Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Detailed and powerful low-end response
- Articulate midrange driver
- Crisp and airy high-end without harshness
- The built-in EQ and Sonarworks SoundID Reference integration allows users to tailor the sound to their specific room acoustics
- Wide, deep, highly detailed, and solidly centered soundfield
Product Considerations
- Self-noise/hiss can be noticeable up close
- To fully use the Sonarworks feature after the trial, users would need to purchase the software
- Some users experienced initial connection hiccups with the A Control app
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The A8H offered a better value than the Dynaudio LYD 48 due to sound, build quality, and features like the built-in EQ
- The A8H offers more DSP capabilities, and is less expensive than the HEDD Audio Type 20 MK2 or Neumann KH310
- It is halfway between the less expensive but less sophisticated Dynaudio LYD 48 and ADAM Audio's own S2V—which, although a 2 way, offers step up in terms of sophistication
Takeaway: The A8H studio monitors deliver exceptional sound quality with user-friendly features—enhancing the overall audio production experience. These monitors, with versatile connectivity, DSP-driven room adaptation, and impressive audio performance, are a great choice for those serious about audio.
All
A8H
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Display: Front panel multi-colour LED
- Cabinet Material: Vinyl wrapped MDF and painted MDF front panel
- Power consumption: 220 W (max), 15 W (idle), 3.5 W (sleep)
- AC Input Voltage: 100 – 240 V, 50/60 Hz
- Power Rating: 500 W max.
- Weight: 13.6 kg (30 lb)
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 274 mm x 382 mm x 329 mm (10 3/4″ x 15″ x 13″)
- Frequency Response @ -3 dB: 34 Hz – 41 kHz
- Max. peak SPL per speaker at 1 m: 105 dB SPL
- Woofer: 8″ MLM
- Midrange: 3.5" Dome Cone Hybrid (DCH)
- Tweeter: X-ART with HPS waveguide
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- ADAM Audio monitors are recognized for their proprietary folded-ribbon ART tweeter, which contributes to a smooth, clear high-frequency response and a wide sweet spot, a distinct characteristic setting them apart from other monitor brands.
- They offer above-average flexibility through DSP-supported room-dependent EQ adjustment with several EQ preset options, allowing users to tailor the sound to their specific room acoustics, and often incorporate a legacy mode that emulates the sound of previous X-Series monitors.
- ADAM Audio monitors, especially the S Series, have a design focused on minimizing resonance and coloration even at high listening levels, indicating a dedication to accurate sound reproduction over simply sounding "good."
- The brand is not just focused on high-end performance but also provides a compelling value proposition with their T Series, bringing their signature sound to a more budget-conscious market, making high-quality monitoring accessible to budding engineers and home studios.
Select products
T5V
- Positioning: Entry-level line, designed for affordability and compactness.
- Description: Offers excellent acoustic characteristics with its U-ART tweeter and HPS waveguide, providing a wide sweet spot for small control rooms. Unlike the A8H and S5H, it is optimized for budget-conscious users who need reliable performance in limited spaces, making it ideal for home studios or small professional setups.
T10S
- Positioning: Compact subwoofer designed to complement nearfield monitors.
- Description: Enhances low-frequency response with its down-firing 10" woofer and 130 W amplifier, making it a powerful addition to the T5V and T7V monitors. While it lacks the advanced DSP features of the A8H and S5H, its compact design and adjustable crossover make it suitable for users seeking to extend bass in smaller studio environments.
A8H
- Positioning: High-performance midfield monitor for detailed audio representation.
- Description: Stands out with its X-ART tweeter and rotatable HPS waveguide, offering precise sound for critical listening in mid-sized spaces. Unlike the T5V, it includes DSP-based tuning and Sonarworks integration.
S5H
- Positioning: Flagship main monitor for expansive studio environments.
- Description: Features dual 10" ELE bass drivers and a DCH midrange driver, delivering exceptional low-frequency control and midrange clarity. It surpasses the A8H with its extensive DSP capabilities and high SPL output.
Our take on the brand
Look inside the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
Air Motion Transformers
ADAM Audio has been refining Air Motion Transformer technology for more than 25 years, and we employ it in every tweeter we manufacture. This sustained focus has led to a series of innovations which trickle down to every series in our portfolio. We have an expert team in Berlin that hand-folds these tweeters, and they are subject to rigorous QA before they are fitted to the loudspeakers.
Industrial Design
ADAM Audio loudspeakers have a strong and unique design language that stems from Berlin and the design team here. Every choice centers around acoustic performance, but the beveled edges, bespoke waveguides, and rounded ports combine to form striking products. For decades, the loudspeakers have been the focal point of studios worldwide, and in recent years they have been catching eyes in home audio systems.
What's your approach to customer support?
Our Berlin-based customer support team handles hundreds of queries each month, ranging from pre-sales questions, troubleshooting and best practices, to repairs. They pride themselves on their response and success rate, and our customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive. ADAM Audio offers an industry-leading warranty of up to 5 years, and beyond that, our service team is always happy to repair products when possible. We have a wonderful dealer and distributor network who will always be happy to help if they can.
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
Max Cooper – Inanimate to Animate (highly recommended to listen in Dolby Atmos where possible!)
Gui Boratto – Mr. Decay (bass extension)
Pixies – Hey (dynamic range)
What other products pair best with yours?
The resolution and conversion offered by Focusrite interfaces is second to none!
Used
ADAM Audio
What if you spend more?
The Anniversary 10 (A10) is a culmination of all the experience that we have gathered over the last 10 years of designing and building HiFi speakers. Over the last decade, we have produced and sold thousands of speakers to happy HiFi enthusiasts from all around the world. Listening to feedback from our customers, learning from the best and adding our own flavor to the mix, has created extremely popular and critically acclaimed speakers, and now, this has evolved into our best sounding speaker yet. The A10 is something we are truly proud of, both in terms of sound, look and production values. It is a true celebration of our passion for amazing high-end sound, great engineering and high value products.
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Product Strengths
- Exceptional bass performance for its compact size, with bass that is fast, clear, and tight
- Multiple 'Master Tunings' offer customizable sound profiles, adapting to different room acoustics and user preferences
- A high-quality Purifi woofer and SB Acoustics tweeter contribute to clarity, detail, and low distortion
- A solid wood cabinet made in Denmark provides a luxurious look and feel
Product Considerations
- Bass output may diminish or be limited at high volumes to protect the drivers from damage
- A separate purchase of the Platin Stereo Hub may be required for full wireless functionality and room correction
- The 'Made in China' label applies to the electronics inside the cabinet
- While the A10 offers impressive bass, some may still prefer to add a subwoofer for a true full-range experience
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Buchardt S400 Mark II, the A10 is more transparent with greater inner detail, clarity, and top-end extension—and deeper, tighter bass—while the S400 Mark II is more relaxed and forgiving with harsh recordings
- Vs Buchardt A500, the A10 has comparable performance, with possibly a crisper sound in some instances
Takeaway: The Buchardt Anniversary 10 is a compact yet powerful speaker that offers a customizable listening experience. Its impressive bass and versatile tuning options make it a great choice for those seeking a high-quality audio solution in a small to medium-sized room.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- Delivers greater tightness and precision from the crossover point on down
- Delivers an extended high-frequency range, with greater detail and more openness without harshness
- Stereo imaging is amongst the best
- Has no sweet 'spot', which allows the engineer, producer, and client a fairly similar listening experience
- Has a smoothly extended bass response that reveals what is really going on in that elusive bottom octave
Product Considerations
- The BM-15As may be overkill for a smaller mixing environment and better suited for larger rooms
- High end is as clean and accurate as the BM-12s, but the mids were a little lacking
- While they have a slightly forward characteristic, it doesn't get in the way of accurate monitoring
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Dynaudio BM-12 MK3s—BM-15A has more bass extension and pure raw SPL power
- Vs Dynaudio BM-12 MK3s—BM-12 MK3s have more detail in the mid-range
- Vs Dynaudio BM-12 MK3s—BM-15A are far louder and put out substantially larger amount of energy in the bass and subs
- Vs Genelec, Focal, Neumann, and Event—the Dynaudio BM series are in the same class as these monitors
Takeaway: The BM15A is a speaker that gives great stereo imaging with a wide frequency range, and produces an accurate sound which is nice to listen to for long periods. Full-range monitoring in a smaller studio is possible with these speakers.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent balanced delivery with precise midrange
- Well-specified, easy-to-use EQ and room correction settings
- Good low-frequency extension given its compact size
- Produces a beautifully clean and well-defined sound, with no harshness in the highs and a real sense of spatial depth and stereo width
- As mixing tools, they tell it like it is, so good mixes sound 'right' and flaws are shown up clearly, just as they should
Product Considerations
- Expensive
- There's no straightforward way to hook up the Core 5s to the Core Sub Compact if all connections are to remain analogue
Takeaway: The Core 5 is a compact, accurate, and high-quality studio monitor that delivers a balanced and detailed sound perfect for smaller studios or immersive setups. It is comfortable to work with for extended periods, making it a great choice for professional use.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Questions? Ask the brand's dealers.
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