Recommend a desktop nearfield speaker for me

@effischer Great comments.

Does anyone have an opinion on the Mon Acoustic SuperMon Mini, especially as compared to LS3/5a speakers, and the DeVore Micr/o (for desktop listening)?

I'm using a pair of Neat Acoustics Iotas + REL T/zero MKIII subwoofer in my desktop system. I had Audioengine A2+ before, but they can't compete with the Neats. You can find used ones listed very often. Mine are currently driven by Rega Elicit-R, iFi Audio Pro iDSD Signature and Dynamique Audio speaker/interconnect cables. You do not need all the power from the Rega since your will be doing near field listening and will not even use the first watt of the amplifier. The Neat have a wonderful clean sound and being positioned a couple of inches to the front and sides of my 23in monitor provide very good soundstage. You'll not get depth, but the central soundstage with instruments position match that of my full range Neat Ultimatum XL6s, and my Meze Audio Empyrean headphones (that I also use in my desktop system from the iFI IDSD).

Good luck with your search.

Two points: 1 - The technology of the LS-50 simply did not exist when the LS3/5A was developed - using KEF drivers, if you recall. Time moves forward.

2 - Any power amplifier will drive any speaker. The question is how loud. In the case of the LS-50, it's sensitive 85 dB 1w/1m. A 20 w amp will drive them 13dB above that - 98 dB. 2 speakers adds another 3dB, so that combination would yield a peak SPL of 101dB

at 1M. KAllowing for 12 dB of peak headroom, that means you system would support average listening levels of nearly 90dB, or what most would consider quite loud. Doubling the power adds just 3dB, a just noticeable increase. 

With your requirements for desktop use, the KEF LS-50 and 20W/Ch tube amp listening a less than 1M should work quite well. Any LS3/5A derivative will be 2-3 dB less sensitive and be subject to the driver integration issues several others have already discussed. 

I have the original LS-50 in my small office, driven by a 20W/ch Class D amp, with a Bluesound Node source. I am very pleased with the results. In that small of a space, the lack of the lowest bass octave is hardly an issue. 

The Omegas will deliver beyond your expectationt at close quarters and at normal listening distance. Their efficiency will also allow for lower volume clarity without thinning out, and the imaging of single driver  speakers is legendary.