Passive speakers for desktop

Based on what several friends say who are studio engineers and audiophiles, Tannoy or Revels. 

Try some LS3/5a’s.  Great for nearfield listening!

I really like JBL Studio 230’s or the Classic L52’s in the nearfield. Their wave guide locks in the center image even if you bring them right next to your face. Great imaging, crisp tight bass, beautiful soundstage::

Here ya go!

Sorry, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this setup. This is a desktop system, right? But you’ve got a separate clock for the DAC and amps that pump out over 200Wpc. I gotta ask, how big is your desk? And you’re looking for up to $10k for desktop speakers??? Something seems awry here. Seriously, can you give a better idea of the setup here cause it seems like supreme overkill for a “desktop” system unless you’ve just got F.U. $$$ and just don’t care. Or, is this just a complete joke? Shaking my head here.   

Yep, this is a desktop setup. My desk is 74x42". My setup is exactly as I listed it. I'm not really sure why it's a joke to you but that's where I have the most freedom to spend money on audio. Unfortunately I don't have any extra rooms to turn into a listening room. Rather than dropping money on headphones that costs thousands of dollars, I'd rather use speakers because 1) they sound better 2) they are more comfortable and 3) they sound better.

Asking if it's a joke is NOT asserting that it is. BTW I forgot to laugh.

$1000 headphones can sound better than most speakers, cost no object

If you don't like the image or being tethered is another matter but you will have few souls that are in your shoes.

If there's a $1000 headphone that will better most speakers, cost no object, I'd love to hear it. TBF, the number of headphones I've heard in the past two years is 10x more than speakers.

+1 for the LS3/5a

You know, it might be fun to try the single driver kits from Madisound.  They use a coaxial driver with a mechanical crossover.  Fun project!

Well, if you’re gonna shoot the lights out the QLNs seem like a great choice if you can handle their size on a desk.  I like that they’re slightly angled upward on the front that would seem to be beneficial on a desktop, but they’re rear ported so placing them near a wall is a big no no if that’s an issue (unless you plug the ports, but that may or may not cause other issues).  With the roughly $3k left over in your budget I’d definitely upgrade you’re preamp that would now be outclassed by the rest of the system.  If you’ve got extra $$$ available for a new preamp, which I assume you do if you can spend 10 large on desktop speakers, I’d add the Joseph Audio Pulsar 2s to your list of potential candidates.  Anyway, best of luck. 

Thanks everyone for the recommendations so far. I'm a little hesitant with the LS3/5a just cause of the less than neutral signature but I haven't tried them so I can't say for certain that wouldn't be for me.

The ARA are actually DIY speakers which are supposed to compete with higher priced speakers but without testing those higher priced speakers, I don't know for sure where it lands. That's kind of the reason I'm looking toward something in the $5k-10k (10k is really pushing it) so that I can get a discernable upgrade from what I have now. Comparing the ARA with the BMR Philharmonitors was pretty interesting. I think the BMRs definitely present music differently but technicals are around the same level. From what I've read BMRs also punch above their price point.

Anyways, @soix the Pulsars were definitely on my list before but from my friend's experience, the Qln seemed to be better off the same system when he heard them at CAF. Whether or not that will be true in my system, I'm not sure but one thing that drew me to the Qln is that people who have heard it felt that vocals sounded extremely natural. The biggest thing I don't like about them is the looks. I don't find them particularly attractive.

I've actually been shopping for preamps before looking at possible speaker upgrades. Depending on what deals I find, one might have to be delayed until a later date. The Bel Canto has been a very good stop gap so far. 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Usher Dancer Mini-X that I’d put right up there sonically with JA and QLN monitors at a big discount, plus they’re flat-out gorgeous and employ their top diamond DMD tweeter that’s the same as the one used in their top $28k flagship speakers yet cost only $3990/pr. That they can do this I believe is because Usher is one of the few speaker manufacturers that make their own drivers in house. Plus they’re front ported so placement isn’t as much of a potential issue as a rear-ported design. These could be the perfect premium desktop speaker and save you thousands of $$$ you could put toward a preamp, and BTW I agree the Bel Canto punches way above its weight as a transparent and neutral pre. Personally, I’d be all over these in your application, but that’s me and just another option for you to ponder. Read reviews of other speakers in their Dancer line and you’ll see superlatives and high value mentioned in every one. Usher undeservedly flies way under the radar in the US IMHO. BTW, if you join the Sound Approach email list you’ll get 10% off, which is significant.
https://soundapproach.com/usher-dancer-mini-x-bookshelf-speakers-pair.html

Are you placing the speakers on the work top, or on speakers stands to the side?

If you have not tried stands (and have the space to do so) I suggest that you try that first with what you currently use.

DeKay

Kef LS50 Meta’s can work in a near field setup. $1300

everywhere.

...and I'll stick with my bookshelf omnis' *S*

Since I've got the only pair in existence that I'm aware of (diy), and "are not available at any retail store!" like the late-night ads tout, y'all will just have to be jealous or dismissive.... ;)

I like my headphones too, but it's just not the same...

Are these speakers going to straddle a computer monitor?  Sounds like your desk is in a separate room?  If so,  will you be able to sit away from the desk to enjoy you new speakers?  Hard to wrap my around $10K desktop speakers.

Sorry for the rapid fire questions.

Regards,

barts

@barts Yes, the speakers will be next to a computer monitor. My desk is in a 15x15' room in one of the corners currently. I could sit further away but 99% of the time I'll be sitting at the desk using the computer.

Another potential option (smartly recommended by another member here whose name I can’t recall so I can’t take the credit) would be to set up the system with the speakers straddling the corner opposite where your desk is located (Jeff Joseph did this to great effect when he was demonstrating his Pulsars in an impossibly small NYC hotel room at a show I attended).  This way you still get to enjoy the sound while working without the placement restrictions, and when you wanna do more critical listening you just turn your chair around and there you are!  Would seem to be a potential “best of all worlds” type approach.  Just yet something else to ponder FWIW.  

I absolutely would not spend more than 2 grand. There may be 0 difference if you spend more.

Monitor Audio and KEF mid-level models would be good choices.

Try to audition a pair of ATC SCM7 monitors. Use an inexpensive set of Iso Acoustic Iso-Puck minis to isolate them from the desktop.

I have some iso-acoustic stands that prop my current speakers off the desk already. I'd probably use those again.

I'm currently considering the voxativ hagen monitors. Not a lot of talk about them in particular but I believe the drivers are well liked. Those seem like they would do well on a desk compared to most other bookshelf speakers. 

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I really appreciate it!

My current desktop setup and my main listening station. It’s a pair of Cabasse Riga paired with Santorin 21 setup. It is definitely within your budget and driven by my Lab12 Dac1 Reference with Sony TA-A1ES the synergy is frighteningly good. The only thing I would change is perhaps a nicer sub and a more premium class A amp like Esoteric F-03A. 

I’ve heard Borresen Z1 Cryo paired with Aavik I-280, and I think my setup is no difference in quality and enjoyment to that.

Closer Acoustics Ogy. 

- under $2k

- Anything will drive them, even the cheapest 10W class D mini amp on the market.

- Fullrange drivers in near field make a lot of sense. The imaging is excellent in that application. A lot of speakers need to be pushed loud to sound best, the Ogy are low volume champs. 

- Build quality is amazing. The cabinet is a plywood transmission line finished in Corian. 

- Only negatives: not built for a really large room, might be too deep (30cm depth).

In case anyone is following, I'm still on the lookout for an upgrade to my Ara. I've kind of narrowed it down to a few. Qln Prestige, Totem Acoustics Element Fire V2, Dynaudio Heritage specials, and Dali Epicon 2. Currently the Totem is in the lead but I haven't heard any totem speakers before so it's based on just how many glowing reviews there are of that speaker.

My chain has changed a little. Upgraded to MK2 for the directstream and bought a benchmark LA4 for my preamp. I've also added some bass panels behind and an acoustic panel to the right for the first reflection. Basically my speakers are left unless I want to spend 2-3x more on the components.

To consider.

Dynaudio Contour 20i

ELAC Vela VBS403

Focal Kanta No1

I have the Focal 926 Tower.  Some people dont like them , i do. 

I also have the Dynaudio Evoke 10 on my HT setup, my Denon av amp does not do them justice.  Evoke 20 is step up.   Special 40 can be found used for good price.

Totem good choice too. 

DVA M225 is a compact and powerful solid state amplifier. It is rated at 225 watts into 8 ohms

1. Your amp has too much power for the near-field

2. consider low-watt amp + single driver speaker

@monster7 Do you have any recommendations? Why is it an issue that the amp has 225w? 

The DVA M225 uses a new and unique version of our award-winning SET amplifier design. These are Class A/B amps that operate as Class A amps at normal listening levels. 

I would think I'm using the Class A portion of the amp most of the time. Let me know if there's something I'm missing.