Here is a confession: I’ve by no means favored the thought of a standing desk. I am properly conscious of the well being dangers related to sitting down all day and the claims that it is the new smoking, however to me, standing up whereas typing sounds as unappealing and unnatural as taking a shower along with your socks on.
Nevertheless, if there’s one desk that might persuade me to get off my butt, the Magnus Professional may very properly be it. Developed by Secretlab, these are the identical guys that make my favourite gaming chair, the Titan Evo. It desk seems wonderful, with some good cable administration options and equipment, and it is an electrical sit-to-stand desk, that means you are not compelled in your toes all day, so transferring between positions comes as straightforward as urgent a button.
Secretlab has a fame for making premium gaming chairs with value tags to match. This desk isn’t any totally different. The usual 59.1-inch by 27.6-inch mannequin is $799, whereas the bigger 70-inch by 31.5-inch XL model that I am reviewing is $949 – and that is with out equipment such because the desk mat and monitor arm, all of which price additional. May a desk and a few extras be price greater than an RTX 4080 Tremendous? Furthermore, can a standing-desk skeptic like me be transformed?
To reiterate, that value is only for the desk, however I’ve opted for some extras. One in every of these is a desk mat, which is like an infinite, luxurious mouse mat that covers your entire floor. There are a number of out there in varied designs, together with Cyberpunk 2077, the Darkish Knight, and Murderer’s Creed. I select the Signature Stealth, now diminished to $49.
The monitor arm, out there for single ($149) and twin ($249) monitor setups, won’t be a necessity, however the quantity of motion it provides and the way clear it makes every part look is nice. I additionally went for a $29 headphone holder, a $49 cable administration bundle, and the $89 PC mount. That final one is unquestionably an fascinating possibility.
The Present Setup
My present desk is outdated. Purchased from Ikea a few decade in the past, its sturdiness is failing, although it has served me properly through the years, transferring to 2 totally different properties. I additionally recognize the massive quantity of storage it provides for stowing all my junk. It is actually overcrowded and a large number of wires because of the Razer audio system, SteelSeries headphones, 34-inch monitor, PC, Echo Present, and many others. The facility strip and all these wires beneath aren’t precisely fairly, both. A change is actually due.
Meeting
The Magnus Professional XL arrived in one of many largest containers ever delivered to my door. And that was simply the tabletop. The mechanical legs got here in a second hefty field, whereas the remainder of the equipment had been all in unfeasibly massive if considerably trendy cardboard containers.
For all it might look intimidating, the entire meeting course of is fairly intuitive and the step-by-step handbook is straightforward to observe, although a powered screwdriver with a number of heads makes the method simpler.
I used to be happy that there have been no irritatingly fiddly jobs through the building part. Even plugging the mechanical legs into the tabletop was straightforward.
Nevertheless, heed this phrase of warning: I often take manuals’ suggestion that two persons are required to place one thing collectively as a problem, however on this case, it most likely would have been smart as flipping the completed desk from its again onto its legs with out breaking it, my picket ground, or my again was concerningly tough, as you may see within the video under.
It is at this level the place one of many Magnus Professional’s finest options turns into obvious: the cable tray. Not solely does this do an exquisite job of hiding the multitude of cables that spew forth from a number of equipment, however it additionally comprises what Secretlab says is the world’s first fully-integrated energy provide column.
That is basically a hid cable extension inside the desk’s leg that results in a built-in electrical socket contained in the cable administration tray. Simply stick your energy strip within the tray, plug it in, and all of your energy leads can now be hidden beneath the hinged cowl. Only a single cable exits from the desk’s decrease leg to your wall. It is such a good suggestion that one has to surprise how you do not see this in each workplace desk (Secretlab says the design is patent pending.)
Equipment
The following a part of the setup is the desk mat. At $49 for the Signature Stealth mannequin, it is not low-cost, however out of all of the equipment, that is the one I would advocate most. It is created from a leatherette materials and comes with two steel sleeves for the sides – attaching these was probably the most awkward a part of the entire course of.
The standard of the mat is apparent by how a lot it weighs when rolled up. There’s additionally a magnetic underside to maintain it hooked up, so ensure you roll it out in the precise place the primary time to avoid wasting your self numerous stress. As soon as the mat is positioned appropriately, the desk seems and feels amazingly premium. I used to be additionally in a position to throw out my years-old Razer Sphex mouse mat as mice simply glide over this cowl like silk.
The desk mat is the perfect accent by far
In case you worth desk area and wish to give your self loads of choices relating to display screen place, take into account the $149 monitor arm. Made up of two particular person items that transfer independently, it is a terrific addition in the event you’re not overly hooked up to your present monitor stand. It even comes with cable administration options, after all.
The setup course of, which concerned utilizing the included VESA mount and desk clamp, was straightforward. It holds screens as much as 34 inches, which is what I exploit. There’s additionally the twin bundle ($249) for 2 screens. The completed arm is sturdy and enhances the general look.
For many who wish to take the clear look to the intense, there’s the $89 PC Mount, which helps you to connect your rig to the within of one of many legs. This one I used to be initially uncertain about. Having a lot desk area sounds good and all, however I really like the look of my RGB-packed Alder Lake construct, admiring the lately purchased (and now sadly discontinued) RTX 4070 Ti by way of the tempered glass window.
There’s additionally the concern of it falling off or being crushing accidentally if the desk drops too low. And that is not mentioning the additional steps that might be wanted when including/eradicating any {hardware} or equipment. However, I resolve to provide it a strive.
The mount can maintain instances weighing as much as 55 kilos. Mine’s a hefty boy so I bought some scales out and confirmed the 45-pound weight. Attaching it entails first adjusting the rack to the peak of the PC – there are two foam toes to make this course of simpler – eradicating some screws from beneath the desk on the prime of a motorized leg, then screwing within the mount. There’s additionally a width adjustment clamp with a lock button to make sure it stays firmly in place.
The PC feels fully safe as soon as every part is fastened and fitted; no extra worries about it falling. Nonetheless, watching my rig head in the direction of the bottom when the desk is decreasing sends flutters into my chest – the handbook warns to by no means drop the desk decrease than 78cm (as proven on the LCD) when utilizing the mount until you need your stunning machine/ground crushed.
I positioned my PC on the left leg as my ethernet cable originates from the left facet of the room. One other prime function of the mount is that each cable that comes out of your laptop – energy, DisplayPort, equipment, and many others – could be routed up into the cable tray and, the place wanted, slip out of the hole between the duvet and desk.
Whereas wholly an pointless additional, the cable administration bundle that consists of three magnetic cable anchors, two magnetic cable sheaths, and ten cable fastening straps is a pleasant if costly addition. The cable sheaths are my favourite ingredient as they keep on with the rear of the desk leg to cover all of the PC cables. The cable anchors, in the meantime, are helpful if in case you have extra wires in your desk and wish to tidy issues up; they appear very cool and use magnets so robust they might choose up a automotive.
Costly, however trendy
The fastening straps are, properly, velcro fastening straps, albeit good high quality ones with the Secretlab emblem. It is all feels very top quality and so they do preserve issues neat and tidy, however the $49 price ticket is a little bit steep for this one. I additionally bought a magnetic headphone holder that attaches to the underside of the desk. The conclusion for this one is just about the identical: seems good and sticks brilliantly, however prices a good bit at $29.
We Do not Want No Stinking Cables
Routing my quite a few cables, together with a wi-fi charger, Echo Present, and audio system, by way of the tray could not be easier – simply flip it open utilizing the stiff hinge then shut it when completed. There’s loads of area in there, too. I additionally like the truth that the cables could be routed contained in the monitor arm by eradicating and reattaching the again cowl. The one subject I had was my DisplayPort cable was a little bit too brief, so I needed to depart it dangling as a substitute of hidden inside the arm.
It is price noting that each one this cable administration is not simply pleasing to the attention. Transferring between seating and standing positions a number of occasions a day can imply flailing limbs that threaten to catch a wire and pull one thing costly onto the ground. No seen cables means much less probability of an accident; or so Secretlab says.
It must be stated that not having a single wire throughout this huge desk feels nice – I swapped over to a wi-fi keyboard for added impact. It undoubtedly brings a way of zen-like calm when in comparison with the chaotic mess of cables that was my earlier setup. And it is tough to precise how a lot I really like having a single wire and no energy strip on the ground; the entire room feels larger and tidier.
The Stand-up Expertise
Now it is time for the half I’ve not been trying ahead to. Being a standing desk means the Magnus Professional XL could be adjusted between 650mm – 1250mm with the contact of a button. I really like that the desk peak could be set right down to the millimetre, a function that enables me to discover a good place whereas I am sitting. It additionally comes with the flexibility to avoid wasting three totally different customized heights on separate buttons, which is clearly nice for leaping between sitting and… sigh… standing.
Day 1
Studying all I can in regards to the professionals of standing desks vs. the well being harm attributable to sitting all day makes me shocked that I am not already useless.
From decreasing the chance of weight achieve, coronary heart assaults, and most cancers, to bettering circulation, posture, again ache, and even productiveness, I am confused as to why everybody does not use a standing desk. After quarter-hour on my toes, I do know why.
In all equity, the primary time utilizing a standing desk could be sufficient to place most individuals off them for all times. My fears that the typing expertise could be negatively impacted are proved improper, although. After discovering the proper peak and keyboard place, my typing velocity truly appears to extend by some means. Three minutes into this and I am already feeling like a convert.
After 5 minutes, nonetheless, my again begins to harm, which is a shock as I learn it is supposed to stop this explicit ailment. Ten minutes later, my toes are in ache. Who thought standing nonetheless was so laborious? I am glad to know the really helpful option to begin with desks like these is to take it slowly, standing for a couple of minutes at a time each hour or so. Time restrictions for this function imply I am going barely past these suggestions, however I’ve by no means been so blissful to hunch again down into the Titan Evo on the 15-minute mark, particularly as I lately bought the Technogel Premium Armrests which might be simply *chef’s kiss*.
Regardless of what felt like a really disagreeable begin, I am keen to search out out if what I learn in regards to the standing sections turning into simpler is true or simply some propaganda from desk builders. I elect to face up for quarter-hour each two hours throughout a 10-hour stint, and each time the expertise is similar: a really sore again and toes.
Day 2
I get up with my decrease again feeling like I have been squatting a bull. It actually hits house simply how a lot my physique has been used to sitting all day. I learn someplace that whereas going to the gymnasium for an hour or so a couple of days every week is unarguably good for you, it is not sufficient to completely offset the harm fixed sitting can do. I am beginning to consider it.
The one excellent news is that the ache does not get any worse whereas I am standing right this moment. I’ve additionally began carrying some extra comfy footwear, which helps.
One factor I’ve observed that may go with out saying: standing at this type of desk once you’re not being compelled to does take a good bit of self-discipline. Typically was the time when the thought of giving the following stand-up session a miss crossed my thoughts, however I managed to push by way of till the bitter finish.
Day 5
My expedited standing routine means I am already on half-hour of standing for each hour, however issues are bettering. My again and toes aren’t as achy – by no means within the mornings – and whereas it is perhaps psychological, I do really feel typically higher and fitter. I actually do not miss the feeling of useless legs when getting up after many, many hours in a chair.
Day 10
For each hour I sit, I now stand for an hour. It is turning into virtually second nature. I dare say that being vertical is beginning to really feel extra pure than being caught in a chair – although I nonetheless would not wish to stand all day lengthy with out a break. I’ve even began the sit / stand schedule whereas gaming, which is unquestionably higher on slower video games like Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Dealer.
Bodily, I’ve little question that I’ve improved my posture. My productiveness additionally seems to have improved. The 2 largest items of reward I can provide are these: I now sit up for the alarm that lets me know it is time to stand going off (one thing that was unthinkable once I began this evaluate), and I am by no means going again to being on my backside full time.
You have most likely guessed by now that I just like the Magnus Professional XL desk, lots. Even in the event you hardly ever used it within the standing place, the wonderful construct high quality, cable administration options, seems, and general really feel make this a surprising piece of furnishings I would advocate to anybody.
A number of of my much less techie mates had been unimpressed once I talked about I used to be reviewing a desk – one even stated it regarded a bit plain once they checked out the web pictures – however everybody had the identical response once they noticed it in individual: “Wow!”
Then there’s the mechanical side. Solely once you’re in a position to alter a desk peak in millimeters are you able to recognize discovering the right place. And never sitting down all day may actually add years to your life. It is also silky clean and remarkably quiet in operation.
However nothing’s good. The entire price of this setup is $1,314, together with $949 for the XL desk. That is an enormous sum of money, sufficient to construct a fairly good PC. And whereas I undoubtedly assume a few of the equipment ought to be a bit cheaper, it is price remembering that these types of high-end desks are costly. Corsair’s comparable Platform:6 Creator Version Desk is $1,799, for instance, whereas Lian Li’s DK-05F PC case desk prices over $2,000.
Professionals
- Superb cable administration
- Construct high quality makes it very sturdy
- Integrating the ability provide into the leg is genius
- Discover your preferrred working peak right down to the millimeter
- The desk mats are the right crowning glory
- Straightforward meeting (with two individuals)
Cons
- Painfully costly
- Equipment may very well be cheaper