Ads skipped

ADAM AUDIO D3V vs $12,000 Studio Monitors (A/B Test)

13K views · Mar 23, 2026 · Science & Technology

Mac Sound Solutions inc.

45K subscribers

Comments · 19

@DibutilFtalat · 1 day ago
I recently compared the ADAM D3V directly with the KRK Kreate 5, which is in roughly the same price range, and the difference was much larger than I expected. The KRK sounded perfectly respectable, but comparatively flat and slightly blurred spatially. The D3V was immediately cleaner and more transparent, with individual details much easier to distinguish across the frequency range, as long as the level stayed within the reasonable limits of such a small monitor. What surprised me most, though, was the azimuthal resolution of the stereo image. At my desk the speakers are about 1 metre apart and roughly 80 cm from my ears. With the D3V, a mono source locks into an extremely precise phantom point, and moving the pan by only 1–2% produces a clearly perceptible shift in position. Instruments can be located almost as if they were placed along a ruler between the speakers. That was the real distinguishing feature for me. The KRKs reproduced a stereo panorama; the D3Vs let me resolve positions within that panorama. For something this small, the combination of clarity, detail separation and spatial precision is frankly remarkable. They do have limits if pushed hard, especially in the low end, but at sensible nearfield monitoring levels they are astonishingly capable.
2
@derimate1361 · 2 months ago
came for the review stayed for the amazing audio of the mics
8
@Emerald_City_ · 2 months ago (edited)
Nice to see my peer generation relaxing over relaxed subjects... I must say I heard a massive difference in speaker sets nevertheless.
3
@donhowell3372 · 5 months ago
I went out and bought a pair of those AdamAudios D3V's  ..... wow amasing love 'em .. thanks for the review
8
@busywl69 · 3 weeks ago
The adams are truly amazing.
2
@paul_icier · 4 weeks ago
"Joe is impressed" made me buy those speaker, hope they'll be well! =)
1
@phonetics8272 · 6 months ago
Found you for your Mac tips and tricks,knew you are a fellow audio engineer, first audio product review I catch and love it. I´m using KRK VXT 6 and Quested V2108 monitors. My teenage son is following in my footsteps, those desktop Adam Audio´s might become his first studio upgrade. Will give them a listen!
3
@DontGetHit648 · 6 months ago
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO-8dSW4h7M&t=137">2:17</a> I would be super curious to see other pictures from jobs you’ve done and previous setups you’ve had. A picture from back in the day of you with your IIfx setup would be awesome to see!
2
@VivSparro44 · 6 months ago
Very cool. ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬
2
@meccagold2009 · 4 months ago (edited)
I have a class d speaker with deep bass- 2- 8" woofers but it isn't a sub woofer. Will it's being full range damage what the ADAMS are doing on top of my desk if I put this under my desk and in front of me? Just trying to fill the low end that the Adams don't get to.
2
@MultiJiggaWho · 2 months ago
Two sound guys saying how the Adam's have "mega subwoofers"... Seriously?! They are not subwoofers. They are passive radiators. A quick Google will tell you that.
1