Time to revamp my home office listening environment. My current office playback system (Bel Canto DAC 1.1 > Audio Experiences Symphonies > McCormack DNA 1 > VR1s) is way overkill for my small, acoustically-challenged, multi-function office space. Main listening in the living room will continue to be STR-DA3000ES > VR1s...until I pick up some VR2s for my mains.
As I'm sure some will offer, I could move my 2-ch listening gear into the LR. However, WAF restricts me from moving the above gear into the LR for critical 2-ch listening. Moving on...
My current plans:
- Move my office VR-1s into the LR for HT surrounds
- Unload my pre and power amps (and maybe DAC)
- Replace all of the above with active monitors (using either my existing DAC or Waveterminal 2496)
I expect to use the active monitors in a traditional desktop environment: PC monitor flanked by near-field monitors. My listening needs / usage:
- purely casual 2-ch listening
- mixing / mastering 4-ch recordings
Poking around in the Playback forum, I've seen reference to the Blue Sky Media Desk, an active 2.1 system, and found good reviews online. Others have mentioned various Tannoy and Swan models, but I think most of them were were passive. Swampy, and my brother, an ex- performing musician and quasi studio guy, recommended (go ahead and cringe) the Behringer Truth series - as my brother suggested: they'll be Good Enough for my needs, given the office space in which I have to work.
Other info:
- Room treatments: possible, but not immediately, whole 'nother discussion at any rate - let's not go there just yet, but feel free to factor future room treatments into the equation
- Budget: $500 MAX, not a penny more
Thoughts? Recommendations? What monitors do you feel are a good value in the $500 budget range?