Small Speakers for Desktop use with easy way to connect Sub

[Bucking]

Hello community,

I'm currently running Audioengine A2+ at my desk with a Mivoc Hype 10G2 Subwoofer.
I got these together for about 110€ a while ago.

But when it comes to the speakers I definitely want more since the A2s aren't good at all.

Budget is around 650€ and I'm also willing to buy used.

However size is a limiting factor since I'm running dual monitors and don't really have space to the sides of the monitors. That leaves me with the only option of putting them underneath my monitors.
There's about 21cm/8.26 inches of space beneath them.

So far I've looked at the
*Vanatoos T0* and the *Eve Audio SC 203s* since these would probably fit and have a subwoofer port.

I've also looked at other speakers like the Iloud micros but don't really know how I would connect them to my sub.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Edit: I could maybe squeeze a few more centimetres out for the speakers.

I will probably upgrade the sub in the future as well

 

[staticV3]

Many subs have both Line in and Line out for connecting your monitors. Some of then even have configurable Xovers allowing you to high-pass the monitors for cleaner bass.

And even if your sub doesn't have Line out, you can use RCA splitter cables to connect both the sub and your monitors to your DAC in parallel.

Another alternative, if you're using a dedicated desktop DAC with both XLR/TRS and RCA out (SMSL M300SE for example), then you can connect the monitors via XLR and your sub via RCA.

All this to say that there are plenty ways to connect both, so that you're not limited to monitors that have a built-in Sub out.

 

[Bucking]

I'm currently using a RME ADI 2 DAC FS for my HD 800s. Would that be capable for that case?

 

[staticV3]

With 21cm of vertical space, a 650€ budget, and knowing that an external sub will be used, I'd take a look at the Genelec 8010a/Genelec G One (only difference is the input), or if it fits your setup, you could take a look at the Kali IN-UNF.

 

[staticV3]

I'm currently using a RME ADI 2 DAC FS for my HD 800s. Would that be capable for that case?

Sure! XLR out to the monitors, and RCA out to the sub.
I even read that it's possible to implement a rudimentary Xover with the RME, though supposedly with some limitations.

 

[pablolie]

Hello community,

I'm currently running Audioengine A2+ at my desk with a Mivoc Hype 10G2 Subwoofer.
I got these together for about 110€ a while ago.

But when it comes to the speakers I definitely want more since the A2s aren't good at all.

Budget is around 650€ and I'm also willing to buy used.

However size is a limiting factor since I'm running dual monitors and don't really have space to the sides of the monitors. That leaves me with the only option of putting them underneath my monitors.
There's about 21cm/8.26 inches of space beneath them.

Not sure I understand what you have - you have monitors and yet you run A2s on top? Why? And if you have monitors already... why do you need another set of close-range speakers, sub or not?

As @staticV3 mentioned, there are subs that offer all the connectivity and feature set of a preamp. How good the specs are... who knows. I have never seen anyone measure the pre-outs off such subs... I'd love that feature if well implemented.

 

[HeadDoc12]

Hello community,

I'm currently running Audioengine A2+ at my desk with a Mivoc Hype 10G2 Subwoofer.
I got these together for about 110€ a while ago.

But when it comes to the speakers I definitely want more since the A2s aren't good at all.

Budget is around 650€ and I'm also willing to buy used.

However size is a limiting factor since I'm running dual monitors and don't really have space to the sides of the monitors. That leaves me with the only option of putting them underneath my monitors.
There's about 21cm/8.26 inches of space beneath them.

So far I've looked at the
*Vanatoos T0* and the *Eve Audio SC 203s* since these would probably fit and have a subwoofer port.

I've also looked at other speakers like the Iloud micros but don't really know how I would connect them to my sub.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Edit: I could maybe squeeze a few more centimetres out for the speakers.

I will probably upgrade the sub in the future as well

I have no regrets with my Vanatoo T0 Pluses. I do not use a sub for my purposes, but think you will be happy. They have a TON of ways to eq them to suit your preference.

 

[Bucking]

Not sure I understand what you have - you have monitors and yet you run A2s on top? Why? And if you have monitors already... why do you need another set of close-range speakers, sub or not?

As @staticV3 mentioned, there are subs that offer all the connectivity and feature set of a preamp. How good the specs are... who knows. I have never seen anyone measure the pre-outs off such subs... I'd love that feature if well implemented.

Sorry if that's confusing I mean Displays when I say monitor's

 

[Bucking]

Sure! XLR out to the monitors, and RCA out to the sub.
I even read that it's possible to implement a rudimentary Xover with the RME, though supposedly with some limitations.

Oh that sounds good.

If I stretch my budget a little bit I could probably get some Neumann's KH80 used do you think that's worth it?

 

[Bucking]

With 21cm of vertical space, a 650€ budget, and knowing that an external sub will be used, I'd take a look at the Genelec 8010a/Genelec G One (only difference is the input), or if it fits your setup, you could take a look at the Kali IN-UNF.

How would I connect the G One to my RME and still have my sub running through the RME?

RCA to XLR ?

 

[staticV3]

How would I connect the G One to my RME and still have my sub running through the RME?

RCA to XLR ?

For the RME, you would ideally use the 8010a.

 

[staticV3]

If I stretch my budget a little bit I could probably get some Neumann's KH80 used do you think that's worth it?

They're 23.3cm tall without a stand. I don't think they'll fit (you don't want to put the monitors directly onto your desk without something in between).
The Genelec 8010a are 19.5cm tall with their iso-pod stands.

 

[Bucking]

Ah yes probably better with the genelecs then.

The 8010s are better than the Vanatoos right?

Found a nice deal for two of them in white for 430€ would you take that?

 

[staticV3]

Found a nice deal for two of them in white for 430€ would you take that?

Heck yeah I would. If there's some money left, I'd buy a UMIK-1 as well to get the setup dialed in properly.

 

[staticV3]

So it turns out that that the ADI-2 DAC cannot do the whole crossover thing. Only the ADI-2 Pro apparently.

That may be problematic as I had assumed that you'd be able to high-pass the 8010A to avoid this issue mentioned in Amir's review:

There is however a major flaw: hit anything with deep bass and the 8010A will complain with the worst crackle you can imagine. It goes from amazing to wow, this thing just broke!

Since you can't high-pass them (with your current gear at least), I'm thinking that you may be better off with the SC203. Connected to your PC via USB, you could enable its Satellite filter which gets rid of any deep bass coming out of the Eve, then plug your Sub into the Eve's Sub out and use its Crossover knob to integrate well with the SC203.

 

[Bucking]

What a shame but thank you very much

Is there any gear that could make it work without spending too much money?

 

[Bucking]

Would the Eve be better than the Vanatoos?

 

[Bucking]

So it turns out that that the ADI-2 DAC cannot do the whole crossover thing. Only the ADI-2 Pro apparently.

That may be problematic as I had assumed that you'd be able to high-pass the 8010A to avoid this issue mentioned in Amir's review:


Since you can't high-pass them (with your current gear at least), I'm thinking that you may be better off with the SC203. Connected to your PC via USB, you could enable its Satellite filter which gets rid of any deep bass coming out of the Eve, then plug your Sub into the Eve's Sub out and use its Crossover knob to integrate well with the SC203.

Could this be fixed by using Sub with XLR in and outputs?

So: Genelecs with XLR to Sub then Sub with XLR into RME

 

[staticV3]

Could this be fixed by using Sub with XLR in and outputs?

So: Genelecs with XLR to Sub then Sub with XLR into RME

If the Sub has a built-in crossover with high-passed line outs for the main monitors, then yes.

That being said, I'm not even sure that you will ever experience that crackle that Amir described. I think he really likes to push speakers to their limit during testing.

Chances are, even without high-passing the 8010A, so with RME XLR->8010A and RME RCA->Mivoc 10G2, it'll work out fine.

 

[Bucking]

Thank you very much I think I'll just try it and see if it works well enough.

Really glad for all the helpful information you've been giving me