputation for being fragile and it has slightly exaggerated sub-bass. I have a pair and they aren't broken yet. (I don't listen to headphones very often and I don't carry them around or abuse them.) They are lightweight and I find them comfortable.

Final step (optional) - Sub. I’m not sure about it, but in case I’ll feel I need it, I want to look at options now.

I have some opposing thoughts -
You can't get strong-deep bass from a small speaker, but if you are listening quietly you can't hear the deep bass anyway (the equal loudness curves).

But you can adjust the subwoofer separately and turn it up when listening quietly. That can make quiet listening more satisfying.

Without an audio video receiver (which will have "bass management" and a line-output for an active sub) it can be difficult to integrate a subwoofer. If you have active speakers or a separate power amp, there are subwoofers with a line-level pass-through crossover to filter the bass out of the main speakers. If you have multiple line-level sources or digital inputs with no line level signals, a crossover in the sub won't help.

 

[dott]

Wow! Thank you very much for such a detailed answer.

If you can find a store where you can listen to and compare speakers that can be useful.

There are some stores where I can listen to audio gear, but the availability of models in their showrooms that I am interested in is not great. I guess I have to rely on online reviews and opinions.

Smaller AND better can be tricky...

Unfortunately I really don't have space for bigger speakers here.

Maybe you can figure out something different... My rear speakers are large "floorstanders" mounted sideways and hanging from the wall behind my couch, tilted-down. ...That's just an example, I'm NOT suggesting you need speakers THAT big for quiet listening. And my setup isn't "ideal". Like most setups, it's a compromise.

The only place where I can place speakers is on the shelf over my desktop. And this is already some kind of compromise.
I’ve been thinking about reorganizing my desktop quite some time, maybe about a year or so, and did not come up with anything better.

I don't know what that means... Speakers are linear unless over-driven. Our perception changes with volume... When you turn down the volume it sounds like the bass was turned-down more (Equal Loudness Curves). It's not the speakers' job to compensate for that because you'd have excess bass at normal volumes. And of course some quiet details fall below audibility when listening quietly.

Yes, its not the speakers job to compensate, but can it be that some speakers sound better at low volume?
But its definitely not main requirement for speakers.
I'm kinda lost here, to be honestly. There are not much speaker variants available here locally, and I didn't find good reviews for that for those that are available.

The good news is, unlike with speakers, with headphones there is almost no correlation between price and sound quality. You can sort the reviews here by price or "recommended" and you can find recommended headphones for a couple-hundred dollars and not-recommend headphones for more than a thousand.

The AKG K371 is a "famous bargain" at about $150 USD. But it has a reputation for being fragile and it has slightly exaggerated sub-bass. I have a pair and they aren't broken yet. (I don't listen to headphones very often and I don't carry them around or abuse them.) They are lightweight and I find them comfortable.

Thanks for info and suggestion. Its something needed to think about.
I'm not sure AKG K371 is good choice for me personally. I don't think I want a fragile one.
Fortunately I have some time to make a decision here. Maybe I'll consider my M50x is good enough to keep it for another couple years

You can't get strong-deep bass from a small speaker, but if you are listening quietly you can't hear the deep bass anyway (the equal loudness curves).

But you can adjust the subwoofer separately and turn it up when listening quietly. That can make quiet listening more satisfying.

Yes. This is why I thinking about it.

Without an audio video receiver (which will have "bass management" and a line-output for an active sub) it can be difficult to integrate a subwoofer. If you have active speakers or a separate power amp, there are subwoofers with a line-level pass-through crossover to filter the bass out of the main speakers. If you have multiple line-level sources or digital inputs with no line level signals, a crossover in the sub won't help.

Fosi V3 have pre out. I think I can use it for connecting a sub?