Need help picking new desktop speakers (~ €500 budget)

[artindahouse]

Hello everyone!

I could use your help… I’m looking for new speakers for my desk (180 cm wide and 80 cm deep, so there’s plenty of space). Budget is around €500, but I’m flexible if something great costs a bit more.

I mainly use them for listening to music and watching movies, but I also occasionally do audio recordings for podcasts. My audio interface is a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen

Up until now, I’ve been using the KRK Rokit RP5 G4, which I liked quite a bit. However, one of the speakers has failed after a few years, so I’m looking for something new — ideally with even better sound quality.

I’m currently testing the Edifier MR5, but I have to say I’m not really impressed; they actually sound worse than my old KRKs. I also tried the Adam Audio T5V once, but they produced too much hiss when idle — since my room is very quiet and I sit only about 80 cm away, that’s a dealbreaker for me.

After doing some research, these models keep coming up as good options:

• Adam Audio D3V
• Kali Audio LP-6
• Kali Audio LP-UNF
• Kali Audio IN-5

What would you recommend for me? Any other suggestions?

Thanks a lot in advance for your help

Best regards from Germany

 

[AnalogSteph]

For clarification:

My audio interface is a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2.

Which generation? I have a hunch that it may be a gen 2 or gen 3. The 1st gen is around a decade old now and not super common.

Up until now, I’ve been using the KRK Rokit G5, which I liked quite a bit. However, one of the speakers has failed after a few years, so I’m looking for something new — ideally with even better sound quality.

What exactly do you mean by a "G5"? It couldn't be any of the current RPx G5 models, which have only been on the market for little more than a year and a half.

Some older Rokit models (like the gen 2s) are routinely plagued by corrosive "killer glue". Generally a fairly easy fix if you know what you're doing.

What would you recommend for me? Any other suggestions?

I'd strike your first 3 options, not really an upgrade.

IN-5 seems worth considering, definitely decent.

I'd suggest biting the bullet and looking out for a pair of used Neumann KH120A or Genelec 8030B/C (the former has lower noise). Should be doable without entirely nuking the budget. Neumanns are reasonably common in Germany. (I might also look for others like the Focal Shape 50/65 or Dynaudio LYD-5.)

 

[artindahouse]

For clarification:

Which generation? I have a hunch that it may be a gen 2 or gen 3. The 1st gen is around a decade old now and not super common.

What exactly do you mean by a "G5"? It couldn't be any of the current RPx G5 models, which have only been on the market for little more than a year and a half.

Some older Rokit models (like the gen 2s) are routinely plagued by corrosive "killer glue". Generally a fairly easy fix if you know what you're doing.

I'd strike your first 3 options, not really an upgrade.

IN-5 seems worth considering, definitely decent.

I'd suggest biting the bullet and looking out for a pair of used Neumann KH120A or Genelec 8030B/C (the former has lower noise). Should be doable without entirely nuking the budget. Neumanns are reasonably common in Germany. (I might also look for others like the Focal Shape 50/65 or Dynaudio LYD-5.)

Thanks for your reply and your time!
I edited my Post. I had an KRK Rokit RP5 G4 Model and the Scarlet Gen3. They sounded ok for me, but now, I want something else.

I read a lot about the Kali LP-6, that they are so good - for Music Listening too. Don't know if there is a big difference between them and the Kali IN-5. THe Neumann KH120A is a little too expensive, I think. For The Focal Shape and Dynaudio, I will have a look!

 

[Head_Unit]

I read a lot about the Kali LP-6, that they are so good

Yeah they do seem so. Even near field I'd want to stick with the larger woofers. As a loudspeaker engineer who hasn't heard most of these models, my want list is at least 6.5" and a heavily waveguided tweeter if not 3-way (still with a waveguided tweeter). Or Genelec, those always sound good. Due to price on a desk I might violate my rule and do 5"-I'm considering that for next to a TV...

 

[AnalogSteph]

I read a lot about the Kali LP-6, that they are so good - for Music Listening too. Don't know if there is a big difference between them and the Kali IN-5.

Are you a midrange person? The IN-5 is going to be substantially cleaner there at higher levels, on account of being a 3-way (along with Kali's woofers having potato-level electrical nonlinearity, they're some of the worst I know in that regard). Dispersion also is more even there (the LP-6 suffers from some minor irregularities from port resonances and whatnot, which are always going to be more of a problem in a 2-way due to the woofer operating much higher up in frequency).
Now the coax results in some treble quirks, so you want to listen to it slightly off-axis. And while inherent bass output capability should be relatively similar, the electronic limiter would come in somewhat earlier.

Erin has measured both:

Kali Audio IN-5 3-Way Studio Monitor Review

Kali Audio IN-5 3-Way Studio Monitor Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Kali Audio LP-6v2 (Second Wave) 2-Way Studio Monitor Review

Kali Audio LP-6v2 2-Way Studio Monitor Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

The substantial compression in the 500-2k area in the LP-6v2's response linearity graph is a direct result of poor electrical nonlinearity in its woofer. This is a speaker that is likely to "fall apart" in the midrange first.

The LP-6's popularity is a testament to the importance of basic response linearity and dispersion. I guess most people don't listen to sine test tones or other material that would make the failings in the nonlinearity department particularly obvious, or not at critical levels anyway.

The KH120A class is a different world in this regard. I tried to upset my old K+H O110s (predecessors to the KH120A) with multitone bass once, no dice. My ears were protesting first. Granted, I could have a shirt made that says "The PA is 20 dB too loud", but still.