When I was briefly thinking about small monitors to use in a desktop system, before deciding to get headphones instead, I was gonna get the 3020s. Also thought about the Vanatoo speakers mentioned above. Seems like there are ample options in the price range that also promise satisfying results.
I’ve also heard a lot of positivity around the Vanatoo’s
I my self have a set of JBL 305p MKii’s but I’ve got them on RAB Audio ProJax 40 Studio Monitor Isolation Kits and wood stands
An honestly I’ve always been really impressed with them. In comparison to headphones I felt they were just up better than more headphones under $1,000 from like 50hrz up
Better than all the Grado’s I Tried, better than my AKGs, my HD 600 the various Focal’s I’ve heard
Not perfect but really quite good, I ran them in room with -1 dB on the bass since the room is kinda small
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Ive heard a lot of good things about them. they are rather small though
Someone smarter than me should confirm/deny, but my intuition is that driver size is inversely related to low volume listening performance.
I have the Kef LSX. I got a refurbished pair for $600 off. They are great speakers. What’s your source? The LSX does not have USB in and I believe the analog in goes through an internal ADC, which I think negates the benefit of an external DAC to some degree. I feed it computer sound using a Schiit Fulla 3 when needed, and use the network streaming functions to play most of my music.
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I have a bifrost 2 dac and a A90 amp
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With that DAC I would take the LSX off your list (if it was on there at all to begin with). Look for some powered speakers that are amped only, not with a built-in DAC. Don’t waste the Bifrost 2!
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I’m not smarter than you. Which is why I’ll chime in. I think you’re partly right. The listening distance to the speaker (for dynamic drivers) has to be very important, as at some point you have near-field effects instead of the normal physics of sound waves in a room.
Frequency, and frequency response of the human ear, plus things like application of a loudness contour to compensate for lower sensitivity to low frequencies (and to a lesser extent high frequencies) at low volume probably plays a bigger part - especially in older systems where there was often a loudness button to apply the curve.
Curiously - and I have no explanation for why - I think that planar loudspeakers - electrostats like Quad, Martin Logan, and Maggies - have to my ear a better sound at low volume generally than typical dynamic speakers.
Midrange and tweeters seem to be less affected than what’s going on with the woofer. Back when I was paying attention to this stuff, I used to play speakers fairly loudly and want to move a lot of air - so 8 inch woofers were not as good as 10, which were not as good as 12’s and 15s were usually subs.
Then came designs with multiple woofers, where 2 6" woofers (or in the case of bigger speakers, 8 or 10 inch) spaced less than a certain distance apart (I think 1/4 wavelength) would exhibit acoustic “coupling” and have the effect of a larger woofer. These seem to my ear to sound better at low volume, as do labyrinth-ported speakers. Another I don’t know why. (Traditional labyrinth are sort of the inverse of a folded horn.)
There, now I’ve confused the issue so someone smarter than us can give a masterful technical explanation, complete with graphs and charts.
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If a powered speaker is what is needed as far as I am concerned there is only one KRK. These powered studio monitors that are used in the private studios of several big acts in the UK. I personally listened to a set right after forking over $300 bucks for a surround Klipsch Pro-Media speakers for my media server. The KRK model I listened to was about the same price but the sound!!! It was to late to return the Pro-Media’s. The KRK’s will play at any volume all of the way to pounding laptops off of desks tops. These are near to mid field speakers they are design to be listened to fairly close, in a studio this means you can listen without distracting others in the mixing room. does that sound like what you are looking for. Except for the ROKIT 10-3 G4 all fall well with in your budget.
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The LSX are powered speakers.
I can also vouch for the Vanatoos. We’ve worked with the brothers from Vanatoo for the last 4 years and they’re great. They do have some very impactful bass though and they aren’t what I would call the traditional monitoring sound that some people look for in bookshelf speakers.
I do have a pair of Transparent Zeros myself for my living room and they get plenty loud enough to fill the room and annoy the neighbours in my apartment building.
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You are on the right track. Near-field, powered monitors are the answer. (Forget passive “bookshelf” speakers.
I have the Neumann KH120A’s and they are crazy good (on isoAcoustic stands). They are bullet proof; the most accurate speakers ever measured by Ken Rockwell. Neumann may have models in your range? Or try Tannoy Gold 5 for $500. I have the Gold 7’s for $600 and after 50 years in audio, I consider the Gold 7’s the best value in audio. Sweetwater has great selection and advice.
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I spotted the Tannoy Gold line, and then saw various recommendations on this site from you and @ValentineLuke too. Does anyone have feedback or know of reviews comparing Tannoy Gold to the KEF LSX or LS50? Powered or unpowered? Tannoy has credibility and both vendors use concentric drivers, but KEF seems to be gross overkill for my uses.
EDIT: Here are some reviews. These seem to be great and neutral near field monitors.
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What are people’s take on the Swan speakers that Zeos loves?
I have Edifier R1700bt, which I think are pretty hard to beat at their $150 price point fwiw.
I haven’t seen many around. If I find one I’ll link it here. 
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Originally posted incorrectly, but I’m interested in building out a home system. Here are two unpowered at the top of my list:
Dynaudio : Dynaudio Evoke 10 (Walnut) Bookshelf speakers at Crutchfield
Elac : https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1644221-REG/elac_ubr62_bk_uni_fi_2_0_ubr62_3_way.html
I haven’t considered yet what I may need in terms of an amp or whatever else, figuring I should start here. I will probably be upgrading my turntable (open to thoughts but currently thinking Technics sl1200gr) and will want the ability to connect the system to that turntable OR to my iPad for Quboz.
Anyone have any experience with these?
I’ll revive this topic since @elliot was looking and so am I. Maybe Bookshelf could be taken out of the TOPIC NAME as we don’t have a general speakers section.
But the Maggies .7i that I want for my office are still on backorder, parts delay, unknown shipping dates, and Magnepan has told dealers that they are tired of all the “when” emails…
So I’m back to evaluating a plan B speaker for my office. Want to hear it not buy without hearing. Close stores for me include https://nowlistenhere.net (the closest since “Wee Bee Audio” moved it’s sweet spot from stereo to home theater and home systems.) and the biggest hour and a half drive is www.overtureav.com.
I’m now looking for something that has the following characteristcs:
- Price under $4.5k
- Looks “Aspirational” (cool, snooty, something wealthy people would want)
- Sounds good at LOW volume
- Relatively Small, Passive (I have good amplification)
I’ve listened to Paradigm 40B, “founder’s series” seemed very ho-hum
B&W 705 Signature - a little better, but sort of traditional with a goofy tweeter on top
Focal Aria 906. I don’t really like Focal until the Canta series at way too much $$$
The Now Listen Here store suggests Joseph Audio Prism, or possibly Legacy Studio HD speakers. I need to hear them.
I was impressed with bigger Harbeth, the Super HL5 XD for home use, so want to hear the little Harbeths, the P3 ESR-XD. But they may be way different, Harbeth’s only non-ported design. There’s a pair of older used Harbeth Compact 7’s on eBay in my price range…
Authoritative and/or ignorant blatherings are welcomed!
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More of a traditional box, but Monitor Audio is well regarded.
It’s the “aspirational” looks part that gets me. Remind us why you ruled out the h over sally well regarded kef ls50?
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I know the KEF is well regarded. It looks like cheap plastic crap. I’m a financial advisor. While I’m not trying to make my office look like Putin’s Palace, I do want things to look high quality to the extent possible. I have decent artwork on the walls - limited edition signed prints, or framed New Yorker cartoons in the bathroom. Not trying to make it look like I’m making too much from my clients, but I want to put them in a mood where they think about saving for finer things.
That’s why the Maggie .7 would work well. Does not look like a speaker, sounds good. If I decide not to wait for the Maggie’s, then I want something that looks upscale. A rosewood Harbeth compact 7 does. The Kef doesn’t. It’s my use case. It’s not all sound.
Think ZMF and Rosson. Think some of the nice Cayin amps. I want something as much for aesthetics as for sound. But it has to sound good, so no old Bang & Olafsen Danish Modern sound spikes.
My wife saw me watching a review and said: “Those look like a cat’s butthole.” Yes indeed, a star-shaped concentric tweeter resembles the back end of a cat.
'Tis actually what @pennstac has aspired to have for a loooooong time…
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