Topic: Recommendations for Compact (Desk) Monitor Speakers

[Gutbucket]

Like most things, it can be as simple or as complex as you want and wish to take it. Maybe based on the real world results you are getting you might go as far down the rabbit hole as it takes, or maybe not worry about it at all.  You're the one in charge.

Part one of this video covers the some of the pitfalls typically associated with monitoring the bottom end when mixing pretty well- https://youtu.be/1xPO2Q2QHXk?si=Rq2D9paWDzMiAWho

[heathen]

Philharmonic speakers are an expensive proposition, but they are very up front about their design goals, parts, etc. which, as you said, is refreshing in today's market.

As someone who owns a pair of them (the BMRs, to be specific), and has followed a lot of the discussions that have included Dennis Murphy himself, I can assure you that for the performance they offer they are the absolute best bargain out there.  Even since he had the good sense to raise his prices a bit, his speakers are still a steal.  While in absolute terms more than $1k can feel like a lot for speakers, compared to what else is in the price range of the various Philharmonic models nothing can even come close to them.

[heathen]

Check out the Kali Audio LP-UNF:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LP-UNF--kali-audio-lp-unf-ultra-nearfield-monitor-system-black-pair

+1 on this recommendation. I own the Kali IN-5 and love them, though they are not at all "desktop" sized. Here's a very detailed review of the UNF:
https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/kali_lp_unf/

I also have the IN-5 monitors and I've used them on a desktop with angled foam pads to aim them at my dumb head.  They're not bad speakers, but I haven't been blown away by them either.  At one point I had the WS-12 sub to go with them, but I ended up selling that.

[voltronic]

Check out the Kali Audio LP-UNF:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LP-UNF--kali-audio-lp-unf-ultra-nearfield-monitor-system-black-pair

+1 on this recommendation. I own the Kali IN-5 and love them, though they are not at all "desktop" sized. Here's a very detailed review of the UNF:
https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/kali_lp_unf/

I also have the IN-5 monitors and I've used them on a desktop with angled foam pads to aim them at my dumb head.  They're not bad speakers, but I haven't been blown away by them either.  At one point I had the WS-12 sub to go with them, but I ended up selling that.

They really need stands. Also, after doing a full measurement with REW and generating correction curves, they sound phenomenal. When I toggle the generated correction on and off, they are muddy-sounding when uncorrected.

If you are anyone else is curious, I recommend these stands. They are extremely solid yet adjust over a wide vertical range.
https://www.cotytech.com/speaker-stand-for-large-size-height-adjustable-sp-os10

For measurement and correction, I generally followed Julian Krause's guide, including his house curve. One significant thing I do differently than him is to set the speaker type to "full range" since the Kali's can dig pretty deep. I generated multiple curves with different corner frequencies for roll-off, and the Full Range profile absolutely sounded the best. I also ran the measurement at the highest sample rate offered by my interface.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev1bSSL8tRA

If you generate multiple correction files and want an easy way to switch between them, this tray app is great:
https://github.com/psidex/EACS

I used this measurement mic since I already have a good audio interface:
https://www.daytonaudio.com/product/911/emm-6-electret-measurement-microphone
 
Or you can go with the ever-popular Umik-1 USB mic:
https://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1

Both of these mics are also available with additional calibration from Cross-Spectrum:
https://www.cross-spectrum.com/measurement/calibrated_dayton.html
https://cross-spectrum.com/measurement/calibrated_umik.html

[Bernd Out]

Bass traps require dissimilar materials, wood, foam, fiberglass, corrugated, etc. to diffuse the sonic pressure.
It is a lot of work and time to get that tuned right to the room and a given source.

If you stay above 80Hz, you avoid that,... just HPF your mastering.
Very few can reproduce it at home or through ear pods anyhow.

GC is on-point, listen before you buy.
It is your hearing that is important.

I do not EQ to flat, although start there.
I rarely use loudness at all.

The new Lady GaGa release is a brick of compression.
Many people have said that they love it, and it will likely win awards.
Everyone has their own preferences...

[goodcooker]

In case anyone else stumbles on this looking for a desktop solution.

I got a couple of pairs of monitors to try out side by side - this is my preferred method to put them in the space they will be used in and put them through their places with the music I intend to use them for - the Adam Audio T5V and Kali LP 6 vii. Here's my takeaway.

The Adam T5V ($249 ea new at Sweetwater) are rear ported and have an adjustable volume, +/- 2dB switches to contour the response based on placement, a 5"low freq driver and a ribbon high freq driver. The sound was crisp and even producing enough bass (but not low enough to not need a sub for low bass reinforcement) and they have a wide sweet spot for typical desktop mixing use at a 4-5 ft split. The midrange is a little aggressive IMO and they may be best for rock and roll, EDM and the like similar to the KRK Rokit that many like. The reference tracks I use - Steely Dan's Can't Buy A Thrill - sounded just a little crunchy. I bought them for $325 used, like new and sold them for the same.

The Kali LP6 vii (same price new) are front ported and have the same adjustable volume on the rear but instead have a set of DIP switches and some diagrams to represent placement and the corresponding boundary compensation EQ. Very simple. These have a 6.5" low frequency driver and a more conventional 1" soft dome tweeter. These sound very flat, without the somewhat hyped mid range of the Adams, and the low end digs very deep. No subwoofer needed with these (depending of course on your use case - I often check my post work with a sub just to make my LF slope is in the right place for full range playback) and the front ported waveguide keeps the disturbance to a minimum and most importantly no "chuffing" from the port which can be an issue on smaller speakers and bass heavy live recordings. Good sweet spot and wide soundstage at typical desktop placement widths. They are kinda large to sit on a typical desk and a little tall so if your mix desk has a monitor shelf like mine does it may raise the HF driver a bit too high - simple solution I raised my chair an inch or two or you  could place them on their sides. The reference tracks sounded silky smooth like they were intended to. No hype, very "laid back". Keeping these and sold the Adams.

I don't use correction software or room treatments - I suspect many others are similar and if you do more power to ya - so my impressions are based on simple user trial under "normal" conditions. Sitting on a desk with just a neoprene pad underneath being fed by a Presonus 2626 USB interface from a computer running Reaper.

I was very interested in trying out the Kali IN5 3 way monitor (with the coaxial midrange/HF driver at $900 pair) but I'm perfectly happy with the 2 way LP6 at a much lower price - I got them for ~$250 used, like new, shipped for the pair.

[Gutbucket]

Insightful review

+T