Planning a new desktop 2.1 setup, and there are 2 routes I’m considering and i thought it would make a good discussion.

The first is to get a pair of good monitors, like the genelec 8330a with a genelec SAM sub. Use an interface like the topping u9 to keep everything digital, and also get a stack to power headphones.

The second route is to get a dac/headphone amp/discrete power amp stack and get a pair of speakers, like the ls50 meta/r3 and some decent sub (would a topping LA90 discrete power these?)

With the first route, you get accurate monitors with built in room correction. But many people don’t like monitors for casual listening, and you are kind of locked into that ecosystem.

The second route gives more flexibility to change or upgrade later, and a sound signature many people seem to like. But you lose the easy built in room correction and easy integration some monitor ecosystems have.

What route would you go with and why?