So… finally I was able to listen and compare the A8H and A77H (both in mono only, unfortunately) with a music I use to test my speaker setup, and that has a flaw at around 1:08… they mastered it with a crackling distortion. Good speakers (or corrected ones) reveal this error.
Track: Phoenix - Fleur de Lys
I have a Genelec 1029 with a 7050A sub at home. I use them since 2010, as hobby musician/engineer/music listener in a treated room.
The aforementioned error in the track was normally masked on them, but after I made a room correction with REW and Sonarworks, it was audible immediately (as well as sound quality in all aspects improved).
The two Adam AMTs in Pure mode showed me this error in an untreated space with ease. I think that’s no wonder for those who are used to AMT tweeters. I was not. First time I heard these type of tweeters and I was afraid I won’t like them and they will be sharp. Although my ears are 42 years old and still sensitive for high frequencies, this is not the case here. No harshness whatsoever.
I also noticed that albeit these are 3-way monitors, I couldn’t here any super wonder bass/mid/high distinction. Sounded like a two-way speaker for me. However, capable for clean sound with high volume, and bass was tight.
BUT… the bass. That’s a big difference between A8H and A77H. That one inch and the box volume do matter! And the following difference can be seen in their price too.
I could hear and feel in this track, and it was very obvious, that A8H does not need any subwoofer, it has a nice tight bottom, with which I could work easily. While the A77H was missing that sub 50 information. Physics is physics. Both are excellent, but a sub is required for the A77H if that’s what you work with more, or you are a pro. And I can imagine this is true for A7V and everything below in the series.
A8H is a compact monitor with good sub-bass presence, with better sizes in my opinion, that can be accommodated well on a smaller desk/stand, or even in a smaller room. And with Sonarworks it might be well-controlled and suited to your treated room. So I really liked it.
Now, there is a KH310 for sale here, second hand, on the usual price. I will check them as well in another shop next week (because I never heard them) and either I go for the A8H if I do not prefer KH 310, or I buy the (barely) used KH 310 from that nice seller, and I go on that way. But that’s a personal choice really.
Anyway, these Adams do deliver for first listening experience. Who knows how they will behave and translate on the long run.
I also had a discussion with the shop owner who is a sound engineer, and he praised the Focals. He is selling his Adam S2V with sub, because he bought the Focal Twin6 and he stated he doesn’t need a sub with those. Interesting. It’s priced here in the same range sometimes as the A8H, although with less fancy features. But these might be on par in terms of translation.