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Help Me Choose or Confuse Me More

Hello All

I need some help. I have tried asking this elsewhere but need a group of well-rounded, more brand-agnostic opinions. 

Moved into my home office when covid hit. I needed a quick set up, because it was temporary. Now it's not temporary. So I'm upgrading some things.

I'm in the command chair about 15 hours a day. I'm on video conference meetings an average of 5 hours, the rest of the time is split between music via Tidal, or Amazon Prime TV. So I'm either paying attention to meetings, working on docs projects/sending or answering emails/approvals or projects while listening to music or background TV. 
 
Current Set Up: 2017 13" Macbook Pro > Samsung QN50Q80T > eARC Out > Certified 4k 2.0 USB-C to HDMI > Bluesound Powernode 2i > Kimber 4VS bare wire > KEF Q100s on SoundRiser Pro stands and a Rythmik F12 sub crossed at 80hz sitting in the corner. The home office was a spare bedroom at 11'2" x 9'11" with 8' ceilings. I've added moderate room treatments about 60 sq ft with some bass trap in the ceiling corners. I've gotten a bigger desk 74"W x 39"D and use a desk-sized mouse pad to help with reflections. Also hardwood floors, but I put a runner rug down with carpet pad underneath. 
I am nearfield at the desk, about 36" - 40" from tweeter, and usually the phone dB meter is between 55-65 dB.       

Upgrades Coming: Mac Mini (more ports and faster guts) and NEW SPEAKERS. I just don't know which ones.

Short List (in no order)...
Kef LS50 Meta - about $1500. I like the Q100s but know there is better. The LS50 folks love them, but is there THAT much difference from the Q100 to the LS50 Meta?  
Harbeth P3ESR - $1500-$1700 range used. The Harbeth folks love them, but historically I haven't loved standard 2 way speakers. Something about sitting distance and time alignment.
Omega CAM - about $1500. I had a pair of the Super 3i about 5 years ago and liked the sounds, but had them in my man cave system and they weren't big enough for the room. The Omega alnico guys love them, but I'm not going to use tubes for 15 hours a day.     

Even given the sub I have I wouldn't describe myself as a basshead, but some highs are very unpleasant to me. After a recent hearing test I'm out at 15KHz.

What should I get? ≤$2k and used is ok. I do not live in a part of the country where I can go listen, basically 2+ hours from anywhere.  
128x128mpschenck
mpschenck's avatar
mpschenck OP
11 posts
 
I appreciate all the suggestions. 

@ antonio33 
The Amphion Argon 1s were on my long list before I started trimming it down.
I'm not really a fan of the Klipsch sound. Years ago I considered some for my man cave and was able to listen to some. I'll say this about it, everyone says they have a live concert sound - imagine being at a concert for 15 hours a day. 

@ soix 
The Silverline Minuet Supreme Plus seem interesting. I'll have to look into those.

@ 10229
My man cave system currently sports a pair of Tannoy Rev XT 6.

@ coffee-jerk
Honestly, the ProAc were on my long list before I started trimming it down. 
Dynaudio Special 40s now there is something I hadn't really considered. I need to look into these some more.
 
@ daveman2
The LS50s, a lot of people seem to mention them being power hungry. My personal, and admittedly relatively limited, experience makes me think a lot of people drastically over-judge power requirements in a lot of cases. One of my first amps was a 2.5 watt per channel MiniWatt and I mostly used with higher efficiency speakers but at lower volumes no issues. I'm sitting really close and listening to something all day. A dB meter app on my phone usually stays around 60 dB, a regular range would be high 50s to lower 60s. At 85dB sensitivity the LS50s, even if over estimated could not possibly need more than the 60 watts, even if over estimated, if I'm 40-ish inches away to hit a max of let's say 70dB. I realize there math and measurements with impedance swings etc, and I don't want to start a thing, but I just don't see needing a hugely powerful 100-watt-plus amp for a desk set up. 
I will poke the bear a little more by saying I have considering upping to the NAD M10 or Lyngdorf TDAI-1120 to be able to play with room correction, but TDAI-1120 doesn't have the app/OS support that I want/need, and I feel like the M10 is basically just the Powernode 2i with Dirac and a screen, slight power bump aside. So is the M10 _REALLY_ worth more than twice the price of the Powernode 2i? I haven't made my mind up about that yet. 

@ blainer55
I've looked into the power monitors a lot and just can't get there for a number of reason. Namely the dependance on in-built electronics and their quality, the inability to swap components, and the price bump of having to basically buy an amp every time I want to try a different speaker. Buchardt, ELAC Navis, LS50W etc 
  
mpschenck's avatar
mpschenck OP
11 posts
 
@ bobauch
I've looked at those and haver been seriously thinking about trying the LRS in my man cave. I have the space there to get them away from the wall. Can I ask how close you have the Minis from the wall behind? 
My assumption is that they need space just like their bigger brothers. 
andrewkelley
275 posts
 
I use ascend acoustic Sierra2ex in my small setup. They are a small mom and pop boutique brand, made in the USA.  they are not only incredible sounding, but also beautiful.
Read the reviews!
elliottbnewcombjr
5,547 posts
 
I changed my small home office last year, best ever: it was the layout, listening triangle that made all the difference.

I ended up with a perfect 6’ listening triangle, the imaging is terrific.

Bookshelves opposite my desk, a 3 foot aisle between the front of the bookshelves and the front of my desk. Chair and 27" monitor dead center of the speakers. (3 foot aisle is snug, a larger room would allow a wider aisle)

True bookshelf speakers (fit 11-1/2" deep shelf, no ports). Horizontal at seated ear level.

Single sub at the end of the 3’ aisle, firing sideways, just a mono extension of the bass.. Volume: not aware of it unless I turn it off.

Center is phantom, so the monitor is not an issue. I stream a lot of video, the imaging is right on the center of the monitor.

I used 3 shelf high bookcase so I could put a vertical TT and Vertical R2R on top. Also, I use a Carver Cube Amp and other equipment that easily fit on a shallow shelf.

Also, if you go preamp to the sub first, sub strips the low bass out, send only upper bass, mids, highs to your amp and then to the bookshelf speakers, your amp needs less power, and the speakers don’t try to make low bass. Less needed power helps with cost, size, placement options, and the ability to use tubes with far less heat.
yyzsantabarbara
4,917 posts
 
For anyone considering the LS50's. I have had them for a very long time with a lot of gear.

I believe you need about 100 watts for the LS50's to really open up. I have the following very small 100 - 150 watt desktop sized amps on them and they sound good to great. I have heard them at dealers with lesser powered amps and I was underwhelmed.

- Benchmark AHB2 (amazing)
- Pearchtree Nova 150. (The top end is a little bit recessed but for the price great.
- Parasound A23 (a warm amp)

Physically larger amps:

- Bryston 4BSST
- KRELL K-300i 
- CODA CSiB

I have not tried my 2 AHB2's monos on the LS50 yet. I am now curious to hear that now given how great it sounded with the KRELL on the bass.
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