Looking for a nearfield-monitor

I´m looking for the perfect monitor for my small offie (10qm). gave away my JBL 3 Series 305P MKII , looking for something better.
atm trying KEF LSX II, but it seems not to be what I´m looking for. Next try will be Dynaudio LYD-7 .I am grateful for every tip

How are using the KEF’s? I only ask as I really like mine on my office desk, but I do have them as wired as possible (to each other as well as to Ethernet) I also have a RPi into the USB C input which I feel gives better SQ. To be fair though, I also added a KC62 under the desk which does add another dimension!

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My first impression was that they sound like tin cans. what´s RPi? maybe, I´m missing the sub…

I quite like my Audioengine HD3, small good sound. You can get the larger version (HD5 or HD6) if they fit. They also have a sub you can add.

I also have SVS Prime wireless pro and SB1000 Pro sub in the living room at home that are very nice and add WiFi/ethernet connectivity.

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My system is relegated to a small unused bedroom and I’ve found the Audience Clairaudient 1+1 speakers to be ideal in that space. They’re about the size of your head.

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Compact and lots of bottom end:

More in the classic monitor style:

PS: I currently use the IN-UNF. Beware, it might not work as USB speaker under Linux – use another input under that circumstance.

Also look at a similar thread that already has lots of recommendations:

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A Raspberry Pi as a Roon endpoint running Ropiee.

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On desk, or behind desk?

If your using near fields, get desk mounts or stands so they line up with your ears.

For on desk use maybe a couple of Genelec 8010’s and a sub?

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I second Genelecs.

If you have the chance, go to a professional music store to demo different brands in order to get to know their “house sound”. Many nearfield monitors that I had eyeballed did not convince me when I demoed them. This was also the way I listened to Genelecs for the first time and I just love their house sound. This translates to their smaller and bigger speakers (at least the ones I’ve heard).

Don’t save on the stereo speakers. You can always add a sub later.

I also second separate stands for the speakers. Don’t place them on the table, even with desk stands it’s not the same as with having them separate behind the table.

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3rd Genelecs.

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Audioengine HD5+. Great little speakers even without sub, of course bass-head not applied here. :slight_smile:

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Piega ACE 30 and a small sub👍

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Thank you very much, think I must find a place to hear the genelecs…

I am also using the SVS Prime Wireless with a SVS SB2000 sub hooked up to a Topping DAC and Topping Headphone Amp stack for my desktop. It sounds really good especially for a desktop setup.

–MD

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Have a look to the PSI Audio Studio Monitors!
Psiaudio.swiss. Great Speakers!
Best regards

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It’s still a very personal choice, but (in my small home office) I use a set of active Ruark Audio Mr1 Mk2 speakers.

  • small class A/B amp for musicality
  • 3.5mm aux input (+ others I do not use)
  • Sub output for an active sub. I use a Monitor Audio sub in “music mode” (also has movie mode and impact mode for gaming). set @ 55 Hz and under. The Ruarks start @ 55 Hz.

I have embelished things a bit with a FiiO SR 11 Roon Ready streamer, a Fosi Audio ZD3 DAC and a small tube pre-amp (with real NOS GE tubes to replace the china standard type).

Bottom line is that it is a home office and not a recording studio. Therefore I use something less clinical than regular recording studio monitors.

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I’ve had Maudio AV40’s then moved on to AudioEngine A5+ and was not satisfied with either. I now have Yamaha HS7 monitors with the HS8s subwoofer. In between my audio interface and the speakers, I have IK Multimedia’s ARC Studio room correction appliance to dial in the sound. My studio is 10’dx11’wx10’h with acoustic treatment. I’m totally happy. The key is the ARC Studio. That device can help any speaker. I think the Genelec’s and maybe a few others may have something similar but at a higher price point. The ARC Studio is only $300.

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Hi Matz,
When you start looking/listening to the Genelec level then you could also take your eyes and ears towards Adam. Some 10 years ago I was looking for good monitors and heard Genelec and Adam side by side. The Adam A7X brought many more details forward in the whole frequency range. There are successor models that also use the very good ribbon tweeter. Adam is like Genelec also a German company.

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Thx, I´m looking for the smallest possibility, Adam seems to be too big…

I love my Adam A5X speakers (smaller than the A7X). They also had Adam A3X even smaller. I assume the newest version of these ADAM speakers also come in the smaller sizes.

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