I think I wasn't clear enough, my fault.
I do listen to music, but I do tons of things while listening to music, mainly I program while listen to music.
My desk bearly has space in it, I think the Kanto Tuk can squeeze in perfectly, but going bigger might be a problem.
Then you'll really just have to manage expectations.
Regarding "time spent does not necessarily equate to reference system," I only have the Creative Pebble V2 on my laptop desk. Enough to clearly hear voices (like on conference,YT channels discussing history or tech,vocals on music), with just enough low end.
The main problem though is "just enough." It's "just enough" for me since I'm not 100% focused on the music on that desk anyway (apart from when I need to take a break and a song like Kamelot's "Elizabeth" comes on and I use my desk as drums),
BUT the problem with being able to recommend a smaller speaker is
whether that's enough for you (or whoever else is asking). You have to be open to the bass being lacking. And in the case of when it's the manufacturer that isn't OK with the bass quantity in terms of dB or low end reach, chances are it just ruins what bass there is. I don't know if the Kanto TUK fits in that category, but you also have to be open to the possibility that it
might. I mean I've never really used a bigger desk, but I didn't blow $200 on the Audioengine V2 almost a decade ago because I got to try it and realized that even having them at the same level as my ears in the open store shelf display (if I bend my knees a little bit; it was the top and only level on the shelf, like Apple store shelves more than any where the PC parts are in Best Buy, so pretty sure there's nothing acting like a bass trap like corners in a room) because while it did have bass quantity, it wasn't that loud even then and what bass was there sounded more like
THWWUUUUUMMMWWUUUUUMMMWWUUUUMMM than the
THUD! THUD! THUD! of the recording that I'd much rather go with a cleaner
thud! thud! thud! on my Pebble V2.
Note that I'm not saying the Kanto will be a bad buy. I'm saying it might even be a good buy...to me...where the problem is I won't be able to tell to any degree (not that I can be extremely accurate about that even with details) if it will be a good buy to you. At minimum you have to accept some compromises here and there. And that being said here are a few others you might want to consider, some of which might save you a bit of money for something that won't necessarily need to be reference grade anyway since throwing more money at it won't be able to override physics:
1.Edifier E10BT -
https://www.edifier.com/us/en/speakers/e10bt-exclaim-bt-connect-bluetooth-computer-speakers
Might not have that much less bass, even more compact especially since the cabinets already angle the drivers upward (vs putting the Kantos on an angle pad), saves you a lot of money.
2. Edifier E25HD -
https://www.edifier.com/us/en/speakers/e25hd-luna-bluetooth-wireless
Might have as much bass, even more compact especially since the cabinets already angle the drivers upward (vs putting the Kantos on an angle pad), saves you a fair bit of money.
3. Edifier R1700BTS -
https://www.edifier.com/us/en/speakers/r1700bts-bluetooth-bookshelf-speakers
Might still have a smaller footprint vs the Kanto on angle pads (but not if you get Kanto's short desk stands)
4. Swans M200MkIII-
https://swanspeakers.com/product/m200mkiii-bluetooth-bookshelf-speakers/
Might not be that much bigger footprint vs the Kanto on angled stands
5. The Kanto TUK, but put it on a short stand to elevate them or really just make the footprint a little bit bigger with the angled stands (this is usually harder to knock over, usually).
6, KEF Egg -
https://www.amazon.com/KEF-Versatil...cs&sprefix=kef+desktop,electronics,602&sr=1-1
If you have any carpentry and geometry skills though (and a couple weekends) you could consider getting a good 3in to 4in fullrange driver and just putting it in a custom cabinet. As much as these require larger cabinet volume, you also need them to either angle up or position the drivers higher up near ear level anyway, so you can get creative with the cabinet design and just make them taller but with a small area foot print. For the most part, just keep the total internal volume and the volume of the port the same (this is easier to do with a tube port than a slotted port, much less the fancier designs that you're likely to see on full-on hi-fi use fullrange speakers or car audio bass competition subwoofers).
7.
https://www.parts-express.com/copperhead-desktop-full-range-speaker-kit-pair--300-7180A
Already comes in a kit, good starter, compact. You can practice on this one and maybe it might last you a long enough time before you explore a more complex cabinet design so that you can modify the shape but maybe still get a slotted port or something like a backloaded horn. Downside is it's currently out of stock.
8.
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-rs100-8-4-reference-full-range-driver--295-352 or
https://www.parts-express.com/tang-band-w4-1320sj-4-bamboo-cone-driver--264-847
You can also design an enclosure for either of these raw drivers.
As for the amp for these two options above, you can either get a compact Class D amp that can sit under your display for example since 25w is plenty for these. Alternately you could get a plate amp that you can mount on each and either use a preamp to control both,
or get a 2ch plate amp, mount it on one cabinet (ex mount an extra rear baffle on both cabinets, but put a cut out on one for the amp) and then run speaker wires going into the other speaker (pretty much like most consumer powered speakers).
