Desk Setup 2024

Desk Setup 2024

Disclaimer

As made clear in my About page, I do not do affiliate marketing or advertising. All products reviewed are purchased by me and all opinions are my own. I hate to see biased reviews as much as you do.

Desk Setup

My Desk Setup in 2024

Introduction

I have always been an avid enthusiast of technology. I had originally come into the habit through the pursuit of gaming hardware, building out my own custom PCs, and building a simple desk setup that would allow me to game for hours on end. Over the years, this love for technology has evolved to encompass audio equipment and productivity as well.

The end goal has always remained the same: to have a place where I can enjoy myself ergonomically, functionally, aesthetically, regardless of what I was doing. So let me take you through a story of how I curated the desk setup that I have today, over the course of five years.

Equipment Overview

All equipment listed here is present somewhere in the desk setup, though some items may not be visible in the photo.

Furniture

‎	Name	Description
Desk	Bespoke American Claro Walnut Desk	1730mm L x 620-1040mm W x 750mm H
Chair	Herman Miller Embody	Rhythm Black
Footrest	Herman Miller Leather Foot Pillow

Desk Accessories

‎	Name	Description
Monitor	Acer Predator X34 GS	34” 3440x1440 180Hz
Monitor Arm	AmazonBasics Premium	Single
Keyboard	Leopold FC660C	Black, Low Noise, Topre 45g
Keyboard Cover	Garbage Collection FC660C Roof	Smoke Black
Mouse	Razer Viper Ultimate
Wireless Charger	Mophie Snap+	15W, MagSafe
USB Charger	Satechi 108W Pro	2x USB-C, 2x USB-A
Power Strip	Brennenstuhl 3m 12 Socket	Type G, 230V

Computer Hardware

Laptop

‎	Name	Description
Laptop	Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro 14ACH5 O	Ryzen 7 5800H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
Laptop Stand	Moft Z

Desktop

‎	Name	Description
CPU	Ryzen 9 5900X	12C, 24T
CPU Cooler	Noctua NH-D15	chromax.black
Motherboard	Asus ROG Strix X470-F
Memory	T-Force Team Dark Pro 16GB	(2x8GB) 3200 Mhz CL14
GPU	Powercolor RX 5700 XT Red Devil
Storage 1	Samsung 990 Pro	2TB
Storage 2	Samsung 860 EVO M.2	1TB
PSU	EVGA Supernova 650 G(1)+	80+ Gold
Case	Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C

Conferencing Equipment

‎	Name	Description
Microphone	Electro-Voice RE20	Black
Microphone Arm	Rode PSA1
Microphone Shock Mount	Electro-Voice 309A
Webcam	Logitech Brio
Audio Interface	Motu M4
Desk Lamp	Ikea Arod	Anthracite
Lighting	Godox ES45	1%, 5500K

Personal Audio

‎	Name	Description
Headphones	ZMF Auteur	African Blackwood, Universe Perforated Suede, Co-Pilot Pad
Headphone Stand	ZMF Salire	Walnut
Headphone Cable	Norne Audio Silvergarde S4	4c, 1.5m, mXLR to XLR4
Speaker Audio Interface	RME ADI-2 DAC FS	AKM AK4493
Speakers	Neumann KH120 A
Speaker Mounting	Ergotron LX	With Neumann LH64 VESA Adapter
Subwoofer	Neumann KH750 DSP
Subwoofer Mounting	IsoAcoustics ISO-200SUB
IEM	Vision Ears VE8	CIEM
DAP	iBasso DX160	Blue, 2019

Why I Bought It

Gee, that’s a lot of gear! How are you going to talk about all of them? I don’t think I can read all of that!

I understand that it’s overwhelming to see many items listed out at once, some of them outside the realm of what most people would consider necessary for a desk setup. Let’s tell a story about the important pieces, and how the rest filled in the gaps.

2019: The Baseline

ZMF Auteur

As the year started, I came in with a spartan setup with just my (at the time) new desktop. I had just discovered an expensive hobby in audio, and I was looking to upgrade my experience. I experimented with some gear before, but this was the year I fell into the high-end, ending the year with a pair of ZMF Auteur headphones, matched with equally great supporting gear.

The African Blackwood of the Auteur was a limited edition piece, and though it appears completely dull in poor light, it shines like a halo in bright light. This is not an audio blog, so I won’t be describing the sound. I will say, though, that it remains as great as the day I bought it, and I have no plans to replace it.

ZMF Auteur

Vision Ears VE8

I had also wanted a great portable setup, and the Vision Ears VE8 in a custom in-ear monitor (CIEM) form factor was the perfect choice. From the day I first listened to it, I had set it as my endgame in both sound and comfort. The custom fit was, and still is, perfect and comfortable for long listening sessions. Enlightening others to the possibilities of a bespoke product made just for you remains a joy to this day.

Vision Ears VE8

2020: The Upheaval of Work

Leopold FC660C

As we all know, 2020 was the year a pandemic struck the world on an unprecedented scale. Even from January, I had already mobilized to have my desk setup upgraded, regardless of circumstances. The first order of business was my keyboard, which I had desired to upgrade for a while. I was extremely curious about Topre switches, and the (then) newly introduced low-noise variant gave me an excuse to try it out. I had also wanted to try a smaller form factor, and the confluence of these two desires led me to purchase the Leopold FC660C.

Leopold FC660C

Herman Miller Embody

In March, I pulled the trigger on a Herman Miller Embody chair. I had already forseen that the demand for work-from-home essentials would skyrocket, and chairs were no exception. I had already gotten very comfortable with the chair in a showroom, and I was absolutely pulled in by the design, comfort, and the 12-year warranty. This had to be my throne, and it demanded that I do better with matching furniture.

Herman Miller Embody

Neumann KH120 A

Before the year would end, I had the chance to sneak in one more audio purchase. The Neumann KH120 A were speakers that I had identified as my next purchase, as I wanted a different audio experience from headphones. This solidified my direction to move towards equipment that were more professional in nature, rather than consumer or enthusiast grade equipment.

Neumann KH120 A

2021: Centre of Attention

Live Edge Slab Desk

I had had a distinct realization that my gear was already pretty much either black or wooden in nature. To match the aesthetic, I decided that this would be the right time to finally get a new desk. Though I was already using a large kitchen table with a pretty dark wood, I saw the aprons on the sides as an obstacle to eventually mounting monitor arms. Beyond that, I always felt that it was not enough for my Embody to be the centerpiece of my setup, and something even more majestic should take its place.

A live edge desk was the perfect choice. I had been going to furniture showrooms to search for the perfect slab of wood, and I had found it in a store called Grey and Sanders, in the form of an American Claro Walnut slab. I opted for a single uninterrupted slab, the most expensive option, as this was a statement piece that I did not want to compromise on. The grain was absolutely stunning, and the live edge was the perfect differentiator from a standard desk that would highlight it as the bespoke piece built to my preferences.

Live Edge Slab Desk

Acer Predator X34 GS

I had always wanted to upgrade to an ultrawide, although at the time, it was an impossibility to find one that had both a high refresh rate as well as full-featured USB-C connectivity (meaning it could both charge and display video). The Acer Predator X34 GS was just one of two choices at the time (the other being the Asus ROG Strix XG349C), and I went for the Acer as it was cheaper and more available. I finally had the centerpiece for the desk that would be my focal point, and supported my two-system workflow easily.

Acer Predator X34 GS

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro

This was also the year I got accepted into my university, and the next step was to get a laptop that would be able to handle the workload. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro was the perfect choice, as it had a Ryzen 7 5800H, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It was also one of the few laptops (at the time) that had an OLED display, which was something I liked for its contrast, since I use dark mode wherever possible. It was also lightweight at 1.4kg, which was a priority as I would be carrying it around campus.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro

2022: Conference Ready

Herman Miller Leather Foot Pillow

Something seemed to be missing from my otherwise great ergonomic setup. I came to realize that this was a footrest, as I realized my feet would not be touching the ground when I was leaning back. The Herman Miller Leather Foot Pillow was the perfect answer, as it now allowed me to lean back comfortably and matched the Embody perfectly.

Herman Miller Leather Foot Pillow

Electro-Voice RE20

I believed that my conferencing setup was already great, but what would take it to the next level was a better microphone. The Electro-Voice RE20 was the perfect choice, as it was a broadcast standard microphone that suited my voice well. The competing Shure SM7B would have made my voice too boomy, and would have also required supporting equipment and EQ. With the RE20, I could plug it directly into my Motu M4 and get great sound quality without any additional equipment.

Electro-Voice RE20

Godox ES45

The final piece of the puzzle was lighting. I had always felt that my setup had too inconsistent and uneven lighting, and this would give off an unpolished look in video calls. The Godox ES45 was the right choice, as it was a large panel light that did not require Wi-Fi, unlike its competitor, the Elgato Key Light. It also helped that it came with its own remote, which allowed an app-free management experience.

Godox ES45

2023: The Final Touches

Neumann KH750 DSP

I believed it was long overdue to get the matching subwoofer for my Neumann KH120 A speakers, the Neumann KH750 DSP. It was to be expected that the low end could be improved, and the DSP features of the subwoofer allowed me to tune it to my room’s acoustics. With the subwoofer, I could now finally enjoy a more immersive audio experience, with bass that slammed you when it was called for.

Neumann KH750DSP

Conclusion

And now, it was all complete. The vision I had for my desk setup finally took shape, one piece of the puzzle at a time. It was a journey that took me through the highs and lows of the past five years, and every new piece of gear reflected my growth as a person, and my changing needs and desires. I had finally reached a point where I could say that I was satisfied with my desk setup, and that it was a place where I could enjoy myself for hours on end, regardless of what I was doing.

The journey is not over, however. I believe there is always going to be upgrades and changes to be made, as technology and my needs evolve. But for now, this is the desk setup that I have, and I am proud to share it with you.

If you would like to see it again, you can always refer back to the corresponding section.

What’s Next?

I plan to share more about what I’ve done with OPNsense to replace my Asus router, and the basic setup I currently have for my home network. It will not be a review of the software or a guide on how to set it up, but more of a sharing of my experiences with it, and how it has helped me in my journey to learn more about networking and security.

nicholaschua@youread.me:~$ exit
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References

1. ZMF Auteur
2. Vision Ears VE8
3. Leopold FC660C
4. Herman Miller Embody
5. Neumann KH120 A
6. Grey and Sanders Wood Slabs
7. Acer Predator X34 GS
8. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro
9. Herman Miller Leather Foot Pillow
10. Electro-Voice RE20
11. Godox ES45
12. Neumann KH750DSP

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