Hi, I'm interested in recommendations of desktop speakers being fed from an iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) for Music & Movies for my office.

I don't want to run a sub just stereo sound, I was thinking about DSP3300 (pricey for office) but will I need a pre or will my MSR work them?

The iMac has USB out & a tiny headphone out.

Thanks,
W

Hi

You'll need a controller of some sort for them, as they have no IR eye for direct control from an MSR. The 218 seems the obvious choice of the moment but the AC200 would do too. Also seem to recall that the AC200 USB is not asychronous (?) but the 218 is, so what you lose in front panel controls you perhaps gain in sound quality with your Mac via USB. If you run Roon, the 218 is the clear choice I'd say.

Cheers


George

Have you checked out the Apple Home Pods?

They sound pretty impressive for their size and price.

They also do dynamic room correction and bass correction.

7 tweeters and 6 microphones.

They just announced support for true pairing stereo mode.

I’m thinking of getting a pair myself even though I have DSP5000’s at every desk I sit at.

I hope a sub is in the future.

What's your budget? Are you interested in Meridian solutions only?

A budget Meridian processor (565, 561 or 568) coupled with a pair of (pro) active near field monitors would work nicely; use the optical out from the Mac to get SPDIF into the processor.

If you go for a pair of DSPs and don't need surround codecs, a 518 would be a great solution to feed them, it will also clean up the Mac's SPDIF better than a processor alone.*

All the best,

Steve

* I still use a 518 between a Mac Mini and a G68SL and it makes a very noticeable difference.

I think a 218 with DSPs is going to be too much money, although it would give me MQA.

The homepods look interesting as a stereo pair I will have to demo them.

The news about Airplay2 and stereo opens up other products as well.

I suppose my budget would be £800 ish.

Anyone using Genelecs?

Genelecs within your price range will have 3 or 4 inch drivers, so will need a sub.

How about a pair of these? £175 each

Along with a used 561 or 565 (no more than £175)

Budget £20 for cables (more than enough) and you'll have a very nice desktop monitoring set up for less than £550.

All the best,

Steve

Dali has announced inclusion of BluOS into its active loudspeaker range.

BluOS includes MQA.

For desktop use, you might be interested in their Zensor 1AX.

Thanks for those ideas.

At £450 The Dali’s look interesting with a paper/wood cone.

A question though;
I can get an external speaker to work with the iMac, but what is the best setting to output in audio midi settings?
I thought Apple only output 16/44, but is gives options of 24 bit & 32bit?

Ta
W

A good media player should set it accordingly to the source or output of processing.

Like Amarra.

Keep in mind many iComputers have an optical output embedded in the headphone jack.

Has anyone heard the JBL4312Mii?

I have Amarra4 Luxe (MQA) on my Mac Mini. This is a good match with the Dali (BluOS) speakers.

spinaltap,

Hi do you have the Dali bluos? What do you think of them?

I looked on the Dali website but could only see the higher range BluOS speakers.
I've listened to the Kef LS50 & like them a lot (apart from the price).

W

No, I don’t own Dali speakers.

I’m waiting on Rotel’s impending implementation of MQA on their pre-amplifier.

What about the KEF LS50W?

We have quite a few pairs here running as PC monitors.

Cracking bits of kit!

Roon ready, MQA ready....lovely!

Gimmie a shout if you want to chat more?

Ian

+1 Superb speakers.

UPDATE.

Listened & bought some Genelec's. I set them up now just with the headphone output of the iMac

& they sound fantastic, better than the Kefs. (I know not as many inputs but I only need one.)

An Explorer2 will give me MQA into them, that's the next purchase I think.

regards

W

Which Genelec did you end up buying?

Hi they are the 8030c.

It’s too late for the OP, but for others...

Currently, Bluesound is offering almost 50% discount on their (MQA) PowerNode 2 plus Duo 2.1 system.

Normally, £1,798. Now, £999 (effectively giving you the PowerNode 2 for free).