15k USD Speakers for Classical and Pop Extended Listening, Near setup, Low volume

A better approach would be to put the speaker behind you so that the desk is not a big reflective surface. If you do not want to do that then some small monitors on the desktop (preferably with some DSP) would be choice #2 for me.

Office System | Virtual Listening Room (audiogon.com)

Take a look at my office Virtual System and see how I eliminated my desk as a reflective surface and also my computer (100% silent) connected to 6 monitors. The sound is excellent though I needed to treat the room OR use DSP via Convolution filters running on ROON (or JRiver). I do not use the DSP anymore with my current speakers, the Magnepan LRS+ ($1000).

Professional DSP for $750

I have not heard the following French speaker brand, but reviews are stating that it is a bit better than the Maggie. The cost is a lot more $8k - $50k.

LRS+ Competitor (click PRODUCTS).

The LRS+ is amazing on low volume, with a soundstage that is hard to match. I use the $1k speaker with a $16k amp that is very powerful. It is actually not overkill since the speaker needs a powerful amp. A $1000 used PeachTree GAN400 also worked well with this speaker, though not as good as my CODA #16 amp.

I listen for a min of 8 hours a day, M - F.

When I did this, my research pointed me to Totem Mites with a matching small subwoofer. They are simply beautiful real wood speakers with a wonderful punchy / natural sound. I love listening to them.While I have heard and respect the KEF I would not recommend for this application. I think you may get too much treble energy.

@yyzsantabarbara - putting speakers behind is an excellent suggestion. Does it feel normal for the sound to come from the back.

Which dac/amp do you suggest with the Magnepans. I use Roon for streaming.

@ghdprentice Thanks for your feedback on KEF. Do you have any suggestions for floorstanders?

My friend Danny who knows more about audio that I ever will recently came over to listen to my other system. He listened to my office system too. He was blown away by the LRS+ and said why would you need anything else in a small room such as mine.

Listening skills (my friend who critiqued the LRS+)

Given the space the LRS+ is a great choice. Listening to the speaker behind me has never been an issue. The room is so small and filled with music. Imaging, soundstage, details, are all as expected if facing the speaker.

The LRS+ is the best sounding speaker I have had in this room. Not saying it is the best speaker I have had in the room, but the best sounding when the room interactions are taken into account. I think the LRS+ is easier to place and that soundstage is huge and deep.

Here are the amps that I used with the LRS+ and were good to phenominal.

• PeachTree GAN400 (400 watts Class D GAN, $1000 used) GOOD
• Sanders MagTech (Magnepan + Tech, Class AB 500 | 9000 watts @ 8 |4) GREAT
• CODA #16 (mostly Class A (100 watts). 150 | 300 | 600) Phenominal

I also use ROON. Mitch Barnett at Accurate Sound will make almost ANY speaker sound good in your space. So that can be a safety net for you. His solution is configured remotely (with measurements by you) and works great on ROON. I do not use this anymore, but it can make a bad audio situation great.

I use a Schitt Yggi+ Less Is More DAC at around $2400). I love this DAC and it replaced my Lumin X1. Though I neeed a streamer for the Yggi+. The Lumin X1 streamer is amazing. I also use fibre optic with the Ygg+ and previously with the Lumin X1 (easier with this one).

If you are interested in a MagTech amp. I would be interested in selling it since I plan on using my CODA #16 permanently with the LRS+ and I am almost sure to be getting the latest CODA SYSTEM 150 for my Livingroon system, where the Sanders now resides. I want Class A over AB for the NS5000 speaker.

BTW - prior speaker that are also very good in my office was the KEF LS50 Meta with the KC62 sub. Do not put a floorstander in a small room. It can work well but you can get great with a speaker with less volume. The LRS+ sounds much bigger.