Looking to get some quality monitors right from the get-go. It seems the Dynaudio's and Adams are the top-of-the-line these days. I'm looking for use in all genre's of electronic, and minimal hearing fatigue.
Any comparisons between the two?
Dynaudio BM5A/6A Vs. Adam A7
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- KVRist
- 69 posts since 19 Aug, 2007
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- KVRian
- 676 posts since 12 Dec, 2007 from Scotland via California
Yeah I've been looking at monitors recently too and I'd like to know what the main difference is between the Dynaudio BM5A and BM6A apart from around £270? Also are there any monitors out there that sound great and don't look like they've been product designed by Stevie Wonder? The Adam A7 certainly didn't take home the prom queen 
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 69 posts since 19 Aug, 2007
6A's are louder, but beyond that I don't know if there is that much of a difference. Could use confirmation on that too.
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- KVRAF
- 5666 posts since 23 Mar, 2006 from pendeLondonmonium
I have just gone through an update recently and have auditioned several monitors amongst them the Dynaudio BM5A and Adam A7.
Both, very nice monitors, has to be said.
I would say that to my ears the BM5A'sbass response is slightly overstated. I played all types of music through these, and for example, the acoustic guitar was 'enveloped' in too much bass for my liking. It was a sound I didn't associate with a well recorded acoustic guitar. Whereas, the Adams were more natural. However, dance tracks were grooving very nicely on the BM5A's.
I've read comments that the Adams don't have enough bass. I think they do. The Drum&Bass and Dub reference tracks I played were reproduced with deep and solid bass. Can't complain. I also had a few specialist test tones on my reference CD which helped to confirm what the music tracks already told me; and the bass on the Adam is there ( they go down to 48Hz at -3dB, BTW).
I would say, the A7's are just more brutal (in a good sense), and so if the track is mixed/mastered with inadequate bass, they will show that, and the opposite is true as well ( at least that's what I had observed listening to my reference tracks). Granted, when playing well produced dance music on the BMA5's, the instant bass gratification and the wow factor is greater than on the Adam's.
There's also a difference in the high frequency response on both. Here, I couldn't decide, prefering the more silky sound of the Dynaudios on some tracks. The DM5A have a beautiful top end. Really liked it. The Adams sounded more 'alive', a bit overstated, but at the same time very natural, which I also liked. Another way to describe the difference; the Dynaudios were more hifi, and the Adam's like a visit to a dentist that you love...
In the end, for my needs I chose the A7's ( 'cause I need to see my dentist lol). I tend to mix at low volumes and the extra clarity of the A7's is welcomed.
If you mainly produce electronica , you will be very happy with the overstated bass on the Dynaudios and perhaps a more silky top end. I produce anything from acoustic to electronic and have to have something as natural sounding as possible (for my budget) so the Adam's fit the bill.
The other monitors I had a listen to were:
Genelec 8030 - compared to A7's they have equally solid and full bass response but it did sound different. Perhaps due to the rear porting. The mids were a bit too honky for me. Too forward sounding.
Tascam Vl-5A - I had to have a listen to these as I have (again) read so many favourable comments all over the net for the older VL-X5. The tascam's were a real dissapontment. I thought I could save some money and walk away with a pair of monitors for £200. They sounded very 'shallow'. The bass frequency response is quoted as 38Hz. I do not believe that for one minute. The exploding bass on some of the Drum&Bass tracks that were reproduced so beautifully on the Adam's and Genelec's ( and overdone on the Dynaudios) just wasn't there. Overall, when listening to the Tascam's side by side with the other big guns, I felt they had a 'veiled' sound I couldn't trust.
Yamaha HS50 - just to hear a completely different sound to Dynaudio's and Adam's, which it obviously was.
Now, having written all that, I hope none of it is taken seriously and you will arrive at your own opinion after having auditioned these yourself.
BTW. I do like the way the Adams look. In the flesh they are very nice , better looking than in pictures. They are also very deep but narrow, so they fit on my work space perfectly.
Hope this helps.
Both, very nice monitors, has to be said.
I would say that to my ears the BM5A'sbass response is slightly overstated. I played all types of music through these, and for example, the acoustic guitar was 'enveloped' in too much bass for my liking. It was a sound I didn't associate with a well recorded acoustic guitar. Whereas, the Adams were more natural. However, dance tracks were grooving very nicely on the BM5A's.
I've read comments that the Adams don't have enough bass. I think they do. The Drum&Bass and Dub reference tracks I played were reproduced with deep and solid bass. Can't complain. I also had a few specialist test tones on my reference CD which helped to confirm what the music tracks already told me; and the bass on the Adam is there ( they go down to 48Hz at -3dB, BTW).
I would say, the A7's are just more brutal (in a good sense), and so if the track is mixed/mastered with inadequate bass, they will show that, and the opposite is true as well ( at least that's what I had observed listening to my reference tracks). Granted, when playing well produced dance music on the BMA5's, the instant bass gratification and the wow factor is greater than on the Adam's.
There's also a difference in the high frequency response on both. Here, I couldn't decide, prefering the more silky sound of the Dynaudios on some tracks. The DM5A have a beautiful top end. Really liked it. The Adams sounded more 'alive', a bit overstated, but at the same time very natural, which I also liked. Another way to describe the difference; the Dynaudios were more hifi, and the Adam's like a visit to a dentist that you love...
In the end, for my needs I chose the A7's ( 'cause I need to see my dentist lol). I tend to mix at low volumes and the extra clarity of the A7's is welcomed.
If you mainly produce electronica , you will be very happy with the overstated bass on the Dynaudios and perhaps a more silky top end. I produce anything from acoustic to electronic and have to have something as natural sounding as possible (for my budget) so the Adam's fit the bill.
The other monitors I had a listen to were:
Genelec 8030 - compared to A7's they have equally solid and full bass response but it did sound different. Perhaps due to the rear porting. The mids were a bit too honky for me. Too forward sounding.
Tascam Vl-5A - I had to have a listen to these as I have (again) read so many favourable comments all over the net for the older VL-X5. The tascam's were a real dissapontment. I thought I could save some money and walk away with a pair of monitors for £200. They sounded very 'shallow'. The bass frequency response is quoted as 38Hz. I do not believe that for one minute. The exploding bass on some of the Drum&Bass tracks that were reproduced so beautifully on the Adam's and Genelec's ( and overdone on the Dynaudios) just wasn't there. Overall, when listening to the Tascam's side by side with the other big guns, I felt they had a 'veiled' sound I couldn't trust.
Yamaha HS50 - just to hear a completely different sound to Dynaudio's and Adam's, which it obviously was.
Now, having written all that, I hope none of it is taken seriously and you will arrive at your own opinion after having auditioned these yourself.
BTW. I do like the way the Adams look. In the flesh they are very nice
, better looking than in pictures. They are also very deep but narrow, so they fit on my work space perfectly.Hope this helps.