Best "audiophile?" speakers around $200/pair

I just ran across this.   

http://audiophilereview.com/affordable-speakers/is-the-mirage-omd-5-speaker-the-best-150-desktop-speaker-ever-made.html

That'll be $300 for a pair.

Check eBay and you should be able to find a pair of Acoustic Energy Aego-M's for around $200. They're normally $280 but in my opinion worth $380 at least.

http://www.decware.com/newsite/DFR6.htm

$300, but I want to play with a pair of these.  I don't think I would regret buying them. 

Woofers, or what most would erroneously refer to as subwoofers, can be added later.

From your equipment list, I take it you are looking for a pair of powered speakers, since you didn't list a speaker-capable amplifier as part of your rig.  If I misunderstand, and you do have some sort of amp capable of powering speakers ,and you want to go for a really low-cost-to-entry with easy DIY upgrade capability, then what I use is worth considering:

http://www.gr-research.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=132

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysohn 

http://www.decware.com/newsite/DFR6.htm

 

$300, but I want to play with a pair of these.  I don't think I would regret buying them. 

Woofers, or what most would erroneously refer to as subwoofers, can be added later.

Is that actually a tube in the speaker?   I thought I'd seen everything on the Decware website but never saw that?   I wonder how that tube deals with microphonics?
 

I thought that I saw everything. I never heard of using a vacuum tube in the middle of the speaker before. They are just using the glass of the tube as some sort of a wave guide. The tube is nonfunctional of course.

Go with the Swans...

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarriorAnt 

I just ran across this.   

 

http://audiophilereview.com/affordable-speakers/is-the-mirage-omd-5-speaker-the-best-150-desktop-speaker-ever-made.html

 

I used a pair of OMD-5s as desktop speakers for awhile. They can sound great on the desktop *provided you are seated at the exact right distance and height from them*. Seriously, they are a massive PITA on the desktop. Little too close and the image collapses, little too far away and it collapses, recline a bit too much and it collapses. Unless you're willing to literally bolt your chair to the floor in the exact distance and recline position, there are better choices than the OMD-5. All of the omni directional trickery that works great in a traditional room setting simply doesn't work in with nearfield use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveBSC 

I used a pair of OMD-5s as desktop speakers for awhile. They can sound great on the desktop *provided you are seated at the exact right distance and height from them*. Seriously, they are a massive PITA on the desktop. Little too close and the image collapses, little too far away and it collapses, recline a bit too much and it collapses. Unless you're willing to literally bolt your chair to the floor in the exact distance and recline position, there are better choices than the OMD-5. All of the omni directional trickery that works great in a traditional room setting simply doesn't work in with nearfield use.

 

Thanks for the practical knowledge.  Makes you wonder how some of these reviewers get their jobs.  I hate near field anything.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarriorAnt 

Thanks for the practical knowledge.  Makes you wonder how some of these reviewers get their jobs.  I hate near field anything.

I tried several methods to get good sound in my office, including very expensive studio monitors, as well as the OMD-5s and some other traditional 2-way monitors. Nothing really satisfied me. The acoustics of small rooms are a nightmare to deal with (and hard desk surface reflections certainly help nothing), and I did not want to spend hundreds of dollars throwing wall and ceiling treatments at the problem. Eventually I just gave up and moved to Stax Omega 2s, and I'm perfectly happy with them. Event Opals would be awesome in an actual studio, but in my untreated office I'll stick with headphones.

http://www.decware.com/paper46.htm

It's a phase guide.  You can read the mumble-jumble at the above link.  I use 10 inch coaxial speakers on my desk top. I like to listen in the nearfield and I ilke coax for the point source they provide.  I am just sensitive to Tweeter Up- Woofer Down Syndrome. Your Milage May Vary.

Throwing my vote in. 

I've listened to the AudioEngine A2 and A5 at a local MacOutfitters store. They also had a pair of M-Audio BX5a monitors. The BX5a were far ahead of both.

prodipe pro 5.