• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

New desktop monitors: my shortlist is too long

RHO

Major Contributor
Joined
Nov 20, 2020
Messages
1,318
Likes
1,124
Location
Belgium
I want to replace my passive desktop speakers with active ones. There are multiple reasons why I want to do this. I've read quite a bit about what my options are and for me this will be the most convenient solution.
I've put together a "short list" of speakers I'm interested in. But I suffer from severe analysis paralysis. (with about any decision I need to make in my life :oops:)
So to help me out a little I would like you to tell me which ones from the list you would NOT advise me to buy. (bad build quality, reliability issues, would not work in my set-up because something I overlooked, ...) Please don't advise me to get different ones than the ones in my list. This would only aggravate the situation. Man, do I have first world problems ... :rolleyes:
So, this list is this (+ some reasons I think I would better pick a different one from my list :facepalm:)
1) Adam Audio T5V (BR in the back, too bright: bump in high freq., reports of noticeable hiss)
2) Focal Alpha 50 Evo (No reliable NFS data, upper midrange issues reported on 65 Evo, too wide for my desk-space?)
3) KRK Rokit RP5 gen.5 (No NFS data = what's different from gen.4 in this regard? gen.4 had high distortion @96dB)
4) Kali Audio LP6 mk2 (Too large, mk1 had much higher distortion than Adam T5V)
5) Adam Audio T7V (a bit on the larger side, BR in the back)

I have a KRK S10.4 sub. So bass extension is not a priority.
I'm planning on getting the IK Multimedia ARC studio for room correction. But the better from the start the better work the ARC can do.
I have noticed that, in my set-up, having the bass reflex in the back makes upper bass sound more boomy. But I haven't had the chance to try it out with the x-over in the KRK sub. So it could be a non-issue once the main speakers are connected via the balanced out on the sub (x-over does not seem to work on the rca outputs).

Here's a picture of the set-up. (it has had some updates, but nothing relevant to my question here)
index.php

The speakers in the picture are HxWxD:360 x 200 x 312 (mm). I would like to go smaller, or certainly not bigger (maybe in 1 dimension)
 
I wouldn't buy any of them, I'd grab some cheap amps and a DSP unit and just convert the bromo to active. Drivers in the bromo and your build quality is several orders above everything you've listed, of course this doesn't always translate to better sound.

I've used a few of the monitors you've listed, they all had issues that bugged me. Focal's inverted dome tweeter never sounds right to me. Kali's are probably the most tonally balanced out of the bunch, they sound correct out of the box.

Are you running any corrective EQ at the moment? If not by god do it, desk placement is the worst and needs some heavy EQ most of the time. Since your source is a computer you could just generate some of your filters with REW and toss them into EQ APO. It's free and better than any hardware, but you have to know what you're doing compared to an automated suite.
 
Due to health issues I can't build DIY speakers anymore. So that's no option.

I can run EQ on some of the sources but on the one that I will use most I can not install any software (work laptop = stream music in browser). That's why I was planning on the IK ARC. I can program the box on my private PC and run it without having a PC connected.
Reasons why I want to go active monitors:
- The Bromo's are now in the living room
- Current speakers on my desk are about 15 years old
- channel imbalance in the amp?
- less cable clutter on the desk
- amp has SE in only -> digital noise from PC is BAD!
- IK Multimedia ARC Studio works best when whole chain is balanced. => ARC without PC is a must
 
I have noticed that, in my set-up, having the bass reflex in the back makes upper bass sound more boomy.
I don't think that the boomy upper bass is caused by the port being at the back. It's rather the location close to wall/ceiling (which work like a horn).

I second @Ktacos advice: get yourself a UMIK-1 and REW and measure. EQ can fix this if you know the parameters. It also helps to integrate the sub.
 
My desktop system is a pair of Vanatoo T0 and a sub. I think it sounds amazing, especially the imaging.
 
Erin really liked the Kali Audio LP6 mk2: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/kali_lp-6v2/

He also like the smaller LP-UNF: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/kali_lp_unf/

Regarding room correction, I have an IK Multimedia ARC Studio and I'm very pleased with it. There's a whole thread about it here:

 
  • Like
Reactions: RHO
Start with room correction. You may quite well stay the current speakers after you hear the results. Upgrading speakers would give you significantly less improvement than a good RC.
 
I don't think that the boomy upper bass is caused by the port being at the back. It's rather the location close to wall/ceiling (which work like a horn).

I second @Ktacos advice: get yourself a UMIK-1 and REW and measure. EQ can fix this if you know the parameters. It also helps to integrate the sub.
I cannot run REW. I cannot install ANY software on the laptop I will use most of the time.
I can run REW on my private PC and laptop, but that will not help when I'm working.
I already have a UMIK-1.
In time I will set it up so I can stream music from my desktop PC while working and the private laptop will become obsolete. And still I will have sources that will need ARC without using a PC.
But that for the future.
Now, I want active monitors to fix some of the current issues.
 
Erin really liked the Kali Audio LP6 mk2: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/kali_lp-6v2/

He also like the smaller LP-UNF: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/kali_lp_unf/

Regarding room correction, I have an IK Multimedia ARC Studio and I'm very pleased with it. There's a whole thread about it here:

I have been reading your posts in that topic. :)

Yes, I already watched and read Erins reviews of the Kali speakers. That's why the LP-6 v2 is in my list. I was thinking about the Kali In-5 too, but they are just too big. The Bromo ( in the picture) is already quite bulky next to the screen. I now have somewhat smaller speakers which I like a little bit more.
I've been comparing my different options on Spinorama. But not all have (reliable) data on there.
 
I cannot run REW. I cannot install ANY software on the laptop I will use most of the time.
I can run REW on my private PC and laptop, but that will not help when I'm working.
I already have a UMIK-1.
In time I will set it up so I can stream music from my desktop PC while working and the private laptop will become obsolete. And still I will have sources that will need ARC without using a PC.
But that for the future.
Now, I want active monitors to fix some of the current issues.
This will get pricey:
- Neumann KH80 or KH120mk2 with MA1
- Genelec 8320 or 8330 with GLM
 
Start with room correction. You may quite well stay the current speakers after you hear the results. Upgrading speakers would give you significantly less improvement than a good RC.
No I will not stay with the current speakers. A decent amp will cost me just the same if not more than the active speakers I suggest.
I cannot run the PC right now. The digital noise is just horrendous. So the first step is to get the analog signal chain balanced, so I hopefully can get rid of the digital noise. (no a USB isolator will not help in this situation) Active monitors are the most convenient and budget friendly solution in this case.
Then I will add ARC.
I know ARC will help a lot. I have thought this trough.

It seems that eveybody doubts that I have even spent 1 minute thinking about this.
Anyone notice the "analysis paralysis" in the opening post? How much do you think I have been occupying myself with this over the past weeks?
I have considered everything more than you would think healthy. You're not telling me anything new with REW and EQ and whatever.
I thought my question was clear and why I asked it.
 
I have two (2) ADAM systems, one with T5Vs, one with T7Vs, and both with T10S subwoofers. I do not have any hiss with either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RHO
It seems that eveybody doubts that I have even spent 1 minute thinking about this.
Actually I think you made your homework since you arrived at that very narrow list of speakers. I just thought that since you want RC anyways, you may just spare the money for new speakers since it may not be important after RC applied.
 
This will get pricey:
- Neumann KH80 or KH120mk2 with MA1
- Genelec 8320 or 8330 with GLM
This will not work better then cheaper monitors and IK ARC since the IK ARC will be in the signal chain INCLUDING the subwoofer. GLM = no. MA1 = no.
Like I said. I have been thinking about all this.
 
I have two (2) ADAM systems, one with T5Vs, one with T7Vs, and both with T10S subwoofers. I do not have any hiss with either.
How far away are you from the speakers?
As you can see in the picture, I'm very near-field.
 
Actually I think you made your homework since you arrived at that very narrow list of speakers. I just thought that since you want RC anyways, you may just spare the money for new speakers since it may not be important after RC applied.
ARC is not the main issue. It's that with my current setup there is a serieus problem with digital noise entering the signal path. Going fully balanced in the analog signal path should solve this issue.
I could get an amp with balanced inputs. I have considered this. But I also want to declutter the cable mess on the desk a little. So I decided to go for active monitors.
I have considered more expensive ones (like Genelec 8030C, Neumann KH-80 DSP) but I don't know if they are worth it considering I will add stand alone ARC later.
 
How far away are you from the speakers?
As you can see in the picture, I'm very near-field.
I am within arms of the T5Vs reach when I am sitting my desk chair.

The T7V system is in my shop where I am usually much farther away, but I have gotten very close to the T7Vs for the sole purpose of listening for hiss and did not hear any.

I will turn 69 next month. It is possible that there is hiss that is beyond my effective hearing range.
 
Last edited:
I am within arms of the T5Vs reach when I am sitting my desk chair.

The T7V system is in my shop where I am usually much farther away, but I have gotten very close to the T7Vs for the sole purpose of listening for hiss and did not hear any.

I will turn 69 next month. It is possible that there is hiss that is beyond my effective hearing range.
Thank you for the input. This helps.
 
ARC is not the main issue. It's that with my current setup there is a serieus problem with digital noise entering the signal path. Going fully balanced in the analog signal path should solve this issue.
I could get an amp with balanced inputs. I have considered this. But I also want to declutter the cable mess on the desk a little. So I decided to go for active monitors.
I have considered more expensive ones (like Genelec 8030C, Neumann KH-80 DSP) but I don't know if they are worth it considering I will add stand alone ARC later.
For me active in near field (tried 3 non-high end but well reviewed alternatives) all had hiss that was not acceptable at the levels and distance I listen so I returned to passive (KEF R3) with virtually zero hiss, that was total deal breaker for me. Hope you'll have more luck. I understand your issue with leakage of noise, had this also with my hp amp, subtle but not acceptable so I feel for you there :)
 
Back
Top Bottom