ADAM Audio’s DCH 4" hybrid dome/cone mid-range driver is located in the center of the speaker box, and handles all of the frequencies between 250Hz and 3kHz, and is powered by a 300-watt Class-D amplifier. Everything above 3k is passed to the S-ART treble driver, probably the most recognizable feature of ADAM monitors. Each S-ART driver is handcrafted at the ADAM factory in Berlin, and represents one of ADAM’s many groundbreaking innovations. The S-SRT is housed in ADAM’s new HPS waveguide, and derives its energy from a fourth source of dedicated power, this one a 50-wattA/B amplifier.

The S Series’ DSP optimizes loudspeaker crossovers to create linear responses and provides user equalization and in-room tuning/voicing functions as well. Tune your room, tune your monitors and your mixes come alive. A good place to start with the S3H is the factory preset that emulates ADAM Audio’s legendary S3A monitor. You may just leave it there, or you may find room attributes and personal preferences to lead you away from there, but again, it’s a great place to start. The DSP also handles limiter-based high-frequency driver protection and processes signals from the AES3 digital inputs. Software updates can be carried out with ease via the associated USB port, which also allows users to connect computers and control the speakers’ DSP functions.

With its powerful amplification and three-way design (optimally configured for use horizontally), the S3H was conceived as a midfield monitor, but can be employed equally well in more compact listening environments. As with all ADAM Audio designs, the sound is punchy but musical, with crystal-clear mid-range reproduction.

Its wide-ranging frequency response and plentiful headroom should appeal to any audio professional looking for a standalone, full-frequency active solution for their recording studio, one that provides detailed audio information at any volume setting. Whatever your preferred output level, the S3H’s vibrant authenticity is a spur to creativity for producers, engineers and musicians everywhere, and its sound is unfatiguing, even when working uninterrupted for extended periods.