So I have been trying to upgrade my desktop speakers setup and thought i'd share my subjective impressions, but i'm no audiophile.
Current speakers audioengine a2: sound fine, but was looking for something better.
Tried the following on my desk:
Conclusion:
Once the store get's the genelec 8020's in i'll try these as maybe they're enough of an improvement over the 810 that they're worth the price increase.
Otherwise I'll just need a bigger desk setup and get the 8030's.
I think if you want really good audio on a desktop you just need room for bigger high end speakers like the 8030's or the like.
I was surprised at how different the neumann's sounded compared to the genelec's, and in general how boomy and hollow certain speakers sound compared to others of the same size.
Current speakers audioengine a2: sound fine, but was looking for something better.
Tried the following on my desk:
- yamaha nxn-500: these are my bookshelf speakers which i tried on the desktop - sound amazing 6 ft away on the bookshelf, not as good on the desktop and too big. I love listening to them on the bookshelf though - it's like the musicians are in the room.
- kanto yu4: sounded boomy and hollow compared to the a2. a2's emphasized vocals better.
- iloud micro: sounded big for their size, but again boomy and hollow compared to the a2. a2's emphasized vocals better. They didn't sound better/worse than the a2's, just very different.
- genelec 8010A: sound good, but similar to the audioengine a2. A bit better than the audioengine a2, but the differenc isn't worth the massive price increase. Surprised at how simialr they sound to the a2, given all the praise genelec's receive.
- Neumann KH 80: hollow, boomy sound compared to genelec 8030 (i kept switching the music between these and the genelec). Don't understand how neumann and genelec are both so highly regarded when they sound so different. It was very noticeable.
- Genelec 8030C: sounded great at desktop distances, but quite large.
Conclusion:
Once the store get's the genelec 8020's in i'll try these as maybe they're enough of an improvement over the 810 that they're worth the price increase.
Otherwise I'll just need a bigger desk setup and get the 8030's.
I think if you want really good audio on a desktop you just need room for bigger high end speakers like the 8030's or the like.
I was surprised at how different the neumann's sounded compared to the genelec's, and in general how boomy and hollow certain speakers sound compared to others of the same size.