Secretlab Magnus Pro XL

[msduncan]

So, as you might have read in EBG, I got divorced early last year after hanging on and trying to save the marriage for 3 years. For 3 years my annual bonus was gobbled up by (her) apartment lease she never stayed in, legal fees for filing and withdrawing, and expenses related to selling our house when it was final. Long story....but I haven't properly bought myself anything for several years. This year, I bought myself a Magnus Pro XL gaming desk and I wanted to give you guys a rundown:

- This thing is SOLID. It's completely made of metal and built to last.
- The look of it is a combination of sophistication and minimalist. When you glance at it in a room it's not a giant monstrosity and looks sleek and functional.
- The desk mat (included in mine) makes it look a lot more finished. Stitched leather and it doesn't budge thanks to the magnets. Slightly textured, so it has a leather top look. It's easy to wipe down, and of course can be swapped out for a new one in a couple years.
- It's famous for its cable management with the tray in the back, and it does the job beautifully. My monitor, mouse and keyboard cables run directly back and into the tray. The tray holds a surge suppressor which powers everything by plugging into the desk. The desk has a single power cord on one side at the bottom and it provides an outlet in the cable tray. My tangled web of computer cables is gone and the desk area looks much more appealing.
- The motor for the sit to stand functionality is super super quiet. I could have someone sleeping in the room and raise it and it wouldn't wake them. Very smooth with several 'favorite height' buttons that you can set (or you can use the up and down buttons of course).
- All accessories are magnetic. If you want, say, the headphones holder - it just slaps on to the underside of the front of the desk wherever you want it to go. They also have cable management sleeves that magnetically attach to the legs if you have to route cables up the sides and hide them.
- I opted for the Nanoleaf rgb strip that sits in my cable tray and adds a little bit of fun to the back of the desk.....controllable by the Nanoleaf app on your phone.


It was pricey. I got it on sale and it was still pricey. However, I don't regret the purchase one bit. I'd been using an old wooden desk that was really a sewing desk converted with very little leg room. Now my cables are all hidden, I have plenty of leg room, and I can tell this desk will last me for years and years.

Hope my experience helps anyone that might have thought about it.

[hepcat]

Wow, that's a pretty snazzy desk! Congrats, man!

[disarm]

Looks really nice!

For the last 12 years or so, I've had an L-shaped office desk from IKEA that has apparently been discontinued (looks similar to the Berkant they sell now). It's been great... functionally good for my needs and still looks almost like new. That said, one of the hangups has always been cable management. I have a tray mounted on the underside near the back to hold a power strip and control the wires, but the management system in that Secretlabs desk looks really cool...would love to have something like that. The features available in a modern, purpose-built computer desk are definitely a step up from the basic desks of yesteryear.

Maybe I'll look into an update/upgrade some day, but it's hard to justify that kind of expense when my current desk does work really well. Why does money have to drive so many decisions?

[Zaxxon]

TTIWWP.

(Also, congrats. I have a Secretlab chair and will admit I've considered the desk as a future desire.)

[msduncan]

TTIWWP.

(Also, congrats. I have a Secretlab chair and will admit I've considered the desk as a future desire.)

How do you like the chair? After this desk I have no money for an immediate purchase, but eventually this chair is gonna have to be replaced.

[Zaxxon]

TTIWWP.

(Also, congrats. I have a Secretlab chair and will admit I've considered the desk as a future desire.)

How do you like the chair? After this desk I have no money for an immediate purchase, but eventually this chair is gonna have to be replaced.

It has been as advertised--a big step up from my prior (OfficeMax special). It's held up great over the ~2ish (I think) years I've had it so far.

[Blackhawk]

TTIWWP.

(Also, congrats. I have a Secretlab chair and will admit I've considered the desk as a future desire.)

All of this.

I got one of their chairs (the Titan Evo) a few years ago. It was a massive expense, honestly beyond my means, but I spend enough hours in front of my desk that sitting in an affordable chair was causing me constant pain. Between the back injury when I was 22 and the early spinal arthritis I've begun to develop as a result, I'm very sensitive to how I sit. The chair ended the pain. Participating in my hobby without it putting me in pain 24/7 made it a very worthwhile investment.

I, too, have ogled the desk, but where the chair was about solving a medical problem, the desk would be a luxury - so that crosses it off my list. I'm fine on my $100 Amazon desk.

[YellowKing]

Very nice!

Four years back I bought a Fezibo adjustable standing desk. It's kind of a budget brand but it has held up really well and I've had no issues with it despite using it almost daily. it's definitely been a health game changer considering how many hours I'm working. I went from sitting 8 hours a day to standing 70-80% of the time, so it was definitely a worthwhile health investment.

I'll have to look into the chairs. I've gone through cheap chair after cheap chair, and my back isn't getting any younger. At some point I need to break down and spend the money on something high quality.

[disarm]

I'll have to look into the chairs. I've gone through cheap chair after cheap chair, and my back isn't getting any younger. At some point I need to break down and spend the money on something high quality.

I bought a Steelcase Leap V2 around five years ago and stepping up my chair game was a great decision...so much more comfortable and durable. Where I used to need a new cheap chair every few years, it seems like the Leap is going to last forever...and I didn't pay anywhere near full price.

Check out Madison Seating. They sell refurbished high-end office chairs at huge discounts and stand behind their sales. The Leap I purchased was a $1200 chair new, but I got it from Madison for $400. When my chair arrived, it was damaged during shipping so I sent them pictures and they immediately sent a replacement...and told me to keep the first chair for spare parts (it wasn't usable otherwise). I got an awesome chair at a great price and would recommend Madison to anyone.

[msduncan]

My monitor arm is a little late and arriving later this week. I'll take a photo once that is installed and post it here.

[hepcat]

Of course, you realize we demand that you be in the photo in full Stormtrooper regalia.

[Zarathud]

Dancing a jig.