Hey folks,
I’m planning to build a compact desktop speaker setup mainly for relaxing game sessions — especially cozy games like Stardew Valley.
I don’t need thunderous bass or party volume — just warm, clear sound with good mids for enjoying the soundtrack and ambient effects.
Anyone here built or modded a small speaker system specifically for casual PC gaming or chill music?
Would love recommendations on:
I’m planning to build a compact desktop speaker setup mainly for relaxing game sessions — especially cozy games like Stardew Valley.
I don’t need thunderous bass or party volume — just warm, clear sound with good mids for enjoying the soundtrack and ambient effects.
Anyone here built or modded a small speaker system specifically for casual PC gaming or chill music?
Would love recommendations on:
- Speaker size/components
- Amp suggestions
- Any enclosure tips for nearfield use
I suggest a full-range driver in a small sealed box. I use a Jordan JX-92S in a 7L (0.23 cu. ft.) curved cabinet, stuffed, no crossover, on Auralex MoPads, which isolate the desktop gear (DAC and headphone amp/preamp) from vibrations, and tilt the speakers up slightly toward my ears.
The JX92S is obsolete but there are myriad full-range drivers on the market. Markaudio is a popular choice. I like full-range for nearfield listening because it negates any woofer/tweeter time delay and the lack of a crossover makes for a very easy amplifier load. I prefer a closed box for a desktop because a sealed enclosure works well close to a wall. A port in the rear can boom, and a port leaks sound, undesirable with nearfield listening, especially if the port is on the front.
I drive the speakers with a vintage 50W Meitner amp, but I've also used a 5W chip amp and it did quite a creditable job, with plenty of volume, just lacking finesse and grip.
I added a Dayton SUB-800, rolled in around 80 Hz, 2nd-order, but it sounds like you would not need the extension. Midrange & treble resolution, tonality and transient response are shockingly good. My audiophile friends love this little system.
Note: The speakers are tilted back but not outward as they appear in the photo. The vertical displacement is simply a distortion added by the lens in my mobile phone camera.
The JX92S is obsolete but there are myriad full-range drivers on the market. Markaudio is a popular choice. I like full-range for nearfield listening because it negates any woofer/tweeter time delay and the lack of a crossover makes for a very easy amplifier load. I prefer a closed box for a desktop because a sealed enclosure works well close to a wall. A port in the rear can boom, and a port leaks sound, undesirable with nearfield listening, especially if the port is on the front.
I drive the speakers with a vintage 50W Meitner amp, but I've also used a 5W chip amp and it did quite a creditable job, with plenty of volume, just lacking finesse and grip.
I added a Dayton SUB-800, rolled in around 80 Hz, 2nd-order, but it sounds like you would not need the extension. Midrange & treble resolution, tonality and transient response are shockingly good. My audiophile friends love this little system.
Note: The speakers are tilted back but not outward as they appear in the photo. The vertical displacement is simply a distortion added by the lens in my mobile phone camera.
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