Many people are intimidated to step into music production because of the steep cost barrier.
As you do more research into what’s actually needed, the gear purchases—and resulting dents in your wallet—begin to stack up.
A computer and desk, sure. Maybe a new microphone. And obviously you’ll need some speakers. But then you’ll learn about how your speakers actually need an audio interface before they can connect to your computer. The interface will need its own set of expensive cables, and maybe you’ll even need a separate headphone amplifier—and so it goes.
I’m here to tell you that, thanks to our friends at ADAM Audio, it actually doesn’t have to be this way.
ADAM Audio’s new D3V desktop monitors function with one single USB and power cable—no interface, music cables, or even computer necessary.
I recently tested out these bad boys in my own home studio, and I was thoroughly impressed.
Below, I’ll tell you everything I learned about the D3Vs—features, performance, pros, and cons.
Overview
The D3Vs cost $300 for the pair, and weigh a total of 7 lbs, 14 oz. They’re quite compact, at just under 8 inches tall and 6 inches deep, making them ideal for desk setups of any size.
Arriving with my D3Vs was a USB-C connection cable along with a USB-A adapter, a power cable and block, a 4-pin speaker connection cable, and a quick start guide—so yeah, everything you need to get your new speakers up and running right away.
Like I mentioned earlier, the D3V desktop monitors stand out from the crowd because they deliver high-fidelity audio with none of the extra gear “baggage” required from most monitors—and they do so at a very reasonable price point.
Let’s get a little more specific.
Why I Like It
- The D3Vs require nothing more than an outlet and a USB input to function—and you don’t even need a computer, since they also work seamlessly with mobile devices like iPhones or iPads.
- The audio quality is superb, with a frequency response stretching all the way down to 45 Hz and a folded membrane that projects audio with astounding clarity.
- The D3V desktop monitors feature a series of smart EQ room adaptation settings that ADAM Audio has become known for—you can balance the D3Vs’ audio based on their position in the room, your desk size, and the level of soundproofing treatment in your room.
Features & Benefits
Above I touched on the D3V’s three key offerings, but in this section we’ll dive into each one in more detail. The three key areas we’ll focus on are 1) connectivity; 2) sound quality and frequency response, and; 3) EQ settings and room adaptation.
Let’s get into it.
Connectivity
Though it might not seem like an issue really worth talking about, the connectivity of your audio monitors actually matters a lot, especially if you’re planning to move your setup or travel with it at any point.
Most studio monitor setups require:
- Two power cables (one for each speaker);
- Two XLR or ¼ inch cables for connection to an audio interface;
- An audio interface for the cables to connect to;
- A USB cable to connect the interface to your computer;
- Sometimes a headphone amplifier for separate headphone volume control.
This is quite a lot of gear to set up, let alone learn about when you’re first getting started with music production.
The ADAM Audio D3Vs take all of the headache out of this process—and maybe this is best shown by giving you a step-by-step account of the little I had to do to get my D3Vs up and running.
- Connect the speakers to each other with the included 4-pin speaker cable;
- Connect the primary speaker to an outlet with the included power cable;
- Connect the primary speaker to my computer with the included USB-C cable.
Literally, that’s it. And if you have an older computer, you can use the included adapter, which will turn the USB-C cable into an old school USB-A, which is compatible with nearly all older computers.
But don’t worry—if you already have an interface or plan to get one in the future, the D3Vs accommodate this just fine with ¼ inch inputs that you can run directly from your interface. This makes the D3V desktop monitors an excellent choice for people just getting into music production. Because they support both direct-to-computer and interface connections, you can get started with them right away and not have to worry about growing out of them any time soon.
Finally, remember I mentioned the added component of sometimes needing a headphone amplifier? The D3Vs accounted for this component as well, with a built-in 3.5mm headphone jack which allows you to switch effortlessly between using the speakers for producing, and headphones for live recording sessions.
Sound Quality & Frequency Response
Of course, whenever you’re dealing with speakers, the most important thing of all is how they sound—and one of the best ways to gauge this is through frequency response. I could also just tell you from firsthand experience that they sound stunning, but I’m assuming you won’t be content with a simple “trust me bro”—so let’s get technical.
Frequency response refers to the range of sounds a speaker can reproduce, measured in hertz (Hz). It tells you how low and how high a speaker can go. The human ear generally hears from 20 Hz (deep bass rumble) to 20,000 Hz (ultra-high treble). A good frequency response is important because it ensures that the entire sound spectrum is represented accurately—and this is especially critical for music production, where every detail matters.
The ADAM Audio D3V desktop monitors have a frequency response of 45 Hz to 22.6 kHz, with only a -6 dB dropoff in volume at the high and low ends. So basically, they can produce everything from deep bass to the highest treble sounds without a significant loss in volume.
The Low End
Arguably the most impressive part of this range is the low end, since the D3Vs are compact, desktop monitors and bass is generally difficult for small speakers. The D3Vs achieve this through their 3.5” woofers and, most importantly, twin passive radiators.
Passive radiators are components which function like speakers, but their movement is caused only by the air pressure created by the main speakers (the active ones). When the active speakers make sound, they push out air, which makes the passive radiators shake and produce more bass sound. This is the main reason why the D3Vs, though small, are able to produce tight, controlled, and reasonably powerful bass that doesn’t distort.
The High End
The high frequencies on the D3Vs are handled by ADAM Audio’s D-ART tweeter system, which uses a folded membrane—"membrane" being the part of the active speakers that actually vibrates to create the sound). I think ADAM Audio does the best job of explaining the D3Vs’ unique tweeter function on their website:
“Instead of forcing the air (as per the pistonic movement of most speakers), AMTs create a vacuum when the pleats contract which naturally draws air into the folds. It is then “exhaled” when the membrane expands and the pleats open in the opposite direction, expelling the air rather than pushing it. This creates the breathy quality, analytical detail and sparkling, insightful presentation that ADAM Audio AMTs are known for.”
Finally, the speaker system has an overall amplification power of 240 watts. Basically, this means they can get much, much louder than you’ll probably ever need them to, without any hints of distortion.
EQ Settings & Room Adaptation
Unfortunately, the story of pristine speaker sound quality doesn’t end with the technical specifications of the speakers themselves. Unlike headphones, speakers project sound into the physical space around you, and the nature of that physical space—your room or studio—can greatly affect the sound quality, for better or for worse.
Thankfully, ADAM Audio handily solved this problem with a series of three adjustable EQ settings that tailor the audio to your specific space, ensuring the most accurate sound reproduction.
- The Position switch optimizes EQ depending on your speakers’ placement: on a stand, in front of a wall, or in a corner.
- The Desk switch adjusts the audio based on your desk setup: no desk, small desk, or large desk.
- The Room switch calibrates the speakers for your room’s audio environment: fully treated with panels and soundproofing, moderately treated, or untreated.
I mounted my D3Vs directly in front of a flat wall, on my small desk, in my room that has (sadly) no audio treatment. I sampled a song with these settings selected, and also with random settings selected—and though it was subtle, I could detect an increase in overall clarity when I had the speakers properly calibrated.
Even on a set of ultra high-end studio monitors, these EQ settings would be a plus—but it’s almost unheard of to see this level of smart customization on a pair of $300 desktop monitors.
Alternatives & Things To Consider Before Buying
Since ADAM Audio is one of the world’s premier brands for high-quality sound reproduction gear, they have a huge variety of other options available in case the D3Vs don’t quite check all the boxes for you.
Here are some of my recommendations:
- Buy the H200 Closed-Back Headphones for an even lower-overhead setup that takes up virtually zero space and makes traveling with your gear even easier. Literally all you need is a 3.5mm headphone jack and you can get started. By the way, I recently wrote a review about these very headphones, which you should check out if you’re interested.
- Buy the T5V Active Studio Monitors if you want to take a step not really up from the D3Vs, but simply sideways, into a set of actual nearfield studio monitors. You could also pair the T5Vs with the T10S Active Subwoofer for even stronger bass.
Zooming out a bit further, here are the things you should consider before buying any studio monitor system, period.
- Buy the A4V Active Studio Monitors if you’re willing to make the reasonable price jump up into the realm of professional-grade studio monitors that still maintain a lean form factor. I also wrote a review on the A4Vs, which you can read here.
- Purpose & use case: First, ask yourself precisely why you’re buying studio monitors. If you’re planning to produce your own music but hire someone else to mix it, you can be a lot more flexible with the quality of your monitors. But if you plan to do both production and mixing yourself, you’ll have to go up a notch and tap into the professional-grade stuff.
- Room acoustics & setup: Next, think about your listening environment. All of the super high-end monitors out there can really only show their true benefits in professionally treated spaces. If your room doesn’t meet this bar, there’s no sense spending multiple thousands of dollars on monitors. I highly recommend going with a pair of monitors that come with room adaptation features—such as the D3Vs or the A4Vs.
- Budget & upgrade path: When it comes to budget, some people will tell you to start with cheaper monitors and upgrade later. Others will advise you to take the hit and invest in higher quality monitors right from the jump. Like I said earlier, the D3V’s—at only $300—are great in this regard. Because they work both via direct USB connection and via ¼ inch cables, you can buy them as your first monitors and connect them right to your computer or phone, and then keep on using them as you continue to upgrade your studio down the road.
Conclusion
The ADAM Audio D3V desktop monitors remove one of the biggest roadblocks for those just getting into the music production space: They allow you to get started with music production without needing to purchase excessive amounts of gear.
To quickly recap why the D3Vs are worth their $300 purchase price:
- Easy connectivity: All you need is an outlet and a computer or mobile device with a USB input, and you’re off to the races.
- Pristine sound quality: Though they’re just under 8 inches tall, the D3Vs have a frequency response of 45 Hz to 22.6 kHz and use innovative technology from ADAM Audio—such as passive radiators and the D-ART tweeter system—to produce crystal clear audio.
- Smart EQ room adaptation: The speakers feature three EQ switches that calibrate the speakers’ sound based on placement, desk size, and room type.
If you want to dive into music production without having to take out a second mortgage, the D3Vs might just end up being your new best friends.
