Advise on Speakers and Amp for PC?

photoshop · 6 Jan 2021 at 14:27

Hi Guys,

Hope you are all well.

Im looking to shake up my current work home office and gain some space on my desk.
Currently using a Denon DM-41 mini system with some Q Accoustics 3020i speakers. PC is plugged in to the denon via a standard Phono input.

Now all of this is well and good but all of these are just taking up too much room on my office desk so i need something which is a little more compact but still has the same quality sound. Plus the denon doesnt have BT input which is something I would like.

What are my options?

Audioengine A2+?
Audioengine HD3?
Kanto YU2?
Fosi Audio BT20A amp paired with some compact speakers?

Something else?

Budget is upto £450.00

Thanks in advance

photoshop · 15 Jan 2021 at 10:01

Anyone?

photoshop · 16 Jan 2021 at 13:20

maximus123 said:
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SUGGESTION 1

Sadly, I'm not too knowledgable at that price point, but I will try my best.

The best I could come up with is a set of active studio monitors. My pick here would be the Adam A3X Active Studio Monitors, which can be obtained in a pair for circa £420.

They can also be obtained with either (1), isolation pads (foam pads), or (2), desk stands for circa £430.

These are active studio monitors, and remove the need for a discrete amplifier.

About/Reviews:

https://www.adam-audio.com/en/ax-series/a3x/
https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/tech/adam-audio-a3x-monitors-272152
https://en.audiofanzine.com/active-monitor/adam/a3x/editorial/reviews/the-tiny-adam.html

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SUGGESTION 2

As a left-field suggestion, my recommendation would be to double the budget (and then add another bit on top!), to extend to £1000, and go with a set of KEF LSX.

Again, these are active speakers, and remove the need for a discrete amplifier.

I admit this is an expensive route, and will require the need to hold-off until further funds are saved up/set-aside, but it could be worth it.

About/Reviews:

https://uk.kef.com/products/lsx
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/kef-lsx

My Own KEF Experience:

I own the larger (and more expensive) siblings to the LSX -- the KEF LS50 Wireless (version 1) -- and they have been absolutely amazing. In my opinion, if you save up for the KEFs, you will not be disappointed.

Hope that gives some food for thought.

Many many thanks for the detailed responce. It was very informative.

I fear you are right and the Kef LSX are probably the best option for my needs. Its a shame everywhere is shut at the moment so i cant take them for a test drive. I might look at having a demo when teh lockdown is lifted.

Thanks again for your help.

photoshop · 20 Jan 2021 at 02:03

maximus123 said:
No problem -- glad to give you some ideas.

I had another thought -- another option could be to consider a set of Genelec active studio monitors. (Once again, negating the need for an amplifier.)

Genelec active monitors are renowned for their quality.

There are a number of models (e.g., Genelec 8010A, Genelec 8020B) which sit at around the price point you originally posted that appear on the famous aution site.

Just another thought there.

Went with the KEF LSX in the end.
Managed to get a brand new pair in black from Richersounds for £839.

Should be here tomorrow :-)

photoshop · 20 Jan 2021 at 11:40

wonko said:
If you like the KEF presentation (like I seem to - I've got LSXs and LS50Ws here) then I expect you'll be very pleased with them. The streaming side of them can be a bit iffy but if you're feeding them with a digital input from the PC that won't matter. I can't really understand why they didn't include any physical controls or indications so you'll probably be keeping the remote nearby. I'd be interested to know what you think of them.

I'll report back my findings after using them. The lack of physical controls is a bummer but wil see if the remote makes up for that.

AnastieByte said:
Another thumbs up for the LSX's. I got mine last week from RS too but I paid £999 I use them purely for music downstairs. The sound is unbelievable. I previously owned Kef Q55.2 floor standers that have sat gathering dust since giving up my 5.1 set up as my wife thinks they were too big. The sound from the LSX for my ears is on par with the larger Kefs!.

I'm now on the search for some headphones for the computer as the LSX's have made me realise what I'm missing!

I initially rang RS to see if they would drop the price form £999 and I was told no but they did initially offer me £100 off for some store demos which were a year old. I said no and thought nothing more of it.

A day later they send me an email saying an offer has come up on the LSX's and they can do them for £849. Anyway, after going back and forward on emails i managed to get another £10 knocked off including free next day delivery.

As its only been a week maybe try ringing them up to see if they can offer a refund of some sort?

I have some Sony XM3's which I can highly recommend.

photoshop · 20 Jan 2021 at 20:17

Okay so all set up now. I really like the size and the look of them. They look really smart next to my 38" curved Dell display.
Setting them up on Kef's app was a breeze and all controls are fairly straight forward.
Got the PC connected via SPDIF and sound is really nice at PCM 96 KHz.

So far really liking the profile and sound!

A few things that slow me down that could have been better:

1. Auto switching sources when a new signal is recieved. So if im listing via Optical and connect via BT it should automatically go to that source but i have to select BT as the source and then connect to them from my device.
2. a lot of wasted space on the remote control. Should ahve eitehr added more buttons or make it smaller.
3. Would have loved a volume nob on the front (but i knew it was all either through app or remote when i bought them so...)

Now just need some device to tilt them up a little so the sound is more directed to my ears on my desk.

I do like the light on the front of the master changing colour to match input- makes identification of source much easier.

These go really loud!!!!

photoshop · 20 Jan 2021 at 20:39

wonko said:
Glad you're liking the LSXs so far. KEF do some matching desk pads but the price is fairly eye-watering for what they are. You might want to look at the wedge-shaped foam isolation pads that are a fraction of the price (and trim to size?).

WOW!! £135 for some plastic!!!
Think I'll look at foam pads like you have suggest

photoshop · 22 Jan 2021 at 16:06

After using these for a few days i must admit the sound stage on these KEF's is really good.
Now i just need to upgrade my soundcard to one of audiophile quality to get the most out of them.

photoshop · 22 Jan 2021 at 18:36

wonko said:
I'd suggest some research before spending money on sound cards - if the LSXs are being fed with a digital signal then if it's not 'broken' then you can't really make it any better. I gather that windows as standard does various resampling and digital messing with audio (which may also be true with a new sound card), so this might be something to investigate first. (IIRC for music recording devices you can use ASIO low latency drivers, but whether these also bypass other windows processing I don't know). It might be fun to try but TBH I'd probably be surprised if you could repeatably tell the difference.

Ahh you make a very good point! I hadnt thought of that.
I will look more inot windows audio processing and see if there is anything i could change, if any.

Thanks

photoshop · 4 Feb 2021 at 16:45

Okay so a few weeks have past now and I've branched out to enhance the Kef's.

As you all know, my PC is connected to the Kef's via TOSLINK/Optical.
Got hold of a Chromecast Audio and got it plugged in to the AUX port to stream YT Music and what not as the quality will be betetr than BT.
Spotify is via Wifi

So that should cover all bases.

I do not that sometimes the Kef's do not appear in the Kef Control app and i need to restart phone to get them to show. Not sure if that is a phone issue or what. Even when they do not show up in teh app i can see them connected to my Google Wifi and can stream to them via wifi or BT.

Got them both hooked up via the ethernet cable as ive read it improves quality.

They do not play nice when i plug them into my network switch for some reason. I think they prefer to be connected directly to the router which is out the question for me as router is in a different room.

photoshop · 14 Feb 2021 at 14:20

Mikey said:
I've been looking at the Audioengine A2+ too, but got a Cambridge Audio Magic DAC unit that can plug in via USB, so been thinking of a small amp + speakers.

I did have an Audiolab 8000A plugged in, but that's going off for a recondition and will end up back in the lounge / elsewhere.

I looked at those as well but discarded them due to the quality which is expected at they price point.
Amp + Speakers would be a good bet if you have the desk space but i was trying to reduce the number of itenms on my desk so opted for the KEF's.

photoshop · 14 Feb 2021 at 20:09

Mikey said:
Interesting as they get decent reviews. The reason why I was looking is that looking at desk space etc. Not that you can find them as everywhere out of stock like most items.

Sonos Arc I'm after via the retailer I use has been on order for about a month.

They are okay speakers. If all you want to use them for is desktop listening then they are perfect. You got to remember that they are a full package so integrated amp and speakers all for circa £240 so they not going to sound as good as higher priced speakers especially at their compact size.

If you want audio quality, which I think you do seeing as you have a descent Audiolab 8000 amp, then either look for a descent set of bookshelf speakers with a dedicated amp or get a pair of descent speakers with integrated amp. The cheapest solution will be speakers + amp but like you say, that eats up desktop space.

I'm happy with the KEF LSX although they are expensive but you get what you paid for I guess. I'm already eyeing up some KEF LS50 for the living room now so hopefully when they go on sale will look to pick up a pair of even another pair of LSXs

photoshop · 14 Feb 2021 at 20:22

Mikey said:
Agreed there is a balance between audio and desk space. The lounge has some old Kef Reference speakers and they sound fantastic. I'm getting a chap to recondition the Audiolab 8000A and it'll be going back downstairs I think to wire into the Kef speakers. Meridian CD player and Sonos Port.

So essentially a audio setup with Sonos Beam/Arc doing the TV duties.

I'll check out the Kef LSX again, volume control only via PC control I assume (or app if on the network).

You get a remote with the LSX so can use that for volume, turning on and off and changing input.
You can use the KEF app also.

When using the PC I turn the KEFs up to the highest volume I want and then just use the PC to turn up or down the as what suits me.

You can use Bluetooth and then use the phone also for volume control. I tend to avoid Bluetooth as I'm too much of a purist so I either use Spotify Connect or the Chromecast Audio (hooked up via AUX and USB charging) and then use my phone to control the volume. I like that when I use Spotify Connect I can use the KEF remote to change tracks and what not.

photoshop · 14 Feb 2021 at 20:28

wonko said:
You've definitely got the KEF bug . I'd like to listen to the LS50W IIs against my LS50Ws, but it might be an expensive experiment. It looks like the LS50Ws are reduced now the IIs are out, so if you can put up with the iffy app and inbuilt streamer...

Your right, it's a bug!!!
But the audio quality is so damn good!!

Where are they reduced?

photoshop · 14 Feb 2021 at 20:31

Mikey said:
Cheers, will measure and check layout of desk etc.

Maybe I'll just get a pair when I get my 12 month contract renewal lol - hopefully paperwork v soon

You won't regret it!