Listening
We compared the ADAM A3X with three other speakers: the M-Audio DSM1, the Tannoy Reveal 601A and the Focal CMS 40.
The small ADAMs are the most affordable in this collection but not less powerful in any respect. We listened to songs we know very well and tested the speakers within a home studio environment.
After connecting the A3X, the sound produced by such small speakers really impressed us. The low-frequency response is quite impressive, considering the size, and the high end is very detailed.
The mids are a bit weaker, especially compared with the CMS 40. Of course, it’s worth paying attention to your position in front of the speakers: the sweet sport is not as wide as with the other monitors we tested, maybe because of the ribbon tweeter.
With the first listening, the ADAMs seemed to produce more low frequencies than the CMS 40, but as time went by, we noticed that the Focals deliver a more detailed mid range with an atrophied but more intelligible low range.
Then we listened to our first song, “Hurt” by Johnny Cash, to compare the ADAM A3X ($600/pair) with the Focal CMS 40 ($800/pair), given their similarity in size.
Cash’s voice sounded closer to the listener with the Focals, but the guitar sounded brighter with the ADAMs. The overall mix was more hollow with the A3X, while high-mids were more accurate with the CMS 40.
The depth of Cash’s voice got a bit lost with the ADAM A3X. Although you’d have the impression that the CMS 40 sound “boxy,” at first, in the end they seemed more linear than the ADAM.
We then chose to move on to another track, “Angel” from Massive Attack. The bass in this song revealed that the ADAMs can deliver a wider lower end, however the bass did sound more precise and has a more “intelligible” attack with the CMS 40.
It might be that the ADAMs low-end tends to mask or blur certain frequencies. The drum kick sounded dryer with the CMS, it has no resonance at all and you can only hear its attack. The electric guitars in the middle of the song sound a bit more like a “bee nest” with the ADAMs.
Next, we switched to Raconteurs’ “Consolers of the Lonely,” a song with vintage-sounding guitars and very powerful drums. The bass drum seemed to be less controlled and a bit softer with the ADAMs, while the Focals revealed a very dynamic response and produced punchy transients.
Sibilants of vocals cut through with the A3X and the Focals emphasized the mid frequencies of the guitars. The latter seemed to have a more linear and controlled response. In comparison, the ADAMs’ mid range seemed to be way back.
We then turned to Michael Jackson’s “Liberian Girl”. During the soft intro both monitors had quite the same response, but as soon as Michael’s voice comes in, we noticed a lack of low-mids with the ADAMs.
Regarding details in the mix (like reverb decays), both speakers sounded alike while the Focals score higher on stereo imaging.
The ADAMs had more “air” but the stereo image seems overemphasized and the high frequencies were way too upfront.