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Recommend a desktop nearfield speaker for me

I'm a bit confused as to whether "bookshelf speakers" are designed to be listened to from a distance, or if they are suitable on a computer desk where the distance to the ear is only ~2 feet. Or, if they are equally good in both situations (which seems to be tough).

I understand that nearfield speakers are optimized for small distances, but they are mostly active speakers, and I need a passive speaker.

Could someone recommend a passive nearfield speaker or bookshelf speaker that works well at small distances, for use on a computer desk?

My tube amp (LTA UL+) puts out 20 Wpc into 8 ohms.

I'm considering:

1. DeVore micr/O
2. BBC LS3/5A speakers such as the Harbeth P3SR
3. Focal Aria 1, maybe Sopra 1 if I stretch my budget. However the recommended amp power is 25W - 150W whereas my amp is 20W, so might not be ideal.
4. Omega Super Alnico High Output

Which (or others) might be best suited for my amp and 2-feet distance use-case? Also, the smaller the better...

128x128atriya
yyzsantabarbara
4,885 posts
 

@atriya Congrats and are you going to put the speaker on your desk?

I just spent $170 buying an open box AudioengineUSA A2+ to be placed on my desk. It sounds exactly like I expected. It does the job to some satisfaction, but it is very hard to put a speaker on a desk. I am using an angled brace from AudioengineUSA to point the drivers upwards from the desk. If you can put it on the side of the desk, then that is better.

BTW - The Schitt Mjolnir preamp is an excellent choice for a desktop system. It has no remote and is beautiful Class A sound for $1300. Lucky for me my office sources are hooked up to 2 other options. I have a Benchmark HPA4 preamp connected to a $800 Schitt Aegir amp. The other option is the RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp for reference level sound.

I am also using the KEF KC62 sub with the A2+. The sources are a Schitt Yggi+ OG | Benchmark DAC3B | Sansui TU9900 tuner | Magnum Dynalab MD108T tuner.

 

 

atriya's avatar
atriya OP
19 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara Yes, on my desk. I ordered some IsoAcoustics Aperta stands, which can be angled/tilted/etc. Also got a sub from Omega.

I already have quite a high-end amp to use with the speaker: the LTA UL+. Thankfully the amp doesn't need to be place on the desk, at the cost of somewhat longer speaker cables.

yyzsantabarbara
4,885 posts
 

@atriya The IsoAcoustics Aperta are what I used on my desktop with KEF LS50's. They really helped but putting them on dedicated floor stands was better and then putting them on stands placed BEHIND me was even better. When I avoided all obstructions between the speakers and my ears I got the best sound.

I used some great Audience FrontRow speaker cables on my last office system. Speaker cables are my most important cables.

 

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