Studio monitoring accuracy has made great strides during this millennium, and industry leader ADAM Audio is at the forefront of these exciting technological advances. The company’s monitors have emerged as fixtures in world-class control rooms, commercial recording facilities, and home studios. Now, the ADAM Audio D3V brings that expertise to desktop monitoring systems. Designed for musicians, producers, and music lovers who want quality sound in a convenient, compact form factor, the D3V features ADAM Audio’s renowned D-ART accelerated-ribbon tweeter, a 3.5-inch woofer, and two passive radiators per channel, bi-amplified through a state-of-the-art crossover system. Flaunting ADAM Audio’s smart German industrial design, D3V speakers lend an elegant, professional look to any desktop setup, into which they integrate smoothly via TRS and UCB-C connectivity. A complete package that includes two monitors, angled stands, desktop pads, cables, and adaptors, the ADAM Audio D3V is an outstanding value in high-quality desktop monitoring.
The ribbon tweeter used in the D3V benefits from a quarter century of research. Instead of producing sound with a piston-like diaphragm like most loudspeakers, ADAM Audio’s D-ART accelerated-ribbon tweeter uses a pleated diaphragm that prevents distortion by moving air four times faster than the folds themselves are moving. Built to the tightest tolerances, the D-ART tweeter delivers ultra-low distortion and extends the frequency range up to 22.5kHz, enriching the soundfield with stunning detail and faithfully conveying every nuance of the source material so you can monitor over long periods without listening fatigue. Matched left and right tweeters are each driven by a 40-watt amplifier in a fully integrated crossover system managed by highly accurate DSP (which also facilitates the D3V’s highly effective room-acoustics optimization)..
The D3V’s 3.5-inch aluminum woofer delivers a truly impressive bass response for a loudspeaker of this size. Driven by an 80-watt amplifier and augmented by two 3.5-inch stainless-steel passive radiators (one on each side), this proprietary driver features a special ferrite magnet structure that enables the D3V to deliver frequencies down to 45Hz, reproduced with remarkable tightness and definition. Optimized using ADAM Audio’s cutting-edge Klippel measurement system, the woofer’s symmetrical voice coil and ferrite magnet system help to minimize distortion while providing a linear motor mechanism. The woofer’s one-piece concave cone is comprised of thick, ridged aluminum with a long linear excursion range that delivers uncolored sound even at high output levels.
ADAM Audio: elevating the state of the art From its 1999 launch in Berlin, ADAM Audio has built a solid reputation among the pro audio cognoscente. The engineers at Music Experience know that a superior speaker system has superior components, and this is one area where ADAM Audio has a distinct edge. With years of R&D behind each proprietary driver, the company’s custom driver technology expresses itself in breakthroughs such as the X-ART (eXtended Accelerating Ribbon Technology) tweeter, which is based on a groundbreaking 1960s invention, the Heil Air Motion Transformer — and in fact, the main impetus for the formation of ADAM Audio. The X-ART tweeter and its variants are key to ADAM Audio’s signature transparent, high-definition sound and the core development of its proprietary designs going forward. Embracing, exploiting, and working with modern materials has allowed ADAM Audio to formulate loudspeaker components that continually elevate the state of the art in studio monitor design. Materials such as rare-earth magnets and high-strength diaphragm foils have increased reliability, enhanced performance, and made possible new driver geometry. As compared with conventional driver technology, the company’s drivers deliver optimized radiation characteristics, lower distortion, and higher efficiency. Along with installations in a growing number of top studios, ADAM Audio’s monitor range has garnered rave reviews from audio experts and recording engineers worldwide. If you’re considering an upgrade to world-class monitoring, you’ll be in good company with ADAM Audio monitors!
Designed for songwriters, producers, and music lovers, the D3V monitors can be directly connected to computers and mobile devices via USB-C and offer a wealth of features, plus incredible audio performance in a remarkably compact form.
The D3V is a fully active desktop monitoring system that stays true to ADAM Audio’s industrial design heritage and features the iconic AMT tweeters. Each pair features 3.5” aluminum woofers and a ferrite magnet system, driven by an astonishing 240 W total system amplification. Dual-sided 3.5” passive radiators bolster bass frequencies and allow the D3V to extend down to 45 Hz. Equipped with a USB-C input and two balanced TRS sockets, D3V offers high-quality digital and analogue connections. Streamlined controls include a multi-function volume knob, intuitive room compensation switches and a multi-color status indicator. The D3V comes complete with detachable monitor stands as well as in-built threaded mic stand mounting points (3/8″) for perfect positioning in any environment. Available in black or white editions, the D3V’s finish can be chosen to match your taste and compliment your environment.
The D3V utilizes a compact 1.5” D-ART AMT tweeter so that customers can enjoy the same precise and unfatiguing high frequency reproduction that ADAM Audio’s established monitoring systems are known for.
The D-ART is produced in the same way as our larger designs. The folded membrane offers more than four times the surface area vs. an equivalent sized dome tweeter and the motion of the pleats is what makes AMT tweeters so responsive and revealing.
Instead of forcing the air (as per the pistonic movement of most speakers), AMTs create a vacuum when the pleats contract which naturally draws air into the folds. It is then “exhaled” when the membrane expands and the pleats open in the opposite direction, expelling the air rather than pushing it. This creates the breathy quality, analytical detail and sparkling, insightful presentation that ADAM Audio AMTs are known for. Driven by independent 40 W high frequency amplifiers (80 W total), the D3V retains the performance characteristics that have made this design so popular on our larger speakers.
The D3V offers a direct USB-C connection for plug’n’play connections to computers, mobiles, and tablets. Traditional ¼” TRS inputs are also included for connecting to instruments, interfaces and other studio equipment. The D3V features a USB-C input which means the onboard electronics behave as a digital output device when connected to a computer. This negates the need for an additional audio interface for playback. The plug’n’play functionality extends to mobile devices so that high-quality audio can be enjoyed without the compression or conversion normally associated with such connections. The D3V also features balanced ¼” TRS inputs for more traditional analog audio applications, enabling direct connection to instruments for live playback without a sound card, or connection to mixers and other studio gear as the final output device.
The D3V features DSP-powered switches to address common acoustical issues arising from speaker placement. This simple, intuitive system allows users to adjust and optimize their speaker output and achieve a more natural sounding response. In acoustic terms, small details can cause big issues. The backplate of the D3V’s active speaker features a range of user-friendly switches to address common acoustical issues arising from speaker placement. The three-step solution accounts for placement in the room (Position), the size and setup of the workstation (Desk), as well as the degree of acoustic treatment and presence of sound isolation in the listening environment (Room).
This simple DSP filter adjustment means users will hear less of the room’s anomalies and more of the sound, thereby facilitating appropriate mixing decisions through accurate audio reproduction.
Partnering with the D-ART system, the D3V utilizes active 3.5” woofers and a ferrite magnet system for the low frequencies. Driven by twin 80 W, low-distortion amplifiers, the aluminum woofers allow the D3V to reach a maximum SPL of 96 dB. The woofers of the D3V are further complemented by passive radiators that produce bass extension down to 45 Hz.
These drivers were specifically developed for the D3V and are purpose-built for light weight and excellent stiffness. Reinforced voice-coil joints, a unique cone profile, linear stroke and long-excursion design enable the drivers to push higher volumes of air while avoiding any break-up or audible distortion.
A first for ADAM Audio, the D3V delivers added thump and low-end presence with the help of twin passive 3.5” bass radiators. This technology uses changes in air pressure from the active drivers to vibrate a specialized diaphragm with different weighting, geometry, and suspension characteristics. This unit is purpose-built for low frequency signal reproduction. Specially ribbed driver surrounds deliver stable travel, and the absence of an active voice coil means the radiator diaphragm can be made incredibly stiff and responsive, all of which reduces distortion and delivers extended bass response with the tight, controlled performance that is so important in mixing and accurate audio playback.
The D3V keeps things streamlined by using an innovative single chip, four-channel amplifier technology. This two-stage system aggregates all the electronics in the main/active unit which powers all four active drivers across the system. This solution offers a simple setup, underlining the portable nature of the D3V. The main unit can be switched from left to right channel output allowing users to tailor their setup according to preference.
| Powered | Yes |
|---|---|
| Power Configuration | Single Amp |
| LF Driver Size | 3" |
| LF Driver Type |
Aluminum |
| HF Driver Size | 1.5" Tweeter, 2 x 3.5" Radiators |
| LF Driver Power Amp |
80W |
| HF Driver Power Amp |
40W |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz-22.6Hz (-3dB), 45Hz-23.2kHz (-6dB) |
|
Crossover Frequency |
4000Hz |
| Maximum Peak SPL |
≥92dB SPL @ 1m |
| Input Types | 2 x 1/4" |
| Output Types | 1 x 1/8" (headphones) |
| USB | 1 x USB-C |
| Backplate Room Adaption | Yes |
|
Enclosure Type |
PC-ABS |
| Height | 4.5" |
| Width | 5.87" |
| Depth | 9.5" |
| Weight | 7 lbs. |
| Manufacturer Part Number |
AMS-D3V-White 4260113135341 |
