Desktop/PC 2.0/2.1 setup for a nearfield listening in a small room

[Cloud]

Hi all!

I’m looking for advice on choosing the best desktop speaker setup for a small room and I’d really appreciate some recommendations from you.

Quick context:

• Listening distance: ~0.8-1.5m (2.6-5.0ft)
• Small apartment room (neighbors upstairs and downstairs)
• Casual listening (music, games, movies)
• Built-in room EQ required
• Wide vertical and horizontal directivity, as I like to move up and down on a chair a lot
• Low hiss
• Max budget: ~$3500 (EDIT: if we include subwoofer)
• I'm located in the EU/Poland

Current setup (8 years old):

• Yamaha R-N803D amplifier
• Magnat Humidor (https://magnathifimuseum.wordpress.com/2017/08/28/humidor/)

Room:

• 2.8m x 4.0m (9.2ft x 13.1ft)
• Untreated

Fast sketch of the room:

As you can see, I'm currently using passive speakers, but for the new setup I’d like to switch to active monitors. My speakers lack good bass, which is why I’m considering adding a subwoofer.

Initially, I was thinking about buying KH80/120II + KH750 and MA1 (that's where the $3500 budget comes from) but I've read quite "a lot" of posts about their higher than expected failure rates and now I’m not sure whether the risk is worth it.
Maybe a more budget-friendly option would be something like the iLoud Micro Monitor Pro + iLoud Sub (or other speakers with wide directivity, since the iLoud Sub could EQ them). Or maybe I should just get the KH120II first and buy a sub later?
What about going with larger speakers and skipping the sub entirely to avoid disturbing my neighbors (although I usually listen at moderate volumes)? - that option could require buying even larger desk, though.
Other setup recommendations are also very welcome.

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

 

[Ruediger]

I would def. add a subwoofer. Nothing big, closed case. You will have more from your desktop speakers when they don't need to do what they are not that good at. And overall sound in the whole room will be on another level.

The Yamaha is a nice amp. But from your text I take it you want to move away from the big box. And also need room correction / dsp options.

How do you like the Magnat speakers? Did you consider adding a small all-in-one box like a WiiM amp Ultra and keep them?

 

[jorjimusic]

Adding a subwoofer to such a small and untreated room, especially in the orientation shown in the pictures, can be very tricky (standing waves, room modes). And DSP/EQ can smooth things out a bit but can't fully remedy the issues caused by the room itself.
If you plan to EQ out all super-low frequencies to avoid these issues, then what is to point in the first place of getting a subwoofer?
Small monitors like the iLoud micros unfortunately cannot give you the horizontal/vertical directivity that you are looking for.
Why not go with larger monitors for starters (KH120 II) see how you like the sound and decide later for a subwoofer? The KH120s can go pretty low at 40hz.. anything lower than that may cause a lot of rumble and boominess in your room.. or even disturb your neighbours even at mid-level volumes.
KH120s will already be a massive improvement from your Magnets. Live with them for a bit, see how you like it.
If you want even more bass then go ahead with a subwoofer purchase in the future, but be mindful of that issues that this might bring..

 

[howard416]

Used 8331A and then add a subwoofer when you can afford it later? Lot of relatively affordable DACs that come with parametric EQ built-in now.

The Neumann options perform well but the vertical directivity is not great.

Alternately the LS50 Meta is cheaper. Still would need separate EQ and also is a passive solution.

 

[Paul7777x]

I suggest a pair of these.

A200

Buchardt A200 Active Wireless Speakers

buchardtaudio.com

And one of these.

SUB10

Our new Subwoofer with WiSA for wireless use with our active speakers, as well as your standard wired connections for passive systems. It has Bluetooth for app-controlled DSP functions like Room Correction, Manual EQ, variable LLE slider, and more.

buchardtaudio.com

Cardioid actives and a powerful, discrete sub.

And room correction too. I can’t think of anything better for your cash or for a nearfield hifi.

If you decide to get a streamer/preamp with room correction (ie, a Wiim) then you could get a less expensive sub.

 

[Berwhale]

If I had the space and didn't have this setup already, I would go for the Neumann KH 120 II and sub. As it is, I have iLoud MTMs (Mk.1) with a Presonus Sub8 (also Mk.1 without Bluetooth). I have a height adjustable standing desk, so the setup needs to accommodate this. The MTMs are on modified monitor arms and raising the tweeters lets me fit an 18.4" 4K display under the right-hand monitor and keep the setup symmetrical around my 34" UWQHD display. The MTMs and Sub8 are fed from the Topping DX5 II using a Y-splitter cable (avoiding the noisy crossover in the Sub8). Desk is 1.5m wide. System is measured and corrections calculated in REW and PEQ is applied via the DX5 II.

 

[Nico10]

I have the iLoud Monitor Micro (non-pro) and the iLoud Sub. For near-field audio, they're more than adequate. The ArcX on the sub works perfectly for both the sub and the iLoud Micro. The sub reaches 25Hz, and I haven't measured the SPL, but for me, that's more than enough. Considering the price (I don't know what it's like worldwide, but I understand that of the options listed, it's the cheapest monitor and sub combo), they're a good choice.

 

[CDMC]

Not about the speakers, but given the proximity of your right speaker to the wall, I would put an absorber at the first reflection point.

 

[Cloud]

The Yamaha is a nice amp. But from your text I take it you want to move away from the big box. And also need room correction / dsp options.

How do you like the Magnat speakers? Did you consider adding a small all-in-one box like a WiiM amp Ultra and keep them?

Yup, I’d like to get something smaller
I like my current speakers, but I’m not overly attached to them (and TBH, nowadays I don’t really like how they look).

KH120s will already be a massive improvement from your Magnets. Live with them for a bit, see how you like it.
If you want even more bass then go ahead with a subwoofer purchase in the future, but be mindful of that issues that this might bring..

That was one of my initial ideas. In my country, I can get 2x Micro Monitor Pro + iLoud Sub for a lower price than 2x KH120 II, though - that's why I'm researching what to buy.

Used 8331A and then add a subwoofer when you can afford it later? Lot of relatively affordable DACs that come with parametric EQ built-in now.

Unfortunately, it's out of my budget, as the $3500 price includes the subwoofer.

I suggest a pair of these.

A200

Buchardt A200 Active Wireless Speakers

buchardtaudio.com

That's out of my budget too (and it's still in the pre-order phase), but they are gorgeous speakers!

Not about the speakers, but given the proximity of your right speaker to the wall, I would put an absorber at the first reflection point.

Good point! I think I could move my desk farther away or put up an absorber, just as you said.

 

[LTig]

My other choice is Genelec 8x20/8x30 with Neumann KH750. I have this combo with the 8020 and it sounds great.

 

[LTig]

That was one of my initial ideas. In my country, I can get 2x Micro Monitor Pro + iLoud Sub for a lower price than 2x KH120 II, though - that's why I'm researching what to buy.

Disclaimer: What follows is just a subjective opinion, by someone who owns K&H O300D and Genelec 8020a!

A few days ago I auditioned a few studio monitors in the local pro shop just for fun:

• Neumann KH120II, KH150, KH310,
• Genelec 8030,
• Kali Audio IN-8 2nd Wave,
• iLoud MTM MKII and Micro Monitor.

The Neumanns sounded best to me and very similar, the Genelec a very close second. Both iLouds were at the end of my preference list - not that they were bad, but I would always choose Neumann or Genelec over them.

With pop and rock music the Kali made an impressive sound, but with classical music they could not keep up with the Neumanns, in both tonal balance and believable sound stage.

 

[Cloud]

The Neumanns sounded best to me and very similar, the Genelec a very close second. Both iLouds were at the end of my preference list - not that they were bad, but I would always choose Neumann or Genelec over them.

I was dead set on the KH 120 II with MA 1 and the Topping E2x2 OTG as the audio interface for the EQ mic and PC connection, but it's expensive, and I'm a little worried about the failure rates mentioned in other forum threads. Do you think there's any merit to those concerns?

 

[LTig]

I was dead set on the KH 120 II with MA 1 and the Topping E2x2 OTG as the audio interface for the EQ mic and PC connection, but it's expensive, and I'm a little worried about the failure rates mentioned in other forum threads. Do you think there's any merit to those concerns?

Probably. Then just go for Genelec 8x30 and the matching sub 7x50. Not much different in sound, but surely future proof.

 

[Nico10]

Descarga de responsabilidad: Lo que sigue es solo una opinión subjetiva de alguien que posee un K&H O300D y un Genelec 8020a.

Hace unos días, probé algunos monitores de estudio en la tienda especializada local, simplemente por diversión:

• Neumann KH120II, KH150, KH310,
• Genelec 8030,
• Kali Audio IN-8 2ª generación,
• iLoud MTM MKII y Micro Monitor.

Los Neumann me parecieron los mejores y muy similares, seguidos muy de cerca por los Genelec. Ambos iLoud estaban al final de mi lista de preferencias; No es que fueran malos, pero siempre elegiría Neumann o Genelec antes que ellos.

Con la música pop y rock, los Kali ofrecían un sonido impresionante, pero con la música clásica no podían competir con los Neumann, ni en equilibrio tonal ni en la verosimilitud de la escena sonora.

I had the Genelec 8030s and I thought they were better than the iLoud Micro, but that had to be the case because there's a significant price difference between them.

Of the ones you mentioned:
IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII $599.99 USD per pair, with microphone included
Kali Audio IN-8 $998.00 USD per pair
Neumann KH 120 II $949.00 USD per unit
Neumann KH 150 $1,699.00 USD per unit
Genelec 8030C $875.00 USD per unit

We're talking about a very significant price difference.

The IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor Pro + iLoud Sub $1,099.99 USD would be similar to the Kali IN-8, with the advantage of having a 2.1 system, microphone, and ArcX system.

Something similar from Genelec would be the:

Genelec 8020D Studio Monitor + Genelec 7050C $3,099.99 USD (approximately)

Three times more, but I think it has better sound. While equalization is a crucial factor to consider, especially in small, untreated spaces, Genelec speakers would require external equalization.

 

[Cloud]

I'm almost sure I'll be going with a pair of KH120 II in white and the MA 1. In a couple of months, I can add a KH750.

Will the Topping E2x2 OTG be a good choice as an audio interface for the measurement microphone and PC connection, or should I go with something else?