My new studio monitors...

If i'm honest, i love it to pieces. Some say its a love or hate device, but i really love it. The emulations dont have the GUI, and most definatly arent as accurate in emulating most of the same units that universal audio have, but they are damn close, and actually sound quite interesting compared with the UAD models. Plus that fact that it is portable, runs via FW, can run 32x instances of comp/EQ makes it pure win for me, as well as being over half as cheap. Only very rarely have i wanted a specific UAD plugin and not been able to get something close with the liquid mix. The liquid mix isnt particulary user friendly though, and if your not used to hearing what a particular EQ or compressor sounds like, you can be at a bit of a loss. Once you start really using the different emulations for different material you soon develop favourite "go-to" emulations.

The UAD stuff sounds incredible, but i really only use a few plugins for mastering, so i take my material into work and master it there with their UAD stuff. I can't possibly warrent the best part of £350 (minimum) plus the price of the plugins at this stage, although i would really love to! For me, getting decent acoustic treatment is the next logical step.

I use Pro Tools M-Powered at home, as well as Cubase 5 which is shared at my uncles studio with a dongle. We recording into a fireface 800 and Cubase 5, and mix down in Pro Tools (or occassionally Cubase) with my ProFire2626 and new monitors. :)
 
Cool, all sounds good.
I'm running C5 with Ableton Suite 8, with a bunch of VST-I's / VST Plugs, used to have a ton of outboard but now just a few Universal Audio Pre's / comps and some random TC - TLA gear which doesn't really get used, mostly all done in the box these days....being the biz is cool though as I have 3 iLOKS full of licences and an unlocked UAD2 Quad, and plenty of goodies. on your next purchase give me a shout if it's an item we do, I'll get you an awesome deal done. : )
 
r2d2 said:
Heard they are awesome. I am thinking about getting them.

How loud do they go? Whats the bass like?
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Sustained 106dB at 0.5% total harmonic distortion levels, which is bearing on being very uncomfortable if your not a good few meters away. Loud enough to make super low dBFS input levels loud! At 50% volume, they are bearing uncomfortable with any mastered material unless you are across the other end of the room, or are mixing with low signal levels.

Bass response is fab. It was one of the things i was worried about, as they used to have such a dominant high end that the bass was always the weaker of the two frequency ranges. However, they've addressed the issue nicely by increasing the power to the woofer, as well as making it larger (7") to sustain accurately down to 42hz, which is a good 5-10hz improvement from the A7's. The accuracy is amazing. If your producing anything that really needs attention to sub 40hz frequencies then your best either looking for something else, or getting a sub, as you cant drive these woofers any lower unless you want to damage them! But generally, you can be assured that everything from 42hz through 50kHz is being faithfully represented. Same goes for the BM5A/BM6A's MKII, which again are great for everything minus the real sub frequencies, which is mere sound pressure energy more than anything else (imo)

If your a dnb producer, i'd say look elsewhere, despite everything else being great about them. If you do pop, rock, acoustic, electronic i would highly recommend them. The A8X (new model) has an even larger woofer and does indeed go even lower with the same amount of accuracy, which is why all the dnb and dance producers are eying up this slightly more beefed up varient, but i find 8.5" woofers just to be far too overpowering. 7" is a lovely balance for the work i do.

Best idea would be to ring up a dealer that has them in stock and ask for some time to come in and try them out. Ask them to set them up for you (which im sure they'll be more than happy to) and take in a reference CD. You'll know within 5 minutes if they are the speakers for you.
 
OzZie said:
Sustained 106dB at 0.5% total harmonic distortion levels, which is bearing on being very uncomfortable if your not a good few meters away. Loud enough to make super low dBFS input levels loud! At 50% volume, they are bearing uncomfortable with any mastered material unless you are across the other end of the room, or are mixing with low signal levels.

Bass response is fab. It was one of the things i was worried about, as they used to have such a dominant high end that the bass was always the weaker of the two frequency ranges. However, they've addressed the issue nicely by increasing the power to the woofer, as well as making it larger (7") to sustain accurately down to 42hz, which is a good 5-10hz improvement from the A7's. The accuracy is amazing. If your producing anything that really needs attention to sub 40hz frequencies then your best either looking for something else, or getting a sub, as you cant drive these woofers any lower unless you want to damage them! But generally, you can be assured that everything from 42hz through 50kHz is being faithfully represented. Same goes for the BM5A/BM6A's MKII, which again are great for everything minus the real sub frequencies, which is mere sound pressure energy more than anything else (imo)

If your a dnb producer, i'd say look elsewhere, despite everything else being great about them. If you do pop, rock, acoustic, electronic i would highly recommend them. The A8X (new model) has an even larger woofer and does indeed go even lower with the same amount of accuracy, which is why all the dnb and dance producers are eying up this slightly more beefed up varient, but i find 8.5" woofers just to be far too overpowering. 7" is a lovely balance for the work i do.

Best idea would be to ring up a dealer that has them in stock and ask for some time to come in and try them out. Ask them to set them up for you (which im sure they'll be more than happy to) and take in a reference CD. You'll know within 5 minutes if they are the speakers for you.
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Thanks for the feedback mate. I bet they are awesome lol.

I would use them just for general music listening. I have a very good source etc, but my current speakers arent doing it justice imo.

Now I just need some more money lol.
 
I have the original A7's running off of an Asus Essence via a Little Dot mk3 as a pre amp and they sound simply sublime. The detail and soundstage has to be heard to be believed.

I am not sure if I could do much better for the money to be honest and I have had some gear over the years.
 
loving those adams! wish i could afford some, but alas i can only afford the fostex pm01 mkII's i have..

might be an idea to keep the tapco's and use them for A/B mastering - then you can average the sound between the 2
 
OzZie said:
Sustained 106dB at 0.5% total harmonic distortion levels, which is bearing on being very uncomfortable if your not a good few meters away. Loud enough to make super low dBFS input levels loud! At 50% volume, they are bearing uncomfortable with any mastered material unless you are across the other end of the room, or are mixing with low signal levels.

Bass response is fab. It was one of the things i was worried about, as they used to have such a dominant high end that the bass was always the weaker of the two frequency ranges. However, they've addressed the issue nicely by increasing the power to the woofer, as well as making it larger (7") to sustain accurately down to 42hz, which is a good 5-10hz improvement from the A7's. The accuracy is amazing. If your producing anything that really needs attention to sub 40hz frequencies then your best either looking for something else, or getting a sub, as you cant drive these woofers any lower unless you want to damage them! But generally, you can be assured that everything from 42hz through 50kHz is being faithfully represented. Same goes for the BM5A/BM6A's MKII, which again are great for everything minus the real sub frequencies, which is mere sound pressure energy more than anything else (imo)

If your a dnb producer, i'd say look elsewhere, despite everything else being great about them. If you do pop, rock, acoustic, electronic i would highly recommend them. The A8X (new model) has an even larger woofer and does indeed go even lower with the same amount of accuracy, which is why all the dnb and dance producers are eying up this slightly more beefed up varient, but i find 8.5" woofers just to be far too overpowering. 7" is a lovely balance for the work i do.

Best idea would be to ring up a dealer that has them in stock and ask for some time to come in and try them out. Ask them to set them up for you (which im sure they'll be more than happy to) and take in a reference CD. You'll know within 5 minutes if they are the speakers for you.
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I've not heard the new ones, is there that large a difference because if there is, they must be very very good. Have you done an side by side test at all?
 
Those ADAM monitors always have strange looking tweeters, they're ribbons aren't they? £720 does seem quite cheap though, most ADAM stuff I've seen is normally at least 1k!

I'd be tempted to check the spec sheet for HF directivity, you may find they sound better if the tweeter is at ear level so I'd be tempted to try them without the stands and see how the sound compares. :)
 
twist3d0n3 said:
loving those adams! wish i could afford some, but alas i can only afford the fostex pm01 mkII's i have..

might be an idea to keep the tapco's and use them for A/B mastering - then you can average the sound between the 2
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Would love to have a second lot of references, but havent really got the space on the desk. Plus, i could do with the cash for some acoustic treatment which i hope will be a little more beneficial.

MikeHunt79 said:
Those ADAM monitors always have strange looking tweeters, they're ribbons aren't they? £720 does seem quite cheap though, most ADAM stuff I've seen is normally at least 1k!

I'd be tempted to check the spec sheet for HF directivity, you may find they sound better if the tweeter is at ear level so I'd be tempted to try them without the stands and see how the sound compares
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They are indeed. ADAM definatly do have their own unqiue HF tweeter designs. The older revision was a little more 'love or hate' regarding HF representation, but the've managed to tighten and round off the high end beautifully with this new design.

ADAM's are actually quite affordable at the moment compared with many other brands. The A5X can be had for less than £500 per pair and are very similar to the original A7's, but have the nicer new tweeter design and higher powered woofer. Even the A3X's are just over £300, but only go down to 60hz, but still have the great benefits of the 'X' series.

sicknote said:
I recently bought the A5X's and the sound quality is sublime.
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Glad you agree! :)
 
Don't suppose you asked your Uncle about cost for the stands eh? Buzz me on MSN when you're next about!
 
Yeah, he got back to me today. £35 per stand, but that doesnt include delivery. (they weigh a quite a bit) if you want the same design, but with custom dimensions to fit your own monitors (or future ones) :)

Let me know if that is something you would be interested in and we can get something russled up :)
 
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