Powered speakers, near-field monitors

[ObviouslyNotAGolfer]

My old computer speakers died, and I need something decent to replace them with. I will use these for monitoring recording (mostly LP to FLAC), but also listening to streaming music (radio), as well as some of my many digitized CDs and LPs (FLAC files). The desktop system is in a fairly small room, so I don't think it's really worth sinking much money into these--and, my serious listening is done in the other room (Vandersteen 2Ces) or on Sennheisers.

I listen mostly to classical, jazz, and ethnic music, and I want a flat frequency response--I hate boomy, overblown bass.

I was looking at the AudioEngine A2+.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1009387-REG/audioengine_a2_b_a2_speaker_system_black.html

Objectively, this is probably the best speaker of the ones I'm considering. However, I don't think it is worth it given the small room, and I'm not convinced they are going to be vastly better than any of these following options for around $100 each:

Edifier: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016P9HJIA?psc=1

Tascam: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1187738-REG/tascam_powered_desktop_monitors_vl_s3.html

JBL: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/998214-REG/jbl_lsr305_sr305_5_2_way_powered.html/prm/alsVwDtl

I realize that some of these require adaptors (e.g., 3.5 mm to RCA), and are not quite as user friendly as computer speakers, but it is a small inconvenience.

Any thoughts or advice on these or alternatives would be appreciated! Thanks.

[mattytee]

In my experience the 3" speakers are not able to accurately reproduce bass frequencies. I found that 5" drivers, when ported, can get lower and do it more cleanly.

Any less-expensive monitors will be slightly colored. Usually it's a minor mid bump. You can EQ the source to flatten things out more.

For general listening, I would go with something cheap, some thoughts here would be Behringer MS16 or M-Audio AV40. I found that Alesis M1Active 520s were excellent for mixing; they can be found used pretty inexpensively. The frequency/instrument separation was quite impressive. I think they'd work for fun listening.

5" or less monitors shouldn't sound too boomy no matter where they're placed. Consumer speakers that small sometimes have enclosures engineered for that, but studio monitors almost never do.

[acroy]

Vandersteeeeennnnn - yum. Magnepan man here. I too enjoy jazz, etc and most highly value an accurate midrange.

I am enjoying the Mackie CR3 computer speakers. Very good quality, $100. Great midrange and treble. We have the computer in a corner of the room & the bass was somewhat bloated. A small plug of acoustic foam int he port and it smoothed right out ;)  I listened to the AudioEngine and was not impressed.