Bookshelf speaker suggestions for Office

Look into the NuForce iCon desktop amp and speakers, I am using/reviewing a pair right now. Pretty good nearfield monitors. I also use a pair of Silverline Minuets on my desktop with good results.

Desktop system:

Nuforce iCon Integrated & S1 matching speakers or Siverline Minuets
iTuns
Benchmark USB DAC
Crystal Cable Miro IC.

Good, solid office desktop set up...

Good Luck, John

Does your "Phono pre-amp" have volume control? If so, you could buy a pair of powered monitors and be set. I use the Quad 12L Active monitors and think they are very good. They are a very attractive mid-sized monitor which have built-in bi-amp 60 and 40 watt amps in each speaker. You simply connect them to a pre-amp with a pair of RCA or balanced interconnects and you have a complete system.

I also own a Nuforce Icon amp, but not the matching speakers. The Icon/S1 is very cool, but I think it is designed mostly as a very near field desktop system, meaning the speakers are within about 2-3 feet of your listening position (John, please correct me if I am wrong). If you are trying to fill an entire office with sound, not just your desktop area, I think the powered Quad monitors are an excellent choice around which you can build a very good sounding system.

Enjoy,

TIC

I am trying to do the same, but more of a desktop system for my study. Has anyone tried using anthony gallo's stuff or tannoy's micro speakers? By the way, excuse me for my ignorance, but re speaker specs, what does power handling signify? Is it a problem to use an amp with a power rating that exceeds the speaker's power's rated power handling? The reason is i prefer to just use an amp I already have....

Thanks for the suggestions. I am trying to fill the entire office which is 10' X 16'. I also want to primarily listen to vinyl. That being said, I was interested in possibly buying a better used record player, as well as monitor speakers. Also, my phono preamp unfortunately does not have volume control, so that might be the best for the Quad 12L's.

So to recap, I think I need to buy a new player, new monitor speakers, and possibly a better phono preamp. Of course, I'll be updating the speaker cables to something on the lower end of the audiophile spectrum.

I really appreciate any and all suggestions.

Here is information from a previous post about new turntables, but these models or their previous editions are often available used for less money.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ymisc&1217893760&openflup&2&4#2

Here is a reasonably priced but good sounding choice for a preamp with a volume control: Bellari VP129 Tube Phono Preamp, $250 new and about $180 to $190 used. It works for headphones too!

Another preamp option is the Gemini PA-7000: Pre Amplifier With Built In Phono Stage available for about $100, which is a fully functional budget PA preamp that can switch between many sources - but will not have quite the same sound quality of the Bellari.

The Quad 12L Active speakers are $1100 new and $750 to $800 used. A great choice if you can make it work out money-wise.

Another option are the Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 Pro (active) Pair. Wharfedale is owned by the same parent company as Quad, and the Diamond 8.1 are good sounding and much cheaper little sisters of the Quad 12L Active. These are available new on Amazon for about $250. The slightly bigger Wharfedale Diamond 8.2 Pro (active) are also available new for about $350. I would recommend the larger 8.2's for the improved bass response and ability to fill your room with sound. One of the ways Wharfedale has cut cost is the cabinets are black vinyl instead of real wood veneer. The overall sound quality isn't up to the Quad standards (I own a pair of non-powered Diamond 8.1's in a second system), but they definitely provide many of the virtues of the Quads like open and balanced sound at a fraction of the cost.

If you opted for the larger Active Wharfedales, you could get the Bellari and a really decent used table all for around $1000, and I guarantee this set up would sound very good. Or you could get the smaller Wharfedales, the Gemini pre and a used table for about $700 total.

My thoughts are for now to buy the speakers and phono pre amp.

1. Quad 12Ls
2. Bellari VP129

Was also wondering what speaker cables to get. There was a suggestion to use Van den Hul's Snowline 14awg cable.

Once again, I appreciate all the suggestions.

I am recently got the Dynaudio MC 15 powered speakers and Sub 250 for a desk top driven system in my study....very very good. Suggest you give them a listen.