Looking for a Quality Desktop Solution


Holiday greetings to my fellow audiophiles.

I am hoping you have some suggestions to complete a desktop audio system for my home office.  I run Roon in my main two-channel system and have a MRendu as a streaming Roon endpoint I'd like to use as the start for this system.  So I need a DAC/Amp and either powered or passive small form near-field monitors since I don't have a ton of space on my desk.

My budget is 3K.

Thanks,

David

decal

Showing 3 responses by soix

On a desktop in the near field I think the KEF LS50 concentric driver topology makes a lot of sense. If you get the powered version you might be able to just plug in your Ethernet or streamer and be done. Best of luck.

I highly recommend this headphone amp that’ll beat the snot out of any headphone amp in an integrated — your headphones will thank you for it. I have this driving my Hifiman Arya Stealth ‘phones and it makes them sing.  And you can just add a small-footprint amp later and use this as a preamp to drive desktop speakers if you ever decide to go that route. It’s fully balanced BTW. Just one idea.

https://www.amazon.com/Singxer-Balanced-Discrete-Single-Ended-Amplifier/dp/B08QMDM631/ref=asc_df_B08QMDM631/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475811984565&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=777827280454388326&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003636&hvtargid=pla-1207731386054&psc=1

Well, I can only tell you I bought the Musician Pegasus and am really happy. Some R2R DACs are reputed to have rolled-off highs. Not this one. Plus, the expansion of soundstage is palpable. Have to say though, after reading Soundnews.net review of their Draco that’d be worth considering. But, I find I need every bit of the Pegasus’ output in my preferred setting to get the most out of my Aryas, so I’m still glad I went that way. If I were you, Denafrips Pontus ll, Soekris, and Gustard would be other DACs I’d consider, depending on what sound characteristics you’re looking for. I’ll just say that coming from delta-sigma DACs I’m absolutley thrilled with the Pegasus, but to get the most out of it you’ll wanna use the XLR connections.  I bought short XLR interconnects from LavriCables and think they offer huge bang for the buck. Hope this helps, and best of luck.