Secretlab MAGNUS Pro XL Electric Sit-Stand Desk
design
There’s quite a bit to unpack with the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro, figuratively and literally. It’s a six step ordering process through the Secretlab website with plenty of choice and room for customisation. You’ll find the MAGNUS Pro in two sizes, L and XL, with Black or Pure White options for both. It’s the larger of the two I’ve been testing here in the newer all-white colourway and make no mistake, Secretlab isn’t taking the term XL lightly – this is a giant desk surface that shouldn’t be underestimated.
I tackled the build of this gaming desk solo but I wouldn’t recommend it if you can avoid it. At just shy of 1.8m long the MAGNUS Pro XL desk is nearly the same size I am and it’s not far off being the same weight too which made it a real wrestle in some parts. The MDF and steel desktop surface weighs more than 30kg and combined with the steel frame the whole unit is the best part of 75kg. That said, the build itself is actually impressively simple, much like the Secretlab TITAN Evo the included instructions are easy to follow and all the required tools are included in the box.
You could rock the MAGNUS Pro naked and stick with the slightly textured metal surface, I actually think for some uses that could be quite pleasant – albeit it a little chilly on your forearms, though Secretlab does offer a selection of full-size MAGPAD Desk Mats. Technically these range from £69-£199 each, but there are often savings and deals to be had if you purchase as a bundle via the desk configuration options. Going this route will save you a little cash but will limit your choices as only certain pairings are available as standard. If you opt for the black MAGNUS Pro you’ll only be able to choose from a range of dark designs while the white desk only offers two grey options.
If you grab a second mat or choose not to bundle there’s a range of additional designs, including some esports and game branded options and you can always swap these out down the line too. Most of the MAGNUS Pro Desk Mats are leatherette though my unit included the silver microsuede option which would usually cost you an extra £25 over the leatherette when bundled or £109 standalone. Whichever material or colour you go for however will cover the full desk surface with a magnetic backing and end strips that makes it super simple to perfectly line up and keeps it steadily in place.
The microsuede is certainly a premium choice but it may not be for everyone. I really like the soft, slightly flocked material, it makes the desktop feel luxurious to touch and super high end, but it also requires a fair bit of care and attention. I’m always slightly terrified to place anything on the microsuede MAGPAD for fear of damaging it and Secretlab do make a point of highlighting you’ll need to keep it as far from liquids as possible. I also found it was particularly prone to marking with what seem like permanent dings and dents from even the most gentle of bumps or drops onto the surface. I don’t regret choosing the microsuede option, it truly does feel excellent and works well as a mousepad surface (albeit noticeably high drag and low speed) but I’m not convinced how well it will hold up in the long run compared to the leatherette.
For me, the easiest way to sum up the design of the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro XL is ‘neat and tidy’. It’s clear the goal is simplicity and cable management bliss here and for the most part it’s rather successful. The touch sensitive control panel is integrated flat into the front face of the desk surface rather than being bolted on to the bottom, something not unique to the MAGNUS Pro, but as someone who’s banged his knee on a control panel more times than he’d like to admit it’s nice to see. Power is also built-in, a single connection at the base of the left leg delivers juice to not only the dual electric motors but to a single powerpoint inside the cable management tray. It’s such a clever, logical solution that does make life considerably easier for someone like me who has an abundance of devices plugged in at once.
I’ll touch on the day to day impact of that cable management tray a little later, but at a superficial level it’s another smart design choice by Secretlab. Accessed via an angled, hinged panel that blends near seamlessly into the deck surface itself, the MAGNUS Pro’s cable management tray is by far the best solution I’ve seen on any sit-stand desk. There’s just enough of a gap to fit even thick XLR cables through and enough depth in the tray to fit a full-size powerboard and chunky power adapters.
performance
When you’re ordering the MAGNUS Pro your first choice is size and it’s one I recommend you make sure to properly consider because the XL version I’ve been testing is enormous. If you’ve got the space for it, that’s obviously a wonderful thing, but be warned, 177cm x 80cm is bigger in real life than it sounds on paper and it’s an imposing amount of desktop workspace. The T-shape legs are similar to those on the Autonomous SmartDesk Eureka but I found they did a better job at keeping that mammoth surface stable at all heights and on carpet.
I was particularly impressed by how effortless the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro’s dual motors handled height adjustments. Not only is it whisper quiet, it’s noticeably smooth and particularly gentle when starting or stopping a move. As you’d expect there’s a handful of programmable heights with very granular control over positions between 650mm and 1250mm. Unlike other electric sit-stand desks I’ve tried like the Autonomous SmartDesk which seem to have a lag in responding to movements, the MAGNUS Pro felt responsive and detailed and much easier to dial in to a specific height. It also includes anti-collision detection which while common, isn’t guaranteed on many modern electric desks so it’s always nice to see. Cranking it up to a height far greater than I’d ever use, the MAGNUS Pro remained stable and even with a pair of mounted monitors and a few tall accessories like lights and my camera it didn’t rock or wobble.
The MAGNUS Pro XL already offers a sea of desk space but you have a couple of options to extend the available real estate too, with Secretlab offering both a range of specifically designed monitor arms and a clamp on desk riser. I’ve tested both here with mixed levels of success though that wasn’t necessarily the fault of the MAGNUS Pro or the accessories themselves. The dual monitor arm is incredibly well made and feels noticeably premium, movements are smooth and precise and it does a great job of holding my monitors rock solid in place.
The integrated cable management channels do their job well and I was also pleased to see bracket screw extenders included in the box and a simple quick release plate system. Perhaps most clever though is how the dual monitor arm attaches to the MAGNUS Pro. While still clamping to the edge of the desk like a generic arm, the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro arm is tightened via a hex screw on the top rather than a toggle on the bottom. It’s such a simple change that makes it effortless to mount and adjust, very slick.
The desk riser uses the same top mounting approach and is equally simple to install, though in my setup I didn’t find it anywhere near as useful and I actually ended up opting to remove it for day to day use. As a streamer and gamer my MAGNUS Pro was quickly covered in an array of Stream Decks, mixers, mic arms and general stuff that all wanted to be within easy reach. At first I thought the riser may help with this but it actually ended up getting more in the way.
There wasn’t quite enough space under the riser to be useful, and trying to use the riser in partnership with the monitor arm meant there wasn’t quite enough space on top either. I’m sure in certain configurations the riser would be a great addition, it just doesn’t fit into how I need and want to use the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro XL.
A note too, while the MAGNUS Pro monitor arm can be mounted to the riser rather than the desk surface, doing so will mean you’ll need to find 20-30cm of clearance behind the desk to stop the arms banging into the wall or having your monitors sit too far out over your desk. Like a lot of people I’m sure, my desk sits as close to flush against a wall as possible and even with the monitor arms mounted to the desk surface this was still a slight problem and did limit the control I had over where my monitors were positioned.
All of that aside, the obvious star of the show for the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro is its cable management – it’s superb. It’s not just that cleverly hidden rear tray either, it’s a full ecosystem of clever bits and pieces that all work together to make sure you barely need to see a single cable. The secret tray is ultimately what brings it all together, it’s surprisingly roomy in there and I had no problems fitting 2 full size powerstrips along with trailing all the USB cables needed for my streaming setup and gaming PC. It is a little like shoving all the clothes from your bedroom floor under the bed and calling it tidy however, inside the tray quickly becomes a tangled mess of cables that can become awkward to remove a single component from. Out of sight, out of mind and all that but a pain when it comes to making changes.
There are a few ways to overcome that hidden clutter and tighten things up outside the tray too, but you’ll need to pay extra for them. The Secretlab Cable Management Bundle includes an assortment of anchors, sheaths and ties that make neater routing rather achievable. I’m a particularly big fan of the large magnetic sheaths, I used these to keep cables neatly tucked into the leg before shooting out to the back of my PC case and they do a great job of making things disappear. The smaller magnetic anchors are also super versatile, with so much of the MAGNUS Pro’s construction being metal I ended up dotting them around the desk to keep things like my Elgato Wave DX’s XLR cable neatly run along the underside of the desk and around to the tray.
A shout out too for Secretlab’s Premium PC Mount which securely hung my PC from the underside of the desk. While this may feel like an unnecessary luxury, it’s probably the accessory I recommend grabbing most. My biggest annoyance with other sit-stand desks like the Autonomous Eureka is having to run cabling that can remain neat in both the lower and raised positions. The mount negates this need and means everything is always travelling together. It also helps lift your PC nearer to that cable management tray, meaning cables only need to briefly pop their little heads out of the end to connect to your PC.
The Secretlab MAGNUS Pro is close to being the perfect sit-stand desk in my opinion but as a streamer I can’t help but feel a couple of things have been overlooked in its design. While the MAGNUS Pro’s own clamp mounted accessories are wonderfully easy to install, it doesn’t play overly nice with more traditional bottom mounted clamps like mic arms and light stands.
If like me you are used to screwing a load of different things to the back and sides of your desk you’ll find there is often either a lack of edge lip to clamp on to or that the cable management tray is a smidge too shallow to be able to turn the handle when mounting to the back of the desk. Of course it’s not Secretlab’s job to account for the design choices of other brands, and I was able to eventually get everything connected, I just had to make a few compromises and it’s worth bearing in mind.
summed up
Secretlab has absolutely nailed it with the MAGNUS Pro, I’m confident in saying this is simply the best electric sit-stand desk you can buy right now. Even before we get to the extensive and clever cable management, the fundamentals of this desk are rock solid. A generously spacious table top and smooth dual-motor system forms the foundation for a great experience and then it’s over to the bells and whistles.
The cable management tray is a game changer for keeping things neat and tidy and it’s well supported by a magnetic ecosystem of accessories and add-ons that take things to a whole new level. All of this will cost you though, this is a premium desk with a premium price point that needs extra investment to unlock all it has to give. It’s also not the perfect choice for streamers as compatibility with third party add-ons can be limited. These are minor negatives though, this is a case of getting what you pay for and the bottom line is the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro is spectacularly good.
