I compared to my wife’s Elac AM50 active desktop speakers, borrowing them to my own desktop. Conclusion: The Arche one-way FR2 speakers with a properly tuned sub (like a Fostex Submini2) are clearly superior in most respects. Especially, they sound more pure, less «mid-fi», than the two-way Elacs. My wife thought so too. I can give more detail, if anyone is interested.
Desktop single-driver speakers?
I have enjoyed the Sony SRS ZX1
desktop speakers for many years, and am looking for an upgrade. These are small
active single-driver speakers with a special «mobius duct» or C-formed extended
bass port that makes them play more bass than expected from such small (7.5 by
3.1 by 7 inches) speakers (further described here: https://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/article/2008-06/secret-bass/
).
They are great for nearfield listening at low-moderate volume, e g late night listening in my home office, not waking everyone else in our house, throwing a limited but high quality soundscape.
They benefit from the bass port – and even more, from the single-driver solution. I have experience with the Audioengine A5+, the Aurum Cantus 2 SE, and some small Elacs – all are two-way, and I give a plus to the one-way Sony ZX1 (even if this is otherwise a more limited speaker), for coherence, due to no crossover, but rather trying to solve problems acoustically.
In my system, including an OTL tube headphone amp into the gain chain (reducing problems with the s-state internal amp in the speakers), and some DIY stands raising them from the desktop, they have worked very well indeed.
They are great for nearfield listening at low-moderate volume, e g late night listening in my home office, not waking everyone else in our house, throwing a limited but high quality soundscape.
They benefit from the bass port – and even more, from the single-driver solution. I have experience with the Audioengine A5+, the Aurum Cantus 2 SE, and some small Elacs – all are two-way, and I give a plus to the one-way Sony ZX1 (even if this is otherwise a more limited speaker), for coherence, due to no crossover, but rather trying to solve problems acoustically.
In my system, including an OTL tube headphone amp into the gain chain (reducing problems with the s-state internal amp in the speakers), and some DIY stands raising them from the desktop, they have worked very well indeed.
I have looked in vain for upgrades
from Sony, and have not seen much else in this way, either, from other
companies. Maybe someone else can fill me out?
I am looking for single driver speakers with desktop or small monitor dimensions, preferably easy to drive for a low power tube amp. They can be active speakers, like the ZX1, or passive. The room is 12 x 9 x 7 feet, but I am mainly listening nearfield just 3-5 feet away from the speakers. I am looking for the best nearfield moderate volume sound, not speakers or amps that can «fill» the room with volume.
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- 38 posts total
I have no interest in this, except as an audiophile - but if you want pure desktop sound, the Arche FR2 speakers are excellent. You will need a sub, but even a low-price Fostex Submini2 does fine. The speakers are "bright", cutting off at 100 hz, but this also means that sub integration is quite easy. And the brightness, which also sounded hard / harsh at first, is clearly reduced with the sub, plus more break-in time, maybe 60 hours now. A zero cost solution is a piece of cloth, or paper, in front of the drivers, to curb their over-eager treble. Maybe, with more break-in, not needed. The FR2 have amazing top end content, somewhat reduced by my temporary damping. With these speakers, you can really tune in your listening - move them a little, and the soundscape changes. You can get the mono image in stereo recordings precisely tuned. OK, they are a little bit like over-bright LED lights, at least at first - compared to the speakers in my main system. But they do a good job, for the price, and offers a different "take" on the music. Very much recommended - if you are willing to experiment and tweak a little. I get the best sound with the speakers on 18 cm stands on my desktop, with 10 cm or more to the wall. They need room to breathe. The pc screen in between is probably not a sonic bonus, but I can’t hear any clear detrimental effect. I am now into experiments, small position changes. Only possible, with these "sharp" speakers. You know rightaway if their toe-in or distance from your ears is wrong. This is interesting not just at my desktop, but also, for my thinking regarding development of my main music system. As you would imagine, with this "sharp" system, good recordings sound especially good. I am enjoying Prefab Sprout, from Qobuz. I have not heard it so good before - although I still prefer the vinyl records, in my main system. Check out Swans, on Andromeda heights - crystal pure, on these speakers. Top sound for a penny. |
John Blue 3 speakers seem similar to the Arche, single drivers, with a bit more low end. Anyone who have tried them? This review has some main points in common with my Arche experience - https://6moons.com/audioreviews/johnblue/jb3_4.html
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- 38 posts total