Help me pick a new desktop speaker

Thanks Soix - 2 good suggestions!   Will investigate.    When I called my desktop setup thin - I was referring to the midrange,  BTW.      Keep those suggestions coming!   Much appreciated!    Will give followup in a few days when I pull the trigger.

Well, I see a lot of recommendations for specialty-type speakers and I’m sure most of them are perfectly fine , but if it’s me I’d like something with a bit more credibility. Most of these companies recommended above only make low-budget speakers, and that’s perfectly fine except you can get a similar product from a more established company who can trickle down superior knowledge/technology/design from their much pricier models. One such example is the Usher S-520 that comes from a company that makes outrageously good sounding (and very high value) speakers whose flagship speaker costs $43k. Another, if you can stretch a bit, is the Silverline Minuet Supreme Plus.  I can’t help but think there’s gotta be some of that Uber high-end magic in there that the low-budget manufacturers can’t hope to deliver. But that’s me. Just my $0.02 FWIW, and best of luck.

https://soundapproach.com/usher-s-520-5-2-way-bookshelf-speakers-pair.html

http://www.silverlineaudio.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47:minuet&catid=37:minuet&Itemid=56

 Vanatoo active speakers are very good

Ridiculously good, I purchased a pair after hearing at AXPONA 2022.   

4" woofer and a sub is still thin? Sorry, I do not have a suggestion..

Almost forgot -   Have the Elac S10 subwoofer under the desk.    Not going to move that.   But it helps some.

I have the Edifier R1700b fed by IFI Zen dac and USB Regen and Wireworld cables.    Its ok,   a bit thin.    Im spoiled by main system and that is another subject.

@panhead2  which Edifier speaker do you have?

I appreciate the thoughts everyone has voiced.    I have thought about the Vanatoo many times but not pulled the trigger.  Talked to them at Axpona.  Have also looked at the Adam audio.

OOO  the Yamaha HS8 - very interesting suggestion.    Looking at this as I type.

Keep the suggestions coming.   My desktop is looking forward to the upgrade!

For your price range, i would go with a Yamaha HS8 active monitor for around ~700-ish (no amp needed). Set it on stands on either side of your desktop. It is not some sterile sounding monitor, but a very musical speaker.

You could put it on something like a Schiit Jotunheim (R2R dac + preamp) and have some high quality sound, i.e. you would need to spend a lot more to beat that level of sound whilst sitting nearfield or midfield.

The Andrew Jones Elacs typically need a higher quality amp, etc (might fall outside your price range) to reap their full potential.

I am a picky audiofool and dont want to thru a merry go round. 

You mentioned passive speakers but the Vanatoo active speakers are very good.

Check out the new Elac Debut 3.0 DB63. I wrote a review on here recently that nobody seemed interested in. I am very happy with these speakers and I've gone through about 20 of them in the last 10 years. 

I know you mentioned doing passive speakers with a separate amp, but I would really look at active or powered options as well. For example the Adam Audio D3V is a really small powered system with a built-in USB DAC. For $300 those little things sound amazing for nearfield listening.

You could also go bigger and get their T7V which is around $250 each so $500/pair. Larger in both size and sound, they also sound really great for the price, and still come in below your 20lb weight limit. 

I was worried about active monitors sounding to sterile but after hearing these Adams I changed my mind. They are very enjoyable. 

My nephew has desktop Elacs. I doubt you would go wrong with them!

Airpulse. I like their ribbon tweeters. I own A80.