smallest speakers relative to sound quality

Orafus

Orafus

Orafus

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Hi

Any recommendations for the smallest desktop speakers which produce a relatively high-quality sound?
Basically I'm looking to minimise the compromise but I'd like to go as small as possible.

What would be even better would be if there is such a thing as a monitor which has good (and I know I'm not talking audiophile here) built-in sound but I wasn't sure whether to post that here or in the monitor section (since it's really about the speakers).

thanks

Chris.
 
I can't really see a monitor having what you could call 'decent' sounding speakers.

TV's once had pretty decent speakers, at least compared to modern TVs, but they were much thicker years ago, so larger speakers could be used allowing for better sound than you generally get today. Now super slim TVs have to use tiny speakers, which sound poor in comparison.

LCD monitors have never had what I could call good sounding speakers, even the earlier more chunky ones. Modern monitors will be in the same boat as modern slim TVs; those that do have speakers at least.

Even small stereo speakers will surely be better than anything found in a monitor.

Smallest decent quality speakers in my opinion, would be Audioengine A2+. They are quite pricey given the size though and even more so now, that AE has added Bluetooth functionality to them. They are at the point where anything smaller isn't going to sound as good.

You can get smaller in terms of footprint size, such as Creative T20, but they won't sound as good. There's also BOSE Companion 20, but they aren't a good choice unless you absolutely cannot have anything larger.

Then you have to take into consideration personal opinion. Someone might say the T20's are great sounding speakers. Another person might say they are not very good at all. Really depends on what you consider to be 'good', and that varies quite a bit from person to person..
 
Thanks for the comments - it gives me something to work from.
I'm not needing audiophile quality (I have that elsewhere) - just the best compromise.
I'll read-up on the ones you suggested.
thanks
Chris.
 
I've had the A2+ on my desk setup for near-field listening for several years now, and got them for the same reason as what you're essentially looking for - a small footprint. They're very clean, clear and on the neutral side with the only lacking aspect being their bass presence, but given their size, that's more a qualm I have with physics. If you're not after audiophile quality then I'd be surprised if you couldn't find something to satisfy your needs for less, but all I can offer is my experience with the A2+.
 
Thanks renegade - having looked into them the A2s seem to get a lot of love online. The main detractors state that they are overpriced for what they are but that's not really a concern since I'll be keeping them for at least 5-10 years. It would also seem that they now have Bluetooth which would be even better (less cables).
cheers
Chris.
 
There's also Steljes NS1. I thought they'd been discontinued, but I can see they are still available on a certain rainforest named website.

Good speakers. Same size as the A2+ and £100 less. They don't have USB input as the A2+ does, but they do have analogue and Bluetooth.
 
hadn't heard of these - and as you say £100 isn't to be sneezed at!
And no need for usb if we have Bluetooth.
Thanks Marsman :)
 
I bought my son some A2's (not the plus model) a few years ago and Renegade describes them perfectly. Very detailed and musical near field monitors but limited bass (due to physics) and certainly no party speaker.
I meanwhile bought a pair of harman kardon soundsticks a couple of years ago and I think they are very good for the money. I confess that I got them for a complete steal as they were selling them off the mkii version to make way for the mk iii version with bluetooth which are now £130 but I would till pay that for them now.

Their key advantage to me is that and sit either side of my 34" monitor as I don't have space underneath the monitor. Be such to check the measurements of any speakers that you plan to buy.

Let me qualify "I think they are very good" by saying that while I don't profess to have perfect ears (@ 55), I own a decent Naim (amp, DAC) and Proac speaker hi-fi so I like to think that I have a pretty good idea of what "good sound" is like.

I'm sure the Ruark MR1 would be excellent if you have the budget and they fit your desk layout.

Keep in mind that a speaker that doesn't take USB means it has no DAC so a) means it can be cheaper and b) means you rely on the quality of the analogue output of your computer, which can often be "so-so". The A2+ cost more as they have a decent built in DAC.

Happy hunting.
 
That's sound (if you'll pardon the unintended pun) advice gEd
gEd said:
Keep in mind that a speaker that doesn't take USB means it has no DAC so a) means it can be cheaper and b) means you rely on the quality of the analogue output of your computer, which can often be "so-so". The A2+ cost more as they have a decent built in DAC.
Click to expand...
So yet another speaker tosses it's hat into the pile! This is getting more complicated than I first envisaged.

Here are the contenders as put forward by posters on this thread:

Audioengine A2+
Creative T20
BOSE Companion 20
Steljes NS1
Audio Pro T8L
Kef Egg
Ruark MR1
harman kardon soundsticks

Now all I need is for WhatHifi to get this little lot together and review them in one go :-) (that's just me being lazy though).

time to start whittling! :D
 
Well here's you Kef Egg review - https://www.whathifi.com/kef/egg/review
And the Ruark's - https://www.whathifi.com/ruark-audio/mr1-mk2/review
Steljes (although for the bigger NS3) - https://www.whathifi.com/steljesaudio/ns3/review

The Soundsticks are very good value, I don't own them, but have heard them enough times as I know people who have them.

As above as well, get some speakers with an in-built DAC. Gives you more flexibility and I have always found that as they are built from the ground up, they often sound better using the in-built components, rather than using a separate DAC.

I'm running some ageing but still awesome sounding Monitor Audio WS100's - https://www.whathifi.com/steljesaudio/ns3/review

I think they're on the way out, the left speaker has started crackling occasionally, and will likely buy the KEF Eggs when they die.
 
OK. Whittling has commenced. Down to:

Audioengine A2+
Steljes NS1
Audio Pro T8L
Ruark MR1

Discounted:
Creative T20 (looks like my current creative speakers and I need a change)
BOSE Companion 20 (as above)
Kef Egg (bit too quirky for me)
harman kardon soundsticks (looks a bit Anne Summers! :eek:)

I'll whittle from those 4 down to 2 next. Still happy to take advice on the remaining participants :D
 
If you have a Richer Sounds store close to you, you could pop in and see if you can demo the Ruark MR1 MKII. At least you'd get an idea of whether paying that kind of money will be worth if to you.

They are good speakers, but everyone has a limit on what they are prepared to spend. Shame RS no longer stock the Steljes NS1, as it would be great to have a comparison. Some people woule prepared to pay the extra for the Ruark's; for others, the Steljes NS1 would be good enough.
 
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