Recommend a desktop nearfield speaker for me

I'm using a pair of Neat Acoustics Iotas + REL T/zero MKIII subwoofer in my desktop system. I had Audioengine A2+ before, but they can't compete with the Neats. You can find used ones listed very often. Mine are currently driven by Rega Elicit-R, iFi Audio Pro iDSD Signature and Dynamique Audio speaker/interconnect cables. You do not need all the power from the Rega since your will be doing near field listening and will not even use the first watt of the amplifier. The Neat have a wonderful clean sound and being positioned a couple of inches to the front and sides of my 23in monitor provide very good soundstage. You'll not get depth, but the central soundstage with instruments position match that of my full range Neat Ultimatum XL6s, and my Meze Audio Empyrean headphones (that I also use in my desktop system from the iFI IDSD).

Good luck with your search.

Two points: 1 - The technology of the LS-50 simply did not exist when the LS3/5A was developed - using KEF drivers, if you recall. Time moves forward.

2 - Any power amplifier will drive any speaker. The question is how loud. In the case of the LS-50, it's sensitive 85 dB 1w/1m. A 20 w amp will drive them 13dB above that - 98 dB. 2 speakers adds another 3dB, so that combination would yield a peak SPL of 101dB

at 1M. KAllowing for 12 dB of peak headroom, that means you system would support average listening levels of nearly 90dB, or what most would consider quite loud. Doubling the power adds just 3dB, a just noticeable increase. 

With your requirements for desktop use, the KEF LS-50 and 20W/Ch tube amp listening a less than 1M should work quite well. Any LS3/5A derivative will be 2-3 dB less sensitive and be subject to the driver integration issues several others have already discussed. 

I have the original LS-50 in my small office, driven by a 20W/ch Class D amp, with a Bluesound Node source. I am very pleased with the results. In that small of a space, the lack of the lowest bass octave is hardly an issue. 

The Omegas will deliver beyond your expectationt at close quarters and at normal listening distance. Their efficiency will also allow for lower volume clarity without thinning out, and the imaging of single driver  speakers is legendary.

Hi atriya, I will give you some input as I am/have been on a somewhat similar journey as you. I have had a couple of the speakers on your list and use some LTA gear.

The clincher for me out of all the speakers I tried so far were the Neat Petite’s.

Here is my list of nearfield speakers I listened to or were on my list: Neat Petite Classic, Dali Menuet SE, Philharmonic True Mini, Ascend Acoustics Luna V2, Harbeth P3-ESR XD. Elac Carina, Source Speaker 1.5WCA, ATC SCM7, ProAc Tablette 10, Audience 1+1, JMR Folia Jubilee, Physics Audio, Sonus Faber Lumina 1

Of everything that I have tried, this is what sounded best to me for a nearfield setup: Chord Qutest DAC, LTA MZ3 preamp/headphone amp, Orchid Audio GAN monoblock amp, and Neat Petite speakers.

My current setup is: Qutest, LTA Z10, and Neat Petite speakers. This setup sounds good at low volume but runs out of drive/headroom at higher volume. But, oh my, the Z10 with upgraded tubes is glorious as a headphone amp.

Speakers I tried: CSS P215, Omega Baby Alnico Monitors, Focal Aria 906.

If I just listened to Jazz the Omega’s were wonderful. The Focal’s were just too big and I didn’t gel with them.

I have the KEF LSX II’s for my wife in our office. I will say they are super versatile, convenient, and I am amazed at what they can do.

This thread has spurred me to think about finding some little bookshelf speakers to use in my gym/shop. My needs aren’t much different from the OP’s, so I hope I’m not hijacking the thread. The speakers must be: less than 12-in high, because they’ll sit on a workbench under a shelf; front-ported or sealed-cab, because they’ll be up against a wall; and easy to drive with low-watt tubes, as I’ll be using a 10w push-pull EL84 integrated. So far, only the Proac Tablette 10 seems to fit all criteria. Other ideas? What have I overlooked?

EDIT: I just realized the Devore Micr/O would also fit the bill, albeit at a higher price-point.