REc's for small desktop speakers and amp


Hi folks,

I am setting up a new workstation at home and for my listening enjoyment, I want to assemble a nice, but small system to sit on the table so I can stream music or play it from my server easily.

This is a WORK computer, so I won’t be putting any audio on it, nor will I be using it as a streaming source. I have a Sonos system in the house, and I can easily add to that to get all the streaming and access to the server that I want, but I have a few questions before I buy anything...

I have a nice ZMF headphone setup here fed through a Schiit Lyr 2 amp with really great Siemens NOS CCa tubes. This was a kit I had at the office in the cube farm, but I’d prefer to not be wearing ’phones at home, so I’d like a recommendation on a decent, small speaker pair that won’t be massive in near-field listening and also won’t block the screens. Unfortunately, that eliminates almost all of the good bookshelf speakers out there, as they are really too large.

I’m looking at the Audioengine P4 as one of the only decent candidates size-wise... Looking for other recommendations that may be suitable. I don’t want active speakers, because of my second question below...

To go along with the speakers, I’d like a mini-amplifier. This setup will only be used in near-field, so I don’t need any real power, and I’d prefer tubes because I like having some tubes in the signal path to make things a bit more enjoyable for long-term listening...

Looking around, there are almost no products that meet my requirements... Most are integrated amps, many are also set up for streaming (bluetooth), and I have my doubts on the sound quality out of many of the offshore products, even the inexpensive full-size amps (wich most are still integrateds, anyway).

The only thing that comes close that I have found is the TubeCube 7 by Tube Depot. Most of the others that are mini like this are full-on integrateds with BT and a bunch of hoo-ha that I really don’t want.

Money isn’t really a factor, but we have to be realistic; this is not an audiophile opportunity because of the limitations, so I don’t want to be buying an Audio Note amp, even if they make one that actually meets the criteria...

Any recommendations on speakers and a small amp are much appreciated.

mjm6