speakers

[shipshape]

Ok , most everyone here (well an awful lot a people) seem to absolutly love the Adam's....so..what's the big deal?....I'm so interested in speakers , I have a storage space full of the one's I've bought over the years. I've got a pair of S3A's sitting on the foor here in boxes.
I tried them once a while ago but will sling this pair up for re-evaluation.....and I will make my own mind up. But is it that this is the first time a lot of people have spent that kind of money on a speaker and they will obviously blow away what you had before. Or are they really just that good.
I've used the same speaker set up for years and don't have a problem with it. (Better the devil you know than the one you don't) but would love to see what else people are using succesfully......basically I am a speaker slut , but it's easy to be taken in by the flavour of the month.

[obyone]

they sound good but missing a little definition in the lower mids... And they don't go extremely low either... But I guess once your used to it, they are great! I still prefer the e8's though.

So what speakers are you using right now?

[C.Lambrechts]

I went through nearfield speaker hell / quest / nightmare a couple of years ago. Tried at least 7 or 8 different ones over a couple of months.

Genelecs / Peavy's / Mackies / ATC's / Westlakes /Yamaha's ...

untill I got a phonecall from the local tc electronics guy who said he would drop me off a pair of BM15A's. And he did saying 'don't judge them in the first couple of minutes ... work on them and then judge them'.

So I did ... and they've been my loyal companions ever since. From time to time we'll get another pair over from some dealer. PMC's not so long ago for example. And then you hook them up and you go like ... hhhmmmmmm ... damn they sound good and maybe this and that. But up till now the 15A's stay in. And it will take a hell of a lot of convincing to get them out because of the simple reason that I know exactly what I deliver at the end of the mix. I know it will sound like I want it to sound.

Maybe the most important thing about them is that they don't wear my ears out as much as some of hem do. I remember trying 1031's and after a couple of hours my ears would hurt. Others would sound great and the mix would sound great on it too but bringing it out into the car or on my home stereo would suck. too much this or that ... allways something. The 15A's probably make me work a little bit harder then some others but at least I know I can trust the outcome. We also have a pair of 1038 genelecs at the studio we use as our mains. nice to impress clients and do the usual switch from time to time to check low end etc .... 90% of my days go through the dynaudio's.


Milages vary some would say.

[syra]

The s3a's paired with main monitors (to get down there) have been the only monitors I have ever used where I felt confident that what I am mixing will translate well...I've been very happy with them...however I spent sm like 6 months playing around with them until I felt I really new them...

btw, I hate NS10's and Geni's...BM15's would be the unit I'd go for if I never had a chance to try the adams...

peace

[Dave Martin]

I'm with Chris - BM51A's (with Tannoy 6.5's as a low resolution check).

[spectacular g]

I have to say that I built a pair of monitors using parts from "north creek music"... scanspeak relevator tweet and a scanspeak 8 in woof, w/top of the line crossover parts, and they are truly amazing!!! I should be done with the sub soon, same company it is a peerless 12 in w/ 12 in passive radiator they say it is great... and I believe them

passive always passive

www.jacklord.us

[juniorhifikit]

Good thing there are so many different speaker manufacturers - for so many different ears. I've been on Genelec 1030's with a sub for about 10 years. To my ear, there very accurate, have the most invisible crossover, and don't fatigue me at all.

[radiospace]

Hey, if you don't like those S3A's, maybe we should have another contest: "Win Mike Shipley's Unwanted Adams!"

[boody]

I dunno,

I loved the high end on the adams; it's wide and open, well defined and all over the place (you don't have to sit in the exact middle to hear the beauty of 'm) but I realy couldn't hear the kick like I should. There's something with the low end thats not right for me. I must admit I only had the 2.5 here.

I use dynaudio bm6, and till now the only (affordable) speakers I like even better are the bm15s.

[thethrillfactor]

My monitors are:

Dunlavy SM1's,Tannoy DMT10'sII,Sequerra Met 7.7 Mk. IV, NS10's,Auratones and Yamaha computer speakers.

I started looking for a sub lately, even though i have never heard one that i've been totally comfertable with.

[djui5]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
I started looking for a sub lately, even though i have never heard one that i've been totally comfertable with.

Have you tried the Bag End subs?

[robmix]

I went through just about every nearfield there was all the way down to Event, Genelec, KRK, Westlake, Proac, Yamaha, Meyer, Tannoy. And while I liked some of them and was able to get very favorable results with many of them, my favorite has been the ADAM S3a's. Sure they don't get loud but I've never experienced such a true speaker in my life. I've never had to "learn" these speakers. What I hear in my room translates eveywhere. What a pleasure to go to mastering or listen in the car and not have one surprise. I've had a couple guest engineers at my place who had never used ADAM's and their experience was the same. Rough mixes that they took out of my room were exactly as they heard in the control room. To me that says it all. Now for volume I had to look elsewhere - currently Tannoy System 215 DMT II's with Manley tube mono blocks.

Rob

[shipshape]

Right on Rob, tomorrow I'm gonna put them back up and do a test mix on them again......it was months ago that I heard them and it wasn't in my studio so I'll check 'em out .Fun !

[Mr. Truth]

Originally posted by robmix
I went through just about every nearfield there was all the way down to Event, Genelec, KRK, Westlake, Proac, Yamaha, Meyer, Tannoy. And while I liked some of them and was able to get very favorable results with many of them, my favorite has been the ADAM S3a's. Sure they don't get loud but I've never experienced such a true speaker in my life. I've never had to "learn" these speakers. What I hear in my room translates eveywhere. What a pleasure to go to mastering or listen in the car and not have one surprise. I've had a couple guest engineers at my place who had never used ADAM's and their experience was the same. Rough mixes that they took out of my room were exactly as they heard in the control room. To me that says it all. Now for volume I had to look elsewhere - currently Tannoy System 215 DMT II's with Manley tube mono blocks.

Rob

Yeah, for me the Adams just won't pack enough level. DAMN. They do sound great, but they just seem to pack it in and fold up with a healthy, but still moderate level. I wish they could crank more.

Mr. Truth

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by djui5
Have you tried the Bag End subs?

Yes,

And felt so-so about them.

I come the from the audiophile world where its REL or nothing.

Also may look at some Velodyne subs.

[syra]

Yeah, for me the Adams just won't pack enough level

Either you guys monitor at 120 db or I have very sensitive ears...

I never pushed the S3-A's to their limitis...I think my eardrums would explode if I did...anyway, I am very happy with their level...

[matucha]

Right on Rob, tomorrow I'm gonna put them back up and do a test mix on them again......it was months ago that I heard them and it wasn't in my studio so I'll check 'em out .Fun !

Maybe you sould give them to someone to burn them for you. Ti took at least 14days here before they come together. I feel they sounds rounder and glued now... when they were just out of the box they seem to sound "separated" somehow. But maybe it's me, who just get used.

Good luck

[Jules]

Ship,

See if you dont like the way the ADAMS deliver clear HF when you are away from dead centre.

I like it for tweaking my outboard / rack gear... which is all off to one side...

Q - Do you and Mutt ever 'fight' for the sweetspot in the middle of the speakers?

Rock on!

[Jam]

I think my experience with the S3As is similar to a lot of peoples here. I'm not convinced they are they most astounding monitor on first listen but they are amazingly predictable ( outstanding translation ) I've owned or tried most if the usual suspects ( KRK,Genelec and Dyns ) and without a doubt the Adams have thrown up the least surprises on other systems. As for SPL issue I'm in a small room at home so I can't comment apart from to say I have no level problems.

Jam

[denial]

Originally posted by Mr. Truth
Yeah, for me the Adams just won't pack enough level. DAMN. They do sound great, but they just seem to pack it in and fold up with a healthy, but still moderate level. I wish they could crank more.

Do you think that a set of passive S3's with a Bryston 4B would handle better? I'm never convinced with active speakers. What's your thoughts?

[enharmonic]

I sure would like to hear those Barefoot minimain 12's. :D

[Brad Blackwood]

Obviously not for mixing (and I know you aren't crazy about them, Mike), but...

I have a pair of B&W Nautilus 802s (powered by a Pass Labs X250) with a Velodyne DD12 sub. Works stunningly here, though I know monitors are intensely personal things...

[alphajerk]

ADAM S3As here. i ahve no level issues either with em. i used to until i made em put a bigger amp in em.... but my room isnt that big so... of course im moving to ADAM pencils with pass labs amp most likely [per brads recommendation]

i wont use anything else now.

[DrDeltaM]

How come nobody uses PMC's? Are they that unknown (i guess not since they work close toghether with Bryston), or are they simply not that good?

[dave-G]

Originally posted by Brad Blackwood
I have a pair of B&W Nautilus 802s (powered by a Pass Labs X250) with a Velodyne DD12 sub.

What are you using for x-over, Brad?

-dave

[Brad Blackwood]

Originally posted by dave-G
What are you using for x-over, Brad?

N802s are running full-range, using the DD12's built in DSP crossover for LP the sub...

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by Brad Blackwood
Obviously not for mixing (and I know you aren't crazy about them, Mike), but...

I have a pair of B&W Nautilus 802s (powered by a Pass Labs X250) with a Velodyne DD12 sub. Works stunningly here, though I know monitors are intensely personal things...

Hi Brad,

What helped make your decision on your sub?

Why Velodyne and not something like a REL Strata III?

I am looking at subs right now.

Thanks again.

[Brad Blackwood]

Two things:
1] I'd heard the HGS series (very similar to the DD12) with the N802s and thought they sounded splendid together, and
2] Had a lot of trouble even getting in touch with Sumiko (REL's US dist.), much less setting up a demo. A buddy has one and likes it, but had the HGS/N802s at his previous workplace and preferred the Velodyne.

[blackcatdigi]

Originally posted by shipshape
Ok , most everyone here (well an awful lot a people) seem to absolutly love the Adam's....so..what's the big deal?

Translation, pure and simple. No suprises out of the CR.

The S3a's are not very room dependent, either. They seem to work anywhere.

I've got KRK9000B custom jobbies (w/Bryston monoblocks strapped on their backs), SLS S8Rs (2 way, 8" with ribbons (that Tom Jung is using), Tannoy dual concentrics, various Yamahas, blah-blah, etc. and I've never used anything with that degree of translation.

Now I gotta get some passive S3's and a sub.

P.S.- Mike, please PM me if you decide you don't care for the S3As and want to give them a home...

[Yiannis]

Genelec 1031A-Yamaha Ns 10m-Yamaha YST-M101 (computer speakers)

I spent most of the time mixing on the computer speakers
Weird........isn't it?