Home Studio Monitors Adam A7X Review [With Video]

Adam A7X Review [With Video]

by Stuart Charles Black

Don't forget to share if you found it helpful!

Greetings friend and Welcome aboard!!

Before we get into the Adam A7X Review, grab a snack, sit back, and relax because…

You’ve come to the right place!!

What I will bring you in this review

  1. Ratings/Price
  2. Specifications
  3. Summary
  4. Pros
  5. Cons
  6. Video Review
  7. What these monitors are good for?
  8. What you will need?
  9. Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
  10. Consensus/Conclusion
  11. Final Word

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!

Adam A7X

Ratings/Price

Price: Check Amazon! | Check Sweetwater!

Specifications

  • Low-frequency driver: 7″ (178mm) Carbon Fiber/Rohacell/Glass Fiber Midwoofer
  • High-frequency driver: X-ART Tweeter
  • LF Amplifier: 100W RMS
  • RF Amplifier: 50W RMS
  • Crossover: 2.5kHz
  • Frequency Range: 42Hz – 50kHz
  • Maximum Sound Pressure Level (SPL): 114dB, Peak. What is SPL?
  • Connectors: 1 x XLR Input. What is XLR?
    1 x RCA Input
    1 x Power Input
  • Input Impedance: 30 kOhms
  • Controls and Indicators: 1 x Power Switch
    1 x Gain Control
    1 x Tweeter Gain Control
    1 x High Shelving Control
    1 x Low Shelving Control
  • Shielded: No
  • Dimensions (HxWxD): 13.5 x 8 x 11″ (337 x 201 x 280mm)
  • Weight: 20.3 lbs (9.2kg)

Summary

A big selling point of the A7X studio monitor is its phenomenal mid-range. What are studio monitors?

Nearly every positive review pointed out the fact that vocals and instruments really come to life with these.

They really provide a 3-d soundscape that mimics actually being in front of the musicians.

They are also extremely honest and transparent, and won’t make your mixes sound better.

They will simply reveal to you what you recorded or how the music was recorded.

Pros

  • Great for smaller rooms.
  • Clean & clear bass response.
  • Great stereo imaging.
  • Solid build/construction.
  • Non-fatiguing. You can listen non-stop without getting tired.
  • Reveals details in your recordings that you’ve never heard before.
  • Very transparent. If the mix or song sounds crappy, you will know.
  • Great customer support.
  • Incredible mid-range. The vocals are forward and sound great. The sound really jumps out at you. The low mid-range is especially good.

Cons

  • Powering the speakers themselves may cause headaches. From power cables fitting loosely to cable connection problems to one of the speakers going dead inexplicably. These are isolated incidents.

Video Review

Make sure to subscribe to Jordan’s channel!

What these monitors are good for?

  • Watching movies
  • Mixing
  • Scoring orchestral music for film
  • Editing HD video
  • Scoring music for television
  • Tracking in a professional studio
  • Works well with Ableton Live
  • Works well with Reaper
  • Classical
  • Acoustic
  • Vocals
  • Natural bass

What you will need?

You will need some sort of audio interface to power these properly. What does an audio interface do?

We discussed the Scarlett Solo in my Adam A7 vs. A7x comparison, and you can also go with what I currently have: The Universal Audio Volt 2; an incredible interface that actually just won an award! (it’s the second one down)

Universal Audio Volt 2 Review

You’ll easily be able to hook it up via USB to your computer and then hook the monitors up to the interface.

Let me know if you have any questions by commenting below or Contact me!

As Jordan mentioned in the video above, adding studio monitors to your setup is just about the most important thing to invest in other than the audio interface.

While the interface is your centralized hub and responsible for most everything that goes on between you and the music, studio monitors are just about as important.

The reason for this is that a good pair will allow you to hear exactly what’s going on in a mix, but they do need to be situated properly for best results.

Placement

The monitors should be at around ear level and form an equilateral triangle towards your head.

This will ensure the image and Soundstage are as good as they can possibly be.

You can jerry-rig some stands, buy stands, or if space is an issue, these Gator Framework Clamp-On Stands work really well also.

When placed correctly, you’ll notice that the speakers give off the illusion that the sound is coming from behind.

In a good mixdown, instruments, and voices will be panned evenly left to right, and this is what creates a fantastic overall composition.

If you don’t believe me, listen to your favorite tracks this way and you’ll notice that in a good mix, the sounds have room to breathe and express themselves fully.

This is because the producer/artist took care in making sure everything was right.

These techniques not only help you when working on your own projects, but it improves resolution and makes it that much easier to distinguish what’s what.

Rear-Ported?

Also, something to keep in mind is where the bass comes out. If the monitors are rear-ported, you’ll want to have them as far away from the wall as possible.

I know this isn’t always possible due to room constraints, but it will help considerably in reducing the sound bouncing all over the place.

Investing in some acoustic panels also goes a long way in mitigating this issue and absorbing those bass hits.

Speaking of your room, let’s have a look at size.

General Room Sizes

I get asked this question quite a bit so I’ll go ahead and outline it here for you.

Generally speaking:

  • Small Room – 10×10 or smaller
  • Medium-Sized Room – 12×12
  • Large-Sized Room – 14×14, 14×16 or larger

For reference, my room is probably considered medium-large at around 12×14, but I still may not try and stuff a super large monitor in that space.

As far as the A7x goes, it’s a rather large monitor so make sure your room is adequate enough for the task. 

Thoughts from Stu’s notepad

  • The high frequencies aren’t hyped but also don’t roll off too soon.
  • The Soundstage depth isn’t the best, but that’s nitpicking. What is Soundstage?
  • The good thing about the treble range is that it isn’t harsh or sibilant. What does Sibilant mean? The sound is much more balanced overall.
  • Mixing becomes fast and efficient with the A7Xs. You’re not going to be constantly going back and forth on different sources making sure that the mix sounds proper. Usually, after the first try, it will be good. The A7X will save you time and frustration.
  • On/Off switches and volume control are on the front.
  • The bass is lacking to some, but these aren’t party speakers. They are reference monitors. If the song has a lot of bass, you will hear it. They don’t overhype any frequencies.

Consensus/Conclusion

Great stereo imaging and separation. Great clarity and balance. Honest and transparent. Pricey. Professional results. Efficient. Powerful. Solid construction.

Final Word & Update

The A7X is a powerful home studio as well as a professional solution to your mixing and mastering needs.

Its balanced sound, great clarity, and honest reproduction make it a valuable asset to your rig.

It works well in any size room, and its build quality is outstanding.

The details heard in all of your favorite recordings will simply blow you away.

Update

Adam Audio’s best-selling, award-winning A7x is no longer available but has been replaced by the A7V.

With these, you can expect more of the same; excellent mid-range and treble, incredible detail, and an overall non-fatiguing sound perfect for mixing.

Learn More:

 


Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this review on the Adam A7X Review, and came away with some valuable information.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

Are you likely to purchase the A7X? I would love to hear from you. Until next time..

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Be sure to check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

Save

Adam A7X

4.85

Build Quality

5.0/5

Sound Quality

5.0/5

Sound Reproduction/Clarity

5.0/5

Ease of Use

4.5/5

Pros

  • Great mid-range
  • Crystal clear response
  • Transparent, honest sound
  • Great build quality

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Connection problems (Isolated)

Don't forget to share if you found it helpful!

You may also like

2 comments

Pawel April 9, 2017 - 4:42 pm

Good monitors, very good midbass drivers similar to Eton in technology, revealing, like flash of cold water in morning but still very listenable

Reply
Stu April 23, 2017 - 1:42 am

Nice Pawel! Thanks for the comment. Gotta love the honesty in studio monitors. Do you use them to mix down?

Reply

Leave a Comment