desktop speaker recommendations (for music)?

I think I just threw up a little.

I have Polk RTi6 bookshelf speakers in my living room connected to an Onkyo TX-8050 networked receiver. I've just added my PC via S/PDIF and popped in a CD, and when I walked back into my office I realized that sad noise I was hearing was from a set of 15+ year old Altec Lansing multimedia speakers. Not bad on their own, but it was like walking off the beach into a mud puddle. This is only going to get worse next week when the RTi6 are replaced by Polk LSi9s powered by an Anthem amplifier.

I've been searching for decent mini bookshelf/monitors for my desk, I plan to now run computer audio through the Onkyo (for most computer functions I use a headset, this will be for music only). However, there doesn't appear to be a tremendous amount of choice for small desktop sized passive speakers. I would have thought that going through the receiver with passive speakers would provide superior sound, but its looking like there are better active choices, like Swan M200MKII and Audioengine 5+.

I'd like some recommendations and opinions if you don't mind giving them, in the $500/pair range.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the recommendations so far. Now that I have dug in and started research I realize there is quite a number of choices available. Unfortunately, I prefer soft dome tweeters, which has narrowed what I think my favorites might be, and as well, since these are to be on a desk against the wall I need to be aware of placement and rear-firing speakers. Preferences aside, I hope to audition as many as possible.

The short list of those I am considering:

KEF C1 Black Ash
Energy RC-10
Monitor Audio M1 or M2
PSB Image B4 or B5
Boston Acoustics A 26 or VS260
Jamo c803
Cambridge Audio S30
Mordaunt-Short Carnival 2

The ones I want, Dynaudio Excite X12. However, this won't happen until I win the lottery this weekend.

I am local to Crutchfield and will be able to audition a few on the list. For the rest, it will take awhile.

Further opinions appreciated, if you'd like to help me narrow it down further.

Audioengine has been on the radar, and I initially considered either their active speakers or those from Swan. I've since decided to run passive speakers from the receiver in my office instead, for additional flexibility. Audioengine P4 fits most of the criteria on my list, but reports are that they are rather bright, and therefore dismissed.

afrogt, apologies for not addressing your question. The Polk RTi6 are great speakers, just not so good where I need speakers at this time. They are 14" deep, too big for a desktop, and have a rather forward image. I question their ability to perform as nearfield monitors. Thank you for the suggestion though.

Honestly I probably wouldn't need them either, but out of curiosity have you ever plugged the ports for a sound comparison?

Thanks, as I suspected.

I'm excited about the Energy RC-10 the more I read, they are certainly at the top of the list, although Monitor and PSB are right up there with them. Unfortunately I don't think I will have an opportunity to listen to the Energy speakers, which is a minor complication in deciding. I'm hoping to discern enough from listening to the other two to make a final decision.

I'm adding Mordaunt-Short Carnival 2 to the list, but like Energy this will be a difficult choice to audition. From reviews and design though this appears to be very close to what I am looking for. It also helps that they are $249 a pair through Amazon Prime.

I posted in the Mordaunt-Short forum, but since it's a ghost town over there I wonder if any of those active on this thread might have a comment or two to spare.

Thanks.

No I hadn't Jim, thanks for sharing. It was a bit like the Super Bowl - the suspense of waiting for the comparison with the Energy speakers

His report surprised me, I would have expected the two to be much more similar given both design and components, particularly in low and mid ranges. Yet another great endorsement for the Energy RC-10's though, but I wonder whether the more natural sound might be better from 3-5 feet away.

I've just ordered the Mordaunt Short Carnival 2 from Amazon.

I will start by stating that I am by no means an audiophile, and while I enjoy poring over posts and measurement charts, I pretty much go with what I like. I'm not the type to upgrade every year, I try to buy decent gear that's going to please me for several years.

On a whim I decided to abandon computer speakers and drive sound from my computer through a two channel receiver, conveniently located in my office closet. For whatever reason I was skeptical of finding a decent speaker that I would feel comfortable sitting 3 feet from (particularly after auditioning B&K *flamesuit on*).

The Mordaunt Short Carnival 2 arrived yesterday, and I spent way too much time listening, finally tearing myself away at 3AM.

First impression - whether its because I'm closer to the sound, or the stellar imaging from these speakers is creating an illusion, its the first time I've realized I was listening to music and not speakers. The best analogy I can come up with - its like little winged creatures sprinkled faerie dust in the air, right in front of my monitor. Wonderful midrange, incredible clarity. One song, Noir Désir - Le Vent Nous Portera, closes with a beautiful clarinet solo and I could clearly hear the initial vibration of the reed as the musician began playing. That half-second was magical.

Yeah, I'm starting to sound like Steve Jobs. Sorry.

Highs are crisp and bright, but not overly so. This was a major concern of mine. I did not detect any deficiencies in high range, and tried to throw as much at it as possible. From female vocals to electric and acoustic guitar solos, to violin and piano everything fell properly within its range, my amateur ears detected no flaws. From Nina Simone to Chrissie Hynde, Baaba Maal to Shaggy, The Allman Brothers to Axl Rose, Dvorak to Gorecki I smiled all night. Kelly Jones, the lead singer for Stereophonics, really should quit smoking.

The only obvious and acknowledged gap is deep bass, for those in need of booming lows a subwoofer will be necessary. For now minor EQ tweaks has provided improvement, but I will likely be pairing this with a small sub in the near future.

Imaging, clarity, range and delicate, crisp highs (without being overly bright) are most impressive, exactly what I was looking for. If this is Mordaunt Short's entry speaker, their Performance and Aviano lines must be something special, and I'm surprised the M-S owners thread here on avsforum is only 2 pages of posts.

Energy RC-10 arrives tomorrow, they've got a tough job nudging the Carnival 2's off my desk.