ADAM Audio D3V – Active Desktop Monitors (Black / Pair)

The D3Vis a fully active desktop monitoring system designed for songwriters,producers, and music lovers who want to enjoy ADAM Audio sound quality asconveniently as possible. Available in white or black editions, the active monitors featurethe iconic golden ribbon tweeter and stay true to ADAM Audio’s Germanindustrial design heritage.

Eachactive pair features 3.5″ aluminum woofers and ferrite magnet system driven by80 W amplifiers. The woofers are further complemented by dual-sided 3.5″passive radiators which allow the D3V to extend as low as 45 Hz.

With 25years’ experience working with ribbon tweeter technology, ADAM Audio hascreated a compact 1.5″ D-ART (Desktop Accelerated Ribbon Tweeter) so D3Vcustomers can enjoy the precise and unfatiguing high-frequency reproductionthat their established monitoring systems are known for.

The D3Vfeatures a USB-C input which means the monitoring system behaves as a digitaloutput device when connected to a computer and negates the need for anadditional audio interface for playback. This plug’n’play functionality extendsto mobile devices so high-quality audio can be enjoyed without the compressionor conversion normally associated with such connections. The D3V also featuresbalanced ¼” TRS inputs for more traditional analogue audio applications.

Thebackplate of the left speaker features a range of user-friendly switches toaddress the common acoustical issues arising from speaker placement, while thefront panel includes a headphone socket and volume knob that doubles as acontrol for the audio input selection, muting and other functions.

TheD3V comes complete with detachable monitor stands that are angled at 15° towardthe users’ ears. Additionally, there is a standard threaded 3/8″ hole formicrophone stand mounting on the underside of both monitors.

FullyActive Aluminium 3.5″ Woofers and Ferrite Magnet System
Optimised using ADAM Audio’s state-of-the-artKlippel measurement system, the extremely symmetrical voice coil and ferritemagnet system help minimize unwanted distortions and provide a linear motor forthe woofer. Each one-piece concave cone is made of ridged, thick aluminium witha long linear excursion range which delivers uncoloured sound even atsurprisingly high output levels.

The D3V is a fully active design with fourindividual amplifier channels and DSP-managed crossover. The woofers arepowered by 80W amplifiers with the link cable carrying an amplified signal tothe right speaker.

D-ART Tweeter
Aquarter century of ribbon tweeter research and development has led to thecreation of ADAM Audio’s highly capable 1.5″ Desktop Accelerated RibbonTweeter. Each diaphragm is hand folded and glued with 40W amplifiers drivingeach unit. Like the rest of ADAM Audio’s tweeters, the D-ART incorporatescrossover fine-tuning which is managed by highly accurate DSP. 

Passive Radiators
The D3V employs dual-sided passive radiators oneach speaker for a total of four per system. Each radiator consists of astainless-steel plate as the moving mass, and a specially stabilisedlong-stroke rubber surround for the suspension. Together they reinforce thelowest possible response of the loudspeaker through their interaction with themain woofers, as well as contributing toward the overall SPL of the system.

Direct USB-C Input
The D3Vrepresents ADAM Audio’s most convenient monitoring system thanks to theinclusion of a plug’n’play USB-C input. The loudspeakers behave as a digitaloutput device when connected to a computer, mobile, or tablet, which negatesthe need for an additional audio interface. This direct digital connectionfacilitates high-quality audio playback without the compression or conversionnormally associated with desktop monitors.

DSP Room Acoustics
Onthe backplate of the left speaker you can find three switches to counteract thetypical acoustical issues that arise from speaker placement. “POSITION” refersto the fixed position of the loudspeaker in the room. “DESK” refers to the sizeof the desk in front of the loudspeaker, while “ROOM” refers to the amount ofacoustic treatment in the space in which the system is being used.

Balanced Analogue Inputs
In addition to the USB-C input, the D3V featuresanalogue inputs for traditional audio applications. It allows for balancedconnections to audio interfaces as well as direct connections to all kinds ofhardware including synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and DJ mixers. TheUSB-C or balanced analogue inputs can be toggled bypressing the volume knob on the left speaker.

Headphone Output, Monitor Stands and MountingOptions
Functionality and convenience played a major role inthe design of the D3V. The front-facing headphone output automatically takesover audio playback when connected, while detachable monitor stands angled at15° are also included. Additionally, there is a standard threaded 3/8″ hole formicrophone stand mounting on the underside of both monitors.

Injection-Moulded Cabinet
The D3V’s cabinet ismade of high-grade injection moulded ABS Polycarbonate, with thick walls and plenty of bracing to avoid vibrations and unwantedresonances. The rounded shape reduces unwanted sound diffraction at highfrequencies, while also paying tribute to ADAM Audio’s long-standing industrialdesign heritage.