Adam T5V+T10S Subwoofer, Adam A4V, or Kali Audio IN-5?

[56suited]

• Turntable --> WiiM Ultra --> [one of the three options below]

1. Kali Audio IN-5
2. ADAM Audio T5V + T10S Subwoofer
3. ADAM Audio A4V

Paralyzed. I cannot listen to any of these live. Please help me decide.

Small office (~6m²), untreated, listening distance will be ~1-1.5m with about 10cm clearance from the back of the speakers to a wall. Max dB listening level will be ~80, with a more frequent listening range of 50-75. I think the best choice is the Kali, but the ADAM Audio warranty is definitely a draw. I like the built in DSP of the A4V, but dislike that it doesn't get lower than 52Hz on the low end. The T5V and T10S combo fills out the bottom end, but I would have to rely on WiiM's EQ for any sort of room fixing.

I do not mix music (yet), I purely listen and enjoy. Music taste is all over the place, but heavy frequency on Radiohead, Massive Attack, Wu-Tang Clan, Pink Floyd, Deftones, classical music, and Greek folk music.

 

[EAXAE]

My vote goes to IN-5 + subwoofer, which you can buy later.

 

[staticV3]

At 1m listening distance, I'd definitely choose the IN-5.

Using the Kali's hardware boundary switches and the WiiM's excellent EQ and sub integration features, you should be able to create a wonderfully linear playback system.

If you don't have one already, a UMIK-1 is highly recommended.

 

[56suited]

At 1m listening distance, I'd definitely choose the IN-5.

Using the Kali's hardware boundary switches and the WiiM's excellent EQ and sub integration features, you should be able to create a wonderfully linear playback system.

If you don't have one already, a UMIK-1 is highly recommended.

I don't have anything yet. I almost pulled the trigger on the WiiM Amp when I first joined here, and I have been edging on making actual purchases for 6 months. I think I am ready to buy now. UMIK-1 will probably come a ways after I get settled with TT>Ultra>Active Monitors.

 

[Daniel4IEM]

I went with the Kali IN-5. Just trying to find a cable solution now that allows me to split the RCA without degrading sound quality. Want to send one to IN-5 to play it's full range, send the other to sub and set low pass filter to only play below the bottom of IN-5 range

 

[Ellebob]

It would be better to use the sub's crossover for this. Run the RCA cables to your subwoofer's inputs and then from the subwoofer's outputs to the IN-5s. Set the crossover in the sub to whatever you prefer.

If using a splitter cable it shouldn't decrease quality just volume. So you would raise the volume slightly to adjust for the loss. I would still use the sub's crossover unless your processor has a crossover and a separete output for a sub.

 

[Daniel4IEM]

It would be better to use the sub's crossover for this. Run the RCA cables to your subwoofer's inputs and then from the subwoofer's outputs to the IN-5s. Set the crossover in the sub to whatever you prefer.

If using a splitter cable it shouldn't decrease quality just volume. So you would raise the volume slightly to adjust for the loss. I would still use the sub's crossover unless your processor has a crossover and a separete output for a sub.

I started with what you suggest, but am not liking the results. Unfortunately the sub (old SB-1000) does not allow me to control the crossover; it has a low pass filter which I can manually adjust to determine the upper frequency limit of what it plays, and a fixed high pass filter set to 80Hz, which sets the bottom limit of what the IN-5 plays. The result of the high pass filter is that IN-5 is not producing any sound 40Hz-80Hz, and all of that must come from the sub beneath my desk.

When I listen to IN-5 alone, I love the full range coming from them in my face. The only think that is missing is the sub bass (below the lower end of IN-5 range (<40Hz).

So, unless I either get a new sub or an active external crossover, it seems my best / cheapest option is to just split the signal and run one to speakers, one to sub - I would set low pass filter to 40Hz (low end of IN-5). Agree?

Glad to hear you say it won't compromise sound quality. On the decreased volume comment, I did actually notice a significant drop in volume when running IN-5 through the sub line out...

 

[staticV3]

So, unless I either get a new sub or an active external crossover, it seems my best / cheapest option is to just split the signal and run one to speakers, one to sub - I would set low pass filter to 40Hz (low end of IN-5). Agree?

Yes, though feel free to adjust the sub's low pass filter 10, 15Hz up or down from the ideal 40Hz to find what works best in practice

 

[Daniel4IEM]

Yes, though feel free to adjust the sub's low pass filter 10, 15Hz up or down from the ideal 40Hz to find what works best in practice

Cool thanks for confirming, @staticV3 !

Does anyone here have any RCA Y splitter recommendations?

 

[snoopy30]

Do not do the T5V with T10S, it doesn't work. There's a gap where neither the sub or T5V can handle the lower end frequencies. The T5V driver is effectively a mid-range driver so this is a very typical and expected phenomenon. Go for the T7V (I haven't tested this but imagine it's a better sweet spot). T8V doesn't need the sub but mid-range isn't as good as the T5V and is noticeable.

 

[Aldoszx]

Are you kidding?
Have you done some measurements?
I have this setup and I am very happy.

 

[snoopy30]

Just my ears, it was very obvious. I also found the T10S sub to be slow and loose, so a sub good enough for movies but not music. I sold it on.

 

[Aldoszx]

Thank you for your answer!
Unfortunately, from my point of view, this is not a prove!
It is not enough to say something, just like that.
I respect your opinion, but I would be reticent beeing so vehement if I was you, without any solid arguments.

 

[julitoole]

Gotta emphasize on that, I recently got the T5V and the T10S and they work really well together.
For me it seems the sub is a bit too beefy meaning that I had the sub at very low levels and it allready added very nicely.
Even with my Magnat shadow 207 the sub adds really nice bass to them, I mean they got a lot on their own but this improved it a lot. I had the svs sb 1000 and was disappointed and thought maybe the room isnt fit for one but this one integrates very nice and performes splendid.
Would love to set volume of speaker and sub via network or app. But at this pricepoint you gotta adjust expectations.
Dont have measurements to prove they sound good, but to my ear very very nice combo.

Best regards Julius

 

[snoopy30]

You'll be turning the sub up too much to make up for the missing frequency (or rather the big dip). Now people can say I'm stupid or deaf, but I've owned both and relative to one another the T8V is far, far better than the T5V + T10S in the low frequency department.

As stated T5V is noticeably better in the mid-range.

It's exactly as you'd expect from these speaker driver sizes.

 

[Aldoszx]

The sub and speakers volume must be calibrated in order to have a correct volume level for both. There is a video from Adam Audio describing the process. You should use a SPL meter. I think the T10S is specially designed to be a companion for T5V rather than T7V or T8V.

 

[snoopy30]

I like how you changed your statement. I believe the T10S came out before the T5V. T7V came first and I imagine it works reasonably well with it. This doesn't distract from the T10S being weak in terms of musicality. You want a punchy sub for this when using sats and the T10S really isn't.

 

[Neptunemau5]

I like how you changed your statement. I believe the T10S came out before the T5V. T7V came first and I imagine it works reasonably well with it. This doesn't distract from the T10S being weak in terms of musicality. You want a punchy sub for this when using sats and the T10S really isn't.

The T5v measure pretty much deadflat until 70hz and have a -3db in the upper 60hz region according to Amir's review. The T10s Should be good up to 120hz. The massive dip you experienced about is almost certainly due room reflections or some other cancellation problem. In addition to creating a dip in the upper part of the bass response, room reflections can also cause phase issues which reduces clarity of the bass response and it can amplify other bass frequencies further muddying sound. This can even happen any subwoofer even if it is normal a "punchy" sub. It is possible that the problems you had with the T10s could have been fixed with acoustment treatment and experimenting with different placements within the room.

 

[Aldoszx]

I believe the T10S came out before the T5V. T7V came first and I imagine it works reasonably well with it.

This is not quite correct. The T5V and T7V came up in 2018 and T10S in 2019. Indeed, the T10S was made to pair with both T5V and T7V. So, I think it is just a matter of taste.

 

[snoopy30]

The T5v measure pretty much deadflat until 70hz and have a -3db in the upper 60hz region according to Amir's review. The T10s Should be good up to 120hz. The massive dip you experienced about is almost certainly due room reflections or some other cancellation problem. In addition to creating a dip in the upper part of the bass response, room reflections can also cause phase issues which reduces clarity of the bass response and it can amplify other bass frequencies further muddying sound. This can even happen any subwoofer even if it is normal a "punchy" sub. It is possible that the problems you had with the T10s could have been fixed with acoustment treatment and experimenting with different placements within the room.

This correlates with what I heard and what can be expected from 5" drivers, but still the T10S couldn't fill in that 40-70Hz range well. On paper it might but in reality it couldn't. It's a movie sub not a music sub and there are much better options at the price point.

I also concede reflections and phase are a huge part of it, but ultimately if you want really excellent low frequency response (although not at significant volume) then the T8V in a much better 'integrated' option. It just can't keep up with the T5V's superb mid-range.