Deleeh dosent speak English and translates his mother language using the Google translator so it’s hard to understand him. But i wanted to say @Sonovil i would highly recommend the Iloud Micro Monitors for ur pc speaker setup. Honestly those are perfect for fitting into a desk where u don’t have much space. Also in terms of sound quality they are addictive, very detailed, hard hitting, quick and super well rounded. There isn’t anything wrong with them I terms of sound and they aren’t crazy expensive as you can find them for 300 new and 220 or so used. Just super worth. For other speakers I feel like their sound is kinda lost when using on a table because of the lack of space in the sides and back but for the ilouds it’s fine. Also imaging on them is pretty impressive
Headphones
There is one super long guide on gaming headphones on here. While I don’t agree with everything said there, it is the best guide I have seen so far.
Like you said, your use case is more “allrounder” than gaming focused. I would look at 150 to 300€ open back studio headphones, maybe ones that have a slight emphasis on bass to help give some “oompf” to explosions/thunder, etc. in games and movies.
Something like the AKG K-712 (Have these, like them a lot) or Sennheiser HD-560s (no experience with these), maybe Beyerdynamic MMX-300 (again, no experience with them).
Amp
Two ways to do this.
Option 1: Dedicated everything. Phono-preamp, switcher/mixer and headphone amp. That switcher would likely also have to act as volume control for your speakers.
Some devices that could be used to do this:
- Switch/Pre-Amp: ART SCC or AudioPhonics Pre-BD1404ch (I have neither)
- Headphone Amp: LakePeople G103-S (I have this)
- Phono-Preamp: Emotiva XPS-1 (No idea about it)
This would leave you with 400 for headphones and speakers, 600€ if you ditched the Preamp.
Option 2: Schiit Jotunheim with Phono-Preamp module. Basically like the PS Sprout 100 @Deleeh mentioned.
With both of these, there is the issue of import tax (IIRC 30% of the shipped value) unless you find them in the EU.
DAC
DAC wise, I use my Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 (2nd Gen) as a DAC for music. Not great, better than onboard.
There are a lot of Schiit Modius, Topping E30, etc. users here. I don’t have personal experience with those.
Better ask someone else on this front.
Speakers
I only recently got myself a pair of non-shit-tier speakers. So take what I say here with a grain of salt.
There are some studio monitors that do great on a desk (that is what they are meant for 
) or as bookshelfs.
JBL 305P’s (~240€ the pair) or Yamaha HS 5’s (~300€ the pair)
If you wanted more bookshelf DALI Oberon-series are something to consider.
All the above are active, meaning you don’t need a speaker amp.
If you wanted to get an amplifier, Triangle LN01 or Emotiva Airmotiv B1+. I have the B1+'s fed from an Emotiva A-100 and like them for desk use.
Misc
I take you are EU based?
I would also not take a dive in the deep end that is Audiophile power supplies just yet
Yes, you are right.
When I try it myself ittakes a little bit longer to write.I could probably speak English better if I wasn’t currently still going to school for work or had more contact there.
I use deepl as a translation sometimes it lets me down.
I need to get mkr more used to reading the translated, you’re right.thank you för the hint👍
No problem man, learning languages is hard and time consuming but if you do it little by little it will be worth it
@MazeFrame This is exactly the kind of reply I was looking for, thanks a bunch for the detailed post and recommendations!
What would you say are the pros/cons of the two options you listed? Is interference something I should be worried about?
Yeah, I live in Greece, so the 30% on top of the base value of products that have to be shipped from overseas is pretty accurate.
Does a DAC make that much of a difference in sound quality compared to onboard audio? Do you think it’s something worth investing in? I don’t know if it matters or not, but the motherboard I’m gonna have is the MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk.
Thanks again for the valuable info!
I just bought a setup with similar requirements as you. Since you are in the EU getting the Asgard 3 will be very difficult unless second hand. I personally went with the Lake People G103S.
As for a DAC I can definitely tell the difference between DAC and no DAC so I would recommend it. The E30 works pretty well with the G103S.
I went with the DT880s for headphones because they had the sound I was looking for.
Hope that helps
@Saltcreek I agree, I’d rather not pay a needless fee when I can get comparable items from the EU.
That’s very helpful, I’ll definitely go for a DAC then.
Did you go for the 32, 250 or 600 ohm version, and why?
@twinkboi While desk space is not really an issue, the small size is appreciated, if it’s accompanied by sound quality. From a limited amount of research I did, your recommendation seems very well-reviewed, thanks! Would you say these are well-suited for use with a separate subwoofer, or is it unnecessary?
Yes, so in principle the Dac does everything better than the onboard.
And the Topping E30 is from the basic functions and a cream piece what is feasible purely from the price.
Sure goes at the end raus hin always better with better power supply, better Matrialien, better circuit ect…
With the E30 you usually get a real good impression of what music is when the amplifier also harmonizes with it.
To count the possibilities again you would have just the Sprout.
Or you go and buy everything seperat.
So headphone amp, Dac, and a stereo amp from the second hand market.
The Denon pma 800ne new is also not wrong with the Elac speakers.
An alternative for speaker and combined phono-preamp would be looking into something like the Klipsch R41PM (I have these) or the R51PM.
You can feed them either optical, USB or BT. Then you have a sub-out, AUX-in and line-in / phono-in (flip switch for line vs phono).
They should be available around the 350-450 range and are quite often on sale. See if you can find them locally or on Amazon if you want to try them out. I’m quite pleased with them after having gone from a pair of XTZ Tune 4, which cost more and sounded worse.
They could be a good fit for your system if you feed them optical from your soundcard, then use the phono-preamp to your turntable.
EDIT: If I have to mention a drawback (or advantage depending on preference) is that they’re horn speakers. So they’re detail cannons and they benefit quite well from sitting on some form of desk stand. I have these stands from Stageek and I found them quite nice for the price Amazon.com: Stageek Aluminum Desktop Speaker Stands
Another slight drawback is that they don’t go super deep in the base department. But there’s a nifty EQ setting on it that boosts the low end. So they’re quite pleasant to listen to.
Them being horn speakers does put more emphasis on good placement though, as their sound is a lot more directional and odd reflexes or back walls might cause issues. This is why I suggest a demo before purchase, or a store with good return policy to see if these would fit your setup.
I went with the 600 ohm version because the G103S could power them properly and therefore I should get a bit better sound quality. The only downside to the DT880s is they are a little lacking on the bass. It doesn’t bother mean because most of the music I listen to is not bass heavy and I also have read a pad replacement can improve it.
As for desk space I have found the headphones take up more space than the amp and DAC. They are surprisingly small.
@Ahobaka Thank you for the recommendation! Any speakers I get are gonna be sitting something like 1m in front of me max, so I don’t think good placement is gonna be an issue. However, the R-41PM go for 450 and the R-51PM go for 500 euros in my area, so that’s half my budget blown on speakers alone. So I’m wondering if I could get comparable sound from a cheaper set.
The versatility of that does make them attractive, though
I’m wondering how the 250 ohms version compares to the 600 ohms one sound quality-wise, mainly because blacks are available only in the 250 ohms version (at least in my area) and I’m a sucker for looks 
Oof, that’s a bit on the high end. I got mine for 350 on a sale, down from 450 locally. Amazon had them for around 350, but then adding import and shipping fees on that makes it jump quite a bit.
Yeah, this is why I got them since I can use them with pretty much anything. They do have some delay over BT though, which doesn’t really make them ideal if you’re using them for something that requires low latency (like gaming). The other reason is that they’re just beautiful and sound great with my music taste.
Someone else more experienced will be able to answer but I am sure there will be difference. I think the silver ones look pretty good after seeing them in person as I too wanted black ones initially but I could not find any.
I am of the mind that I get the best I can afford which is another reason why I got the 600 ohms.
Hmm okay,
I see you have a bigger project and your current budget is not quite enough.
Maybe it would be better to prioritize what is more important for you so that you arrive at the end of your goal.
How you tackle this is up to you
So you can then also put the money on the side what is still left.
Good speakers cost unfortunately and usually eat up more of the budget than an amplifier.
With headphones you are usually still a bit variable.
Where if you calculate the Asgard 3 or the Lake People G103S with Dac is also just under 500 €.
But at least you would still have a little more leeway in the headphones at the end if the one or the other headphones should not say to you.
Then you would still have something where you have fun and joy.
For this are at the end again flexible enough for the amplifier and speakers. And who knows until then there is something new where your needs satisfied.
Purely from experience, of course, a stereo amplifier whether used or new is better if you want to connect on a turntable.
Because you can be variable and without having to invest again, as an example, you do not like the amplifier or broken, get a new one,
That’s why I have my own system so separated.
I have my Denon Pma 800ne as an example connected to my Dac running through two revised Elac speakers.
And bought a Dac/amp that can drive almost any headphones purely from the power and the Dac is still musical enough for that he can master both without problems.
Here is an example of what comes out in the end with time.
Sure the desk is as always purposeful and will be changed times.
And the Denon Pma 800ne I should have taken in black.
If I had to prioritize my setup, I’d say my PC is way more important as a source than vinyl, and headphones are more important than speakers as outputs. That said, if something like the Sprout 100 gives me the versatility of having everything in one package at a bigger cost, BUT without compromising the sound quality, I’d be willing to stretch my budget to go for it.
I have find the sprout in Austria,not wide from greece .
But is not the Sprout 100 is the older one.
https://csmstore.com/de/plattenspieler-zubehor/2078-ps-audio-sprout-verstarker.html
And here the Sprout 100 the new model can be ordered in Austria too for 720€ with shipping cost. 2 week delivery time.
Can be an option for you so you don‘t pay custom fees,because you are in Europe.
Only myabe taxes there are a cheaper
One of the Page are only german,grrrr.
Personally I feel it’s unnecessary, the looks of the ilouds lie. You wouldn’t expect much fro them, or maybe expect a tin-ie sound but they are the opposite. First of all they are super well rounded, def have zero weaknesses in terms of sound in my opinion. And in fact if I were to find a strength I might seriously say the bass is one of its strong suits. It’s ridiculously fun and punchy. As long as you maintain them shoulder length or so of distance, since they Def lose a fair bit of it if u try to stretch them out too much, but even in that shoulder length they have great Soundstage. Also i have some massive expensive speakers and I still own the ilouds even so! Because they are super practical and most importantly they sound outstanding
Also if you have any other questions i also have the ilouds that @twinkboi mentioned, i can vouch for their sound quality. It’s pretty special and even more when you consider their size and heck even cost, at 300 new they aren’t particularly cheap but also not expensive.