Adam Audio D3V: Professional Monitoring in a Compact Form

Berlin-based Adam Audio, a renowned name in audio playback systems, has consistently delivered excellence across professional audio, media production, home studios, and consumer entertainment.
Their professional line has become an indispensable tool for audio and recording engineers, playing a crucial role in various applications from recording studios and mastering facilities to broadcast, sound design, immersive audio environments, and game audio production.

The Adam D3V represents Adam Audio's latest innovation in compact active desktop monitoring systems, featuring DSP room correction capabilities.
Despite its modest dimensions, the monitor achieves impressive low-frequency response down to 45 Hz through its 3.5-inch aluminum woofer and complementary passive radiators.

The system's 1.5-inch D-ART AMT tweeter exemplifies Adam Audio's signature characteristics - exceptional high-frequency detail and precise stereo imaging.

Design and Build Quality

The D3V maintains Adam Audio's understated yet elegant aesthetic while delivering the brand's hallmark sonic clarity and enduring quality.
With dimensions of 200 x 115 x 150 mm and a total height of 240mm with the desktop stand, these compact monitors strike an impressive balance between size and performance.

The PC-ABS enclosure provides substantial rigidity and optimal internal damping, evidenced by its solid feel and crisp acoustic response when tapped. At a combined weight of just 3.58kg for the pair, the monitors remain notably portable without compromising structural integrity.

Available in either matte black or matte white finishes, the monitors feature modern geometric lines that soften their angular presence.

The included detachable stand positions the monitors at an optimal 15-degree listening angle for desktop applications. High-density foam padding beneath the stand ensures stable placement, while the stand's tool-free attachment system allows for easy installation and removal.
For additional mounting flexibility, each monitor includes a standard 3/8-inch threaded mount compatible with third-party speaker stands.

Technical Innovation

Each enclosure incorporates passive radiators on both sides, representing an innovative alternative to traditional ports. This design helps eliminate compression effects caused by high-velocity internal airflow, contributing to cleaner low-frequency reproduction.

The passive radiators work in concert with the primary driver, responding to internal air pressure to enhance low-frequency performance.

Connectivity and Processing

The D3V system offers remarkable versatility in its input options, featuring both USB-C digital and 6.3mm TRS balanced analog inputs. This allows direct connection to mixing consoles, mobile devices, or computers.

Internal processing handles audio at 24-bit/48 kHz resolution, ensuring high-quality playback. The DSP section provides sophisticated room optimization controls - a feature rarely seen in monitors of this size.

Both speakers share a 240W system amplifier, with communication between the main and satellite unit handled via a professional-grade 5-pole connection that includes dedicated protection and grounding circuits.

Sound Quality

The D3V delivers exceptionally flat frequency response, with variations contained within ±2dB across the spectrum. Its neutral character ensures faithful reproduction without coloration.

The monitor excels particularly above 10kHz, providing abundant air and brilliance while maintaining natural extension in the high frequencies.
The dual passive radiator design enables surprisingly robust low-frequency performance that surpasses expectations for monitors of this size.

Room Correction and DSP Features

A standout feature of the D3V is its comprehensive DSP-based room adaptation system, offering three distinct adjustment parameters:

POSITION settings accommodate various speaker placements (STAND, WALL, or CORNER), optimizing response for different mounting scenarios.
The DESK parameter offers adjustment options (NONE, SMALL, or LARGE) to compensate for desktop reflections, while the ROOM setting (TREATED, MODERATE, or UNTREATED) tailors the response to different acoustic environments, from professionally treated studios to untreated home listening spaces.

User Interface and Control

The monitors feature an intuitive multi-function LED indicator displaying various operational states through different colors: red for power cycling, green for analog input activity, blue for digital input, orange for mute status, and purple during firmware updates.

The volume control knob doubles as a multi-function interface, offering quick access to input selection, channel swap, and standby mode through various press patterns.

Driver Technology and Performance

The D3V's 1.5-inch D-ART AMT tweeter represents a sophisticated approach to high-frequency reproduction.

Its folded membrane design, constructed from metal-coated silk, enables exceptional transient response and remarkably low distortion, extending to 23.2kHz. This design ensures precise high-frequency reproduction while maintaining listening comfort during extended sessions.

The 3.5-inch aluminum woofer features a ridge-structured cone design optimizing linear excursion for clean output at high levels.
Driven by a dedicated 80-watt amplifier and complemented by dual passive radiators, this configuration achieves impressive low-frequency extension down to 45Hz - remarkable for monitors of this size.

The amplification system employs PWM technology, delivering 30W RMS (40W peak) to each tweeter and 70W RMS (80W peak) to each woofer. This precise power distribution, managed by high-resolution DSP, contributes significantly to the monitors' room optimization capabilities.

Sonic Character

The D3V exhibits exemplary tonal balance across the frequency spectrum. The mids ensure accurate instrument and vocal reproduction, while the high frequencies maintain Adam Audio's characteristic clarity and detail.
Dynamic range handling proves impressive, with the aluminum drivers responding rapidly to transient demands while maintaining composure during complex musical passages.

The monitors excel in resolution, clearly presenting subtle details like instrumental harmonics and vocal nuances. Multi-layered recordings remain distinctly separated, with each element occupying its own space in the soundstage.

The D3V's imaging capabilities belie its compact size, presenting a natural, three-dimensional soundstage with precise positioning.

Strengths:

• Professional monitoring quality in a highly portable format
• Exceptional sound quality maintaining Adam Audio's professional legacy
• Comprehensive feature set including DSP room correction
• Competitive pricing at $299.99
• Versatile application from professional monitoring to recreational listening.

Area for Improvement:

• Cable management could be streamlined, though this is a common challenge with active monitor pairs

The Adam Audio D3V successfully delivers professional monitoring capabilities in a compact, versatile package. It demonstrates that serious monitoring tools need not be large or expensive, making it an attractive option for both professional and enthusiast applications.