I spent a lot of time trying to find good desktop speakers. The Cambridge Audio SX50s are small bookshelves, but I think they work better as desktop speakers. IMHO they’re perfect, love the bass response of the paper cones
*Back in the day* I recall everyone loving the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1, but I really preferred the Yamaha YST-MS50. Neither of them qualified as "monitors" or likely hold a candle to the speakers in this video, but they were really compact and the separate woofer allowed for more placement options. Ever since my Yamaha setup died, I've been on the lookout for a new setup. Just the other day someone on marketplace was giving away a pair of Polk RT25i speakers so I picked them up. Still trying to figure out which amp to use with them and whether or not I should add a subwoofer...
If you listen to music with bass, so most music post 2010, or if you watch a lot of movies I'd recommend getting a subwoofer. imo, the best subwoofer under 500% and which competes with 800$ subwoofers in terms of frequency response is the audioengine S8. Their anechoic chamber tests say it can respond down to 27hz, but in an ideal situation it responds down do 23hz (their claim); mine (my S8), which is the older version responds down to 24hz, and they sell for 350$ new. If you have a small space and you want bass, I wouldn't look at anything else unless you've got a lot of money to spend on frequencies you feel more than hear. Cause really, there are subs that get down to low teens, but they're 2x the size and 3x the price. They do have nice bluetooth apps, though. Which I really like, just the app is almost worth getting a new system imo with all the controls and convenience it offers. I love being able to use my phone as a remote. But as far as cheaper subwoofers go, the S8 is in a league of its own as far as I know.
But what about the pro media 2.1 Heritage? It has an 8-in subwoofer. He claims to go down to 29 decibels but I think because it doesn't state within three decibels it might be 10.
The vanatoos for their price/performance are hard to beat. I've had them 4 years now as my computer desktop setup. Their size is very compact and fit perfectly next to my computer monitor. Their shape is designed perfectly so the 1 inch soft dome tweeters point directly at my ears from my seating position 2 to 3 feet from my monitor. What stood out for me when first listening to the vanatoos was the pinpoint accuracy , detail and imaging ability of the speakers, as well as the bass response. The bass was very tight and well integrated with the mid/and upper frequencies on these speakers. Another benefit is how well video games with complex soundtracks of voices, footsteps, explosions, etc are reproduced. I've since added a small powered subwoofer to the T0's...and its kicked up the performance even better. Because the vanatoos use a digital crossover, the vanatoos automatically senses that i've added a powered subwoofer, and will automatically adjust to its inclusion.
My question is whether small active floorstanding speakers could be included in this group? For example, the Q Acustic M40. Currently their price at my place is less than $1000. The USB-PC port supports 24bit/192kHz and the speakers, on paper, should play from 38 Hz which is important to me, as they don't need a subwoofer for a small room to start with.
Great Video, can you please reccomend between KEF LSX2, peachtree m25, Kanto Tuk, with subwoofer and on separate stands next to a desk and computer . For best sound quality with all kinds of music including rock, pop and soft music
excellent review...and list! wish you would carry Q Acoustics or Triangle to compare their active speakers (particularly the Q acoustics M20) with the ones on your 'best' list...
These should all have minimal latency when plugged in via usb. If you're using Bluetooth you will want to make sure it is Bluetooth 5.0 or higher for minimal latency.
How do the TUKs hold up as TV/Living Room speakers, compared to the YU6s? I currently have the YU6s in my Living Room, but I’m very interested in the TUKs and would potentially move the YU6s to an office setup if I upgrade. I also listen to a turntable and play games through this living room setup.
The TUKs would be a solid upgrade. However, still now HDMI. You should consider something like the Klipsch Sevens or Nines. Those sound fantastic with a TV for movies, games and vinyl! Chat or call our team at audioadvice.com if you need more recommendations!
All of these are self powered. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss the best passive speakers for your Sherwood. Thanks for watching
I have the peach tree M25s on my desktop and they are amazing. I have them connected usb. And normally play Qobuz hi res music and the sound is just perfect. And they don’t take up too much space on the desk
Hi, i'm upgrading from Klipsch Promedia 2.1 to Peachtree M24. What subwoofer would you recommend? I use the speakers on my desk for listening to music and also gameplay.
Looking for a speaker after my Kef LSX decided to give me a red blinking light after owning it for 2 years and less than a 100h of playtime Took it to service and they said I have to pay 550$ to fix last time I deal with Kef
@@AudioAdvice The saddest thing is I really broke them in nicely and was about to enjoy em but red light of death decided to show up they are in the attic now some day i’ll covert them to passive and slap a amp on them. my next speaker will be either Kanto TUK / YU6 or Audio Engine A5+ W or The Fives still thinking any recommendations for a person who loved the LSX and run Full tower bowers and wilkins CM9’s
I want to play classical music on a low volume continuously, though lsx II is good, apparently it doesnt deliver well enough on lower frequencies without a subwoofer, is klipsch the fives what Im looking for or yall know a better option. Even among the ones shown here like a2+ / a5+.
@@AudioAdvice thanks, I did a ton of research on my own, alongside chat gpt lol. And found something more long lasting, scalable, with a better sound experience, for less money: Second hand Cambridge audio cxa80 (450-600 euros) + b stock KEF ls50 (550 euros) For the audio source I'll try out my raspberry pi 3, the Cambridge audio cxn (400 euros at best) would be perfect, but I think it's better to finance a second hand Kef KC62 subwoofer (700 euros at best) This may be beyond the scope of the vid, but since the Kef lsx II have a Digital Analogue Converter which causes a bit of latency, they don't really apply for real desktop speakers. And someone looking for a bookshelf speaker at a high end, better do what I found. ( b stock = manufacture second choice / item returned by clients, which has cosmetic defects but supposedly no functionality defects)
Oh wow, we see it now. It seems to be some sort of UA-cam compression issue as it doesn't look like that on the original file. Thanks so much for pointing that out to us!
Would be nice if more of these manufacturers would buy a clue and offer both sub out AND an HDMI ARC connection. Seems like KEF is the only one in this rundown tapping into that market...so much better than a soundbar.
I am never going to spend 2k usd on JBL computer speakers when their 308p studio monitors can do the same job and sound fantastic. Even with the LS310 studio subwoofer, the total will still be less than 1k usd and will sound soooooooooo much better.
@@Nick_4i I'm sure they do, but the price difference is so far apart I feel it narrows down any comparison. If I go higher end it won't be JBL, but some other brand. The exotic looking ones that looks like Star wars droids.
I could be completely wrong but I feel I could get just as good audio from some 20 year old Altec Lansing, Creative or Klipsch PC speaker sets for like $50.
If you are talking about the YU2, yes, it would be nicer on the front but most people use these with the USB DAC as desktop speakers and use their computer for volume. Thanks for watching
no budget solution? I dont need the biggest damn speakers. I just want simple ones which sound better than a good bluetooth speaker (like the bose soundlink mini 2)
You need to put your thesaurus down. Get some measuring equipment and measure these speakers. And stop polluting UA-cam videos with your wine tasting metaphors and completely irrelevant completely irrelevant remarks. Are we all completely and utterly insane? People should stand up and every time they see a video like this one in the comments say we are mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!
my whole pc costs 1000 euro. it can run games in 4k, you can work on it, entertain, everything. but here are speakers worth more than 1000 euro that can deliver simply a sound that only 'audiophiles' can hear? sending hate.
@@AudioAdvice i do not bash them obviously, i am just baffled by a non sense of existence of a such overpriced product. it doesn't make sense for me and never will. you can buy amp+player+ a pair of hi-fi floor standing speakers for the same money. and here we have just a pair speakers. pure insanity.
@@gangnamchild6310Just because your speakers can play those frequencies doesn't mean they do so cleanly. There's going to be some distortion or degradation in the quality of the audio in the rest of the frequency range, affecting the mids and highs when trying to play lows. More accurately, a speaker resonates with midrange audio frequencies more than it does with low or high frequency ranges. That means it does great with mids, but less so with lows and highs. It is extremely difficult to design a speaker with the dynamic range necessary to be able to play lows, mids, and highs with the same fidelity/quality at the same time. Speaking of highs, do you think tweeters suck too? Your comment is equivalent to "why the fuck would I use a truck? I have a sedan that can do the same thing." No it can't. Sure, you can get away with using a sedan to haul lumber from Home Depot, but it wasn't designed for it. But use what makes you happy. I'm sure the speakers you're using are the pinnacle of audio quality. Or should we all collectively as a human race only buy the type of speakers you own, as they are the best speakers ever and designed by God himself? What kind of speakers do you even have?
@@gangnamchild6310subs hit different. You can feel it in your chest. Without subs boring asf🥱😴 Ok to be fair, i listen to electronic music. I have 2 big subs.
this video taught me i need to put "budget" in my speak search LOL all these are like 500+ all the way to like 3k... bless my soul haha
Yes, this was on our best ones. We have many at www.audioadvice.com under $500. Thanks for watching
I've listened to so many of these, and the KEF's are just on another level. Definitely some of my favs, and the colors are sweet too!
Couldn't agree more!
@@AudioAdvice hi, regarding the JBL 4305P what sub would you recommend me to go with if budget isn't a problem? For a desktop setup.
Those KEF's are 🔥...a pair of those with a Kube8 would be a sweet desktop system!
That would be cool!
Those Kanto TUKs look amazing!
Glad you like them!
Yes Kanto
I have a pair of the yu6
I spent a lot of time trying to find good desktop speakers. The Cambridge Audio SX50s are small bookshelves, but I think they work better as desktop speakers. IMHO they’re perfect, love the bass response of the paper cones
Thanks for sharing!
*Back in the day* I recall everyone loving the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1, but I really preferred the Yamaha YST-MS50. Neither of them qualified as "monitors" or likely hold a candle to the speakers in this video, but they were really compact and the separate woofer allowed for more placement options. Ever since my Yamaha setup died, I've been on the lookout for a new setup. Just the other day someone on marketplace was giving away a pair of Polk RT25i speakers so I picked them up. Still trying to figure out which amp to use with them and whether or not I should add a subwoofer...
Great choices! Reach out to our team of experts at audioadvice.com and they can always help you along the way if you want :)
If you listen to music with bass, so most music post 2010, or if you watch a lot of movies I'd recommend getting a subwoofer. imo, the best subwoofer under 500% and which competes with 800$ subwoofers in terms of frequency response is the audioengine S8. Their anechoic chamber tests say it can respond down to 27hz, but in an ideal situation it responds down do 23hz (their claim); mine (my S8), which is the older version responds down to 24hz, and they sell for 350$ new. If you have a small space and you want bass, I wouldn't look at anything else unless you've got a lot of money to spend on frequencies you feel more than hear. Cause really, there are subs that get down to low teens, but they're 2x the size and 3x the price. They do have nice bluetooth apps, though. Which I really like, just the app is almost worth getting a new system imo with all the controls and convenience it offers. I love being able to use my phone as a remote. But as far as cheaper subwoofers go, the S8 is in a league of its own as far as I know.
But what about the pro media 2.1 Heritage? It has an 8-in subwoofer. He claims to go down to 29 decibels but I think because it doesn't state within three decibels it might be 10.
What is the best speaker for bass and sound quality? Preferably with a sub if possible.
That is a wide open question, please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss which is best for your needs. Thanks for watching
Is there any reason to get a soundbar or desktop speakers? Should you pick one over the other if you can fit either or?
Chat with our experts at audioadvice.com and they can help you choose which one would be best for you!
11:09 where is the video ?
ua-cam.com/video/dADksz1CLoo/v-deo.htmlsi=NTdLmDVDyK7EDqmJ
I run Polk Reserve R100 as my desktop speakers. Phenomenal speakers and for general use I barely ever use the sub since the bass is pretty good as is.
Nice! Thanks for sharing!
Just picked up the JBL 4305P set. Best money I ever spent.
Great choice!! Enjoy :)
Yes. The 4305ps are really incredible.
Not on the list but I really like Vanatoo's T0 computer speakers
Thanks for sharing!!
Hahaha beat me to it
The vanatoos for their price/performance are hard to beat. I've had them 4 years now as my computer desktop setup. Their size is very compact
and fit perfectly next to my computer monitor. Their shape is designed perfectly so the 1 inch soft dome tweeters point directly at my ears from my seating position 2 to 3 feet from my monitor. What stood out for me when first listening to the vanatoos was the pinpoint accuracy , detail and imaging ability of the speakers, as well as the bass response. The bass was very tight and well integrated with the mid/and upper frequencies on these speakers. Another benefit is how well video games with complex soundtracks of voices, footsteps, explosions, etc are reproduced. I've since added a small powered subwoofer to the T0's...and its kicked up the performance even better. Because the vanatoos use a digital crossover, the vanatoos automatically senses that i've added a powered subwoofer, and will automatically adjust to its inclusion.
I really want a pair of those KEFs:)
They are fantastic. Get them!! :)
Literally perfect timing for this video. 👌
Perfect!
My question is whether small active floorstanding speakers could be included in this group? For example, the Q Acustic M40. Currently their price at my place is less than $1000. The USB-PC port supports 24bit/192kHz and the speakers, on paper, should play from 38 Hz which is important to me, as they don't need a subwoofer for a small room to start with.
Sorry, we went with speakers that could sit on top of a desk for this one.
@@AudioAdvice And do you have any plans to test this model of speakers ?
Great Video, can you please reccomend between KEF LSX2, peachtree m25, Kanto Tuk, with subwoofer and on separate stands next to a desk and computer . For best sound quality with all kinds of music including rock, pop and soft music
Thank you, please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss your system in more detail. Thanks for watching
What about iLoud Micro Monitors? How do they compare with Kanto YU2 for example?
We have not tested those yet, sorry.
Something for everyone here! Love this lineup.
Thanks for watching!
excellent review...and list! wish you would carry Q Acoustics or Triangle to compare their active speakers (particularly the Q acoustics M20) with the ones on your 'best' list...
I believe Audiopro A28 is pretty good too.
Thank you, sorry we are not a dealer for those brands
New to audio. Do any of these have noticeable latency?
These should all have minimal latency when plugged in via usb. If you're using Bluetooth you will want to make sure it is Bluetooth 5.0 or higher for minimal latency.
Wow....there's something for everyone …every performance/price range!
For sure! Thanks for watching!
You need a video for standalone subs that could be used w/ these speakers.
Good idea. Thanks
How do the TUKs hold up as TV/Living Room speakers, compared to the YU6s? I currently have the YU6s in my Living Room, but I’m very interested in the TUKs and would potentially move the YU6s to an office setup if I upgrade. I also listen to a turntable and play games through this living room setup.
The TUKs would be a solid upgrade. However, still now HDMI. You should consider something like the Klipsch Sevens or Nines. Those sound fantastic with a TV for movies, games and vinyl! Chat or call our team at audioadvice.com if you need more recommendations!
Any of these small speakers a good match for Sherwood s-7200?
All of these are self powered. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss the best passive speakers for your Sherwood. Thanks for watching
I am torn between Klipsch R-41 PM or Kanto Ora. There Will be a sub. Usage Will be for gaming and movies in a smaller office. Any advice?
Read our answer to this same question in the Ora video
What About 5.1 And 7.1 Speakwes For Pc?
This just covered 2 channel. We will consider your suggestion. Thanks for watching
I know you didn't mention it but what are your thoughts on the mission lx connect wireless speaker system?
Sorry, we have not heard those
Nicely done video. Thanks. Follow all the videos. Lots of great info.
Awesome, thank you!
I have the peach tree M25s on my desktop and they are amazing. I have them connected usb. And normally play Qobuz hi res music and the sound is just perfect. And they don’t take up too much space on the desk
Awesome setup!!! Thanks for sharing 😁
Hey! Do you use a DAC and an AMP, or just straight to the PC?
@@PercyAstocaza it’s all built into the speakers. I use the usb input from the PC and stream music through Qobuz.
So Big speaker how can on Tablet?
You can use the speakers dedicated app or use Bluetooth from your tablet to connect to the speaker.
Hi, i'm upgrading from Klipsch Promedia 2.1 to Peachtree M24. What subwoofer would you recommend? I use the speakers on my desk for listening to music and also gameplay.
Reach out to our team of experts at audioadvice.com and they can help you out!
Looking for a speaker after my Kef LSX decided to give me a red blinking light after owning it for 2 years and less than a 100h of playtime Took it to service and they said I have to pay 550$ to fix last time I deal with Kef
That's too bad, KEF makes some great speakers. Others on this list are great options as well. Hope you find some new ones you love!
@@AudioAdvice The saddest thing is I really broke them in nicely and was about to enjoy em but red light of death decided to show up they are in the attic now some day i’ll covert them to passive and slap a amp on them.
my next speaker will be either Kanto TUK / YU6 or Audio Engine A5+ W or The Fives still thinking any recommendations for a person who loved the LSX and run Full tower bowers and wilkins CM9’s
Love my M24s! Excellent bang for the buck. Thank you for the nice comparison guide!
Thanks for watching!
i love my lsx 2 , use kanto sub for my desktop pc use ,
also use RME ADI 2 dac which is an awesome bit of kit ...............
Thanks for sharing and watching our video.
I want to play classical music on a low volume continuously, though lsx II is good, apparently it doesnt deliver well enough on lower frequencies without a subwoofer, is klipsch the fives what Im looking for or yall know a better option. Even among the ones shown here like a2+ / a5+.
Reach out to our team of experts at audioadvice.com and they can help you choose the best option for you 🤙
@@AudioAdvice thanks, I did a ton of research on my own, alongside chat gpt lol. And found something more long lasting, scalable, with a better sound experience, for less money:
Second hand Cambridge audio cxa80 (450-600 euros) + b stock
KEF ls50 (550 euros)
For the audio source I'll try out my raspberry pi 3, the Cambridge audio cxn (400 euros at best) would be perfect, but I think it's better to finance a second hand Kef KC62 subwoofer (700 euros at best)
This may be beyond the scope of the vid, but since the Kef lsx II have a Digital Analogue Converter which causes a bit of latency, they don't really apply for real desktop speakers. And someone looking for a bookshelf speaker at a high end, better do what I found.
( b stock = manufacture second choice / item returned by clients, which has cosmetic defects but supposedly no functionality defects)
Really nice options for a desktop setup at different budgets.
Thank you!
Kanto tuk looks sick!
Agreed!
Bit rate seems very low on this video, even at 4k, there are very noticeable compression artifacts.
Hmm, we don't see that on our end!
@@AudioAdvice for example, 5:17, and also throughout the video there are compression artifacts on the face.
Oh wow, we see it now. It seems to be some sort of UA-cam compression issue as it doesn't look like that on the original file. Thanks so much for pointing that out to us!
Funny how speakers from Edifier or Microlab are not shown here. They are cheaper and probably better audio quality for same price.
How about the SVS Wireless Pro for $800 ?
Those are fantastic speakers but they are missing a USB port which we felt a true computer speaker should have. Thanks for watching
Would be nice if more of these manufacturers would buy a clue and offer both sub out AND an HDMI ARC connection. Seems like KEF is the only one in this rundown tapping into that market...so much better than a soundbar.
That would be cool. KEF does a great job!
Well, I'm relentlessly searching for good desktop speakers with BT that don't have amplifier hiss. To be honest, it's hard.
Fair enough. That can be frustrating. If you need further help, chat or call with our experts at audioadvice.com
I am never going to spend 2k usd on JBL computer speakers when their 308p studio monitors can do the same job and sound fantastic. Even with the LS310 studio subwoofer, the total will still be less than 1k usd and will sound soooooooooo much better.
The 308s are great (i own a pair) but they pale in comparison to JBLs higher end stuff like the 4305p
@@Nick_4i I'm sure they do, but the price difference is so far apart I feel it narrows down any comparison. If I go higher end it won't be JBL, but some other brand. The exotic looking ones that looks like Star wars droids.
The 308 is a great speaker for the money, but the 4305P is an entirely different product, but yes, it does cost more. Thanks for watching
"will still be less than 1k usd and will sound soooooooooo much better"
how would you know if you don't own them?
@@taylorhickman84 It's called magic.
For me the s3000-pro is still the best 6,5" computer speaker set! :) And they are cheap.
Thanks for sharing!
Now i want to hear the JBL
Stop by one of our showrooms :)
Edifier/Airpulse was covered in your review so the review is not complete IMO
Nice comparison!
Glad you enjoyed it
I could be completely wrong but I feel I could get just as good audio from some 20 year old Altec Lansing, Creative or Klipsch PC speaker sets for like $50.
The important thing is what sounds good to you, try one of those and compare it to one in this overview and hear for yourself. Thanks for watching
Those speakers are fkn HUGE
Haha, not all of them
I'm surprised no audioengines were on the list 🤔
We've had them on lists in the past but these speakers we find to perform better. Thanks for watching!
bottom line - the best are what you like
Very true!
Edifiers are good
Thanks for sharing!
Why is the volume knob on the back lol? Who is going to be reaching back there every time I want to change the volume? Makes zero sense.
If you are talking about the YU2, yes, it would be nicer on the front but most people use these with the USB DAC as desktop speakers and use their computer for volume. Thanks for watching
no budget solution? I dont need the biggest damn speakers. I just want simple ones which sound better than a good bluetooth speaker (like the bose soundlink mini 2)
These were what we considered the best. We do have budget solutions. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss.
Half of this sounds like it came straight from ChatGPT 😂 At least the lineup was solid.
Haha, we do not use Chat GPT. Actual in house experts do all of our content. And they test the gear too, which Chat GPT will never be able to do
Hiw does the Tuk perform against LSX2?
The Tuk is a great speaker, especially for the price tag. However, the LSX II probably has it beat in most categories.
Can't believe you didn't include Logitech Z906 5.1
We have not tested any Logitech before. What's your thoughts on them?
Not me watching this video without sound cause i need a speaker lmao.
Haha
This cam will have 4k resolution, with 120FPS
I personally think the KEFs are over rated and sound muddy
u know one that would be a good compromise? u think klipsch the five is a good contender?
First 🥇
Nice!! Thanks for watching!
That's a lot of expensive stuff. Who can afford them...
We covered a wide range starting at $189/pair
Klipsch The Nines would smoke most speakers
The Nines are super good!
You need to put your thesaurus down. Get some measuring equipment and measure these speakers. And stop polluting UA-cam videos with your wine tasting metaphors and completely irrelevant completely irrelevant remarks.
Are we all completely and utterly insane? People should stand up and every time they see a video like this one in the comments say we are mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!
Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the video. We appreciate your feedback as we are always trying to improve our content.
my whole pc costs 1000 euro. it can run games in 4k, you can work on it, entertain, everything. but here are speakers worth more than 1000 euro that can deliver simply a sound that only 'audiophiles' can hear? sending hate.
And have you heard these speakers in person before you bash them?
@@AudioAdvice i do not bash them obviously, i am just baffled by a non sense of existence of a such overpriced product. it doesn't make sense for me and never will. you can buy amp+player+ a pair of hi-fi floor standing speakers for the same money. and here we have just a pair speakers. pure insanity.
Sub woofer is a must,not an option.
Haha! Yes. Thanks for sharing
Sub woofers suck and I would never use one. If the speaker can push 55hz and up at listenable levels, why the fuck would I have a subwoofer?
@@gangnamchild6310Just because your speakers can play those frequencies doesn't mean they do so cleanly. There's going to be some distortion or degradation in the quality of the audio in the rest of the frequency range, affecting the mids and highs when trying to play lows. More accurately, a speaker resonates with midrange audio frequencies more than it does with low or high frequency ranges. That means it does great with mids, but less so with lows and highs. It is extremely difficult to design a speaker with the dynamic range necessary to be able to play lows, mids, and highs with the same fidelity/quality at the same time. Speaking of highs, do you think tweeters suck too?
Your comment is equivalent to "why the fuck would I use a truck? I have a sedan that can do the same thing." No it can't. Sure, you can get away with using a sedan to haul lumber from Home Depot, but it wasn't designed for it.
But use what makes you happy. I'm sure the speakers you're using are the pinnacle of audio quality. Or should we all collectively as a human race only buy the type of speakers you own, as they are the best speakers ever and designed by God himself? What kind of speakers do you even have?
@@gangnamchild6310subs hit different. You can feel it in your chest. Without subs boring asf🥱😴
Ok to be fair, i listen to electronic music. I have 2 big subs.