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FT editor Roula Khalaf selects her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Ace of bass
Good music can brighten up your work environment, but over the years some terrible crimes against audio have been committed by external computer speakers, with their cheap plastic casings and thin cables that run to a port. 3.5mm audio. “Theoretically better than nothing” would be the kindest assessment. One consequence of this has been desk workers putting on headphones, but that can be isolating and uncomfortable. Additionally, desks generally do not have enough space for hi-fi equipment.
So KEF, in their wisdom, set out to create a serious hi-fi speaker that could sit on a desk. That was the LSX II. This one, its successor, forgoes analog inputs in favor of streaming and digital options. Purists may shudder, but frankly, they should try it first.
You know it’s a KEF because of the combined Uni-Q driver: a single sound point for higher and lower frequencies. One speaker is mains powered and the other is connected via a thick USB-C cable. Unless you venture into subwoofers, optical connections, or ethernet, that may be all the wiring you need; It’s ready to work with AirPlay, Chromecast, Tidal Connect, Bluetooth, and other wireless options, but those who prefer to keep it old-fashioned can connect to a computer via USB.
They sound special. Yes, a pair of KEF’s P1 stands, which tilt them up at 10 degrees, will help with the clarity of the higher frequencies, but it’s the depth of the bass that brings the pen down slightly. KEF’s Prathmesh Thakkar explained to me that at the lower volumes people typically use on their desktops, KEF’s “music integrity engine” can dynamically allocate more free space to the low end. The result: calm music (the kind that helps me think) in full color.
KEF recognizes that desktop mounting is not ideal and that sound can be affected by how far away the speakers are from the desk, but their Connect app helps you optimize your specific setup. Overall, they provided a calming balm on a stressful, deadline-ridden couple of days. KEF LSX II LT speakers, £899
Mac into the future
Many people, including me, have had a dual-computer mentality for 20 years or more. Carry a lightweight laptop when you travel, have a powerful desktop in the home office, and ping files between the two as needed. The new MacBook Air casts a withering glare on this approach: 13 times faster than my old Intel MacBook Air and extraordinary graphics performance for its size and weight. Still just two USB-C ports, but plug it into a hub and you can have all the connectivity of a desktop, including running two monitors with the lid closed. It offers the best of both worlds: a quiet, super-capable desktop machine that you can carry in a backpack. The world has moved on. 15-inch MacBook Airfrom £1,299
seat of power
If any community knows of chairs that offer decent support for long periods of time, it’s gamers. But while Razer’s latest chair is aimed at that market, it looks no stranger than a Herman Miller Aeron and, in some ways, is more comfortable, whether you’re answering 100 emails or spending an eight-hour session in valorant. The armrests can be moved in four directions and feel very solid; The height and depth of the lumbar support are fully adjustable, and for those moments when it all seems too much, you can rock the entire chair back 152 degrees (“I affectionately call it a kickstand,” says Razer’s Jonathan Sanders), which which almost takes you into barbershop territory. Razer Iskur V2, £599.99
Twice as beautiful
Dual screen setups are usually side-by-side, but not all desktops have enough space. Here, two 24-inch monitors are stacked and hinged, providing a substantial work area with a fairly small footprint. When fully extended, they sit on top of each other, but the bottom screen can be tilted so that it leans towards you, laptop-style. Additionally, the lower monitor can serve as a touch screen; I tested it doing some audio work and it was accurate and responsive, perfect for controlling faders. The Geminos T is not plug-and-play, but it was up and running in 15 minutes. It also doubles as a useful hub, with USB, Ethernet and SD ports. Geminos T Mobile Pixels, £619.99, laptopsdirect.es
Walk to work
Hitting a goal of 10,000 steps per day can be a challenge when you’re firmly tied to your desk, unless, of course, your desk has a walking platform (formerly a treadmill; the industry seems to have renamed it). This gym-grade unit is sturdy (it can support 159kg) and its speed is controlled by a desk-mounted console that also keeps a step count. You’ll need to increase the height of your standing desk an extra 12cm to allow for step-up, but from then on it does its job quietly and reliably. The ideal speed for working and walking is slower than if you were exercising, but it’s surprising how quickly those steps add up during an endless Zoom meeting. Life expectancy TR1200-SC110 GlowUp Walking Pad, £1,249