Desk amp and speakers

[eoghan]

Hi

Its probably been covered many times before so apologies in advance but I am on the market for a new amp and speakers and have got quite conflicting advice in the shops I have visited. Basically I listen to about 20 hours of music a week at my desk which is in my kitchen. If it makes a difference the desk is against a wall under a glass roof and I cant move it around due to pesky kids infiltrating every last space i had. Entire room is about 50sqm in size but as mentioned the majority of the time its me at a 5 ft wide desk. The majority of my music is now fed from the computer (files and increasingly spotify) and less from CDs. I currently have a cambridge audio 640 amp and cd and monitor audio bronze b2 speakers which are fine but i want to upgrade. I want better speakers and an amp that will handle digital input. CD player can wait. Budget is 1200 for amp and speakers. Doesnt have to be the latest by any means. Would like to hear your recommendations.

Thanks

C

 

[ID.]

Would you consider just upgrading the speakers?

personally I'd spend it on a pair of Genelecs or Adams, use your current amp as a preamp and get a simple DAC like the FiiO D03 for the timebeing or even an ODAC.

 

[davedotco]

Would you consider just upgrading the speakers?

personally I'd spend it on a pair of Genelecs or Adams, use your current amp as a preamp and get a simple DAC like the FiiO D03 for the timebeing or even an ODAC.

The truly simple approach would be a pair of Adam Artist5s on the small desktop stands that Adam make.

They have a USB dac onboard so nothing else is needed, everything is controlled by your media player, very simple and minimum desk space. Like so...

 

[Zax89swe]

Hello, I bought a Denon pma-50 and Monitor audio bronze 2 for my desktop. A nice amplifier I recommend.

 

[steve_1979]

Nearly new second hand pairs of AVI ADM9 RS speakers in mint condition can be picked up for about £800. They have really outstanding sound quality.

The DAC and amplifiers are built into the speakers and the volume and input selection is controlled by a remote control. It's a really neat setup which should suit your needs well.

 

[tino]

Hello, I bought a Denon pma-50 and Monitor audio bronze 2 for my desktop. A nice amplifier I recommend.

Nice ... I like the looks and features of the Denon PMA-50 ... there's also a Denon DRA-100 which looks like a neat one box solution.

 

[ID.]

Nearly new second hand pairs of AVI ADM9 RS speakers in mint condition can be picked up for about £800. They have really outstanding sound quality.

The DAC and amplifiers are built into the speakers and the volume and input selection is controlled by a remote control. It's a really neat setup which should suit your needs well.

we have a winner.

This is pretty hard to beat and would put a dinky Denon and Bronze 2 system to shame.

 

[davedotco]

Personally I would consider anything with a bass driver over 5 inches to be too large for a desktop, the bass energy is just too much for my tastes. The desktop reflections and quite possibly vibration will reinforce at the low end and muddy the sound, when sitting close I find that unacceptable.

I am not a big fan of subwoofers for music systems but this is one setup where a 2.1 setup might be a good idea. I very nearly bought a Acoustic Energy Aego M setup instead of my ultra cheap actives but the lack of adjustability on the Aego turned me off, it was almost brilliant.

If I ever get space to reset my system for desktop use then the small BK Gemini might well find it's way under my desk.

 

[ID.]

I get carried away 🙂

And tend to forget that my desk setup actually has the speakers on floor stands firing over my desk rather than mounted on it.

 

[drummerman]

Nearly new second hand pairs of AVI ADM9 RS speakers in mint condition can be picked up for about £800. They have really outstanding sound quality.

The DAC and amplifiers are built into the speakers and the volume and input selection is controlled by a remote control. It's a really neat setup which should suit your needs well.

we have a winner.

This is pretty hard to beat and would put a dinky Denon and Bronze 2 system to shame.

Amplifiers and speakers don't have feelings ... owners often to much 🙂

 

[eoghan]

Thanks to thanks to everyone for their suggestions. The Avi speakers were something I had never heard of and sounded intriguing. Then i started reading the forums. Hilarious stuff to see people get that animated. Anyway they piqued my interest enough to order a pair so let's see how that goes.

 

[ID.]

Nearly new second hand pairs of AVI ADM9 RS speakers in mint condition can be picked up for about £800. They have really outstanding sound quality.

The DAC and amplifiers are built into the speakers and the volume and input selection is controlled by a remote control. It's a really neat setup which should suit your needs well.

we have a winner.

This is pretty hard to beat and would put a dinky Denon and Bronze 2 system to shame.

Amplifiers and speakers don't have feelings ... owners often to much 🙂

if you aren't anthropomorphising you kit you aren't a true audiophile. Please hand in your membership card on the way out.

 

[Jota180]

Personally I would consider anything with a bass driver over 5 inches to be too large for a desktop, the bass energy is just too much for my tastes. The desktop reflections and quite possibly vibration will reinforce at the low end and muddy the sound, when sitting close I find that unacceptable.

I am not a big fan of subwoofers for music systems but this is one setup where a 2.1 setup might be a good idea. I very nearly bought a Acoustic Energy Aego M setup instead of my ultra cheap actives but the lack of adjustability on the Aego turned me off, it was almost brilliant.

If I ever get space to reset my system for desktop use then the small BK Gemini might well find it's way under my desk.

I have this and noticed a big hole in the sound spectrum somewhere between the treble and the bass. Other than that it is a quality made product and fine for gaming but it did take a while to get used to the sound.

 

[davedotco]

Personally I would consider anything with a bass driver over 5 inches to be too large for a desktop, the bass energy is just too much for my tastes. The desktop reflections and quite possibly vibration will reinforce at the low end and muddy the sound, when sitting close I find that unacceptable.

I am not a big fan of subwoofers for music systems but this is one setup where a 2.1 setup might be a good idea. I very nearly bought a Acoustic Energy Aego M setup instead of my ultra cheap actives but the lack of adjustability on the Aego turned me off, it was almost brilliant.

If I ever get space to reset my system for desktop use then the small BK Gemini might well find it's way under my desk.

I have this and noticed a big hole in the sound spectrum somewhere between the treble and the bass. Other than that it is a quality made product and fine for gaming but it did take a while to get used to the sound.

I never got to hear them properly as I decided against before getting to that stage. Integrating a sub is always difficult, particularly when they cross over at quite a high frequencie, the lack of user adjustment here is what put me off.

It is always a balancing act on the desktop, I think even a 5 inch driver is pushing the limits somewhat, boom and rattle is very hard to get rid of with bigger, more potent speakers.

 

[Vladimir]

I think a sub cutting at 100-80Hz and a pair of 4" actives might be ideal for a desktop music listening setup.

 

[masterblaster]

KEF X300A + subwoofer might be a good option also.

 

[rainsoothe]

Op, have you considered headphones? If not, +1 from me for active monitors. Adam A5x if they're in budget. Or Event Opals.

 

[davedotco]

Op, have you considered headphones? If not, +1 from me for active monitors. Adam A5x if they're in budget. Or Event Opals.

Event Opals? On a desktop?

Oh, I see, you must have this....