Non-Audiophile Audiophile question!

Ii should think that the best behind would be Ohm A but I’ve never tried.

Any, just switch the left and right speakers 👻

I like the idea with omnidirectional speakers. Are there any brands that have omnidirectional monitors or bookshelves?

Ohm and MBL

Maybe if u have the space, on wall planars 

Definitive technology.klipsch. and other home theater style surrounds.the ohm. mbl are cylinder type speakers. Some dipole ribbons.good hunting and enjoy the music.

I would vote for planar, like magnepan

Larsen might work for that situation. 

I did something that was fun for me and it turned out very nice.  Depending on your room size.  My goal was a under $500 system, all in.  Amplifier, source, speakers, everything under $500.  I wanted an efficient single driver, one for left and one for right.  Used a class d amp with a bluetooth for source and amp.  I used 6" full range from Dayton.  How do you get the lower end frequency?  I made a transmission line speaker with PVC plumbing pipe.  The pipes go up against the wall to the left and right and then turn, go up a bit and are ported behind the listener.  It could be argued, that won't work everything will be out of phase.  It actually makes a smaller room seem larger.  I have also found that orchestral music sounds wonderful.  There is a huge weakness in the system as it does have a sweet spot for listening, that is about 4'x4'.  For someone sitting at a desk, it could work.  Not that it sounds bad, outside of this.  It just sounds really good in the sweet spot.  I also have another system and found that matching efficiencies of the speakers helps keep things in balance.  I have some Altec Lansing A7, 500's that I use Blumenstein's for the rear and center.  I tried some others but you really had to work the balance hard to make them sound correctly.   

@czarivey Interesting question!  I don't think it matters if you're facing speakers in a two-channel system or have them placed directly at your back.  Your ears function as the receiver(s) of sound.  As such, I would think the normal considerations for a two-channel sound system apply (i.e.  room size & acoustics; speaker placement; listening distance from the speakers; sweet spot; etc.).  That being said, if your seated or listening position is off axis (i.e.  not directly in the center of both left & right channel, otherwise known as the sweet spot), you'll probably prefer speakers that have good "off axis response".  If you intend to audition speakers in a good shop(s) before purchasing them, I recommend that you explain what you're after and have the shop(s) set up the room(s), speakers, etc., in as close to your home/office configuration as possible.  I think most omnidirectional speakers might appeal to you but there are others, as well (e.g.  Revel; PSB; Klipsch; etc.).  Your ears will be the best judge.

Good Luck!

Nobody thought of open back headphones?   Listening to speakers in back of you seems, well, backwards. 

You might consider some surface mount speakers, I use Vandersteen VSM-1s mounted on the ceiling for my rear channel in my video system.

Duevel speakers from Germany

@boxcarman ,

Headphones in the office can block important phone calls or chat chimes :)

I certainly do not have first hand experience but as with a couple of your early answers, my first thought was Ohm.

Another speaker line you may wish to consider is Shahinian Acoustics, Ltd. Looking over the line, it seems the Obelisk may be their entry level to a true omnidirectional perspective but they claim the next step down Arc model also offers an indirect presentation.

OHMs seem like a good choice.

In an office with a desk and a lot of reflective surfaces having the speakers behind you is a great way to listen. I have been doing that for a decade. See my Office system on Virtual Sytems page. What is posted is my old office.

I just sold my Magnepan LRS+, but that speaker works great in a small room since it has a more direct projection of the sound, less reflections.

My new space is smaller, so I bought the Magnepan Mini 2 days ago. It will be excellent in the space I have now.

If you have a room that is at least 12 x 11 x 9 then a lot of small speakers will work in that space behind, you. A KEF LS50 Meta is another great choice. I had that before the LRS+

In all of these setups I used the excellent KEF KC62 sub.

For my Magnepans I use a lot of power such as the Sanders Magtech amp.

In my old office I had 6 computer monitors. In my new space I have 10 monitors. Got great sound in the old and expect great sound with the Magnepan Mini's in the new space.

I would choose Magnepan speakers because all box speakers sound like boxes.

Magnepan:

Minis, (on stands)

LRS+

MC1 (on wall)

all box speakers sound like boxes.

Ohm Walsh speakers do not sound like boxes. The box is only there for the full bass that is not the forte of Magnepan typically.

I had Magnepans prior to my Ohm Walsh a number of years back.

I see some of you have mentioned headphones. One reason I am going to be ’slumming’ it with the Magnepan Mini’s is that the end game for me is to buy the RAAL 1995 Immanis headphones to use with my existing RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp. The Mini is for background and the Immanis are  for serious listening.

Some consider these the best phones ever made. I do not have the comparative background to make that claim but I have heard it with my headphone amp, and it was almost as good as my Livingroom 2-channel system.

I heard a $200K+ system at a dealer in the summer and all I kept thinking was that it was great but not as good as the Immanis.

Hearing chines and phone calls will not be an issue with phones, kind of the same thing with speakers.

Do you want to save your hearing when your older,then don't play the music loud when you have your headphones on...Better yet done used them at all....

I had this issue way back when and solved it with the B&W rock solid system - with the passive subwoofer. Neat setup and great sounding for small space - although rated up to 150 watts. I still have the speakers and have re-purposed them for my garage surround system. 

The Mini is for background.....

Actually Mini Maggie's are for nearfield listening. For me, nearfield listening has advantages such as eliminating problems of room acoustics, and I hear details better. Anyway, for the original question (speakers behind listener at desk), mini mags on stands placed about 3 to 6 feet away would work for me, and use the DWM for bass. And if there is room for LRS+ or the wall mount Maggie's, that's what I would consider. But I realze many other people accept box speakers.  I just can't tolerate the box sound.
The MBL speakers are very interesting but I've never heard them, and they're expensive. I'd rather buy a Porsche for that price! 😃

@unclewilbur I am saying the Mini on stands about 3- 6 feet behind me. I will also use a sub. If you have a bit more space, then the LRS+ would be even better.

the issue with Maggies for me is that they are not supper detailed in stock form. The LRS+ was not as clean sounding as the LS50 Meta. However, that is only 1 variable, and I like the LRS+ more than the LS50 and one reason I got the mini over the LS50 (again).

I never put any speaker on my desk it just kills the sound for me. I would rather have the sound of silence over a desktop sound.

I've a pair of my 'bookshelf' Walsh that work great near-field, so I can recommend the Ohm version that you might try....

Mate them with a small sub and you'd be good to go.... ;)

Not a good idea. 

Get a pair of Hifiman Sundara planar mag headphones instead or something higher up on the Hifiman chain.

I agree that it should not matter that much.  As a matter of fact would be a good way to compare speakers.  Take the visual out of the process.   Good luck.  

Omni like Ohm - larger and much more forgiving sweet spot.

Just for the record, standard OHM Walsh CLS driver configuration is NOT Omni.

But it does have carefully controlled (by design) 360 degree dispersion. Output in wall facing directions is more highly attenuated which allows for better performance in most rooms placed relatively close to walls. Omnis and bipolar designs like Magnepan require more distance to walls for best results. Of course distance from walls also negatively impacts bass levels.

So there is still really nothing else like them either in design or the sound that you hear.