Recently, my interest in quality passive bookshelf speakers that work on the desk with the PC, for small HDB rooms, has been rekindled (maybe due to Covid-19).
While the 'computer speakers' category is still around, represented by the likes of Logitech / Creative / Edifier / Swans / Razer / Bose / Klipsch / Harmon Kardon, the packaged solution and the overall audio quality they offer has not been very attractive to me. There're of course the better active solutions, but I prefer the flexibility of separates since I can change different components as I go along.
And as I continue my journey towards understanding what I hear, I'm refining my personal definition of what is acceptable for a customized / DIY 2.1 desktop speaker setup:
1. 'Satellites' should handle at least 70-120hz without relying on sub, so vocals have proper weight and don't sound like they come from subwoofer.
Above 80hz is generally cited as where FR become too directional for sub.
'Bassiest' (in the title) just means lowest usable bass extension (without EQ). My general understanding is that if the driver + cabinet aren't designed to go low naturally without EQ, boosting the (mid-)low end with EQ can quickly lead to undesirable effects, plus we're also fighting against the crossover electronics.
Also, I've experimented with some bookshelf / satellite speakers I currently have, and while I can increase the sub's crossover point + EQ that FR region, I can still hear a clear difference.
2. Cabinet depth lesser than 20 cm. It's an arbituary value, but 20cm tends to be 1/3 to 1/4 of the typical depth of a table.
Have searched through the small speaker offering from most of the established brands and those that go below 20cm depth inevitably have severe dropoffs around 100-120hz (actual 3rd party measurements, not published specs).
Have noticed there's typically 3 depths, at ~17cm / 20cm / 24cm. Small home theatre satellites frequently are 17cm and below, but the frequency response suffers as well. At the moment, I'm hoping the Dayton MK402X will be the exception to the rule (17cm depth but has good bass down to almost 50Hz).
3. Midrange driver of at least 4 inch.
I remember Wwenze has mentioned before 5 inch is the sweet spot for overall good tonality (paraphasing, pls correct if wrong). But almost impossible / very hard to find 5 inchers that has less than 24cm depth and still have the bass extension.
*Update:
There are a bunch of speakers with ~5 inch drivers and ~20cm depth, namely the Fluance HFS, the Klipsch R-15M (taller though), the older Monitor Audio Bronze series, the NHT C-1 (sealed) and the Promonitor 1000 (sealed).
The AVX Audio 6.5 as well, though may not be considered 'properly designed'.
And technically the LS3/5a and its various disciples (though bass tends to be a problem with them).
4. Budget, obviously.
Wouldn't be hunting for desktop speakers for small room otherwise. Still, doesn't mean I'm not considering more expensive speakers, it's just whether the value is there for me to fork out that much more.
Awesome simple frequency test to detect room resonances by ear made by wwenze:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A list of the speakers that fit or are just slightly outside the above criteria. Though note that published numbers can frequently be massaged (like some '4.5 inch' driver measurement actually includes baffle ).
Most in the list are also bundled as home theatre speakers. And note the difference between the Sealed vs Ported speakers.
AVX Audio 6.5"
3rd Party Measurements - Amazingly bad
Dimensions (HWD): 305 x 197 x 190 mm
Drivers: 6.5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 45 Hz - 22 kHz
B&W M-1
3rd Party Measurements 1 - website
3rd Party Measurements 2 - The chart is not in the website, but you can find it in the magazine version of the same article
*The M-1 linked here is the newer iteration, there's also an older 'M1'.
Dimensions (HWD): 248 x 114 x 162 mm
Drivers: 4" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 64 Hz - 23 kHz (±3 dB), -6dB at 55Hz and 50kHz
Cambridge Audio SX50
Unfortunately couldn't find any 3rd party measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 225 x 161 x 240 mm
Drivers: 5.25" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 50 Hz - 22 kHz
Dali Fazon Sat (not Mikro)
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 287 x 146 x 172 mm (with table stand)
Drivers: 4.5" + 1.1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 86 Hz - 25 kHz (±3 dB)
Dali Spektor 1
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 237 x 140 x 195 mm
Drivers: 4.5" + 5/6"
Claimed Frequency Response: 59 Hz - 26 kHz (±3 dB)
Dali Zensor Pico (discontinued)
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 230 x 141 x 196 mm
Drivers: 4.5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 62 Hz - 26.5 kHz (±3 dB)
Dali Zensor 1 (discontinued)
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 274 x 162 x 220 mm
Drivers: 5.25" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 53 Hz - 26.5 kHz (±3 dB)
Dayton MK402X
3rd Party Measurements for the earlier MK402 + DSP Correction Filter
Dimensions (HWD): 241 x 146 x 168 mm
Drivers: 4" + 3/4"
Claimed Frequency Response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 276 x 159 x 165 mm
Drivers: 5.25" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 47 Hz - 30 kHz
Emotiva BasX Sat
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 267 x 146 x 174 mm
Drivers: 4" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 85 Hz - 25 kHz (±3 dB)
Fluance SX6
3rd Party Measurements + DSP Correction Filter
Manufacturer's Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 343 x 211 x 231 mm
Drivers: 5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
Fluance XL7S
Manufacturer's Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 290 x 206 x 229 mm
Drivers: 5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
Fluance HFS
Manufacturer's Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 325 x 200 x 209 cm
Drivers: 5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
Klipsch R-14M
Unfortunately couldn't find any 3rd party measurements, but given the measurements from R-15M below, may be reasonable to believe their claimed frequency response.
Dimensions (HWD): 248 x 149 x 191 cm
Drivers: 4" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 64 Hz - 24 kHz (±3 dB)
Klipsch R-15M
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 318 x 178 x 206 cm
Drivers: 5.25" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 62 Hz - 24 kHz (±3 dB)
Micca MB42X
3rd Party Measurements of the powered version of MB42X + DSP Correction Filter
Dimensions (HWD): 241 x 147 x 165 mm
Drivers: 4" + 3/4"
Claimed Frequency Response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
Micca RB42
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 221 x 124 x 200 mm
Drivers: 4" + 3/4"
Claimed Frequency Response: 50 Hz - 20 kHz (Typical In-Room)
Monitor Audio BX1 (discontinued)
Monitor Audio Bronze BR1 (discontinued)
Monitor Audio Bronze 1(discontinued)
Unfortunately couldn't find any 3rd party measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 260 x 165 x 205 mm
Drivers: 5.5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 55 Hz - 30 kHz
NHT SuperZero 2.1
3rd Party Measurements - For SuperZero 2.0, hopefully is similar
Dimensions (HWD): 228 x 127 x 140 mm
Drivers: 4.5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 85 Hz - 20 kHz (±3 dB)
NHT C-1
3rd Party Measurements - Apparently the C-1 is a refresh of the AbsoluteZero
Dimensions (HWD): 244 x 146 x 190 mm
Drivers: 5.25" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 70 Hz - 20 kHz
Polk Audio S10
Unfortunately couldn't find any 3rd party measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 213 x 137 x 159 mm
Drivers: 4" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 67 Hz - 40 kHz
PSB Alpha P3
Unfortunately couldn't find any 3rd party measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 220 x 130 x 174mm
Drivers: 4" + 3/4"
Claimed Frequency Response: 57 Hz - 21 kHz (±3 dB)
SVS Prime Satellite
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 222 x 124 x 160 mm
Drivers: 4.5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 69 Hz - 25 kHz (±3 dB)
The prices can vary quite a bit in the above selection of speakers. This list will probably be obselete in a few months, but hopefully it can help someone else who's not satisfied with the selection of 2.1 speaker systems on the market right now, doesn't want to go down the route of actives, and still wants the smallest desktop footprint.
Dayton MK402X seems to check the various boxes, and there's a good deal today, hope it can really go down to 60hz as claimed.
While the 'computer speakers' category is still around, represented by the likes of Logitech / Creative / Edifier / Swans / Razer / Bose / Klipsch / Harmon Kardon, the packaged solution and the overall audio quality they offer has not been very attractive to me. There're of course the better active solutions, but I prefer the flexibility of separates since I can change different components as I go along.
And as I continue my journey towards understanding what I hear, I'm refining my personal definition of what is acceptable for a customized / DIY 2.1 desktop speaker setup:
1. 'Satellites' should handle at least 70-120hz without relying on sub, so vocals have proper weight and don't sound like they come from subwoofer.
Above 80hz is generally cited as where FR become too directional for sub.
'Bassiest' (in the title) just means lowest usable bass extension (without EQ). My general understanding is that if the driver + cabinet aren't designed to go low naturally without EQ, boosting the (mid-)low end with EQ can quickly lead to undesirable effects, plus we're also fighting against the crossover electronics.
Also, I've experimented with some bookshelf / satellite speakers I currently have, and while I can increase the sub's crossover point + EQ that FR region, I can still hear a clear difference.
2. Cabinet depth lesser than 20 cm. It's an arbituary value, but 20cm tends to be 1/3 to 1/4 of the typical depth of a table.
Have searched through the small speaker offering from most of the established brands and those that go below 20cm depth inevitably have severe dropoffs around 100-120hz (actual 3rd party measurements, not published specs).
Have noticed there's typically 3 depths, at ~17cm / 20cm / 24cm. Small home theatre satellites frequently are 17cm and below, but the frequency response suffers as well. At the moment, I'm hoping the Dayton MK402X will be the exception to the rule (17cm depth but has good bass down to almost 50Hz).
3. Midrange driver of at least 4 inch.
I remember Wwenze has mentioned before 5 inch is the sweet spot for overall good tonality (paraphasing, pls correct if wrong). But almost impossible / very hard to find 5 inchers that has less than 24cm depth and still have the bass extension.
*Update:
There are a bunch of speakers with ~5 inch drivers and ~20cm depth, namely the Fluance HFS, the Klipsch R-15M (taller though), the older Monitor Audio Bronze series, the NHT C-1 (sealed) and the Promonitor 1000 (sealed).
The AVX Audio 6.5 as well, though may not be considered 'properly designed'.
And technically the LS3/5a and its various disciples (though bass tends to be a problem with them).
4. Budget, obviously.
Wouldn't be hunting for desktop speakers for small room otherwise. Still, doesn't mean I'm not considering more expensive speakers, it's just whether the value is there for me to fork out that much more.
Awesome simple frequency test to detect room resonances by ear made by wwenze:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A list of the speakers that fit or are just slightly outside the above criteria. Though note that published numbers can frequently be massaged (like some '4.5 inch' driver measurement actually includes baffle ).
Most in the list are also bundled as home theatre speakers. And note the difference between the Sealed vs Ported speakers.
AVX Audio 6.5"
3rd Party Measurements - Amazingly bad
Dimensions (HWD): 305 x 197 x 190 mm
Drivers: 6.5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 45 Hz - 22 kHz
B&W M-1
3rd Party Measurements 1 - website
3rd Party Measurements 2 - The chart is not in the website, but you can find it in the magazine version of the same article
*The M-1 linked here is the newer iteration, there's also an older 'M1'.
Dimensions (HWD): 248 x 114 x 162 mm
Drivers: 4" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 64 Hz - 23 kHz (±3 dB), -6dB at 55Hz and 50kHz
Cambridge Audio SX50
Unfortunately couldn't find any 3rd party measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 225 x 161 x 240 mm
Drivers: 5.25" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 50 Hz - 22 kHz
Dali Fazon Sat (not Mikro)
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 287 x 146 x 172 mm (with table stand)
Drivers: 4.5" + 1.1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 86 Hz - 25 kHz (±3 dB)
Dali Spektor 1
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 237 x 140 x 195 mm
Drivers: 4.5" + 5/6"
Claimed Frequency Response: 59 Hz - 26 kHz (±3 dB)
Dali Zensor Pico (discontinued)
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 230 x 141 x 196 mm
Drivers: 4.5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 62 Hz - 26.5 kHz (±3 dB)
Dali Zensor 1 (discontinued)
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 274 x 162 x 220 mm
Drivers: 5.25" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 53 Hz - 26.5 kHz (±3 dB)
Dayton MK402X
3rd Party Measurements for the earlier MK402 + DSP Correction Filter
Dimensions (HWD): 241 x 146 x 168 mm
Drivers: 4" + 3/4"
Claimed Frequency Response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 276 x 159 x 165 mm
Drivers: 5.25" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 47 Hz - 30 kHz
Emotiva BasX Sat
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 267 x 146 x 174 mm
Drivers: 4" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 85 Hz - 25 kHz (±3 dB)
Fluance SX6
3rd Party Measurements + DSP Correction Filter
Manufacturer's Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 343 x 211 x 231 mm
Drivers: 5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
Fluance XL7S
Manufacturer's Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 290 x 206 x 229 mm
Drivers: 5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
Fluance HFS
Manufacturer's Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 325 x 200 x 209 cm
Drivers: 5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
Klipsch R-14M
Unfortunately couldn't find any 3rd party measurements, but given the measurements from R-15M below, may be reasonable to believe their claimed frequency response.
Dimensions (HWD): 248 x 149 x 191 cm
Drivers: 4" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 64 Hz - 24 kHz (±3 dB)
Klipsch R-15M
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 318 x 178 x 206 cm
Drivers: 5.25" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 62 Hz - 24 kHz (±3 dB)
Micca MB42X
3rd Party Measurements of the powered version of MB42X + DSP Correction Filter
Dimensions (HWD): 241 x 147 x 165 mm
Drivers: 4" + 3/4"
Claimed Frequency Response: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
Micca RB42
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 221 x 124 x 200 mm
Drivers: 4" + 3/4"
Claimed Frequency Response: 50 Hz - 20 kHz (Typical In-Room)
Monitor Audio BX1 (discontinued)
Monitor Audio Bronze BR1 (discontinued)
Monitor Audio Bronze 1(discontinued)
Unfortunately couldn't find any 3rd party measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 260 x 165 x 205 mm
Drivers: 5.5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 55 Hz - 30 kHz
NHT SuperZero 2.1
3rd Party Measurements - For SuperZero 2.0, hopefully is similar
Dimensions (HWD): 228 x 127 x 140 mm
Drivers: 4.5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 85 Hz - 20 kHz (±3 dB)
NHT C-1
3rd Party Measurements - Apparently the C-1 is a refresh of the AbsoluteZero
Dimensions (HWD): 244 x 146 x 190 mm
Drivers: 5.25" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 70 Hz - 20 kHz
Polk Audio S10
Unfortunately couldn't find any 3rd party measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 213 x 137 x 159 mm
Drivers: 4" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 67 Hz - 40 kHz
PSB Alpha P3
Unfortunately couldn't find any 3rd party measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 220 x 130 x 174mm
Drivers: 4" + 3/4"
Claimed Frequency Response: 57 Hz - 21 kHz (±3 dB)
SVS Prime Satellite
3rd Party Measurements
Dimensions (HWD): 222 x 124 x 160 mm
Drivers: 4.5" + 1"
Claimed Frequency Response: 69 Hz - 25 kHz (±3 dB)
The prices can vary quite a bit in the above selection of speakers. This list will probably be obselete in a few months, but hopefully it can help someone else who's not satisfied with the selection of 2.1 speaker systems on the market right now, doesn't want to go down the route of actives, and still wants the smallest desktop footprint.
Dayton MK402X seems to check the various boxes, and there's a good deal today, hope it can really go down to 60hz as claimed.
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