What is your favorite system for an Office or a Secondary System
Hello everyone, we just put out a fantastic little audio system that is the perfect kind of thing for an office, or a secondary system or for getting a newbie into high end audio.
The system we put out sounds amazing, Is is the Quad VA One a 12 watt tube amp, with usb dac $1,600
This entire system minus cables is $2,600.00 and you can even stream via Apt X bluetooth or usb input from a computer.
So with that in mind, what geat secondary systems that would be perfect for a newbie, that you have heard that offer much of what a great much more expensive does at a fraction of the price?
We would start with the KEF LS 50 wireless as a perfect example, the Quad VA 1/S1 combo.
What other kinds of systems would you guys recommend and like to talk about?
Being on a different part of the planet where do not have the proliferation of brands and equipment (well second hand anyway) I would go the KEFs (wired or w'less) and a Naim Atom or Node2. Depends on what medium you play or if perhaps connected via roon?
So with that in mind, what geat secondary systems that would be perfect for a newbie
I’ve always found offering overall system setup advice to a ’newbie,’ as you put it, to be difficult. What is it that they value and do they truly understand what that ’is’ or means?
My advice lines up more with ’stumble’ through the process on your own and learn.... At the start of this journey, mistakes are critical to making progress. No wrong choices for the individual starting off, especially if they are actively engaged with learning.
Your choice of words: ’secondary system’ ....however, implies non-newbie-ness.
What other kinds of systems would you guys recommend and like to talk about?
It would be highly esoteric and I would take chances with exploring speakers and components far off the beaten path. Mainly to experience and learn...’absolute’ sound ’stuff’ being handled via the main system.
A rich man’s second system is a poor man’s first... I suggested Creek Evolution 50a paired with Wharfsdale monitors to a friend for his son’s room and it turned out to be an excellent sounding package.
First time poster so I can speak as a newbie. When I hear “secondary system”, “office”, and “newbie”, I’m thinking small and reasonably priced. I just put a second system in my office a couple of weeks ago. I’m using a Parasound Zamp v.3 with their Zpre2, to go along with a pair of Klipsch KG 3.5s. I know, Klipsch is a love/hate thing, but the Parasound equipment does a very nice job of rounding out the high end. Bought the equipment used for a total of $600 (and $200 of that was shipping costs!). Going simple on the players with a Sonos Connect and an Oppo DV-981HD.
I got a chance to listen to a Quad VA One driving a pair of Ryan R610s, very impressive little integrated!
For a high end office system (I know, not entirely the OPs question) with only digital: Leben 300CSX ampifier (~4k) DCS network bridge with Roon support (~4750 + $500 for lifetime roon + 20$/mo for Tidal lossless) - alternatively I am a fan of the affordable Oppo USP 205 which also offers a roon implementation) (~1300 direct) KEF LS 50 wired speakers (wireless? Z U G) (~1500) Choose your dac wisely :) - I use a LM 205 - which works well (~1800) however I am planning to change it around.
If you want analog as well (and don't mind nosebleeds): Feickert Blackbird (~10k) Kuzma 4 point 11" or 14" (11" is a little more flexible on cartridge selection to reduce resonant frequencies as the mass is less - 14" is well, 14" of glory :) (~6k or ~10k) Nagra VPS with MC and MM cart loads with VFS (10k) cartridge selection is a personal choice, but can't go wrong with an MC cartridge from Ortofon (500-2k). If you really want to bust the budget, EMT VM (~5k)
@singsaint, i actually really love the parasound/klipsch combo myself. highly under rated for a casual background music system.
i just put a small system in my kitchen where I tend to spend a lot of time. rather simply, its a Bluesound Power Node $800 retail with some leftover M&K 950's and a M&K SB8 from an older system. I think it sounds phenomenal for what I need it to do. retail for everything would be less $3500 for sure, and for when I have company over, its rather ridiculous the SPL I can get.
In my office, I have my old set of Parasound Halo P3/A23 combo running a pair of Martin Logan Scenario's with a Sunfire TrueSub JR.
For those looking for a less expensive office system I would look into PS Audio Sprout with some small speakers like KEF or Totem. For a little more I would try the Peachtree Nova or Project DS2 (pre + amp).
I would assume a secundary/office system implies a relatively small room, and probably desk top use. To me that means bookshelf speakers, the quality of which would then largely depend on budget. In my own almost 200 sq feet home office (which I use a lot) I use Harbeth P3ESRs. They are great for near field listening, and they are wonderfully neutral (pretty close to the Quad 2805s in the living room). All they lack is deep bass, but the room is too small for that in any case. Some people may think they are too expensive for a secundary system, particularly if it is not used that much (but in my case it is used a lot). Of course, there are many cheaper bookshelf speakers as well, but it is important to check if they work well in near field. For example, I also have a very modest third (bedroom) system with Wharfedale Diamond 9.0s and their crossover does not integrate the tweeter and the woofer very well in near field (they are fine at greater listening distance). In my case the only source for the home office system is streaming from my desktop computer, and I would gues the same will apply to many others in those circumstances. If so, it matters to have a quiet computer, and preferably even fanless if you can do without massive computing power. In my case I use the computer’s usb output into an ODAC usb DAC, into an Emotiva Control Freak volume control into a refurbished second hand 2x100 watt Quad 405-2 power amplifier that I bought for about $200. The Harbeths need a bit of power, and the 2x100 watt is just right for them. To get the tweeters at ear height and to reduce the impact of the desk surface, I have the speakers on little IsoAcoustics stands on the desk. Even so, I still needed a litle bit of correction to reduce a remaining bass boost from the desk. I created a correction curve in REW, and applied it to the Equalizer Apo on my computer. The resulting sound is excellent, and because I did not waste any money on fancy electronics the final outlay was not too bad, and almost entirely due to the speakers. In all honesty, I do not think I could improve the sound of this system, whatever the budget. The only real isssue that remains is that my current desktop computer is still too noisy, and that current fanless computers do not yet have quite the computing power that I need.
i’d start with the new Naim Atom and add a small Harbeth or Spendor mini monitor.
Or for less $$, I’d go with a Naim 5si and Kef LS50’s (passive).
In my office, I have a Linn LK140 / Kolektor amp / preamp (great compact size) with Sony 2 way, ported bookshelf speakers that were $49 / pair brand new at Best Buy about 15 years ago. Amazing how good electronics will make some cheap speakers sound great. I may or may not be motivated to shop new speakers some day. To me, music is much more important to me than any box.
Oh, I forgot to mention, Triangle has a set of powered bookshelf speakers for only $800. I have heard them and they are excellent and almost 1/3 the price of LS-50’s (wireless), I have not heard yet.
All you need is a phone / tablet or table and you are set!
Because I can't really play my music too loudly where I work I use a pair of Audio Engine A2+ speakers, an old ipod and a Martin Logan sub for my office system. It sounds great!
Tested system: Marantz HD-AMP1 plus HD-CD1 plus Kef LS50. Warm, detailed, sportive sound. Around 2700 Euros in Germany. Plays everything from CD to HiRes files via PC, is small and reliable. You may even load a USB stick with files and play it with the amp. The future has begun...
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