Adam A5X Active Amplified Professional Studio Monitor Speaker

Product Information

Stereo Link" allows one unit to control the volume of the other. All testing was performed with the switches in the default position as you see. The front input control though was set lower so that 0 dBu input produced 86 dBSPL @ 1 meter. The woofers on all AX series monitors are built using a construction of woven carbon and glass fiber with the synthetic material Rohacell. When these three materials are combined together, the result is an ultra-lightweight yet extremely rigid material that provides excellent transient responses. X-Art Technology Even after sitting with them for a couple of weeks, I’m still impressed these little speakers go that low at all, not to mention that well.

Relative to the KEFs they are a definitive step up in terms of resolution of detail, lower colouration (in the nearfield - equal at distance), bass definition, soundstage depth, separation, dynamics. The A5Xs do sound very similar tonally to the KEFs which surprised me a little; I guess the KEFs are pretty well balanced! Although the ASP8s are fun listening in their own way (and may have a greater appeal to some listeners) if I had to mix on just one set of monitors, I’d trust the smaller A5Xs more. Adam have gained a strong reputation for the quality and value for money of their larger reference monitors, but have they had to make any compromises in their smallest model?

The A5X is no longer being produced. Please have a look at its successor: The ADAM Audio A4V!

To complement the new tweeter, the seven‑inch bass/mid driver has also been re‑engineered, now featuring a larger, 1.5‑inch voice coil, and this is teamed with an amplifier having twice the power of that in the original A7. Adam's technical documentation tells us that the new model uses the same carbon/Rohacell/glass-fibre construction as the A7 driver; certainly the A7 and A7X woofers look pretty much identical from the front. An ideal speaker has a lightweight cone that doesn't deform or resonate, so that it can act as a true piston throughout its operating range. This well‑damped, laminated construction is more rigid than the more commonly‑used paper or polypropylene cones, and the increased power handling certainly seems to have helped out.

German EngineeringAs truly professional reference monitors, every Adam A5X is rigorously tested in the Adam Audio factory in Berlin, and it's clear their engineers have considered every detail. For your convenience, a master … read more Remember that the street prices listed here are for a single monitor only—you’ll need a pair for proper monitoring.

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This embedded platform supports filters from industry leading third-party Sonarworks. Using Sonarworks SoundID Reference and a measurement mic, you can calibrate your speakers for a new room or shifting taste. Upgradable firmware allows these monitors to evolve, so customers can continue to capitalize on future innovations from ADAM Audio. An extended five-year warranty offer plus post-warranty support ensure these monitors will continue to perform at their best for many years to come.” It's enormously important to understand that there is absolutely no possibility of having any pleasure in life at all without skill. Money doesn't buy pleasure ever."-Alan Watts

Finally tried the A7X, just a bit more bass presence than the A5Xs but no noticeable improvement in mid nor treble. To my ears, these speakers sound remarkably free of strange and misleading resonances down to 80hz or even lower. Down around 50hz or so, I finally start to feel the slightly sluggish response inherent in all ported designs, although it occurs at levels much less significant than in many monitors in the same price range. As for the 4-inchers, yep most online comments, and now yours on top, conclude that the 4" will be too small for electronic music so I am eliminating all of them from my list as well. Besides, they are all very expensive!A lot of engineers will love the sound just as it comes, but I initially found the overall tonal balance just a hint too sizzly at the top end for my personal taste. A small adjustment to reduce the tweeter level by around 1dB and to pull down the 6kHz filter by a notch brought the sound neatly into my comfort zone, after which I set about auditioning some test material. I’ve been in this same boat recently and ended up spending a lot more than I originally intended on the 8030Cs, though I did get them for a relatively decent price being patient with the used market since they pop up fairly regularly.