Adam T5V Review (Studio Monitor)

[YSC]

level matching, distance from the front wall (the two have very different depth, so putting the back side the same distance from wall will make the driver to the wall having different distance), without doint these two using a measurement mic, subjective impression is just.. subjective, and also the price and look could definintely play a role in that "magic"

 

[madwolf]

Distance from the wall - that’s true, front is in the same place but T5V back is closer to the wall. No other way to place it in my room, really. Also T5V have back bass reflex and it’s aimed at a corner, few cm from the wall. A4V has port in the front.
The difference is so big, heard not only by me, that it’s difficult to believe that their looks etc have such a psychological effect.
My first thought after connecting them was that they’re somehow broken. I don’t think both would be broken the same way, though?

I’ll try to measure them somehow, although I don’t have a „pro” measurement microphone. I do have a mic from Denon Audyssey, perhaps that can be somehow used. Also a Rode NTG1 shotgun mic, probably worthless for measuring stuff.

 

[YSC]

Distance from the wall - that’s true, front is in the same place but T5V back is closer to the wall. No other way to place it in my room, really. Also T5V have back bass reflex and it’s aimed at a corner, few cm from the wall. A4V has port in the front.
The difference is so big, heard not only by me, that it’s difficult to believe that their looks etc have such a psychological effect.
My first thought after connecting them was that they’re somehow broken. I don’t think both would be broken the same way, though?

I’ll try to measure them somehow, although I don’t have a „pro” measurement microphone. I do have a mic from Denon Audyssey, perhaps that can be somehow used. Also a Rode NTG1 shotgun mic, probably worthless for measuring stuff.

Usually it's very difficult to place the front at the exact same height and distance to the wall and your MLP, and the main thing is the loudness is vastly different of default gain settings, using the same speaker and set the volume quite a bit different and the impression differs a lot! comparing speakers need to be at least using pink noise and a mic to level match the gain before anything serious in comparison

 

[afico]

Hello,
can someone tell me if the T5V have a sort of internal DAC like Jbl lsr 305? if so any external dac would be useless as the anlogue signal would be converted in any case

 

[staticV3]

Hello,
can someone tell me if the T5V have a sort of internal DAC like Jbl lsr 305? if so any external dac would be useless as the anlogue signal would be converted in any case

The T5V's analog inputs are digitized, then processed, then turned back into analog.

 

[jakkuftw]

Hello,

I have an opportunity to compare the Adam T5V vs. B&W 685 S2 (I know they're totally different speakers), but is it possible that the Bowers sound more detailed, clearer, and harmonious? System setup: PC > Xone 96 > XLR-XLR > T5V vs. PC > Xone 96 > TRS-RCA > Fosi Audio V3 > 685 S2.

 

[staticV3]

I have an opportunity to compare the Adam T5V vs. B&W 685 S2, but is it possible that the Bowers sound clearer and more harmonious?

Sure, why not?

For comparing loudspeakers fairly, three things are recommended:
-Match loudness using a microphone
-Listen in Mono (just one speaker)
-Listen blind (=not knowing which speaker is playing)

 

[jakkuftw]

I tried all three methods, and I can definitely tell the difference. Adams sounds a little bit lower and punchier but lacks some detail.

 

[Ellebob]

A lot of the B&W models have a slightly recessed midrange and boosted highs. This will definitely give the impression that they are more detailed. Your perception is probably spot on. These boosted highs can be more faitguing when listening for long periods of time. However, if you prefer the B&W's sound nothing wrong with keeping them and enjoying them. I would suggest longer listening sessions and see if fatigue is a problem. There are other factors here like age and room conditions. Older people often prefer some boosted highs to compensate for their reduced high frequency hearing. Not sure if you fall in the older person category.

The only thing I caution with speakers that aren't relatively flat is mixing with them. The mixes might not translate well to other people's systems. If they are not fatiguing and you like them, then definitely use them.

 

[YSC]

I tried all three methods, and I can definitely tell the difference. Adams sounds a little bit lower and punchier but lacks some detail.

It's likely the more V shape curve of the B&W make short term impression to sound more detailed, but with the uncontrolled wide directivity of the tweeter which throws HF sound all around and boosted treble it will sound fatiguing for long term or even for some records

 

[ppataki]

My two T5Vs are going to arrive next week (it's Cyberweek at Thomann), can't wait to listen to them and also I am planning to do a little experiment with them:

Converting an Adam Audio T5V to sealed?

I was wondering if anybody here has done anything like that or if it is considered a good or a bad idea.... Early next year (or even this December, will see) I consider getting my hands on a pair of Adam Audio T5V speakers. After seeing the measurements/reviews/comments I got intrigued by them...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[Brazy]

@amirm
Is your listening room treated to take away reflections? My rooms aren't. And I'm trying to figure out if this is the cause for me having the reverse experience of the 305p producing way more and rounded bass that shook my livingroom doors. While the t5v in the same room had a far thinner sounding tone. With bass production that was 'meh enough' on the border of not quite enough for many tracks. And this is coming from me who isn't a huge bass fan. Concluding the t5v just hasn't got enough bass production even for my personal taste.

Also I found that with the t5v female vocals can sound with a lisp at times. It squeezes the hard S sounds.

 

[dcolak]

JBL's have MUCH MORE bass. No contest, not even close. I have JBL's and t5vs...

 

[Newman]

I'm curious about this measurement:-

Why does the tweeter response not drop off indefinitely at frequencies below the crossover?

Why would anyone design a crossover to only attenuate over one octave, and then 'let go'?

 

[unpluggged]

I'm curious about this measurement:-

View attachment 416397


Why does the tweeter response not drop off indefinitely at frequencies below the crossover?

Why would anyone design a crossover to only attenuate over one octave, and then 'let go'?

Because both drivers output sound during measurement. It has nothing to do with the crossover.

 

[Newman]

Because both drivers output sound during measurement. It has nothing to do with the crossover.

I'm not sure I follow. The bass driver's output continues to drop lower and lower as frequency rises above the crossover point, so why doesn't the treble driver's output continue to drop lower and lower as frequency falls below the crossover point?

 

[thewas]

I'm not sure I follow. The bass driver's output continues to drop lower and lower as frequency rises above the crossover point, so why doesn't the treble driver's output continue to drop lower and lower as frequency falls below the crossover point?

Because a woofer starts beaming, as said these are typical nearfield drivers artefacts, some try reducing them by covering the other driver with some absorber.

 

[KSTR]

I'm curious about this measurement:-

View attachment 416397


Why does the tweeter response not drop off indefinitely at frequencies below the crossover?

Why would anyone design a crossover to only attenuate over one octave, and then 'let go'?

This is not a precision measurement by design. The output of the other sound sources bleed into the one currently measured, and they do that in a quite complex way.

If one would really want to know the individual contributions you have to isolate them properly, electrically and/or acoustically, which is not feasible for a reviewer...

 

[Newman]

Because a woofer starts beaming, as said these are typical nearfield drivers artefacts, some try reducing them by covering the other driver with some absorber.

Thanks, now I get it.

With the microphone close in front of the tweeter to get its response, a lot of the bass driver output is also reaching that microphone and is the main thing being measured well below the crossover frequency.

But with the microphone close in front of the woofer to get its response, much less of the tweeter driver output is also reaching that microphone and has little influence on the microphone reading well above the crossover frequency.

thanks

 

[thewas]

which is not feasible for a reviewer

With the exception of some passive loudspeakers have bi- or tri-amping terminals.