Looking for Full Range Desktop System

[FrantzM]

Hi

I have what I consider a endgame headphones system: HifiMan HE-6 SEv2 + Topping D10 Balanced + Drop THX-AAA789 Amp + Peace to EQ headphones to Harman. Sound is glorious. No complaint but these days I cannot wear headphones, any headphones ... Not related to tinnitus but skin contact hypersensitivity: most leather, pleather, plastic. etc are not well tolerated... Not a fan of IEM.
I spend a fair amount of time at my desks. I work often with music so .. I am..

Looking for a full range desktop system. I don't listen particularly loud, around 70~75 dB average loudness. I am a fan of adaptive loudness compensation; not an option but a mandate: Any system that I now or will have, must have such. I like Audyssey's Dynamic EQ on music (not on movies, where it boosts the rear channel way too much but .. nobody's perfect). I would like something desktop that provides similar results or functionality. Interestingly, I never felt the need for loudness compensation on headphones...
System must be full range and capable. Don't mind sub, I believe a cheap inexpensive sub can be added to a desktop system to plumb the nether depths..
As for main speakers, I prefer active and I don't want hiss, else I would have gone for the JBL LSR305, with not a second thought.
Budget is up to $2000 for everything. I would be pleased if the solution is a fraction of it, say 1/5 ...
Source to be PC or whatever laptop is being used on the desk. I am all Windows, but that could change, as I recently had a brief stint with Apple and I liked it .. At the time, I was using Volumio on a Raspberry Pi and EQ was from the Volumio/Pi.

Thanks in advance People!

Peace.

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

The lack of response from the good (and knowledgeable) folks here confirms what I suspected: No one’s making an active desktop speaker with the processing you mandate. You’ll have to rely on an outboard unit to accomplish that.

Getting past that, I'm sure you can get some recommendations. I’d recommend the ones I use, but they’re probably not up snuff for your requirements.

I woud recommend using a good interface between the computer and speakers, however, if your computer played though the headphone jack is noisy.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[ehabheikal]

The hard part is adaptive loudness at this price point. I heard rme adi 2 has adaptive loudness but that would be 1200usd just for dac leaving onlyc 800 for speakers.
If you use your pc with peace you can hard code multiple eq for different loudness curves and use them at set db levels if so them 2 neumann kh80 dsp with a studio sub that does the crossover like yamaha hs8s mught be good.

 

[kemmler3D]

True full range with loudness control on a desktop for $2K is tricky but I could almost do it.

Genelec 8030 secondhand, very lucky find: $600
1 decent or 2 so-so subs, also secondhand: $300
RME ADI-2: $1200
------------------------
Total: $2100

If you just deal with loudness via EQAPO presets you will not find it too hard.

If you can't find space for subs, you're going to find full-range on the desktop extremely hard, though.

If you go for open-box KH120II and whatever subs you can find locally secondhand, you will also be in very good shape in the $2K range.

 

[muslhead]

Neumann 120A used - 850
2nd hand sub - 300
Wiim Ultra - 350
PC/Jriver - Assuming you have pc, jriver can be had for $30 on BF

JRiver will do adaptive volume, volume leveling, para eq, tempo / pitch, allowing you complete control of sound via dsp studio

 

[AudioBean]

What's your desktop listening distance? I see some good value in the sale for various Neumanns but the minimum listening distance seems to be 1m (I sit about 80cm) which has me looking at coaxial designs (Genelecs)

 

[JeremyFife]

True full range with loudness control on a desktop for $2K is tricky but I could almost do it.

Genelec 8030 secondhand, very lucky find: $600
1 decent or 2 so-so subs, also secondhand: $300
RME ADI-2: $1200
------------------------
Total: $2100

If you just deal with loudness via EQAPO presets you will not find it too hard.

If you can't find space for subs, you're going to find full-range on the desktop extremely hard, though.

If you go for open-box KH120II and whatever subs you can find locally secondhand, you will also be in very good shape in the $2K range.

Sounds sensible

You can make this cheaper by dealing with Loudness in the PC (Kemmler3D alludes to this) e.g. in JRiver. You don't need the RME then.

If the Sub(s) can manage high/low pass filtering and route the signal to your mains, then you don't need a DAC with any clever sub management and your Topping will be just fine.