Powered Bookshelf Speakers or Amp / Speaker Combinations for PC / Streaming Music

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Powered Bookshelf Speakers or Amp / Speaker Combinations for PC / Streaming Music

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#2559995 7-Sep-2020 23:40

For that desk setup I'd get a pair of Genelec 8010 (tiny monitors) that would sit on your desk, a Genelec 7040 sub to sit under the desk, and an external DAC. Possibly overkill price-wise, but will be very nice and doable at less than the cost of a Samsung phone that does nothing special but fold in half until you biff it in the trash can in a few short years - you could be still happy with the Genelecs in a decade or two.

Handle9

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#2559998 8-Sep-2020 00:10

Some good ideas there. I need to go and have a listen over the next month or so :)

billgates

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#2560038 8-Sep-2020 08:10

You could also look at using the speaker $ at upgrading to a wide monitor 34” or 38” that have built in speakers specially the like from LG whose built in speakers are good.

Do whatever you want to do man.

jonathan18

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#2560093 8-Sep-2020 09:49

billgates:

You could also look at using the speaker $ at upgrading to a wide monitor 34” or 38” that have built in speakers specially the like from LG whose built in speakers are good.

But will the sound quality ever compete with a decent pair of external speakers?

My bet is they’ll be like TVs that claim to have decent audio, and that may be a fair comparison between them and ‘standard’ TVs but that’s a really low bar!

ShinyChrome

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#2560257 8-Sep-2020 12:54

Having just setup for WFH myself (and now deconstructed for painting), I would lean towards a pair of active speakers + DAC/Pre-amp combo. You don't need a lot of power nearfield, and there is not really the same scope for upgrades, so you are not really losing much on separate speakers + amp. I also found it harder to get a decent desktop-sized speaker amp here for not-lots, but you might have more luck where you are, or going DIY.

I went with PC USB out -> Topping E30 DAC -> Yamaha A-S501 -> Emotiva B1s, as I already had the speakers, but when I re-set up my desk again, I will probably go to a headphone-only setup for now with the Topping E30 + L30 head-amp (whenever that gets here...), and then eventually get some active speakers. I could have gone for a smaller desktop amp, but I got the A-S501 from a local shop for a half-decent price. I have also been considering re-purposing a Rasberry Pi 4 to use as a Spotify connect streaming box, rather than plugged into my docking station.

One thing I will say is that since it sounds like that you are going to be listening passively while working or reading, I wouldn't be too fussy about sound quality after a point. I find quite often I am in-and-out of noticing the fine details if I am focused on something else.

I would also check out the Adam Audio range as well; I've heard (*hyuck*) good things about them, although I am a huge fan of the AMT tweeter sound. Topping, JDS Labs, Schitt all do good (and bad) separates or DAC+Head/Pre-amp units. DACs are pretty much a solved problem.

Fred99

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#2560262 8-Sep-2020 13:02

jonathan18:

billgates:

You could also look at using the speaker $ at upgrading to a wide monitor 34” or 38” that have built in speakers specially the like from LG whose built in speakers are good.

But will the sound quality ever compete with a decent pair of external speakers?

My bet is they’ll be like TVs that claim to have decent audio, and that may be a fair comparison between them and ‘standard’ TVs but that’s a really low bar!

True, but at the same time it's pretty amazing how using DSP and compression has enabled things even like incredibly tiny speakers in phones etc to work in a way that gives a perception of "fidelity" that really isn't there.

Handle9

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#2560366 8-Sep-2020 15:45

billgates:

You could also look at using the speaker $ at upgrading to a wide monitor 34” or 38” that have built in speakers specially the like from LG whose built in speakers are good.

That's not something I'm interested in doing. I am very happy with all three panels and have only very recently bought the main panel (27GL850-B) which is really excellent for both gaming and productivity.

Integrated speakers aren't an upgrade from what I have now IMO.

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Handle9

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#2560373 8-Sep-2020 16:01

ShinyChrome:

Having just setup for WFH myself (and now deconstructed for painting), I would lean towards a pair of active speakers + DAC/Pre-amp combo. You don't need a lot of power nearfield, and there is not really the same scope for upgrades, so you are not really losing much on separate speakers + amp. I also found it harder to get a decent desktop-sized speaker amp here for not-lots, but you might have more luck where you are, or going DIY.

I went with PC USB out -> Topping E30 DAC -> Yamaha A-S501 -> Emotiva B1s, as I already had the speakers, but when I re-set up my desk again, I will probably go to a headphone-only setup for now with the Topping E30 + L30 head-amp (whenever that gets here...), and then eventually get some active speakers. I could have gone for a smaller desktop amp, but I got the A-S501 from a local shop for a half-decent price. I have also been considering re-purposing a Rasberry Pi 4 to use as a Spotify connect streaming box, rather than plugged into my docking station.

One thing I will say is that since it sounds like that you are going to be listening passively while working or reading, I wouldn't be too fussy about sound quality after a point. I find quite often I am in-and-out of noticing the fine details if I am focused on something else.

I would also check out the Adam Audio range as well; I've heard (*hyuck*) good things about them, although I am a huge fan of the AMT tweeter sound. Topping, JDS Labs, Schitt all do good (and bad) separates or DAC+Head/Pre-amp units. DACs are pretty much a solved problem.

I want to go for very good sound that I can repurpose elsewhere when we eventually move countries again. I've gone through too many cycles of buying something that was "good enough for now" but then it's dead money 2-3 years later. I'd rather buy nice gear that I can enjoy for many years and totally forget about.

If I go for passives I'll probably go for the Yamaha WXA-50. It covers the technical side of being a streamer/amp and I can take a digital input from the PC. I like the form factor, front controls and it's very similar size to my Lenovo M93p hackintosh. I'm in the Yamaha universe with my reciever and soundbar and like the look and feel of their gear. The price is just ok without being insane.

The only thing it doesn't have is a headphone amp. I've got Sony XM3s so have no real plans to upgrade that (yet:) ).

Handle9

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#2560422 8-Sep-2020 16:41

Fred99:

For that desk setup I'd get a pair of Genelec 8010 (tiny monitors) that would sit on your desk, a Genelec 7040 sub to sit under the desk, and an external DAC. Possibly overkill price-wise, but will be very nice and doable at less than the cost of a Samsung phone that does nothing special but fold in half until you biff it in the trash can in a few short years - you could be still happy with the Genelecs in a decade or two.

The other option I do have is to go for slightly bigger speakers and wall mount them above the monitors. The Yamaha HS series do have a nice mounting system for this.

dejadeadnz

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#2560434 8-Sep-2020 16:57

Handle9:

Integrated speakers aren't an upgrade from what I have now IMO.

That would be 110% right. You've got a very clear idea of what you want and a firm "up to" budget. IMO, for active solutions, bearing in mind both performance and usability, there's no better solution than the LSX. You might see, say, a Naim Muso (one piece streamer + active speakers), for slightly cheaper but the inherent limitations of that will be obvious to you and, all up, I think you are better off sticking with the LSX. There's no doubt that if you have the time to look, explore, and are prepared to wait, you can potentially stretch the performance envelope further with passive solutions but they won't be as easy to operate in a lazy way as a LSX.

Also, you should consider how acoustically awkward your home is. Adjustments using DSP in your modern active solutions via an app and the like tend to be much easier for the lazy.

Almost all other solutions for you would be a total waste of time. Pointless mid-point upgrades of a few hundy NZD equivalent won't do much for you. You'd be better off listening on your Sony headphones or getting a HD6xx with a nice headphone DAC.

Handle9

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#2560436 8-Sep-2020 17:03

There are two things stopping me from going with the LSX. They are very spendy here (around NZ$1700) and they don't have any front controls.

Other than that I agree with you.

dejadeadnz

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#2560450 8-Sep-2020 17:39

I'd also hate to imagine (if you choose to wall mount a LSX) what the original mounts cost over your way: I bought mine on discount for $300.

God this thread has me dreaming that the significant other would let me get a pair of Devialet Phantom Reactor 600. But I'd imagine that were I to bring a pair home, you might see a news article about a random disappearance.

Dunnersfella

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#2560467 8-Sep-2020 18:44

Having heard the Devialet Reactor's...

...and that would be a hard no from me.

The Gold's are pretty cool and most certainly have their place in the lifestyle part of the audio spectrum, but the Reactor's, ewww.

I would second the concept of picking up some studio monitors.

Handle9

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#2560468 8-Sep-2020 18:46

I have no idea what they sound like but, being somewhat diplomatic, those things are fugly!

dafman

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#2560482 8-Sep-2020 19:14

eracode:

The relatively new Sonos Move can connect via BT and has very good sound. They can’t be used as surrounds in a HT setup but can operate as a stereo pair. Also portable with 10 hour battery life.

Large and ugly as (IMO), plus you are constantly charging the battery which can't be great for longevity?

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