Adam Audio A8H Active Studio Monitor

Supreme Monitoring

The A8H incorporates an 8-inch resonant Multi-Layer Mineral (MLM) fibre woofer, innovative midrange driver, and handmade precision X-ART tweeter, which together produce an ultra-wide frequency response.

Like the other members of the A-Series family, the A8H gives you tremendous flexibility for fine-tuning the sound through rotatable HPS waveguide technology and onboard DSP. At home across a full range of audio applications in mid-to full-sized spaces, the A8H is the right choice when you’re looking for the most detailed representation of your audio.

The A8H is available in the left and right versions.

Features:

• German Handmade Precision X-ART Tweeter with rotatable HPS waveguide
• 8” Woofer (Multi-Layer Mineral)
• 3.5″ DCH Midrange Driver
• Cumulated Amp. Power Peak: 340 W

Explore the Technology

ADAM Audio monitors have earned a worldwide reputation for the innovations that we have established in the field of loudspeaker technology. Here you can explore the technology of the A8H.

A Control

The DSP-based functionality of all A-Series monitors can be controlled remotely and in real-time over ethernet using A Control. The application can be downloaded free of charge for Windows and macOS in the MyADAM user area upon registration of an A-Series monitor.

Real-Time Remote Control

The backplate of A Series monitors offers a variety of equalization and tuning options, but quite often the backplate is not accessible from the listening sweet spot. Using A Control you can make changes to these settings from the comfort of your sweet spot and be confident in your decisions.

Advanced Correction

For some users, the backplate options might not offer enough choice and precision. Using A Control you can dial in exact tunings over six bands of parametric equalization and low and high shelf filters. Each filter band can be freely adjusted for gain, frequency and Q value to give the user complete freedom in perfecting the sound of the loudspeaker in the room.

Integrated Sonarworks Sound Id Reference

A Control facilitates our collaboration with industry leaders Sonarworks. Using the SoundID Reference option, calibration curves generated by the Sonarworks application can be imported into A Control and pushed directly to an embedded platform on A Series monitors. When this option is enabled, the calibration is happening directly on the monitor and thus no additional VSTs or software applications are required. It also means you are hearing calibrated audio regardless of your sound source.

Rotatable HPS Waveguide & X-ART Tweeter

Made from a new glass fibre polymer compound, the A-Series HPS waveguide enables the X-ART tweeter to disperse sound in space with controlled consistency.

What is a Waveguide?

A Waveguide is a tapered recess that frames a tweeter to disperse sound in space in a more controlled manner. The A-Series HPS (high-frequency propagation system) waveguide is constructed from resin and glass fibres, which are baked together under high temperatures to form a single piece that is specifically designed for X-ART dispersion characteristics. The waveguide is not easily excited by unwanted vibrations or resonances, contributing to internal damping.

Horizontally Broad, Vertically Tight

In the horizontal domain, the waveguide is designed to match the dispersion angle of the X-ART tweeter to the woofers and midrange drivers in the crossover region. This results in a smoother, less distracting response when listening to the speakers off-axis, supporting the stability of the imaging and creating a larger usable “sweet spot”.

In the vertical domain, the waveguide’s design reduces energy arriving on the surfaces of significant studio furniture, such as mixing consoles, desks or even the ceiling. These surfaces can potentially cause harmful reflections and ultimately comb-filtering.

Great Sound in any Orientation

Handmade in Germany, the X-ART tweeter provides precise transient responses and reproduces the finest sonic details. This X-ART tweeter is used in every A Series speaker, providing detailed sound across the product line. The A-Series introduces a rotatable HPS waveguide and X-ART tweeter. This means you can rotate the entire waveguide and tweeter module by 90 or 180 degrees and continue to benefit from the HPS technology whether you position the speaker horizontally or vertically.

Bass Reflex, Cabinets & Mounting

The new A-Series cabinets build on the heritage of ADAM Audio and the AX Series in particular.

Lower Extension, Higher Efficiency

A Series monitors feature a flared-port design that optimizes airflow and reduces port noise. With every cubic centimetre accounted for, the industrial-inspired design can provide lower extension and higher efficiency in a smaller box. The cabinets have deeper beveling to further reduce diffraction and thicker baffle walls to reduce unwanted cabinet vibrations.

Designed with Mounting in Mind

All A-Series speakers include an underside mounting interface, giving you the flexibility to mount A Series speakers wherever you need them. All models feature four M8 threaded screw holes (10mm depth) in a rectangular pattern of 127 mm x 70 mm. ADAM Audio plans to soon release a comprehensive range of wall, ceiling, and pole mounting options.

Automated Room Correction with Sonarworks

ADAM Audio is proud to partner with Sonarworks on an automated room correction solution that runs directly on the DSP of A Series monitors.

Can’t Treat your Space? Compensate for it.

A Series speakers are designed to be adaptable to changing requirements, preferences, and environments. For many people, the environments in which they create music are multipurpose, doubling as a bedroom or living room where acoustic treatment is often not an option. Using A Control, you can push advanced filters directly to an embedded platform onboard the monitors to help compensate for imperfect room acoustics, and this platform supports filters from industry leaders Sonarworks. Using Sonarworks SoundID Reference software and a measurement mic, you can create calibration curves specifically for your room and run them directly on your A Series monitors.

Calibrate Every Audio Source with Less Processing Power

ADAM Audio and Sonarworks have worked side-by-side to deliver a pioneering integration that runs directly on A Series monitors. This negates the need for an additional DAW plugin, simplifying workflows and ensuring that your studio monitors are always using a calibrated filter regardless of the audio source or type. It also means that you do not need to worry about your audio source, as the calibration is taking place directly on the monitor’s embedded platform.

Hybrid Amplification

The A-Series combines the best of both digital and analogue worlds.

Efficient Amplification

A Series of woofers are driven by Class D amplifiers that help produce linear performance while reducing distortion. These amplifiers were chosen specifically for their power and efficiency, in terms of both energy consumption and sound reproduction. Low thermal dissipation allows for a smaller, less costly heat sink, which facilitated additional investment in the exceptional power and performance of the A-Series.

Optimized Performance

Tweeters and midrange drivers are powered by Class AB amplifiers which offer a smooth, natural reproduction of high frequencies. Each amplifier is optimized for its working range, resulting in a fine-tuned, properly aligned speaker. To reach this point, ADAM Audio carried out extensive measurements and listening sessions, trialling countless amplifiers and amplifier components.

Multi-Layer Mineral Woofer [MLM]

The latest materials and advanced analysis and design processes have led to the development of our new long-throw woofers.

Mineral Stone

A Series of woofers are constructed from layers of mineral stone fibres that have been baked together to create a lightweight but highly stable composite material. The mineral composition, layering, and geometry of each cone are specific to the driver, which optimizes the stability and frequency response for each model. The baking technique ensures maximum rigidity and an ultra-clean response, and by combining the cone material with a new magnet system, A Series woofers produce high output with minimal distortion.

Design and Process

The A-Series woofers underwent multiple evaluations and sample cycles before manufacturing began. By utilizing the Klippel simulation tool, ADAM Audio’s R&D team could design drivers and transducers that perform under maximum sound pressure with the lowest possible distortion levels.

Midrange Driver

A-Series midrange drivers deliver clean sound in the critical part of the frequency range where humans are especially sensitive to the colouration of the sound.

Dedicated to Excellence

Adapted from the groundbreaking ADAM Audio DCH (Dome Cone Hybrid) midrange driver used by the S Series speakers, the A-Series midrange driver helps clarify lows and highs by eliminating the need for woofers and tweeters to reproduce midrange frequencies. Both the A77H and A8H models are three-way systems that use the A-Series, midrange driver.

Piston-Like Performance

A Series midrange driver cones are made from the same Multi-Layer Mineral fibres as A Series woofers. The cones are specifically layered and cut for the drivers, which feature an underhung magnet system that lives inside the voice coil. The voice coil is installed within a linear magnetic field, ensuring an optimized working range, and reducing modulation of sound. A high break-up point ensures that no audible distortion occurs in the operating range.

Voicings

A “Voicing” is a pre-defined sound profile of an A-Series monitor. On the back panel, you will find two different selections, “UNR” and “Pure”. Voicings can be further attenuated using the room adaptation equalization settings. The “Ext” option refers to the extended functionality when using the Advanced or Sonarworks calibrations within A Control.

Uniform Natural Response

“UNR” or “Uniform Natural Response” is a dynamic, natural-sounding response curve of ADAM Audio’s own design, which stems from a variety of iconic ADAM Audio legacy products, including the preceding AX Series. It lends itself to production, composition and songwriting as its engaging and present sound can give you more room for creativity and flow. It is also a great option whenever you want to use your speakers simply to enjoy some good music.

Pure

“Pure” is a highly accurate and neutral sounding option. This is the “flat” setting, ideal for mixing, mastering, and critical listening applications where you really must be aware of all the details and rely on an honest representation from your speakers.

Room Adaption

On the back panel of A-Series speakers, you will find four bands of room adaptation equalization: Bass, Desk, Presence and Treble. Each band is adjustable in predefined steps, offering great flexibility to help compensate for the typical acoustic problems arising from placing a speaker in a room.

Bass: Boundary Loading

When a loudspeaker is placed next to a hard wall the bass increases in a predictable way, with these frequencies often overrepresented. The “Bass” control allows you to compensate for this, so the loudspeaker does not sound bass-heavy. The values are +2, 0, -2 and -4 dB.

Desk: Desktop Loading

When a loudspeaker is placed next to a desk surface, the low-mid region increases in a predictable way with first reflections causing an overrepresentation of these frequencies. The “Desk” control compensates for this loading so the loudspeaker does not sound boomy. The values are 0, -2 and -4 dB.

Presence: Acoustics Compensation

In some circumstances, there can be a perceived harshness in the midrange caused by the room acoustics and equipment in the room. The “Presence” control allows the user to tame this harness restoring the loudspeaker’s natural sound. The values are +1, 0 and -1 dB.

Treble: High Frequency Absorption compensation

In rooms with too much or little high-frequency absorption, the perceived sound can be overly dull or harsh. The “Treble” control allows the customer to return to a natural sound balance. The values are +1.5, 0 and -1.5 dB.

Digital Signal Processing

The A-Series capitalizes on the transformative power of DSP-based electronics to provide greater tuning precision than analogue-only speakers.

Unfaltering Performance

The predictability of DSP-based speakers is a key advantage when comparing them to their analogue counterparts. DSP-based electronics benefit from unfaltering crossovers, filters, and equalization, which are prone to deterioration in analogue-only designs. Signal conversion is handled by audiophile-standard converters which were carefully selected by ADAM Audio to achieve superior performance.

Futureproof Feature Set

DSP is also what facilitates the abundant new features of the A-Series, including remote operation, local equalization, and voicing selection. With firmware that can be updated via the ethernet connection, over time you can expect to integrate the latest DSP-based capabilities from ADAM Audio-including new filter types and features, plus alternative voicings.

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Condition	New
Brand	Adam

General Data

• Display: Front panel multi-colour LED
• Cabinet Design: Single front ported
• Cabinet Material: Vinyl wrapped MDF and painted MDF front panel
• Mounting options: Threaded inserts on the bottom of the cabinet (4 x M8)
• AC Input Voltage: 100 - 240 V, 50/60 Hz
• Power Rating: 500 W max.
• Operating Conditions: -10° C to +45° C (+14° F to +113° F); <75 % RH, non-condensing
• Weight: 13.6 kg (30 lb)
• Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 274 mm x 382 mm x 329 mm (9 3/4" x 15" x 13")
• Delivery Contents: A8H loudspeaker, power cable, Quick Start Guide

Acoustics

• Crossover Frequencies: 400 Hz, 3.0 kHz

Audio Input Connectors

• Analog: XLR, RCA
• Input Impedance: 9 kOhm / 3.3 kOhm
• Max. Input Level: +19 dBu

Drivers

• Woofer
• Basket Diameter: 8"
• Voice Coil Diameter: 1.5" (38 mm)
• Cone Material: MLM

• Midrange
• Type: Dome Cone Hybrid (DCH)
• Basket Diameter: 3.5"
• Voice Coil Diameter: 1.3" (33 mm)
• Cone Material: MLM

• Tweeter
• Type: X-ART
• Diaphragm Area: 4 inch² (2420 mm²)
• Equivalent Diaphragm Diameter: 2" (56 mm)
• Velocity Transform Ratio: 4 to 1
• Diaphragm Weight: 0.17 g
• Waveguide: HPS (rotatable)
• Waveguide Dispersion: 120° horizontal, 70° vertical

Amplification

• Woofer
• Amplifier Type: PWM
• Peak (10% THD, limiter deactivated): 250 W
• RMS (1% THD, limiter deactivated): 200 W

• Midrange
• Amplifier Type: Class A/B
• Peak (10% THD, limiter deactivated): 70 W
• RMS (1% THD, limiter deactivated): 55 W

• Tweeter
• Amplifier Type: Class A/B
• Peak (10% THD, limiter deactivated): 20 W
• RMS (1% THD, limiter deactivated): 15 W

Signal Processing

• AD converter: 24-bit
• Internal sample rate: 96 kHz
• Delay range, resolution: 0 - 10 ms, 0.1 ms
• Protection: Independent peak and thermo limiters for each driver, and amplifier thermo limiters

Control Options [via Network]

• Networking Connector: RJ45
• Connection Type: Ethernet
• Communication Protocol: OCA using standard IP data
• Control Software: A Control (Windows and MacOS available)
• Room Adaption Options: Backplate, Extended, Sonarworks SoundID Reference integration
• Advanced Room Adaptation: 6 x PEQ, Level, Delay
• Third-party Calibration Compatibility: Import from Sonarworks SoundID Reference

Control Options [via Backplate]

• Input Sensitivity: 0 dBu = 100 dB SPL at 1 m @ 0 dB level setting
• Level: -12 dB to +12 dB
• Input Selection: Balanced, unbalanced
• Voicings: Pure, UNR
• Room Adaption:
• Bass: +2, 0, -2, -4 dB
• Desk: 0, -2, -4 dB
• Presence: +1, 0, -1 dB
• Treble: +1.5, 0, -1.5 dB