MF vs ADM upgrade path?

[Kevin Stephens]

In planning an upgrade logical steps would be an M6i amp, maybe M6 DAC and new speakers (or even a good sub to underpin my GS10s). My excellent MF tuner has a digital output so everything would go into the DAC. Although I'm a long term MF fan I would of course be keen to listen to other options. One that intrigues me is the new ADM 40 active speaker using integrated DAC and amps with my existing sources, saving money and shelf space.
As a starting point I'd be interested in comments on how the ADM "sound" compares to that of MF in terms of character, and at the respective price SQ?
Thanks

 

[toyota man]

In planning an upgrade logical steps would be an M6i amp, maybe M6 DAC and new speakers (or even a good sub to underpin my GS10s). My excellent MF tuner has a digital output so everything would go into the DAC. Although I'm a long term MF fan I would of course be keen to listen to other options. One that intrigues me is the new ADM 40 active speaker using integrated DAC and amps with my existing sources, saving money and shelf space. As a starting point I'd be interested in comments on how the ADM "sound" compares to that of MF in terms of character, and at the respective price SQ? Thanks

I think you spell it ATC scm 40 :rofl: I must admit I am intrigued by actives but I like to see my boxes and the wife just love to dust em

 

[GSB]

You let someone else dust them? :O

 

[plastic penguin]

You let someone else dust them? :O

I just take mine outside and give it a good shake, unlike the hi-fi... 🙂

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Unfortunately, you can't audition the ADMs because they're made to order, and you can't compare with your own speakers unless an owner is willing to let you bring in and set up your own gear in their house.

You might be better off looking at other alternatives if you want actives - ATC spring to mind, as do the new Dynaudios. To be honest, the difference isn't as much as the self-styled experts here say, because the speakers are still restricted by the box. If you want a change of sound, have a listen to Magnepan and Martin Logan. They re-define transparency in speakers.

 

[Etymotic]

Unfortunately, you can't audition the ADMs because they're made to order, and you can't compare with your own speakers unless an owner is willing to let you bring in and set up your own gear in their house.

You might be better off looking at other alternatives if you want actives - ATC spring to mind, as do the new Dynaudios. To be honest, the difference isn't as much as the self-styled experts here say, because the speakers are still restricted by the box. If you want a change of sound, have a listen to Magnepan and Martin Logan. They re-define transparency in speakers.

Please get your facts right before spouting on about stuff you dont know about.

ADM40 speakers are usually available to be demoed at AVI headquarters if you ring them first and make an appointment...as are the ADM9RS's.

I am sure the owner Ash James would be more than happy for you to take along your own gear to compare.

 

[altruistic.lemon]

My facts are not wrong. You cannot compare, unless Ashley allows you to lug your entire system in. You also can't compare with other actives, which you can in shops. You may not like it, but the ADM40 marketing is 'leap of faith' stuff.

Sorry

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Limited experience, sadly. How many active monitors have you or any other ADM fans actually heard?

Seems to me this is all about pushing product because sales are falling...

 

[Etymotic]

For what its worth I have the AVI ADM9RSS which is the latest version of the speakers with upgraded Scanspeak tweeter along with the AVI 10' Subwoofer which a lot of owners on the AVI forum say is not a million miles from the output/Quality of the ADM40's.

In terms of SQ I would go along with overdose in that clarity and lack of any distortion is a stand out quality. They just go SO loud but retain total composure and integrity. This is probably due to the active crossover which unlike passive speaker crossover's does not add any colouration to the sonic picture.

Since adding the Sub ,which was designed to work seamlessly with the ADM speakers anyway, the soundstage has opened up even more so and they have an effortless air of muicality about them which I have not heard from systems costing much much more....

I personally have not heard the ADM40's but if the 9RSS's have just a small amount of the 40's charisma then they (the 4o's) must be very special speakers indeed.

 

[Kevin Stephens]

I was particularly interested in the SQ of the onboard DAC

 

[Overdose]

In planning an upgrade logical steps would be an M6i amp, maybe M6 DAC and new speakers (or even a good sub to underpin my GS10s). My excellent MF tuner has a digital output so everything would go into the DAC. Although I'm a long term MF fan I would of course be keen to listen to other options. One that intrigues me is the new ADM 40 active speaker using integrated DAC and amps with my existing sources, saving money and shelf space. As a starting point I'd be interested in comments on how the ADM "sound" compares to that of MF in terms of character, and at the respective price SQ? Thanks

The ADM sound, if it can be described as that, tends to be neutral, giving a natural sound with minimal colouration. They have exceptional clarity and control. The midrange initially stands out as superb, probably because this particular area is not universally done so well by many other speakers.

My current ADM9s are an improvement over my previous monitors, the Dynaudio BM5A, in themselves very good. If it is of any use to you, I moved from an MF A3 & B&W602 S2 to the BM5As and the improvement in clarity was quite obvious even then.

There are a few forum members that have the 40s and will probably be along at some point to share their first hand experience.

 

[Overdose]

I was particularly interested in the SQ of the onboard DAC

I suppose that it is difficult to say much about any particular part of the speakers as they are designed as an entire system. I have not compared the analogue inputs with the digital, but connected digitally is how mine are and they sound great.

As far as DACs go, I find that a lot is made of the differences between them, all in subjective terms, but in reality little separates them all and at a wide price range too. All a DAC needs to do is to be audibly transparent and that is an easy enough feat these days.

I have had several DACs previous to this, including DIY versions and compared them with computer and DVD output, none of them were stand out different from any of the others in particular.

Hope that helps.

 

[relocated]

Unfortunately, you can't audition the ADMs

Wrong as usual .lemon.

I had [still have] the AVI ADM 9Ts which I occasionally used with a Rel Quake and went along to AVI headquarters for a whole morning to listen to the AVI ADM 40s. I listened to them in two different rooms, one of which was of similar proportion to my own listening room. I listened to all of my 'test' tracks and favourite music that I know inside out. The upshot was that I ordered a pair, there and then and I continue to love them absolutely. No wondering if this or that cable or support or whatever will make them sound better, just absolute listening pleasure the like of which I have never experienced in 40 years, if you ignore the AVI ADM 9Ts.

I can't tell you how they sound in comparison to your gear because I have never listened to your particular system. All I can say is that I am as happy and contented as it is possible to be. The clarity, the frightening UNDISTORTED power and volume that they produce is a truly emotional experience.

I am sure you will see beyond the rubbish of the, know-nothing about the 40s nay-sayers on here. Your ears and wallet deserve to listen to the 40s.

Best of luck in your upgrade quest.

 

[John Duncan]

To be fair, relocated, they can't be auditioned except at the manufacturer's facility (or another owner's home), which may not be convenient for the OP. Furthermore, since they are made to order, they fall outwith the Distance Selling Regulations so cannot be tried for a period.

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Relocated, If you had listened to my gear you wouldn't have bothered with ADM, believe me!

Now can we have a break from the AVI juggernaut for a bit? You've really little new to say, and it's all getting a bit boring.

 

[Overdose]

Relocated, If you had listened to my gear you wouldn't have bothered with ADM, believe me!

Now can we have a break from the AVI juggernaut for a bit? You've really little new to say, and it's all getting a bit boring.

Can you not see It's posts like yours though, that start all of the argy bargy?

You really need to calm down, I wouldn't be at all surprised if you gave yourself some kind of medical condition carrying on like this.

I have seen far more posts regarding KEF speakers of late and I couldn't give a monkeys either way. I'm sure your speakers sound fine if you have the space for them, but as far as niche goes, yours are definitely top of the pile.

Edit: If AVI threads and posts are so boring to you, simply ignore them. Is this not the best solution? It would mean the threads stay at the top of the page for less time.

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Er - can you quote sales figures O'dose? You're horribly, horribly wrong. Magnepan are an international brand with a large home market. AVI are a tiny company that sells mail order to a few places. There's no way they can, or would claim to, compete with Magnepan, not to mention Neat, Harbeth, etc etc.

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Relocated, If you had listened to my gear you wouldn't have bothered with ADM, believe me!

Now can we have a break from the AVI juggernaut for a bit? You've really little new to say, and it's all getting a bit boring.

Can you not see It's posts like yours though, that start all of the argy bargy?

You really need to calm down, I wouldn't be at all surprised if you gave yourself some kind of medical condition carrying on like this.

I have seen far more posts regarding KEF speakers of late and I couldn't give a monkeys either way. I'm sure your speakers sound fine if you have the space for them, but as far as niche goes, yours are definitely top of the pile.

Edit: If AVI threads and posts are so boring to you, simply ignore them. Is this not the best solution? It would mean the threads stay at the top of the page for less time.

Bolded it for you. Nothing niche about Maggies. Innovative, surely, brilliant sounding, undubitably, but nich? No.

 

[Overdose]

Er - can you quote sales figures O'dose? You're horribly, horribly wrong. Magnepan are an international brand with a large home market. AVI are a tiny company that sells mail order to a few places. There's no way they can, or would claim to, compete with Magnepan, not to mention Neat, Harbeth, etc etc.

Have you been on the sauce this morning?

I have absolutely no interest in sales figures and I suspect quite strongly that neither does the OP, remember that guy?

Regarding your speakers and similar technology, any right minding individual would consider that they were niche, when compared to active speakers in general.

AVI might be a relatively small company, but that does not make it's products niche, it just means that they might not make as many of them as a larger company.

 

[John Duncan]

Have you been on the sauce this morning?

Be very careful, my tolerance of personal insults is extremely low today.

 

[Overdose]

Nothing niche about Maggies. Innovative, surely, brilliant sounding, undubitably, but nich? No.

We have reached the bottom of the pedantry barrel now and I have nothing more to offer the OP.

 

[Overdose]

Have you been on the sauce this morning?

Be very careful, my tolerance of personal insults is extremely low today.

Then ban me, don't threaten me. I don't think my comment was particularly out of order, given a certain persons ranting this afternoon.

It's the kind of thing heard down any pub after people have had a few, ie unreasoned nonsense.

 

[John Duncan]

Have you been on the sauce this morning?

Be very careful, my tolerance of personal insults is extremely low today.

Then ban me, don't threaten me. I don't think my comment was particularly out of order, given a certain persons ranting this afternoon.

It's the kind of thing heard down any pub after people have had a few, ie unreasoned nonsense.

This is not a pub. And it was not a threat, merely a request to keep dialogue civil without suggesting that other posters have been drinking.

 

[BigH]

To be fair, relocated, they can't be auditioned except at the manufacturer's facility (or another owner's home), which may not be convenient for the OP. Furthermore, since they are made to order, they fall outwith the Distance Selling Regulations so cannot be tried for a period.

I don't think that is correct, there are a few dealers around like London, Birmingham and in Kent not many a bit like hearing Harbeths or Creek or Epos. The 9RS and RSS are not made to order and you have 30 days to return.

 

[John Duncan]

To be fair, relocated, they can't be auditioned except at the manufacturer's facility (or another owner's home), which may not be convenient for the OP. Furthermore, since they are made to order, they fall outwith the Distance Selling Regulations so cannot be tried for a period.

I don't think that is correct, there are a few dealers around like London, Birmingham and in Kent not many a bit like hearing Harbeths or Creek or Epos. The 9RS and RSS are not made to order and you have 30 days to return.

That's correct about the 9s yes, though the OP asked specifically about the 40s, which I don't think are held in dealers (unless they want to make zero margin on them, there may be one or two who might want to provide that service for comparison purposes, i dont know).