I've had the pleasure of using the Adam A8H speakers recently, and I must say, they have completely transformed my listening experience. Coming from the Focal Twin 6BE I wasn’t sure what to expect but the A8H exceeded them in almost every aspect. I really wanted to take my time before writing this review and really get to know these speakers in my room and deep dive into the amazing features which they offer, so here’s my take.

SOUND QUALITY:

From the moment I plugged in the A8Hs, I noticed a significant difference in the bass response. The low-end is not just powerful, it’s incredibly detailed, offering a depth that I felt was lacking with the Focal Twins. I was genuinely blown away by the difference. As for the mids, the 3.5" DCH midrange driver provides a smooth transition between bass and treble, ensuring vocals and instruments maintain their natural sound without coloration. Lastly, the handmade precision X-ART tweeter excels in providing a crisp and airy high-end that feels expansive without becoming harsh. This quality is essential when working for hours and hours nonstop, as it allows you to hear every detail and nuance without inducing fatigue, making them perfect for any mixing/mastering scenario. These speakers would also be perfect for any tracking/producing situation as in my opinion they can go loud enough and stay accurate for tracking sessions where you want to feel the energy from a live drum take.


EASE OF USE:

The variety of input options (XLR, RCA) makes the A8H versatile and compatible with different audio interfaces and setups, whether in a professional studio or a home environment. The speakers are very easy to install and set up. They come labelled in Left and Right boxes when they ship and are a perfect size for any studio setup. I had them installed in my setup in minutes.


FEATURES:

Firstly the packaging of the A8H speakers deserves a mention as well. It was thoughtfully designed to ensure that the speakers arrived in perfect condition, reflecting the high quality of the product itself.

One of the features I particularly loved was the built-in EQ and SoundID Reference. Initially, I encountered some hiccups while trying to connect the speakers to the app on my computer. However, after exiting and re-entering the app, the connection was seamless. The green lights on the front of each speaker flash to identify which speaker you are updating which is a very handy feature. They are connected via a RJ45 Ethernet cable. I connected from the back of my modem to both speakers.


The built-in equaliser allows for real-time adjustments to tailor the sound to your specific room acoustics. What I really like about this is that it is done from the app so you don’t have to keep reaching around to the back of the speaker to change the setting.

The Sonarworks SoundID Reference feature enhances this capability by analysing your room and providing suggestions for optimal sound settings. This is particularly advantageous for those who may not have extensive experience with acoustic treatment. The process of room calibration can be daunting, but genuinely the A8H makes it straightforward. The ability to conduct a room measurement, upload it, and compare it to manual EQ adjustments means you can fine-tune your listening environment.

While the automatic adjustments were good, I found myself preferring the results from the manual EQ. Although it took a bit longer since I had to do another room measurement sweep after each EQ change, the final sound quality was well worth the extra effort. I have used SoundID Reference in the past but also found myself having to turn it off when tracking due to latency. With the A8H it takes all this out of the equation as the room profile it built into the speakers with, what to me, felt like 0 latency. You can just set and forget.

BANG FOR BUCK:

At the time of writing this review the speakers are selling for approximately €1529 each - therefore €3198 for the pair. For the build equality, the sound and the features included with these speakers I think this is a very fair price. As mentioned previously I am genuinely blown away by the sound of these speakers in my room. I have tried many different brands of speakers but none have performed as well as these for this price point. The added bonus of the built in EQ moves them to another level I believe.


CONCLUSIONS:

In summary, the Adam A8H speakers not only deliver exceptional sound quality and versatility but also enhance your overall audio production experience. Whether you’re mixing, mastering, or simply enjoying music, these speakers provide a level of detail and clarity that is hard to match. Their thoughtful design, user-friendly features, and superior sound performance make them a top choice for anyone serious about audio. If you’re considering an upgrade, the A8H speakers are definitely worth it!

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