Choosing Small Speakers.

[Noklims]

Please advise — I’m choosing very small speakers for my computer that will sit next to each other 90% of the time (no more than 3 cm apart) on the windowsill to my left for watching YouTube, and I’ll move them to the desk for listening to music about 10% of the time.
For YouTube, the most important thing for me is that the midrange is clearly audible — preferably a little forward — so that speech is intelligible.
I don’t like strong bass, but I might buy a small subwoofer later, not for heavy bass but to make the sound more “correct.”
My room is very poorly optimized for good sound.
I have a Topping DX3 Pro+ and I plan to replace it with the Topping DX5 (version 2).
I really want a volume control on the speakers and for them to enter sleep mode when there’s no signal and wake up when a signal appears.
They must be white.
I’ve shortlisted the following:

• Ruark Audio MR1 MK2
• Ruark Audio MR1 MK3
• IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
• IK Multimedia iLoud MM Pro
• Adam Audio D3V (they probably won’t work because they can’t be placed so close together)
• Kanto Audio ORA
• Kanto Audio ORA4
• Yamaha HS3

Please tell me which of these would suit my sound preferences best and which ones I shouldn’t consider at all.

 

[AudioSmile_UK]

May I bring these to your attention, discerning sir?

Audio Smile LBM Monitor Review

This is a review, listening tests, EQ and detailed measurements of the Audio Smile Little British Monitor (LBM) Active Speaker (Monitor). It was sent to me by the company and costs £529.00 (VAT Excluded). Kit version is available for £349.00. As a woodworker, I appreciate how the baltic birch...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[90sNintendoKid]

May I bring these to your attention, discerning sir?

Audio Smile LBM Monitor Review

This is a review, listening tests, EQ and detailed measurements of the Audio Smile Little British Monitor (LBM) Active Speaker (Monitor). It was sent to me by the company and costs £529.00 (VAT Excluded). Kit version is available for £349.00. As a woodworker, I appreciate how the baltic birch...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I remember reading you have tweaked the dsp based on this review.

May I please ask if the dip in directivity is still present?

Also, how long is the cable that goes between the speakers?

 

[AudioSmile_UK]

The cable is 2m.

The step in directivity is going to remain the same regardless of DSP, because it is a physical affect of baffle step (where the sound wraps around the cabinet once the wavelength becomes larger than the baffle.) The slightly irregular shape of the D3V will help to spread the effect over a wider frequency range (I did check to compare), but there will still be a baffle step effect on every speaker. This is my interpretation, at least.

 

[Noklims]

The Audio Smile LBM speakers won’t work — I need at least two out of these three features:

• white finish
• front-mounted volume control
• automatic power-off when there’s no signal and automatic power-on when a signal is present

Bluetooth and digital inputs are not necessary.

As for the sound, my priorities are:

• bass shouldn’t be boomy or over-emphasized
• midrange is the most important — it must be as high-quality as possible for the speaker size and must not be recessed
• treble: I like a clear or slightly elevated presence
• the speakers should be musical with decent detail

From the speakers listed, which ones will sound best for my preferences?
Or, on the other hand, which ones are completely unsuitable in terms of sound and not worth considering at all?

• Ruark Audio MR1 MK2
• Ruark Audio MR1 MK3
• IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
• IK Multimedia iLoud MM Pro
• Adam Audio D3V (they probably won’t work because they can’t be placed so close together)
• Kanto Audio ORA
• Kanto Audio ORA4
• Yamaha HS3

 

[AnalogSteph]

As far as I've been able to find out, the Kantos don't have auto-standby, and neither does the regular iLoud Micro (the Pro, no idea). Vanatoo products seem to though, but given your choices I suspect that you may be living outside the areas where they are sold. The Mk3 Ruark mentions a 20 minute auto-standby. D3V also has it.

The HS3 is a big ol' "meh" in the measurements department as a result of the all-too-common single-capacitor crossover.

Below are Klippel measurements of the HS4 and HS3:

Yamaha HS4 리뷰 - Audio-re

2way ported, 77.7 Hz (-6dB)

audiore.kr

Yamaha HS3 리뷰 - Audio-re

2way ported, 77.7 Hz (-6dB)

audiore.kr

Apparently, there's no real crossover built into these, which expectedly leads to poor directivity.

 

[JeremyFife]

Moving speakers about just to listen to music gets annoying, and it gives you that difficult requirement that the pair must be able to sit together (3cm).

Have you considered two sets of speakers? A simple but good single lifestyle speaker for YT, like a Sonos or the Google Nest: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/google-nest-audio-speaker-review.58134/
Good sound, and designed for what you want.

Then you can choose a pair of speakers that fit your desk space. The Adam DV3 would be nice, or Kali LP-UNF or even the Edifier MR5 ... all reviewed well

Just a thought

 

[RobL]

Please advise — I’m choosing very small speakers for my computer that will sit next to each other 90% of the time (no more than 3 cm apart) on the windowsill to my left for watching YouTube, and I’ll move them to the desk for listening to music about 10% of the time.
For YouTube, the most important thing for me is that the midrange is clearly audible — preferably a little forward — so that speech is intelligible.
I don’t like strong bass, but I might buy a small subwoofer later, not for heavy bass but to make the sound more “correct.”
My room is very poorly optimized for good sound.
I have a Topping DX3 Pro+ and I plan to replace it with the Topping DX5 (version 2).
I really want a volume control on the speakers and for them to enter sleep mode when there’s no signal and wake up when a signal appears.
They must be white.
I’ve shortlisted the following:

• Ruark Audio MR1 MK2
• Ruark Audio MR1 MK3
• IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
• IK Multimedia iLoud MM Pro
• Adam Audio D3V (they probably won’t work because they can’t be placed so close together)
• Kanto Audio ORA
• Kanto Audio ORA4
• Yamaha HS3

Please tell me which of these would suit my sound preferences best and which ones I shouldn’t consider at all

I have the iLoud MM Pro. Volume control is on the back of the speaker. They do have auto standby. They come with ARC X software which gives you pretty decent room correction. White is available.
Edit: If you’re in Canada, they’re on sale on Amazon right now: https://www.amazon.ca/IK-Multimedia...1704577712-B0DVH5DH2B-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

Doesn’t look like the Ruark’s come in white?

 

[Chanur]

The Audio Smile LBM speakers won’t work — I need at least two out of these three features:

• white finish
• front-mounted volume control
• automatic power-off when there’s no signal and automatic power-on when a signal is present

Bluetooth and digital inputs are not necessary.

As for the sound, my priorities are:

• bass shouldn’t be boomy or over-emphasized
• midrange is the most important — it must be as high-quality as possible for the speaker size and must not be recessed
• treble: I like a clear or slightly elevated presence
• the speakers should be musical with decent detail

From the speakers listed, which ones will sound best for my preferences?
Or, on the other hand, which ones are completely unsuitable in terms of sound and not worth considering at all?

• Ruark Audio MR1 MK2
• Ruark Audio MR1 MK3
• IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
• IK Multimedia iLoud MM Pro
• Adam Audio D3V (they probably won’t work because they can’t be placed so close together)
• Kanto Audio ORA
• Kanto Audio ORA4
• Yamaha HS3

I have Kanto YU6 and they don't auto on but they do auto off/time off. They also come with a remote so the auto on isn't really an issue for me.

 

[Mr. Reeee]

Please advise — I’m choosing very small speakers for my computer

What’s your budget?

 

[Tio]

Edifier MR4 come in white. Since you are using computer, if you could tame room mode using equalizerAPO, and then put high shelf to tame treble, it will sound really good.

 

[Penelinfi]

You can always use equaliser APO and peace gui to tailor a sound preference, even having one for left field or regular placement.

 

[Bleib]

Edifier MR4 come in white. Since you are using computer, if you could tame room mode using equalizerAPO, and then put high shelf to tame treble, it will sound really good.

Erin's audio corner seems to suggest that MR3 is better

Edifier MR3 Desktop Speaker Review

Edifier MR3 Desktop Speaker Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

 

[DSJR]

Erin's audio corner seems to suggest that MR3 is better

Edifier MR3 Desktop Speaker Review

Edifier MR3 Desktop Speaker Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

View attachment 501118

These things are currently ninety quid a pair on UK Amazon.

 

[Mort]

Genelec 8010a? Doesn't get much better for the size and SPL. Not cheap.

 

[Elkerton]

Placing speakers 3 cm apart will not only increase the apparent bass output, which isn't something you want unless you listen at low volume levels, but also increase the baffle area to the detriment of the sound in the middle frequencies. 6", or 15 cm should be the minimum.

 

[Berwhale]

I really want a volume control on the speakers

Why is a volume control necessary when the DX5 II has a pre-amp mode and remembers headphone and line output volumes independently?

Also, why exactly do you want to move the speakers? Correct speaker placement is a significant factor in obtaining a 'good sound', moving the speakers around between desk and windows ledge will make it more difficult to obtain consistent results. This will be especially true if you have hopes of the measuring frequency response and applying correction with the PEQ in the DX5 II.