Your Desktop Audio Setup?

[Count Arthur]

Nothing wrong with a bit of diffraction

Yes, joking aside, a room full of knick-knacks, ornaments, bookshelves, soft furnishing and general clutter, will almost certainly sound better than a bare room with little to absorb or diffract sound waves.

That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Tell]

Yes, joking aside, a room full of knick-knacks, ornaments, bookshelves, soft furnishing and general clutter, will almost certainly sound better than a bare room with little to absorb or diffract sound waves.

That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.

Yup, and all those knick-knacks can give a nice character to the room making music listening slightly more pleasurable since you don't only listen with your ears

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

I thought of making a thread asking what I should get but I didn't think it would be as fun seeing what other members have and to generate ideas for my new desk setup in my small bedroom.

Great way to frame a thread! It really makes it useful long term.

In terms of use, at the office at work, I am in early. So I play as loud as I want for an hour, then a bit less, and then quiet when people show up and I close the door.

My office set up at work is cast offs from home (other than the main speakers which were chosen for the space). Phone to Topping e30 ii to Fosi V3. Neumi silk 4 speakers, and a very cheap sub.

I sometimes use IEMs with the phone in the office, but normally not.

Unlike most, I have the speaker to one side, pointed at the door of the office. Better for the room. But I can turn my head, or chair for longer periods of time, and be centered. Or I can pull out my comfy chair and sit a bit further away for a longer session.

 

[Berwhale]

I just can't stop tinkering...

Removed one of the laptops (donated to my son).
Added 14" 2k screen used for MusicBee on main PC and with HDMI switcher for servers, firewall, etc.
Added Sound Blaster X4 for gaming with headset (Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 with aftermarket boom mic).
Added two monitor risers to get EX5 and X4 off the desk and to hide things under

 

[Cecill]

RME ADI-2 DAC
Sennheiser HD650
Sennheiser Momentum 4
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
MacBook Pro with Roon
Dell monitor

 

[flint350]

Nothing special for me. The small spkrs under the main monitor are simply for casual pc listening, like youtube, etc. Normally I am wearing headphones - usually the Arya Organic while listening via Eversolo A6 thru Roon on 2nd monitor, shared with surveillance cameras. Active studio monitors are behind me for music when desired.

 

[Rosenbloom]

My latest setup:
Mac mini M4 -> usb c cable -> SMSL PO100 2024 version -> optical cable -> Wiim pro plus -> optical cable -> Benchmark DAC3 HGC -> Kali LP-8 on K&M 26791 stands.

I use the Wiim for its room correction function. To my ears the result is good.

I am pondering for speaker upgrade, eyeing on Genelec, but it won't happen soon.

 

[Kain]

MacBook Pro 14" with the M3 Pro chip
Schiit Audio Bifrost 2/64 + Schiit Audio Saga 2 + AudioQuest Cinnamon USB-B to USB-C 0.75 meter cable + CalDigit Element Hub
2 x JBL LSR305 studio monitors + 1 x JBL LSR310S subwoofer

 

[AnalogSteph]

I am pondering for speaker upgrade, eyeing on Genelec, but it won't happen soon.

Yours should be higher and angled down / inwards IMO.

Also, dubious keyboard ergonomics. Carpal tunnel is not to be taken lightly.

@Kain: No complaints about the sound side of things. Not a fan of the desk though, it's neither adjustable nor pretty. Also, it could use some cable management thingies to get the cable clutter off the floor, looks better and makes cleaning easier to boot.

 

[Kain]

@AnalogSteph

Thanks for the feedback.

I agree, the desk the cable management could be better. The desk is a 15+ year old Ikea desk that I am still using. However, I am more of a function over form kind of guy so my first priority is to get the sound "right."

 

[Somafunk]

I am pondering for speaker upgrade, eyeing on Genelec, but it won't happen soon.

That monitor shelf is crying out for Genelec 8331a Sams , only £3500 for a pair and Erin has reviewed them

Go on….you know you “need” them

 

[bothu]

This is my "new" Desktop Audio System.

I am listening more and more on YouTube music videos. The speakers I have been using with my computer was to small. I started to plan for better ones.
The room is our library/office a small room 2x4 meters. The space under the bookshelf is about 30 cm. With all restrictions the result looks like this.

My Desktop system.

The amplifier is crammed under the desk.

A homemade 6 channel amp with electronic crossovers. 24dB/okt. LR filters at 250 Hz and 3kHz. Bass 100 W, Mid. 60W, Treb. 60 W.

Speakers used are :
Bass https://www.hifikit.se/media/attachment/file/8/i/8in_sb23mfcl45-8_rev-3.pdf
Mid https://www.hifikit.se/media/attachment/file/5/i/5in_satori_mr13p-4.pdf
Treble https://www.hifikit.se/media/attachment/file/s/b/sb26stac-c000-4.pdf

Bass speakers are sealed with Linkwithz Transform to 30 Hz.

To handle the room response I bought the https://neutronhifi.com/devices/dac/v1

This is my settings for the EQ. It made great improvements for the bass response in my listening position

Mic. in my listening position.

This is the REW result.


Compared to my big stereo system this have a sound-stage miles better than the far-field system.
If I move my head a few centimeters back and forth I can control the with of the sound-stage to my liking .




Bo Thunér from Linköping, Sweden.

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[LTig]

Hint: replace the clock by a 32" 4K screen for more fun. I just got one ...

 

[Cecill]

This is my "new" Desktop Audio System.

I am listening more and more on YouTube music videos. The speakers I have been using with my computer was to small. I started to plan for better ones.
The room is our library/office a small room 2x4 meters. The space under the bookshelf is about 30 cm. With all restrictions the result looks like this.

My Desktop system.

The amplifier is crammed under the desk.

A homemade 6 channel amp with electronic crossovers. 24dB/okt. LR filters at 250 Hz and 3kHz. Bass 100 W, Mid. 60W, Treb. 60 W.

Speakers used are :
Bass https://www.hifikit.se/media/attachment/file/8/i/8in_sb23mfcl45-8_rev-3.pdf
Mid https://www.hifikit.se/media/attachment/file/5/i/5in_satori_mr13p-4.pdf
Treble https://www.hifikit.se/media/attachment/file/s/b/sb26stac-c000-4.pdf

Bass speakers are sealed with Linkwithz Transform to 30 Hz.

To handle the room response I bought the https://neutronhifi.com/devices/dac/v1

This is my settings for the EQ. It made great improvements for the bass response in my listening position

Mic. in my listening position.

This is the REW result.


Compared to my big stereo system this have a sound-stage miles better than the far-field system.
If I move my head a few centimeters back and forth I can control the with of the sound-stage to my liking .




Bo Thunér from Linköping, Sweden.

Reply
Report Edit Delete

I love your setup and the room! The speakers blend in seamlessly, and everything looks clean and tidy—well done. However, it seems the amplifier might lack proper ventilation? Also, I agree that replacing the clock with a large on-wall screen would be a great upgrade. I’m assuming you built these speakers yourself? Are they part of a kit?

 

[Randyman...]

This is my "new" Desktop Audio System.

I am listening more and more on YouTube music videos. The speakers I have been using with my computer was to small. I started to plan for better ones.
The room is our library/office a small room 2x4 meters. The space under the bookshelf is about 30 cm. With all restrictions the result looks like this.

My Desktop system.

The amplifier is crammed under the desk.

A homemade 6 channel amp with electronic crossovers. 24dB/okt. LR filters at 250 Hz and 3kHz. Bass 100 W, Mid. 60W, Treb. 60 W.

Speakers used are :
Bass https://www.hifikit.se/media/attachment/file/8/i/8in_sb23mfcl45-8_rev-3.pdf
Mid https://www.hifikit.se/media/attachment/file/5/i/5in_satori_mr13p-4.pdf
Treble https://www.hifikit.se/media/attachment/file/s/b/sb26stac-c000-4.pdf

Bass speakers are sealed with Linkwithz Transform to 30 Hz.

To handle the room response I bought the https://neutronhifi.com/devices/dac/v1

This is my settings for the EQ. It made great improvements for the bass response in my listening position

Mic. in my listening position.

This is the REW result.


Compared to my big stereo system this have a sound-stage miles better than the far-field system.
If I move my head a few centimeters back and forth I can control the with of the sound-stage to my liking .




Bo Thunér from Linköping, Sweden.

Reply
Report Edit Delete

That's a lovely DIY setup - holy cow! Almost thought those were Dynaudio Core 3-ways - well done! And the DIY amp looks "the business". Reminds me of a Production/Post-Production piece of gear called a "Silver Bullet" by Louder Than Liftoff.

Very classy all around.

 

[bothu]

I love your setup and the room! The speakers blend in seamlessly, and everything looks clean and tidy—well done. However, it seems the amplifier might lack proper ventilation? Also, I agree that replacing the clock with a large on-wall screen would be a great upgrade. I’m assuming you built these speakers yourself? Are they part of a kit?

Thank You for the kind words !

The amplifier is done from a case originated from 1988 !. It was then a High Voltage ( 10 kV ) supply lying in the scrap bin in the basement of my working place..

The original case and dates of design changes.

The "rat nest"

Ventilation is done for standing up use.


Greatings from a snowy and cold Sweden.
Bo Thunér

 

[bothu]

That's a lovely DIY setup - holy cow! Almost thought those were Dynaudio Core 3-ways - well done! And the DIY amp looks "the business". Reminds me of a Production/Post-Production piece of gear called a "Silver Bullet" by Louder Than Liftoff.

Very classy all around.

Thank You for the kind words !

The amplifier is done from a case originated from 1988 !. It was then a High Voltage ( 10 kV ) supply lying in the scrap bin in the basement of my working place..

The original case and dates of design changes.

The "rat nest"

Ventilation is done for standing up use.


Greatings from a snowy and cold Sweden.
Bo Thunér

 

[drodgers]

My home desktop setup. Macbook on the left, SFF PC on the right. Sabaj A20d DAC/headphone amp paired with a Topping LA90 via a MiniDSP flex, feeding a pair of KEF LS50 Metas in an... unorthodox overhead mounting position. There's also an SVS 3000 Micro below the desk to fill out the lower end.

Honestly my favourite part though is the replica Model F keyboard (in authentically massive zinc case!).

I was previously using the DAC and 3.5mm audio out on the monitor (Phillips 436M6VBPAB), but when I finally upgraded to decent speakers and set-up the minidsp I found that it had only about -3db of channel separation! I could literally see one of the LS50's woofers vibrating when playing purely from the other channel. A good lesson that even though DACs are a solved problem, there are still plenty of terrible implementations out there.

 

[thegeton]

View attachment 180261

Interwebs >> Nuc10 >> RME ADI-2 DAC FS >> Buckeye Amps NC252MP >> KEF Q150 (+ Klipsch Sub-8)
I use a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones when my wife needs me to run in silent mode...

Update:

Interwebs >> Nuc10 >> RME ADI-2 DAC FS >> Buckeye Amps NC252MP >> Revel M16 + SVS SB-1000 Sub.
I'm still using a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones, but I've also added some TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero, and 7Hz Salnotes Zero IEMs.

 

[just1n]

Bought some used KH120A’s, SMSL C200, and WiiM Pro. Looking at a Kali WS-6.2 because the KH750 is too pricey. The Neumanns are just missing the bottom end for most listening.

Swapped out the C200 and WiiM Pro for WiiM mini, JDS Atom Amp 2, and miniDSP Flex. More easily allowed me to connect my Quad Cortex.

One day a sub to satisfy that last bit of missing low end…