Setting up home office

What improvements are you looking for and what speaker/sound characteristics are most important to you?

Go Roon, then your music plays from the Roon server and your desktop becomes just the controller with no impact on the sound quality.

I am looking to replace 30 year old speakers and the characteristics most important to me are to bring out the details in a recording. Like hearing the triangle in the William Tell Overture.

Take a look at my office system. It may give you some ideas. The KEF LS50 Meta in this room are up for sale. I cannot use a sub easily anymore so looking for a new speaker with more bass.

Office System | Virtual Listening Room (audiogon.com)

That PeachTree GAN1 + LS50 Meta is pretty nice for $3K.

so high sensitivity speakers with a lot of detail?

Revel, Focal, B&W... the 60 day trial from Crutchfield

I am pleased with my new PSB Alpha iQ in my home office.

I use WiFi.  
Only 2 power cords . No connection between speakers.  
USB input .  
Sub output .

Call it simplicity.

I understand simplicity but I wanted the option to change items in the future . I have a good amp and DAC that I am happy with. 

I do like the Kef Active speakers but I also wanted to have a good headphone amplifier. Hence the setup I went with.

Paradigm Founder 40B or ATC SCM12 passive monitor

IMAGING

The best equipment in the world without great imaging while working, is a fundamental compromise.

Over the years, I have had some very nice equipment in here, but never had excellent imaging until I decided: make Imaging the starting factor, re-build for/around that.

Got rid of some bookshelves and files (weeded and downstairs). I re-worked everything so that I and my Monitor are dead center of the speakers, thus terrific imaging.

In my case, real bookcase speakers horizontal IN the bookcase, seated ear level. No ports due to ’in the BC’.

Next equipment:

I chopped the height of 2 remaining bc, so I was able to use my existing Vertical TT and existing Vertical Tape Deck, standing operational height for the 1st time, on top of the BC.

I wanted to stay with tubes, so I found a small powered Integrated Luxman 10wpc (minimizes heat, plenty volume in this small room). Has both MM and MC Phono.

Lastly, much of the music here is Streaming: YouTube Music Videos, Pandora Audio, .....

Advice here got a big improvement using PC’s USB out to DAC to Luxman.

Speakers: Started with new Wharfedale’s, and a self-powered sub to add just enough so that the Wharfedale’s did not sound small. Not aware of the sub unless you turn it off. Nice, and good looking.

Changed speakers to a pair of Restored AR-2ax (no sub needed). They are 3 way with Level Controls for mid and tweet. Balancing to the room while positioned is a big asset. AR-2ax ’true bc’ design fit right in just like the Wharfedale’s, sub removed.

Early Wharfedale Setup shown here

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/9511

Revised AR-2ax speakers shown here

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/10092

I couldn’t be happier.

.............................

Thanks for the detailed response. 

Some very good information.

I can't open the pics but I did look up AR-2ax.

Thanks for sharing.

Allan

For your room and what you’re looking for I’d put the Usher Dancer Mini-X DMD high on the list. Usher flies under the radar in the US but make beautiful and beautiful-sounding speakers and offer very high value. They are one of the few manufacturers who make their own drivers, which probably drives a lot of their high value, and even this lowest model in their Dancer series uses the same diamond tweeter used in their $40k flagship speaker. They image/soundstage with the best and sound very natural and balanced, and with that top diamond tweet you’ll most assuredly hear that triangle waaaaay back in the stage — I know what you’re talking about as I use the William Tell Overature as one of my reference/demo recordings. Read some Usher reviews and you’ll see they get universal praise for their sound, looks, and value — a real hidden gem IMHO. Hope this helps, and best of luck.  Oh, and by the way, thank you so much for your service!!!
https://soundapproach.com/usher-dancer-mini-x-bookshelf-speakers-pair.html

Thanks. I will take a look at the Usher's. I had not heard of them.

I'm glad you got the connection with the William Tell overture. I sat there one night and just imagined the person doing percussion and striking the triangle over and over. It made me laugh 

Allan

If detail is your thing, your 70watt mono's may be a great match with ATC SCM11 bookshelfs. Silk dome tweeter and sealed cabinet, some of the best drivers in the business. You'd need a sub to bring out the best in any bookshelf arrangement. 

Can you have a sub?

I'm using Elac Carina Tower and Totem Sky Towers in rooms slightly smaller than yours, one is home office...

Easy choice. Harbeth P3ESR XDs on stands. You can add subwoofers down the line. My son in law just got a pair and they are killer little loudspeakers in the mold of the old Rogers LS3 5A. It is the best small room loudspeaker I know of. The box is so small it is like having no box at all. This results in a beautiful image. With subwoofers crossed at 100 Hz and the right amplifiers you have the makings of a SOTA system.

Monitor Audio are excellent for clarity and detail. Have them in a second system. Budget-friendly too. 

Thanks for the input. 

Harbeth have come up a couple of times. 

I will take a look at those recommended. 

Enjoying some John Williams this morning after cabling up what I have currently.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/724876595302629466/1093138493498204222/PXL_20230405_114009537.MP.jpg

Sonus Faber Sonetto III NIB, wenge finish available for a little more than $3k. Contact me if you are interested.

https://www.sonusfaber.com/en/products/sonetto-iii/

Went ahead and bought some ATC SCM 7's.

I was happy with the size and output of the Kef C15s and wanted similar size. 

I had it down to AtC SCM 7 /11, Kef LS50 Meta, Herbert p3 and Buchardt P300

Will report in after some time with these 

Thanks for everybody's input,

Allan

Nice!  Can’t go wrong with ATC.