Adam or Focal? Quick input needed

[jlaudon]

I've been using Adam A7s with a Sub8 for a while, and it's been a good combination in my smallish room (around 9' x 13'). The A7s have been acting up a bit, and one has been fixed once, replaced once, and now the replaced one is getting fixed, waiting for a new amp from Germany, which will take some time.

So, I will sell the A7s and Sub8, and am looking at replacements. The Focal CMS65 (around US1600) or CMS50 (around 1100) are looking good, and I'll go to listen to them tomorrow. They could probably use a subwoofer, I'd think.

Then my friend the Adam dealer has a pair of used Adam S1A for around US1800, and a pair of used S3As going for around US3600 - the upside of buying from him is that I can do a deal, pay in interest free installments, etc.

So, any thoughts and input for me? Thanks in advance .

[kgdrum]

I am a very happy Focal user,using the Twin6 in my system.Have only heard great things about the CM line,I have not actually heard them yet.

[mesaken]

I use dynaudio BM15as and a dynaudio BM14s as my mains in the studio and purchased
the Focal XS system for our iMac at home. Its around $500. I was totally blown away by the
XS and love having another view of my mixes that I can trust.

I was just at a client's studio prepping a couple of albums for a rare vinyl release and we were listening on his system which sounded really good. I saw the logo and asked him if they were Focals. He said "Yes". They were the size of bookshelfs with an 8" wooofer, but I don't know the model. The dynaudios translated very well to his Focal setup.

I am use to my dynaudios, but if I was starting fresh Focal would be in the top tier for
consideration. They make excellent speakers from $500 to over $20k.

[jlaudon]

Well, I went and demoed the Focal CMS line (knowing that the speakers need to be 'broken' in over time), and then went to listen to my friend's Adam S1A and S3A speakers.

Long story and lots of humming and hawing (mainly thinking about my wife's reaction when I tell her), I ended up with the Adam S3A - man, they are amazing... good deal I think, around 3500, payable with no interest over 8-10 months (he's flexible).

I liked the CMS65s a lot, but thought they would need a sub-woofer eventually, considering I do a real variety of music from rock to hip-hop/dance stuff, but the Adam S3A had that bottom end there already.

Now, how to pay for them....

[kgdrum]

if you are in that price range ,you should listen to the Twin 6,they retail for $3200 a pair.The CMS line are entry level you are comparing apples to oranges.The Twin 6 is in a different league then the CMS line,they are very punchy I do not use a sub with them.

[jlaudon]

Thanks - I didn't have a chance to audition the Twin6 (didn't have any in stock), but the upside of the S3As (other than paying a bit at a time) is that it's quite easy to sell them at around the same price. So, in the meantime, I'll keep auditioning other monitors .