Recommend a desktop nearfield speaker for me

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.

@wrm57 based on your criteria

NHT SuperZero 2.1 
Fyne F300     
Ascend HTM-200SE     
Polk Audio T15     
Sonus Faber Lumina  
Paradigm Premier 100B 
Q Acoustics 5020       
Diapason Micra III Excel
Diapason KARIS III       
Diapason Karis WAVE   
Acoustic Energy AE100 
Usher s-520          
PSB Imagine XB     
Mission LX-2 MKII 
GolderEar BRX     
Triangle Bro2
 

These all under 12", over 87db sensitivity. I did not check the port, I am adding it to now to my database. It's sorted by height. I can send you all the data, 24 columns.

@grislybutter, wow, that's great! Thanks!

of course. As you see, I didn’t include the Devore and the Proac - already on your list. The ProAc is superb, based on mentions and reviews. I am a bit incredulous about the Devore. But I haven’t heard them, it’s just based on their web site and who have praised them (youtube reviewers). I think there are BS reviewers vs. down to earth reviewers, so a lot of inferences there....