Best semi-HiFi AND Teams setup for open study area?

[gangzoom]

With the house build nearing completion I'm starting to think about the more 'fun' bits. We've created an open study area/space that sits above the kitchen with a mezzanine corridor that over looks the kitchen. Now that the builders have nearly finished the shelves, the area actually feels very 'closed' but also has plenty of light.

The plan is to put a desk/chair on the left wall, we'll have a dual/triple monitor setup, and infront of the shelves we'll have some more relaxed sitting. The question is how to arrange any sound/music source. I don't really want to be running Teams off the computer speaker when we have the space/privacy to get a decent sound output. Equally a big HiFi setup is a no-no from SWMBO, as the space is party 'communal'.

In the past (10 years+) I know things like the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin were popular as single point music source, but I have no idea how tech/audio have moved on since the days of the iPod, and I suspect it would be awful for use with Teams calls given base is what most HiFi stuff is preset for?

Ideally I think we need something:

1: Looks nice
2: Can deliver half decent HiFi
3: Can integrate/act as normal computer speakers
4: Built in streaming/connectivity etc

Maybe I'm asking too much and separate out audio requirement needed for Teams versus Music???

Edited by gangzoom on Thursday 11th July 09:32

[Harpoon]

I've got Ruark MR1 MK2 speakers on my PC for music and everyday use. Ruark have launched a matching sub for them now as well.

Sound is great to my ears but I'm a long way from being an audiophile. Size is spot-on for me as they sit nicely under my dual monitors which are on a central arm / mount.

https://shop.ruarkaudio.com/products/mr1-mk2-bluet...

What HiFi rated them highly:

https://www.whathifi.com/ruark-audio/mr1-mk2/revie...

I don't use them for Teams though as I have a Jabra 510 for Teams audio as the hot buttons for mute / un-mute, answer / hang-up are great

https://www.jabra.com/en-gb/business/speakerphones...

[Mr Pointy]

I'd agree: Jabra for Teams, Hi-Fi setup for music. You might want to incorporate a TV (or two) up there as well so feed that into the music system.

[rodericb]

Interesting. I've got speakers but find I much prefer headphones for music and calls - Audio Technica AD700X. I have a creative webcam which lends its camera and microphone to calls. The headphones have open backs so I can hear external noises (i.e. the door bell) yet I can have the music up at a decent level. The headphones have large cups which go around the ears so they're comfortable for long periods.

[donkmeister]

Might find a speaker phone set up an annoyance when you are working whilst family using the kitchen or study area. I stopped using my Jabra after too many instances of "wait a minute, I just need to switch to my headset".

[gangzoom]

Harpoon said:

I don't use them for Teams though as I have a Jabra 510 for Teams audio as the hot buttons for mute / un-mute, answer / hang-up are great

https://www.jabra.com/en-gb/business/speakerphones...

Looks good, seen them at board meetings but never thought about getting one for home use.

Separate HiFi and Teams sounds like its the way to go .

[Mammasaid]

gangzoom said:

Harpoon said:

I don't use them for Teams though as I have a Jabra 510 for Teams audio as the hot buttons for mute / un-mute, answer / hang-up are great

https://www.jabra.com/en-gb/business/speakerphones...

Looks good, seen them at board meetings but never thought about getting one for home use.

Separate HiFi and Teams sounds like its the way to go .

I'd also go down that route, but use better headphones with ANC for Teams, they can also double up for music when needed.

Either Bose or Sony work well with Teams.

https://www.bose.co.uk/en_gb/products/headphones/n...

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/headband-headph...

[Mr Pointy]

gangzoom said:

Harpoon said:

I don't use them for Teams though as I have a Jabra 510 for Teams audio as the hot buttons for mute / un-mute, answer / hang-up are great

https://www.jabra.com/en-gb/business/speakerphones...

Looks good, seen them at board meetings but never thought about getting one for home use.

Separate HiFi and Teams sounds like its the way to go .

You can pick up Jabra 510 for £40 on ebay - just make sure you get the MS version not the UC one. The 510+ version comes with a whizzy Bluetooth dongle.

[d_a_n1979]

Zero issues for me using my MBP for all my Teams/Zoom/Google Meets video/audio calls and then my JBL 308P MkII studio monitors via an SMSL DL200 DAC from my Mac for all music etc

Edifier do some superb powered speakers at not silly money via Amazon; worth looking into

Similar to the above mentioned Ruark speakers (which are good, but IMO not all that)

Studio monitors like the JBLs can give out a superb soundstage via a decent DAC/interface FYI and not expensive at all; the 305Ps may be better suited to you, again worth looking into

As for dedicated meet sounds etc; as others have said, headphones may be a better option, more so if it's a shared space

[conkerman]

I use a pair of JBL Live 600NC quite a lot. They play nice with 2 devices connected. £60 quid and much better than I expected.

I also have an ifi Zen Dac with a few different headphones, but will be buying some active monitors once the house building work is done.

[gangzoom]

Thanks for the comments, Jaber for work, and probably something like a Zepplin for music looks like the best option. Will start looking at prices etc.

Luckily school is there to enable us to work without been interrupted during core hours, and on the occasions when we are both working from home, the plan is for a second compact desk in the bedroom with compact USB hub.

Normally the bedroom 'background' on Teams look pretty odd/questionable, but with the corner position for a small desk at the far end of the bedroom, the background will essentially be glazing+wall......and with AC, it's probably a nicer 'office' space than the actual study area . Wouldn't bother with any Teams specifc audio solutions but a nice set of speakers/single speaker setup will 100% be needed.

Edited by gangzoom on Thursday 11th July 17:59

[donkmeister]

gangzoom said:

[Img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53841319758_97c677811a_c_d.jpg[/thumb]

Edited by gangzoom on Thursday 11th July 17:59

Somewhere in the UK, a plasterboard fitter's kid will now be going to uni and it's all thanks to your bedroom ceiling

[toohuge]

I'd look at the b&o range of bluetooth speakers. I've got an olde beoplay a8 and it's wonderful. Looks awesome and sounds surprisingly good.

[gangzoom]

Though the house renovations are still ongoing, picked up this for the HiFi bit of the study area….have got the Jaber unit too, but the B&W unit is much more exciting .

[mgv8]

KEF LSX or LS50 will do all you need

[gangzoom]

mgv8 said:

KEF LSX or LS50 will do all you need

Thanks, BE Zepplin is going to the job for the music in the open space, feels like it can generate enough volume. Next 'challenge' is how to sort out the sound in the living. A TV will sit in the media wall along with a sound bar. The 1st world problem is I would like to put seating in the full height glazing at the other end of the room, and ideally get a sound source around there to make a chilling corner.

Sound bar isn't going to be a good way to get music to the proposed seating area, equally I don't want to run a separate AV system just for that part of the room. I see B&Ws now do some wireless speakers that can run off the app, putting one additional speaker in the corner along with a formation soundbar might work?