Best compact speakers for near-field listening at a desk under $400?

[ilikefilmstoo]

Help me narrow down the list or recommend any I'm missing. Thanks!

Small

• Audioengine A1 (6 x 4 x 5.25)
• Audioengine A2+ (6 x 4 x 5.25)
• Audioengine HD3 (7 x 4.25 x 5.5)
• Vanatoo Transparent Zero (7.5 x 4.75 x 7.75)
• Presonus Eris E3.5 + Eris Sub 8 (5.6 x 6.4 x 8.3)
• iLoud Micro Monitors (7.09 x 5.31 x 3.54)
• Fostex PM0.3 + PM-SUBmini (3.9 x 7.2 x 5.1)
• Kanto YU2 + SUB6 (3.9 x 5.3 x 5.9)

Medium

• Polk Audio S10 (5-7/16 x 8-7/16 x 6-3/16)
• Mackie CR3-XBT + CR8S-XBT (8.1 x 5.5 x 7.1)
• Edifier R1280T (5.75 x 9.5 x 7)
• Edifier R1700BT (6 x 8 x 9.75)
• Edifier R1850DB (6.1 x 8.8 x 10)
• Micca RB42 (8.7 x 4.9 x 7.9)
• Tannoy Reveal 402 (9.5 x 5.8 x 8.4)
• Yamaha MSP3 (9.3 x 6.6 x 5.7)
• Fluid Audio F4 (6.78 x 5.9 x 8.74)

Large

• JBL 305P MkII (11.7 x 7.3 x 9.1)
• KRK RP5 Rokit 5 G4 (11.22 x 7.48 x 9.49)
• KEF Q150 (11.92 x 7.08 x 10.944)
• Q Acoustics 3020i (10.9 x 11.1 x 6.7)

 

[Rock Rabbit]

You're mixing many types, some are multimedia use or with sub. My vote for JBL 305 monitor class, very good frequency response and cheap (balanced input XLR/plug, sensitivityselector, volume knob with detent, class D bi amped). Some objectionable hiss at short distance (many active monitors have this issue)
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...mkii-and-control-1-pro-monitors-review.10811/

 

[sweetchaos]

"Help me narrow down the list or recommend any I'm missing. Thanks!

Small

• Audioengine A1 (6 x 4 x 5.25) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Audioengine A2+ (6 x 4 x 5.25) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Audioengine HD3 (7 x 4.25 x 5.5) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Vanatoo Transparent Zero (7.5 x 4.75 x 7.75) Review (Relaxed Panther award)
• Presonus Eris E3.5 + Eris Sub 8 (5.6 x 6.4 x 8.3) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• iLoud Micro Monitors (7.09 x 5.31 x 3.54) Measurements by Napilopez, Recommended
• Fostex PM0.3 + PM-SUBmini (3.9 x 7.2 x 5.1) Review (Relaxed Panther award)
• Kanto YU2 + SUB6 (3.9 x 5.3 x 5.9) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)

Medium

• Polk Audio S10 (5-7/16 x 8-7/16 x 6-3/16) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez, or Erin), but S15 was reviewed (Relaxed Panther award)
• Mackie CR3-XBT + CR8S-XBT (8.1 x 5.5 x 7.1) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Edifier R1280T (5.75 x 9.5 x 7) Review (Relaxed Panther award)
• Edifier R1700BT (6 x 8 x 9.75) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin), but can extrapolate performance from R1280T
• Edifier R1850DB (6.1 x 8.8 x 10) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin), but can extrapolate performance from R1280T
• Micca RB42 (8.7 x 4.9 x 7.9) Review (Headless Panther award)
• Tannoy Reveal 402 (9.5 x 5.8 x 8.4) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Yamaha MSP3 (9.3 x 6.6 x 5.7) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Fluid Audio F4 (6.78 x 5.9 x 8.74) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)

Large

• JBL 305P MkII (11.7 x 7.3 x 9.1) Review (Relaxed Panther award)
• KRK RP5 Rokit 5 G4 (11.22 x 7.48 x 9.49) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• KEF Q150 (11.92 x 7.08 x 10.944) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin), but Q350 was reviewed (Questionable award)
• Q Acoustics 3020i (10.9 x 11.1 x 6.7) Review (Relaxed Panther award)

"


Welcome to ASR!

Spend your $400 on speakers now, while saving your $ for a subwoofer later. Also, the subs you listed aren't recommended, and there's plenty of good subs to recommend, but that's a separate discussion based on your future budget.

Also, you're missing the following Soccer/Golfing Panther Award Winners:
1. Adam T5V. Active. US$400/pair. Reviewed by Amir.
2. JBL Stage A130. Passive. US$300/pair. Reviewed by Amir.
3. Wharfedale Diamond 220. Passive. Harder to find, since it's listed as discontinued on some resellers. US$200/pair. Reviewed by Amir.

Also, you're missing the following Relaxed Panther Award Winners:
1. Kali LP-6. Active. US$300/pair. Reviewed by Amir.
2. Etc..

I would ONLY buy speakers that Amir reviewed.
If I had to pick one myself for this budget, I would get Adam T5V.

 

[ilikefilmstoo]

"Help me narrow down the list or recommend any I'm missing. Thanks!

Small

• Audioengine A1 (6 x 4 x 5.25) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Audioengine A2+ (6 x 4 x 5.25) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Audioengine HD3 (7 x 4.25 x 5.5) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Vanatoo Transparent Zero (7.5 x 4.75 x 7.75) Review (Relaxed Panther award)
• Presonus Eris E3.5 + Eris Sub 8 (5.6 x 6.4 x 8.3) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• iLoud Micro Monitors (7.09 x 5.31 x 3.54) Measurements by Napilopez, Recommended
• Fostex PM0.3 + PM-SUBmini (3.9 x 7.2 x 5.1) Review (Relaxed Panther award)
• Kanto YU2 + SUB6 (3.9 x 5.3 x 5.9) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)

Medium

• Polk Audio S10 (5-7/16 x 8-7/16 x 6-3/16) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez, or Erin), but S15 was reviewed (Relaxed Panther award)
• Mackie CR3-XBT + CR8S-XBT (8.1 x 5.5 x 7.1) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Edifier R1280T (5.75 x 9.5 x 7) Review (Relaxed Panther award)
• Edifier R1700BT (6 x 8 x 9.75) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin), but can extrapolate performance from R1280T
• Edifier R1850DB (6.1 x 8.8 x 10) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin), but can extrapolate performance from R1280T
• Micca RB42 (8.7 x 4.9 x 7.9) Review (Headless Panther award)
• Tannoy Reveal 402 (9.5 x 5.8 x 8.4) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Yamaha MSP3 (9.3 x 6.6 x 5.7) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• Fluid Audio F4 (6.78 x 5.9 x 8.74) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)

Large

• JBL 305P MkII (11.7 x 7.3 x 9.1) Review (Relaxed Panther award)
• KRK RP5 Rokit 5 G4 (11.22 x 7.48 x 9.49) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin)
• KEF Q150 (11.92 x 7.08 x 10.944) No Review (by Amir, Napilopez or Erin), but Q350 was reviewed (Questionable award)
• Q Acoustics 3020i (10.9 x 11.1 x 6.7) Review (Relaxed Panther award)

"


Welcome to ASR!

Spend your $400 on speakers now, while saving your $ for a subwoofer later. Also, the subs you listed aren't recommended, and there's plenty of good subs to recommend, but that's a separate discussion based on your future budget.

Also, you're missing the following Soccer/Golfing Panther Award Winners:
1. Adam T5V. Active. US$400/pair. Reviewed by Amir.
2. JBL Stage A130. Passive. US$300/pair. Reviewed by Amir.
3. Wharfedale Diamond 220. Passive. Harder to find, since it's listed as discontinued on some resellers. US$200/pair. Reviewed by Amir.

Also, you're missing the following Relaxed Panther Award Winners:
1. Kali LP-6. Active. US$300/pair. Reviewed by Amir.
2. Etc..

I would ONLY buy speakers that Amir reviewed.
If I had to pick one myself for this budget, I would get Adam T5V.

Wow, thanks for linking to all the reviews and measurements! Wharfedale wasn't on my radar but their D310 and D320 look good too.