Hi, Tom, I think that only you can answer that question as any smaller speaker involves a compromise. The MR5MkIII lists a -3 dB point of 57 Hz; the 6, 46 Hz; the 8, 38 Hz; and the HR-824 MK II lists 35 Hz. I use a sub with the HR-824 MK I's. Your mileage may vary. It seems to me that the Sweetwater price of $150 for the 5 and $200 for the 6 just might work in favor of the 6 and get another 11 Hz. But size is a consideration. The 5 is 11.3 x 7.8 x 10.9 inches while the 6 is 12.7 x 8.7 x 12.0. The 5 weighs 12.1 lb each; the 6, 15.9. The MR6MkIII for $400 for the pair seems like a fair choice Also for $350 there is the Mackie MR10S MkIII subwoofer, but with a pair of 5's that puts you up at $650. YMMV Cheers, Richard On 2014-02-18 1:23 PM, Tom Fine wrote: > Hi Arthur, Richard, Paul, etc., > > I probably didn't make clear that these are in the office, not the > studio. I don't need mission-critical here, just good sounding. > > The 5" Mackies seem interesting but can 5" speakers put out enough bass? > I know there are claims but I think we're up against the limits of > physics with these 5-6" "woofers" and moving enough air to create bass > energy. > > -- Tom Fine > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Arthur Gaer" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 11:52 AM > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Computer desktop power speakers recommendation > > >> My brother's a musician, so he has no money but he does know something >> about how music should sound. >> >> He recently listened to a lot of different speakers for his home >> studio and ended up settling on the Mackie MR5mk3 models as the most >> accurate speakers for the money (roughly $300 for a pair) and he knows >> a couple of other producers/musicians who've gone the same route for >> their home studios. >> >> So you might want to check the MR5 or their larger Mackie cousins out >> to see if they do it for you. >> >> http://www.mackie.com/products/studiomonitors/index.html >> >> Arthur Gaer >> >> >> >> On Feb 18, 2014, at 7:35 AM, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >> >>> Hi All: >>> >>> I'd appreciate recommendations for current-production >>> nearly-full-range speakers for the computer. The second amplifier >>> module in my Blue Sky eXo speakers has blown up, and I'm not going to >>> throw more money into them. Note -- NOT a good product. This amp that >>> just blew up (after less than 2 years) is the "improved" amp module >>> after known blowup problems with the first generation amp. I will not >>> be buying any of their products again. Not that they're great >>> speakers anyway. A ripoff at $500. >>> >>> This time, I'd like to keep the budget well south of $500. I'm >>> considering just using passive speakers with one of those little >>> sub-$100 LiPing class D amplifiers. The thinking being that cheap >>> class D amps tend to self-destruct at some point and it's cheaper to >>> just swap in a new sub-$100 disposable amp every few years. >>> >>> Size-wise, it would be good to not need a subwoofer, although I'd do >>> it if absolutely necessary. I'm interested if anyone has tried this >>> new generation of "full-range" speakers with 5-6" woofers and >>> front-ported cabinets? The speakers would sit in a triangle about 3 >>> feet apart and 3 feet each from my head. I don't listen at extreme >>> levels but if it's amplified, I'd want the speaker to "fart" before >>> the amp gave out, especially the woofer. >>> >>> -- Tom Fine >> >> > -- Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask] Aurora, Ontario, Canada 647 479 2800 http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.