£290, adam-audio.com
ADAM Audio’s D3V are small monitors that compete with the likes of IK Multimedia’s iLoud Micro, the KRK GoAux series and AIAIAI’s Unit-4 wireless monitors. Whether you have portability in mind, or need a compact yet affordable monitor system for your bedroom studio, the D3V emerges as a standout competitor.
Innate sound quality seems to be the priority here, with the new D3V bearing a scaled-down version of the brand’s iconic AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter for sumptuous highs, plus passive radiators on the side of each monitor added to complement the compact woofers for extra bass extension.
On the flip side, there’s a noticeable absence of smart digital functions found on similar monitors, such as Bluetooth and automatic room correction EQ. But the D3Vs’ £290 price tag is an appealing proposition, delivering maximum sound quality with minimum fuss in compact workspaces.
ADAM Audio D3V monitors features and specs
Out of the box, I’m shocked by how dinky these speakers look, but I needn’t be fooled by the D3V’s slightly toy-like appearance.
In addition to the brand’s new D-ART tweeter, there’s a 3.5-inch bass woofer per monitor. The passive radiators lurking around the sides are unexpected but help the monitors sound far larger than they look. In terms of amplification, there’s more headroom than both the KRK GoAux 4 and IK’s iLoud Micro, thanks to more powerful amplifiers for each driver. For example, compare D3V’s 70 Watts and 30 Watts RMS for its woofer and tweeter respectively to 33 Watts/17 Watts RMS on the GoAux 4. ADAM is drawing out maximum performance from a compact active monitor.
The D3Vs have simple plastic stands that slide into the bottom and set the speakers at an angle. This is primitive compared to the multi-angle metal stands offered on KRK’s GoAux range, but the more basic approach makes for a far smaller physical footprint (though you do need to leave a little room on either side of them for the passive radiators to move freely).
Stand mounting these speakers is also an option, with a ⅜-inch threaded insert on the base. Unlike the GoAux, there’s no carry case included, so you’d have to factor in the price of a suitable third-party one if you’re serious about working in multiple locations.
On the front is a multifunctional rotary encoder and a 3.5 mm headphone socket. The encoder’s primary function is volume control, but via a series of clicks, you can switch between inputs, enter standby mode, and power down.
Around the back, the master left-hand speaker has all the connections and houses the amplifiers, while the passive right-hand speaker connects to it with the supplied multi-pin cable. This arrangement is the same as for most other compact monitors, and while it limits versatility for scenarios where you might want to use the monitors individually, having all the cables run to one of the speakers is pretty neat.
Input options are relatively minimal: two TRS jack sockets for the stereo analogue input, plus, more usefully, a USB-C socket for playback of audio directly from a computer. Both the balanced inputs and USB audio edge the D3V ahead of the iLoud Micro Monitor, which only has unbalanced analogue ins and no USB audio, but there’s no Bluetooth on the ADAMs, if that might irk you.
What EQ customisation is available on the ADAM Audio D3V?
The simplicity of approach also carries through to equalisation. Instead of providing options to both cut and boost frequencies, three filters provide different levels of attenuation in the low, low-mid and high frequency ranges, respectively. However, it’s frustrating that I have to consult a separate technical report to find this out. I’d prefer these details to be in the user manual, or better still, graphics on the monitors to show the filter responses.
The Position control corrects bass build-up when monitors are placed close to room boundaries, ranging from the Stand setting (no low-frequency cut, where the monitors are mounted on floor stands) through to Corner (a reduction of 6 dB in the low end). Meanwhile, the Desk control applies up to 6dB of reduction in the low mids for positioning on a studio desk, and Room Acoustics attenuates high frequencies for listening environments that have lots of reflective surfaces.
I love the set-and-forget approach on offer here. In my case, I quickly flick the Desk setting to Large to clear up low-mid build-up caused by my desk, giving a truer balance within the frequency spectrum. No further fiddling around at the back is required – I’m ready to get stuck in with some analytical listening.
How do the ADAM Audio D3Vs sound?
Though you can’t reasonably expect earth-shattering bass from the D3Vs, the low-end is impressive for the size of the monitor, and it’s really articulate, too. The passive radiators do a grand job of providing extension without the inevitable bass build-up associated with port-equipped speakers placed near walls.
Listening to Nitin Sawhney’s Nostalgia reveals an articulate, punchy kick, plus a decent stab at sub-bass synth lines. At the higher end, the song’s glossy, stacked female vocals are ultra-pleasing to the ears. This welcome combination of bass punch and crisp articulation is equally as satisfying on lighter cuts, such as The Jacques Loussier Trio’s jazz-funk Little Fugue in G Minor.
While high frequencies are crisp, they’re not fatiguing. There’s a clear separation between parts (and the individual contribution of the speaker drivers) on the ADAMs, which contrasts with a more rounded yet less detailed tone coming from the KRKs GoAux 4s I have to hand.
Overall, the sound is a little more boxy than my main (6.5-inch) Genelec monitors, and of course, the bass extension was never going to match those bigger monitors either. But given the price difference between the two sets, ADAM is really excelling with the performance of the D3Vs. Plus, onboard USB audio means I can swiftly and conveniently switch between my main audio interface/monitors and the D3Vs without adding more analogue audio cables.
Who are the ADAM Audio D3Vs for?
The D3Vs will excel in bedroom studios or indeed any situation where space is limited. If you’ve got problems with room resonances, you’ll have to look into adding on room correction using the likes of Sonarworks’ SoundID or IK’s ARC at extra cost, but I prefer this approach to most built-in room correction, which can be limited unless you’re spending much more on monitors. So ADAM’s stripped-back approach leads to the best quality sound, ultimately.
Price-wise, the D3V sits favourably against the similarly-priced, smaller and less-powerful iLoud Micro (although the iLoud does have the benefit of Bluetooth input). The 3-inch model in KRK’s GoAux range is also a similar price, while the larger 4-inch GoAux with built-in room correction is around £100 more. Neither of the KRK models can quite match the D3V sonically, plus the GoAux 3 lacks the D3V’s ultra-useful USB audio capability.
For on-the-move music-making, you can get set up in a matter of seconds and enjoy quality sound, all without fiddling with a ton of controls.
Key features
- Active monitors
- Available in black or white
- 1.5-inch D-ART tweeters
- 3.5-inch woofers, plus dual passive radiators per monitor
- 240W total peak amplifier power
- Frequency response at -6 dB: 45 Hz – 23.2 kHz
- Dimensions (with included stand): 240 mm (H) x 115 mm (W) x 150 mm (D)
- Comes with USB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A converter and external power supply
The post ADAM Audio D3V review: Compact monitors with few compromises appeared first on MusicTech.
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