Personal experiences with small ~4" desktop speakers and subs?

[617]

KH 80 DSP seems like the perfect fit to me. They’re expensive, but you’re not going to find better engineering. I’d been using them for a while…until yesterday actually. I just swapped mine for a pair of KH 120 II. I’m not sure they will stay. They look so much bigger on the desk. There are also always used 1st gen KH 120.

If you want serviceable and a lot cheaper, and are willing to use a small amp, what about the KEF E301 new, or in used the older KEF 3001SE eggs, Tannoy Arena eggs, Paradigm Millenia, or the baby PSB (name escapes me).

KH80 seem like a nice option. It is very small.

Just checked and interestingly my past (3 year ago) desktop MMM measurements show also a slight peak around 5 kHz:

View attachment 319483

I don't have the measurements at the ready, but mine exhibit a huge peak, but only in one speaker.

 

[snackiac]

I have a KH80 LCR setup with two SVS 3000 micros (integrated with Audyssey XT32), and I loved it enough to get a stereo KH80 + KH750 + MA1 setup for my office. It finally feels like endgame to me after going through Ascend, KEF, and Elac.

 

[warpdrive]

Have you considered something like the Vanatoo line? They have some DSP controls built-in, and reach pretty deep for their size (passive radiators)

 

[Miguelón]

What did you finally get?

I’m arriving to final of 30 days Thomann free period with 8030 and 8020, and still doubt.

For my subjective point of view 8020 is a better choice for casual listening and enjoying, it has more “fun” bass and some points of shining low highs, but is less linear than 8030. In room response since to be better (probably because smaller driver) but have no measurements.

8030 is an excellent monitor with better FQ response and LF, but is more complicated to fit and have to turn “desktop” dip switch that make so dry.

Probably I will go to 8020d pair, and add a 7040 sub in the future, since I have to take a decision this week all opinions are wellcome!

 

[feitaishi]

I have a KH80 LCR setup with two SVS 3000 micros (integrated with Audyssey XT32), and I loved it enough to get a stereo KH80 + KH750 + MA1 setup for my office. It finally feels like endgame to me after going through Ascend, KEF, and Elac.

is there a huge different from svs3000 to kh750 setup?

 

[snackiac]

is there a huge different from svs3000 to kh750 setup?

It's pretty hard to compare. The KH750 setup is better sounding to me (more bass detail primarily), but the environment and what they're optimized for is so different I don't think it means much as a data point. One is near field in a small room, and sounds perfect in like a 2 foot radius around the listening spot, while the other is in a larger open area and sounds good across the sofa.