Minimal office setup

[jackyy]

Hi, a long-time lurker here.

I have a small, echoey office in an apartment (picture below). The floor is wood. To mask noise I usually play classical music, nature sounds or brown noise from a Bluetooth speaker at low SPL, but I want a proper 2.1 setup while keeping the desk clutter-free (I have a cable tray large enough to fit a couple PSUs). Budget around $3-4k USD total - that should include a UMIK-1 and damping.

Questions:
1. Are there any good active monitors which can connect directly to my PC via USB?
2. How to improve the room reflectivity? - I'd like to keep the minimalist style.
3. What would you get for this room given the budget?

Thanks.

 

[Berwhale]

Welcome to ASR. I suspect 'minimalist style' and 'desk clutter-free' might limit your options. Is this driving the requirement to drive the monitors from USB, rather than a DAC (which would open up many more options).

 

[jackyy]

Thanks for your response!

It's not a strict requirement, I guess I could mount a DAC under the desk along with the sub.

 

[Berwhale]

Have you thought about monitor placement? Are you considering floor stands, desk stands, clamps, etc? Your preferences may influence your monitor choice as some have more mounting options than others. For example. my iLoud MTMs have 3/8" inserts which allowed me to mount them directly on modified monitor arms which are fixed to my height adjustable standing desk...

There are lots of photos of members setups in the Desktop Audio Setup thread if you need ideas: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/your-desktop-audio-setup.12057/

 

[DVDdoug]

Are there any good active monitors which can connect directly to my PC via USB?

Or you can use the analog speaker/headphone output on your computer. Usually the quality is fine. (Occasionally you can have noise issues.)

But the subwoofer will have to be handled in analog. Many subwoofers have a built-in pass-through crossover which will filter the bass out of the signal to the main speakers.

Or the small Apple Dongle can be used as a DAC if you don't want/need balanced connections* or other features. It also does NOT have a separate subwoofer output.

How to improve the room reflectivity? - I'd like to keep the minimalist style.

The more of the hard surfaces you cover the more absorption. Almost anything will help including hanging decorative rugs on the walls, etc. (I'm guessing you don't want rugs on the floor.)

But rugs or "regular" acoustic panels don't help with bass problems. Bass-treatment requires bass traps. There are "thin" membrane bass traps like the ones sold by RealTraps, or more bulky ones that probably won't be practical for you. And either way they need to cover significant wall area and they aren't cheap. Ethan Winer (the owner, or one of the owners of RealTraps) has an article about building your own bass traps, Note that bass traps absorb the waves that would otherwise be reflected and this smooths both the bumps and dips in the frequency response. (Bass traps are rare in home setups unless you have a home studio where you are producing music.)



* You don't need balanced connections unless you have ground-loop noise, or other noise that can be eliminated with balanced connections. (Of course there is some noise it doesn't prevent, including any noise generated in the active speakers themselves.) But it's extra insurance and you budget does allow it.

 

[pablolie]

Or you can use the analog speaker/headphone output on your computer. Usually the quality is fine. (Occasionally you can have noise issues.)

But the subwoofer will have to be handled in analog. Many subwoofers have a built-in pass-through crossover which will filter the bass out of the signal to the main speakers.

Or the small Apple Dongle can be used as a DAC if you don't want/need balanced connections* or other features. It also does NOT have a separate subwoofer output.


The more of the hard surfaces you cover the more absorption. Almost anything will help including hanging decorative rugs on the walls, etc. (I'm guessing you don't want rugs on the floor.)

But rugs or "regular" acoustic panels don't help with bass problems. Bass-treatment requires bass traps. There are "thin" membrane bass traps like the ones sold by RealTraps, or more bulky ones that probably won't be practical for you. And either way they need to cover significant wall area and they aren't cheap. Ethan Winer (the owner, or one of the owners of RealTraps) has an article about building your own bass traps, Note that bass traps absorb the waves that would otherwise be reflected and this smooths both the bumps and dips in the frequency response. (Bass traps are rare in home setups unless you have a home studio where you are producing music.)



* You don't need balanced connections unless you have ground-loop noise, or other noise that can be eliminated with balanced connections. (Of course there is some noise it doesn't prevent, including any noise generated in the active speakers themselves.) But it's extra insurance and you budget does allow it.

Also, many active speakers that are very compact (and therefore great of desktop duty) offer a USB interface, have an internal DAC and also offer a sub output. I also want a very good headphone amp, since I switch to headphones very often when I work.

I'll have to reconsider my corporate office setup, since as of last week we all lost our offices and cubes in favor of large open "collaboration space" (i.e. get to the office very early all you will end up in a sucky place - but at least it's only 1-2 a week). Probably means Bluetooth in-ears with NC and good music quality as well as the ability to pick up my voice.

 

[jackyy]

fixed to my height adjustable standing desk...

Sick setup, thanks for the inspiration. I will probably want to do the same.

built-in pass-through crossover

Yep, I was definitely hoping that either the monitors or the sub will take care of crossover.

Apple Dongle

I use the Apple dongle in a few places already. Didn't realize I can get jack to XLR cables though. That solves the DAC issue I believe.

any noise generated in the active speakers themselves

Thanks for reminding - I'm very sensitive to noise so will need to care to get ones that don't hiss audibly.

significant wall area

I wonder if I could get away with careful measurements and equalization and skipping on treating the room anyhow?

Bluetooth in-ears with NC

I have Bose QC45, Sony XM4 headphones and XM5 earbuds and honestly as much as I love ANC for planes and busy roads, I don't think it helps much with voices. Playing something on them helps a lot though.

 

[pablolie]

....
I have Bose QC45, Sony XM4 headphones and XM5 earbuds and honestly as much as I love ANC for planes and busy roads, I don't think it helps much with voices. Playing something on them helps a lot though.

I had two pairs of XM4. They were useless in even very moderately environments when it came to people hearing what I said. Completely so. Consuming audio was good, very good SQ. Then the well-published battery issues hit them hard. No more Sony for me. I replaced them with much cheaper Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro buds, and they are 10x better than the XM4. But I want to explore something a bit more exclusive yet it also would have to be noticeable better - which hasn't been the case thus far.

No ANC in my home environment, though.

 

[somebodyelse]

I wonder if I could get away with careful measurements and equalization and skipping on treating the room anyhow?

Do you have a 3d printer? If so have a look at some of the metamaterial absorber papers - they're a lot thinner than traditional absorbers.

 

[Berwhale]

Do you have a 3d printer? If so have a look at some of the metamaterial absorber papers - they're a lot thinner than traditional absorbers.

But a 3D printed QRD would look so pretty! https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/3d-printing-a-qrd-n53-diffuser.54930/

 

[jackyy]

I wish I had one - these look really cool, though probably a nightmare to keep dust-free.

For now, I plan to go with:
* Neumann KH 12 II monitors
* MA 1 calibration mic
* Connections via mini-jack → 2× XLR (unbalanced), Apple dongle, and USB-A to USB-C adapter


Depending on how that goes, I might add:
* a proper monitor arm (like @Berwhale’s)
* KH 750 DSP sub
* some acoustic panels
* possibly corner bass traps


Does this plan sound reasonable? Thanks.

 

[Berwhale]

I wish I had one - these look really cool, though probably a nightmare to keep dust-free.

For now, I plan to go with:
* Neumann KH 12 II monitors
* MA 1 calibration mic
* Connections via mini-jack → 2× XLR (unbalanced), Apple dongle, and USB-A to USB-C adapter


Depending on how that goes, I might add:
* a proper monitor arm (like @Berwhale’s)
* KH 750 DSP sub
* some acoustic panels
* possibly corner bass traps


Does this plan sound reasonable? Thanks.

The Neumann's are a great start. Given that the Neumann's have SPDIF inputs, i'd be tempted to add a USB to SPDIF converter like the Douk U2 (or similar XMOS XU208 solution) to avoid unnecessary DA/AD conversions: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobsound-Converter-Digital-Interface-TOSLINK-Black/dp/B072BWTCL9

If you are using a PC and it has an SPDIF header on the motherboard, then a simple SPDIF bracket will do the same job. I've used this one in the past... https://www.amazon.co.uk/LiebeWH-OutPlate-Motherboard-Electrical-Components-default/dp/B08FTDMJKF

Also, make sure you include some sort of stand (or foams) to get the tweeters to (or pointed at) ear height. This will also help reduce the sound reflections off your desktop (assuming you are placing them on or near your desktop). The only reason my iLoud MTMs are mounted so high is because the tweeter (the T in MTM) is in the middle of the monitor.

 

[jackyy]

Not sure if it has the header but my mini itx case won't fit this bracket. Thanks for the suggestion though.

I'd definitely go for the digital connection but not sure how this would work. My idea is:

PC -> dongle -> L speaker -> SPDIF cable -> R speaker

How would the speakers know which is left and which is right? They'd both receive both channels here i believe.

 

[PristineSound]

Questions:
1. Are there any good active monitors which can connect directly to my PC via USB?
2. How to improve the room reflectivity? - I'd like to keep the minimalist style.
3. What would you get for this room given the budget?

Thanks.

Neumann KH-120 II DSP with any Topping or SMSL DAC that is measured by Amir here.

Then use https://www.acoustimac.com/ or https://www.atsacoustics.com/ for some (relatively) affordable absorption panels. With a room of this size, you will benefit from ticker panels.

You should easily come in within $3,500.

 

[Berwhale]

Not sure if it has the header but my mini itx case won't fit this bracket. Thanks for the suggestion though.

I'd definitely go for the digital connection but not sure how this would work. My idea is:

PC -> dongle -> L speaker -> SPDIF cable -> R speaker

How would the speakers know which is left and which is right? They'd both receive both channels here i believe.

They are 'daisy chained'...

From the KH120 II manual.

 

[somebodyelse]

Presumably if the switch is set to 'Network' rather than 'Local' you select L/R in software as for other switches marked with *

 

[Berwhale]

Whilst I remember, the SMSL PO100 (not PRO or AK version) is cheaper and I think probably better than the Douk U2 I linked to above (newer XMOS chip). Review and measurements here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ak-measurements-digital-interfaces-dac.40483/

 

[jackyy]

Many thanks, Berwhale. I already got the Douk U2 - I guess the difference isn’t big enough to bother returning it, right?

 

[Berwhale]

Many thanks, Berwhale. I already got the Douk U2 - I guess the difference isn’t big enough to bother returning it, right?

No, the U2 should be fine.