Newcomer to speakers feeling overwhelmed, looking for a desktop setup in my budget that doesn't sound awful

[Grab]

Hey everyone, I'll keep this as short as possible:

I'm a headphone vet (using the term loosely) looking to switch to a bookshelf/desktop speakers. I love the sound signature of my HE500s, but my neck just won't let me wear them for any length of time. My DAC is pretty pitiful, and obviously my headphone amps are no good here, so I'm needing pretty much a whole system. Listening will be done out of my PC->DAC via USB ideally. My budget is ~1500$, but I can stretch it a little if need.

Apologies if this isn't the right forum for this but it seemed the closest thing to the right place.

 

[Matias]

Welcome to ASR.

You could start with Kali LP6 V2 and a DAC with volume control like a Topping E50. Or more expensive I suggest Neumann KH 80 DSP.

But if you are from headphones also consider IEMs, no weight and the current entry levels are great. Try 7Hz Salnotes Zero (20 usd), Truthears Zero (50 usd), etc.

 

[stunta]

I have the Genelec 8030c (ASR review here) as my desktop computer speakers. Dac is Topping DX7s (USB input, rotary volume control, headphone outputs, XLR outputs). I love it - clean, simple, and sounds great. The DX7s might be discontinued, but ASR has a long list of similar DACs that measure well.

I basically stick to gear Amir measures and recommends - works out well.

 

[radix]

As mentioned, the Kali LP6 v2 seem well-liked. The JBL 305P and 306P are also good. You need to budget for the DAC. The Topping EX5 has a volume control knob plus headphones plus XLR balanced out. You also need to budget for a sub. You could go with something like an SVS SB-1000 for $399-$499 from their outlet shop. The SB-1000 is the previous model, but it does have a built-in 80 Hz high-pass filter on the line level out to feed your monitors. If you go with the current model (SB-1000 Pro, $600), there is no lowpass filter.

So, that's something like JBL 305P $400, EX5 $350, SVS SB-1000 $400 = $1,150, or $1350 with SVS SB-1000 Pro.

The EX5 can drive both the XLR and RCA outputs at the same time, so you could wire monitors off XLR and sub off RCA without needing to wire the speakers through the sub. This is useful if you plan on using a wireless sub extender. Though you could just use Y adapters too.

I've not listened to either the Kali or JBL, i'm just repeating what I've seen. I have personally been looking for a budget studio monitor setup, and think I'll go with the 305 mk II or 306 mk II.

If you want to only use PC volume control or IR remote, you could get a different DAC. The EX5 is if you want a physical control.

 

[Chrispy]

Hey everyone, I'll keep this as short as possible:

I'm a headphone vet (using the term loosely) looking to switch to a bookshelf/desktop speakers. I love the sound signature of my HE500s, but my neck just won't let me wear them for any length of time. My DAC is pretty pitiful, and obviously my headphone amps are no good here, so I'm needing pretty much a whole system. Listening will be done out of my PC->DAC via USB ideally. My budget is ~1500$, but I can stretch it a little if need.

Apologies if this isn't the right forum for this but it seemed the closest thing to the right place.

Why do you think your dac is "pitiful"? What is it?

 

[Grab]

Why do you think your dac is "pitiful"? What is it?

Carat-PERIDOT

2008 July, New USB DAC is coming from Styleaudio... CARAT-PERIDOT 24bit, 192KHz / 1.5ppm TCXO / 300 ohm Headphone accepted CARAT-PERIDOT is a higher model of CARAT-HD1V and the first model of JEWEL series which is premium line of Styleaudio....

styleaudio.typepad.com

It's this but with the top cut out and replaced with a piece of gorilla tape.

 

[GD Fan]

Don't forget to budget a little bit for stands to get your new speakers up off the surface of the desk.

 

[Chrispy]

Carat-PERIDOT

2008 July, New USB DAC is coming from Styleaudio... CARAT-PERIDOT 24bit, 192KHz / 1.5ppm TCXO / 300 ohm Headphone accepted CARAT-PERIDOT is a higher model of CARAT-HD1V and the first model of JEWEL series which is premium line of Styleaudio....

styleaudio.typepad.com

It's this but with the top cut out and replaced with a piece of gorilla tape.

Not heard of them before, but does it do audio particularly poorly in some way? I'd worry far more about your speakers. How close will you be to the speakers? It remains a desktop setup?

 

[Grab]

Not heard of them before, but does it do audio particularly poorly in some way? I'd worry far more about your speakers. How close will you be to the speakers? It remains a desktop setup?

I'll admit that I have no way to measure it or A/B with another DAC presently, so I may be worried about nothing. Part of me just doesn't want to have the duct tape box on my desk anymore haha. Still, it's a 15 year old DAC that was far from TOTL to begin with so I suspect it may be worth replacing.

I'll be within 4-5ft of the speakers, definitely a desktop setup.

And to everyone else, ty for your helpful responses thus far.

 

[Chrispy]

I'll admit that I have no way to measure it or A/B with another DAC presently, so I may be worried about nothing. Part of me just doesn't want to have the duct tape box on my desk anymore haha. Still, it's a 15 year old DAC that was far from TOTL to begin with so I suspect it may be worth replacing.

I'll be within 4-5ft of the speakers, definitely a desktop setup.

And to everyone else, ty for your helpful responses thus far.

Yeah but probably just fine functionally unless it's doing something particularly wrong. I'd leave it to last in any case. Nearfield with active speakers does hiss at idle bother you much?

 

[Grab]

Yeah but probably just fine functionally unless it's doing something particularly wrong. I'd leave it to last in any case. Nearfield with active speakers does hiss at idle bother you much?

The godawful computer speakers I use currently hum while idle and it doesn't really bug me so I'd guess not.

 

[mcdn]

If they are going on a desk then what size limit do you have?

 

[Chrispy]

The godawful computer speakers I use currently hum while idle and it doesn't really bug me so I'd guess not.

Probably not the speakers particularly, but your setup. There's this thread along those lines in any case https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/hiss-list-s-r.18050/ I have used JBL LSR305s and am not bothered by some hiss (in area of 4-5') when nothing is playing. Not much into nearfield stuff these days, glad to have seen my last desk years ago....

 

[Grab]

If they are going on a desk then what size limit do you have?

I think I can go on the bigger side without a ton of difficulty. My desk is pretty big and I can pretty comfortably move some of my current stuff off of it if I need to. Finding a place to put a sub around my computer monitor would/will be the real trick.

 

[Chrispy]

I think I can go on the bigger side without a ton of difficulty. My desk is pretty big and I can pretty comfortably move some of my current stuff off of it if I need to. Finding a place to put a sub around my computer monitor would/will be the real trick.

Subs go where they need to go, not particularly what's convenient....fwiw.

 

[Tom C]

There are powered speakers within the stated budget that also contain internal DAC and PEQ, etc, that are quite nice. But you wouldn’t get a physical volume knob, which is a major shortcoming, in my opinion.

 

[mcdn]

I think I can go on the bigger side without a ton of difficulty. My desk is pretty big and I can pretty comfortably move some of my current stuff off of it if I need to. Finding a place to put a sub around my computer monitor would/will be the real trick.

In which case, the 305P Mk II could be the pick for you, especially as you will be 4-5 feet away and aren't too bothered by a tiny bit of hiss.

Not only are they just $260 for a pair, but they really do not need a sub for listening at that distance. I used to have a pair on my desk and loved them - they sound HUGE listened to nearfield! But they were just a bit too physically big for my setup. The Kali's also would be a great pick based on what people say, but I haven't heard them.

With the money you save on speakers and sub, invest in some decent DSP perhaps? A MiniDSP Flex would give you a top-notch DAC, bluetooth, extra outputs for a sub if you get one, and excellent DSP. With a desk setup I'd always rather use DSP to bring the bass up a bit on the main speakers, as sub integration can be a pain with the path length of the sub output being lengthened by the desk (assuming the sub goes under the desk)

 

[xaviescacs]

Speaker model and placement is what gives you good sound. It's very unlikely that your DAC is so bad that it makes a perceivable difference, so I would just buy a pair of > 6 score speakers, and would spend some time in their placement. You know, playing with the distance to the speakers, with your listening position respect to the stereo triangle, etc.

And I would try setups that doesn't fit your needs right now in terms of room layout, but it may well be that you discover a better setup and adapt your room to it. In my case I bought a pair of Genelecs 8030C and discovered that I enjoy them much more in a mid field setup using the length of the room (it's about 5x3 m), so I adapted my entire room layout to that. It's like a team with Michael Jordan on it. Sometimes I place them on my desktop in a near field configuration, but then I get much less of them. I'm speaking subjectively of course.

That kind of things would provide much greater sound improvements and satisfaction that DAC replacement. I admit however that forgetting about the DAC and removing from your head the thought that it's the cause of your eventual lack of dissatisfaction isn't easy, we always need something to blame.